Sri Abhirama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearane] Saturday, April 7, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

April 7, 2018 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Subject: Sri Abhirama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance] – Saturday, April 7, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]
Srila Prabhupada comments on the unique position of Abhirama Thakura
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

deity of sri abhiram thakura


Sri Radha Gopinatha  – Deities of Sri Abhiram das Thakura

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Sri Abhirama dasa Thakura disappearance day
Srila Prabhupada explains the glories Sri Abhirama dasa Thakura
śrī-rāmadāsa āra, gadādhara dāsa

caitanya-gosāñira bhakta rahe tāṅra pāśa

SYNONYMS

śrī-rāmadāsa—of the name Śrī Rāmadāsa; āra—and; gadādhara dāsa—of the name Gadādhara dāsa; caitanya-gosāñira—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhakta—devotees; rahe—stay; tāṅra pāśa—with Him.


TRANSLATION


Two devotees of Lord Caitanya, named Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa, always lived with Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi.


PURPORT

Śrī Rāmadāsa, later known as Abhirāma Ṭhākura, was one of the twelve gopālas, cowherd boyfriends, of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 126, states that Śrī Rāmadāsa was formerly Śrīdāmā. In Bhakti-ratnākara (Fourth Wave), there is a description of Śrīla Abhirāma Ṭhākura. By the order of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Abhirāma Ṭhākura became a great ācārya and preacher of the Caitanya cult of devotional service. He was a very influential personality, and nondevotees were very afraid of him. Empowered by Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was extremely kind to all fallen souls. It is said that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a śālagrāma-śilā, it would immediately fracture.

Ten miles southwest of the Cāṅpāḍāṅgā railway station on the narrow-gauge railway line from Howrah, in Calcutta, to Āmtā, a village in the Hugalī district, is a small town named Khānākūla-kṛṣṇanagara, where the temple of Abhirāma Ṭhākura is situated. During the rainy season, when this area is inundated with water, people must go there by another line, which is now called the southeastern railway. On this line there is a station named Kolāghāṭa, rom which one has to go by steamer to Rāṇīcaka. Seven and a half miles north of Rāṇīcaka is Khānākūla. The temple of Abhirāma Ṭhākura is situated in Kṛṣṇanagara, which is near the kūla (bank) of the Khānā (Dvārakeśvara River); therefore this place is celebrated as Khānākūla-kṛṣṇanagara. Outside of the temple is a bakula tree. This place is known as Siddha-bakula-kuñja. It is said that when Abhirāma Ṭhākura came there, he sat down under this tree. In Khānākūla-kṛṣṇanagara there is a big fair held every year in the month of Caitra (March-April) on the Kṛṣṇa-saptamī, the seventh day of the dark moon. Many hundreds and thousands of people gather for this festival. The temple of Abhirāma Ṭhākura has a very old history. The Deity in the temple is known as Gopīnātha. There are many sevaita families living near the temple. It is said that Abhirāma Ṭhākura had a whip and that whoever he touched with it would immediately become an elevated devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Among his many disciples, Śrīmān Śrīnivāsa Ācārya was the most famous and the most dear, but it is doubtful that he was his initiated disciple
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.13 :


TEXT 116

rāmadāsa abhirāma–sakhya-premarāśi

ṣolasāṅgera kāṣṭha tuli’ ye karila vāṅśī

SYNONYMS


rāmadāsa abhirāma—of the name Rāmadāsa Abhirāma; sakhya-prema—friendship; rāśi—great volume; ṣolasa-aṅgera—of sixteen knots; kaṣṭha—wood; tuli‘-lifting; ye—one who; karila—made; vāṅśī—flute.

TRANSLATION


Rāmadāsa Abhirāma was fully absorbed in the mellow of friendship. He made a flute of a bamboo stick with sixteen knots.

PURPORT

Abhirāma was an inhabitant of Khānākula-kṛṣṇa-nagara.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition  : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree :Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 10.116 :


————————————
pura shridama-namasid abhiramo’dhuna mahan
dvatrimshata janair eva vahyam kashtham uvaha sah

He who was previously known as Sridama is today Abhirama Thakur. He picked up a piece of wood that it took 32 men to lift.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 126)

Bali Math in Puri was established by Abhirama Thakur
______________________________
In the Bhakti-ratnakara, the following statement is also made:
 O Srinivas! How much more can I say? Abhirama descended into this world in order to deliver it. Taking birth in a Brahmin family, he became a scholar in all the scriptures and was an unequalled musician, not only in song and playing musical instruments, but in dance also. He married at Nityananda Balaram’s request. His wife Malini is also indescribably powerful.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 4.105-8)
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According to Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (12) in Krishna-lila he was Shridama, one of the 12 prominent boy cowherd friends of Shri KrishnaHe who was previously known as Sridama is today Abhirama Thakur. He picked up a piece of wood that it took 32 men to lift. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 126)

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