Life Sketch of the Author, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura
There is an ancient village called Mamagachi located under the Purvasthali subdivision on the eastern side of the Burdwan District. According to elder people as well as the author of Bhakti-ratnakarathis village of Mamagachi is the area of Navadvipa known as Modadrumadvipa. The Ganges River flows on the side of Mamagachi. Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s worshipable Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai are worshiped in this village even today. It is said that Vrndavana dasa Thakura was born in this village. In this village one can still find Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s house, where he grew up as a child.
The father of Srivasa Pandita’s wife, Malinidevi, lived in the village of Mamagachi. Srivasa Pandita, the beloved devotee of Lord Gauranga, had a niece named Narayanidevi, who was married in this village. Malinidevi lived her final days in this village at her father’s house. Narayanidevi was married to a member of Malinidevi’s family. Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was born from the womb of Narayani.
Since he lost his father early in his childhood and his father left his body before being engaged in the service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the topics about his father are not mentioned anywhere. Some people say that because his father did not fully take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was not identified through his paternal dynasty.
Although the Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai installed by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura at the house of Malinidevi in Mamagachi have been shifted and are being served at another place, the service is not adequately prosperous and bright.
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura spent a lot of time at Denduda. We have never heard of Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s married life. Among his four disciples, Sri Ramahari, who hailed from a ksatriya family of north Radha-desa was appointed by Vrndavana dasa as the sole heir to his assets at Denduda.
His descendents still live at the house of Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura in Denduda and continue serving their Lordships. Although Ramahari was a pure devotee and was duly initiated, due to the prominence of smarta practices, his descendants were forced to give up their traditional spiritual practices and follow the smarta principles.
Although there is not much information about the paternal family of Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, it is understood that he appeared in a brahmana family of Radha-desa. Since his maternal family members were staunch followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the greatest householder Vaisnavas, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura is known through this relation among the Vaisnavas and in Gaudiya literature.
Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the son of Narayani, had great knowledge of devotional scriptures and was always engaged in preaching the glories of Vaisnava acaryaswith his mind, body, and speech.
The society of smartas was opposed to the Vaisnavas and envious of Lord Nityananda. As such, they neglected Sri Vrndavana dasa, the servant of Nityananda, and did not give him a very high position in their society. In fact they did even refrain from slandering his family background.
Just before Sri Gaurasundara left Navadvipa, Narayanidevi, the mother of Vrndavana dasa, was only four years old. Till then, she had been nourished by Sri Caitanyacandra’s affectionate glance. Later, she lived with her husband in the house of Malini’s father, where she raised her jewel-like son, Vrndavana dasa Thakura, up to his tenth year. Under the influence of the smartas,many less intelligent prakrta- sahajiya so-called Vaisnavas of Radha-desa considered that Vrndavana dasa Thakura was not a brahmana.
Actually Vrndavana dasa Thakura was a genuine, pure, topmost brahmana who did not accept subordination to the materialistic smartacommunity. Those who have studied SriCaitanya-bhagavata,composed by this great soul, certainly know that Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was the topmost preacher of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy of pure devotional service. Yet when Radharamana, the son of Madhusudana, the son of Balarama, the son of Sri Advaita Prabhu, lived at Santipura and desired to oppose the teachings of Advaita Prabhu, he accepted subordination of Sri Harihara Bhattacarya’s son, who lived at Bandaghata;
when Sri Viracandra Prabhu’s three disciples, who are celebrated as his sons, were compelled by the intimidation of the smartasto place Durga, the wife of Tripurari, on the same throne next to Syamasundara; when the marriage between Ganga Thakurani and a member of the Varendra caste was included in the Gangopadhyaya caste and thus socially approved in Radha-desa;
and when Nityananda Prabhu, who hailed from a Mithila brahmana caste, married into the Sarak-hela caste of Vadagachi, Radha-desa, and at the same time accepted Uddharana Datta Thakura as a properly intiated brahmana—these unfavorable activities created various obstacles in Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s propagation of the glories of the Vaisnava community.
Still they were not able to stop the foremost devotee of Gaura, for’ whom Nityananda was his life and soul, the brilliant sunlike personality of Gaudiya literature, Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura, from writing the truth in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. Those who have studied 5ri Caitanya-bhagavata with full attention cannot be misguided from Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s presentation of the truth, which destroys all illusion.
Wonderful social reconciliations of the conclusions of devotional service are written in golden words by Vrndavana dasa Thakura in various places throughout Caitanya-bhagavata. His service attitude towards his spiritual master, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, is incomparable. No scholar of that time—in Navadvipa, Gauda-desa, Bharata-varsa, or the world—could stand before him. Later on, however, there was no hesitation for attacking him and his family.
There is no scarcity of ill-motivated people ready to attack the good qualities of Thakura Mahasaya. Some such envious persons said that Vrndavana dasa Thakura and his followers exhibited a great deal of negligence towards the nondevotees and were thus unable to attract less intelligent people to the banner of taror api sahisnuna and tmad api sunicena, as taught by Lord Caitanya.
In answer to this, the followers of Sri Vrndavana dasa reply that it is very unfortunate that in the course of such criticism these people maintain an inimical mentality, which is averse to the process of devotional service, and cheat others by sitting on the back qf morality in the dress of writers. Due to a lack of piety, one dares to’ disregard the guru and the Vaisnavas.
The indisciminate coordinators who want to unite the universally beneficial principles of love of God with their opposing principles put forward many unreasonable arguments that are most fallacious and born from envy. Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura was fully enlightened in the service of Lord Nityananda, his spiritual master, with his mind, body, and speech, therefore Sri Caitanyacandra did not give authority to such writers and foolish moralists to find fault with the activities of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
Only when these fault- finders abstain from their dancing, induced by the six material senses, will they understand Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura as the spiritual master of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas and repent for their offenses at his feet.
The language of Sri Caitanya-bhagavataisvery simple and touching to the heart. Those who are fond of the beauty of Gaudiya literature can experience extraordinary pleasure on seeing the proficiency that Thakura Mahasaya has displayed while describing the characteristics of Haridasa Thakura, while describing the social condition of Navadvipa during Gauranga’s time, while describing the literacy status of the bhogipalas, yogipalas and mahipalas, the leaders of the sense enjoyers, yogis, and the earth, while describing the brahmanas’ occasional chanting of Pundarikaksa, and while depicting Sri Gaurasundara’s glories and opulences.
Those who wish to enter the temple of this book will also receive the opportunity to experience the literal variegatedness of Vaikuntha apart from the description of the enjoying spirit of Navadvipa’s residents. The Gaudiyas are not only residents of Gauda but by the help of Gaudiya language they become expert in the language of the eternally liberated inhabitants of Goloka and thus understand themselves as associates of the Lord.
We are ending this presentation by quoting the statements of Srila Kaviraja Gosvami, our previous guru, regarding Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura,
From Adi-lila,Chapter Eight:
ore mudha loka, suna caitanya-mangala caitanya-mahima yate janibe sakala
0 fools, just read Sri Caitanya-mangala!By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
krsna-lila bhagavate kahe veda-vyasa caitanya-lilaravyasa—vrndavana-dasa
As Vyasadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Krsna in Srimad- Bhagavatam, Thakura Vrndavana dasa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.
vrndavana-dasa kaila ‘caitanya-mangala’ yanhara sravane nase sarva amangala
Thakura Vrndavana dasa has composed Sri Caitanya-mangala.
Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.
caitanya-nitaira yate janiye mahima yate jani krsna-bhakti-siddhantera sima
By reading Sri Caitanya-mangala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Krsna.
bhagavate yata bhakti-siddhantera sara likhiyachena inha jani’ kariya uddhara
In Sri Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhdgavata] Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Srimad- Bhdgavatam.
‘caitanva-mangala’ sune yadi pasandi, yavana seha maha-vaisnava haya tataksana
If even a great atheist hears Sri Caitanya-mangala, he immediately becomes a great devotee.
manusye racite nare aiche grantha dhanya vrndavana-dasa-mukhe vakta sri-caitanya
The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
vrndavana-dasa-pade koti namaskara aiche grantha kari’ tenho tarila samsara
I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrndavana dasa Thakura, No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls.
narayani—caitanyera ucchista-bhajana tanra garbhe janmila sri-dasa-vrndavana
Narayam eternally eats the remnants of the food of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was born of her womb.
tanra hi adbhuta caitanya-carita-varnana yahara sravane suddha kaila tri-bhuvana
What a wonderful description he has given of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya! Anyone in the three worlds who hears it is purified.
vmdavana-dasakaila‘caitanya-mangala’
tahatecaitanya-lilavamilasakala
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has written 5ri Caitanya-mangala and therein described in all respects the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.
sutrakari’sabalilakarilagranthana pache vistariya tahara kaila vivarana
He first summarized all the pastimes of the Lord and later described them vividly in detail.
vistara dekhiyakichusankocahailamana sutra-dhrta kona lila na kiaila vamana
He saw them to be so extensive that he later felt that some had not been properly described:
nityananda-lila-vamane ha-ila dvesa caitanyera sesa-lila rahila avasesa
He ecstatically described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda, but the later pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained untold.
vrndavana-dasera pdda-padma kari’ dhyana tanra ajna lana likhi yahate kalyana
I took permission from Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura by praying at his lotus feet, and upon receiving his order I have attempted to write this auspicious scripture.
caitanya-lilate‘vyasa’—-vrndavana-dasa tanra krpa vina anye na haya prakasa
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura is the authorized writer on the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Without his mercy; therefore, one cannot describe these pastimes.
From Adi-lila,Chapter Eleven:
vrndavana-dasa—narayaniranandana
‘caitanya-mangala’yenhokailaracana
Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the son’ of Srimati Narayani, composed Sri Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata].
bhagavatekrsna-lilavamilavedavyasa caitanya-lilatevyasa—Vrndavanadasa
Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad- Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.
From Adi-lila,Chapter Thirteen:
caitanya-lilaravyasa,—dasavrndavana madhura kariya lila karila racana
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the authorized writer of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is as good as Srila Vyasadeva. He has described the pastimes in such a way as to make them sweeter and sweeter.
From Madhya-lild,Chapter One:
caitanya-lilara vyasa—dasa vrndavana tanra ajnaya karon tanra ucchista carvana
Actually the authorized compiler of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Srila Vrndavana dasa, the incarnation of Vyasadeva. Only upon his orders am I trying to chew the remnants of food that he has left.
bhaktikari’siredharitanharacarana sesa-lilara sutra-gana kariye vamana
Placing his lotus feet upon my head in great devotion, I shall now describe in summary the Lord’s final pastimes.
From Madhya-lild,Chapter Four:
sahajevicitramadhuracaitanya-vihara
vrndavana-dasa-mukheamrteradhara
By nature all the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are very wonderful and sweet, and when they are described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura, they become like a shower of nectar.
e saba lila prabhura dasa vrndavana vistari’ kariyachena uttama vamana
All these pastimes have been very elaborately explained by Vrndavana dasa Thakura in his book ‘Caitanya-bhagavata’.
ataeva taha vamile haya purnrukti dambhakari’vamiyaditaichenahisakti
Therefore I very humbly submit that since these incidents have already been nicely described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura, I would be very proud to repeat the same thing, and this would not be very good. I do not have such powers.
caitanya-mangale yaha karila vamana sutra-rupe sei lila kariye sucana
I am therefore presenting only a synopsis of those events already described elaborately by Vrndavana dasa Thakura in his Caitanya- mangala [now known as Caitanya-bhdgavata}.
tanra sutre ache, tenha na kaila vamana yatha-kathancit kari’ sei lila kathana
Some of the incidents he did not describe elaborately but only summarized, and these I shall try to describe in this book.
ataeva tanra paye kari namaskara tanrapayaaparadhanoha-ukamara
I thus offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrndavana dasa Thakura. I hope that I will not offend his lotus feet by this action.
From Antya-lild,Chapter Twenty:
vrndavana-dasa prathama ye lila vamila sei-saba lilara ami sutra-matra kaila
Whatever pastimes Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has first described I have merely summarized.
tanratyakta‘avasesa’sanksepekahila lilara bahulye grantha tathapi badila
I have only very briefly described the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu not described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura. Nevertheless, because those transcendental pastimes are so numerous, the size of this book has increased.
nityananda-krpa-patra—vmdavana-dasa caitanya-lilay a tenho hayena ‘adi-vyasa’
Vrndavana dasa Thakura is Lord Nityananda’s favorite devotee, and therefore he is the original Vyasadeva in describing the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
tanraageyadyapisabalilarabhandara tathapi alpa vamiya chadilena ara
Although Vrndavana dasa Thakura has within his jurisdiction the full store of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, he has left aside most of them and described but a small portion.
ye kichu vamilun seha sanksepa kariya likhite na parena tabu rakhiyachena likhiya
What I have described was left aside by Vrndavana dasa Thakura, but although he could not describe these pastimes, he gave us a synopsis.
caitanya-mangaletenholikhiyachesthane-sthane sei vacana suna, sei parama-pramane
In his book named Caitanya-mangala [Caitanya-bhdgavata], he has described these pastimes in many places. I request my readers to hear that book, for that is the best evidence.
sanksepekahilun,vistaranayaya
kathanevistariyaveda-vyasakaribavamane
I have described the pastimes very briefly, for it is impossible for me to describe them in full. In the future, however, Vedavyasa will describe them elaborately.
caitanya-mangaleihalikhiyachesthane-sthane satya kahena,—’age vyasa kariba vamane’
In Caitanya-mangala, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has stated in many places the factual truth that in the future Vyasadeva will describe them elaborately.
caitanya-lilamrta-sindhu—dugdhabdhi-samana trsnanurupa jhari bhari’ tenho kaila pana
The ocean of nectarean pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is like the ocean of milk. According to his thirst, Vrndavana dasa Thakura filled his pitcher and drank from that ocean.
tanra jhari-sesamrta kichu more aila tateke bharila peta, trsna mora gela
Whatever remnants of milk Vrndavana dasa Thakura has given me are sufficient to fill my belly. Now my thirst is completely satiated.
Akincana, Sri Siddhanta Sarasvati
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