Srila Prabhupada Describes The Glories of Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura
January 28, 2024 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa
khaṇḍavāsī mukunda-dāsa, śrī-raghunandana
narahari-dāsa, cirañjīva, sulocana
ei saba mahāśākhā–caitanya-kṛpādhāma
prema-phala-phula kare yāhāṅ tāhāṅ dāna
Śrī Khaṇḍavāsī Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Cirañjīva the forty-first and Sulocana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of CaitanyaMahāprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere
Śrī Mukunda dāsa was the son of Nārāyaṇa dāsa and eldest brother of Narahari Sarakāra. His second brother’s name was Mādhava dāsa, and his son was named Raghunandana dāsa. Descendants of Raghunandana dāsa still live four miles west of Katwa in the village named Śrīkhaṇḍa, where Raghunandana dāsa used to live. Raghunandana had one son named Kānāi, who had two sons-Madana Rāya, who was a disciple of Narahari Ṭhākura, and Vaṁśīvadana. It is estimated that at least four hundred men descended in this dynasty. All their names are recorded in the village known as Śrīkhaṇḍa. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 175, it is stated that the gopī whose name was Vṛndādevī became Mukunda dāsa, lived in Śrīkhaṇḍa village and was very dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His wonderful devotion and love for Kṛṣṇa are described in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Fifteen. It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Eighth Wave), that Raghunandana used to serve a Deity of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Narahari dāsa Sarakāra was a very famous devotee. Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, the celebrated author of Śrī Caitanya–maṅgala, was his disciple. In the Caitanya–maṅgala it is stated that Śrī Gadādhara dāsa and Narahari Sarakāra were extremely dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Śrīkhaṇḍa.
Cirañjīva and Sulocana were both residents of Śrīkhaṇḍa, where their descendants are still living. Of Cirañjīva’s two sons, the elder, Rāmacandra Kavirāja, was a disciple of Śrīnivāsācārya and an intimate associate of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. The younger son was Govinda dāsa Kavirāja, the famous Vaiṣṇava poet. Cirañjīva’s wife was Sunandā, and his father-in-law was Dāmodara Sena Kavirāja. Cirañjīva previously lived on the bank of the Ganges River in the village of Kumāranagara. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 207, states that he was formerly Candrikā in Vṛndāvan.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.78-79
pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthitadhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah
She who was previously Radha’s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Mahaprabhu’s personal representative, confirmed this in his Gaura-arati:
narahari adi kare camara dhulay
saïjaya, mukunda, vasu ghosha adi gay
Narahari and the other residents of Shrikhanda fanned with the camara, while Sanjaya, Mukunda and Vasu Ghosh sang.
– See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/narahari-sarakara-thakura-biography/#sthash.9d3TbtxG.dpuf
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Mahaprabhu’s personal representative, confirmed this in his Gaura-arati:
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Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakur in Sriman Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes
In glorification of Narahari Sarkar Thakur on his Disappearance day.References from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita.
Translation and purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.
Adi-lila 10: The Trunk, Branches and Sub-branches of the Chaitanya Tree
Text 78-79:Sri Khandavasi Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Chiranjiva the forty-first and Sulochana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.
Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad:
Sri Mukunda Das was the son of Narayan Das and eldest brother of Narahari Sarakar. His second brother’s name was Madhava Das, and his son was named Raghunandana Das…
…Narahari Das Sarakar was a very famous devotee. Lochan Das Thakur, the celebrated author of Sri Chaitanya-mangal, was his disciple. In the Chaitanya-mangal it is stated that Sri Gadadhar Das and Narahari Sarakar were extremely dear to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Srikhanda.
Madhya-lila 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord‚ Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Text 132:Eventually, Narahari Das and other inhabitants of Khanda, along with Shivananda Sen, all arrived, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met them.
Madhya-lila 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannath Puri
Texts 88-90:Advaita Acharya then held a festival that lasted two or three days. Thereafter, they all made a firm decision to go to Jagannath Puri.
All the devotees met together at Navadvip and, with mother Sachi’s permission, departed for Niladri, Jagannath Puri.
The inhabitants of Kulina-grama – Satyaraja, Ramananda and all the other devotees there – came and joined Advaita Acharya.
Mukunda, Narahari, Raghunandana and all the others came from Khanda to Advaita Acharya’s home to accompany Him to Jagannath Puri.
Madhya-lila 11: The Beda-kirtan Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Text 90:Gopinath Acharya continued to point out the devotees. “Here is Suklambar. See, there is Sridhar. Here is Vijay, and there is Vallabha Sen. Here is Purusottam, and there is Sanjaya.”
Text 92-93:
“Here are Mukunda Das, Narahari, Sri Raghunandana, Chiranjiva and Sulochana, all residents of Khanda.
“How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is their life and soul.”
Madhya-lila 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-Yatra
Text 46:Another party was formed by the people of Khanda. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.
Madhya-lila 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya
Text 112:Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then turned His attention to three persons – Mukunda Das, Raghunandana and Sri Narahari – inhabitants of the place called Khanda.
Text 132
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then ordered Narahari: “I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord.”
Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad:
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord’s devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord’s service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Krishna consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Krishna or Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the centre, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Antya-lila 10: Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Accepts Prasada from the Devotees
Texts 59-60:In each of the seven groups was a principal dancer like Advaita Acharya and Lord Nityananda.
The dancers in the other groups were Vakresvar Pandit, Acyutananda, Pandit Srivas, Satyaraja Khan and Narahari Das.
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Sva-Niṣṭha
by Śrīla Narottam dās Ṭhākurdhana mora nityānanda pati mora gaurachandra
prāṇa mora jugala-kiśora
advaita āchāryya bolo gadādhara mora kula
narahari vilasai mora1) Lord Nityānanda is my wealth. Lord Gaurachandra is my master.
The youthful Divine Couple is my life. Advaita Āchāryya is my strength.
Gadādhara is my family. Narahari Sarakara is my glory.vaiṣṇavera pada-dhūli tāhe mora snāna-keli
tarpaṇ mora vaiṣṇavera nāma
bichāra koriyā mane bhakti-rasa āsvādane
madhyastha śrī-bhāgavata purāṇa2) The dust of the devotees’ lotus feet is my bathing water.
The chanting of the devotees’ names is my satisfaction. Considering the
merits of all Vedic literatures in the light of devotional service, I have
concluded that the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the best of all scriptures.vaiṣṇavera uchiṣṭa tāhe mora mano-niṣṭha
vaiṣṇavera nāmete ullāsa
vṛndāvane chaturā tāhe mora mano-gherā
kohe dīne narottama dāsa3) My mind is firmly convinced of the spiritual benefit obtained
by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees. The names
of the devotees are my happiness. The land of Vṛndāvan is the enclosure
within which I keep my mind. Thus speaks the lonely servant Narotta
pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthita
adhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah
She who was previously Radha´s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)