Wednesday, 12 February 2025 [Mayapur, West Bengal, India Time]
Appearance Day of Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura
Let’s take a moment to remember and celebrate the life of Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great saint and devotee. His devotion and teachings continue to inspire us.
Here are some insightful quotes and teachings by Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura as presented by Śrīla Prabhupada:
“Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung that the best qualification for taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya is to be the most fallen because the Lord came specifically to deliver the fallen souls.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 16.108, Purport | 1974 Edition)
“Even though a person is rejected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the devotees of the Lord do not reject him; therefore the Lord’s devotees are more merciful than the Lord Himself. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura thus sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: one cannot be relieved from the material clutches without engaging in the service of pure devotees. The Lord Himself may sometimes be very hard, but the devotees are always kind.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.67, Purport | 1975 Edition)
“So actually it doesn’t matter if one is householder or brahmacari. Sincerity of purpose is the only qualification for Krishna Consciousness. Sri Narottama das Thakura says that he hankers after the company of any person, never mind whether he is in the renounced order of life or in householder life, just as long as he is merged into the ocean of Krishna Consciousness. That is the one qualification.”
(Śrīla Prabhupāda Letter, February 13, 1969)
“It is the advice of Narottama das Thakura to chant the holy name of Gauranga either if one remains at home or in the forest. Similarly, do not forget the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra either you live in the temple or at home.”
(Śrīla Prabhupāda Letter, December 8, 1974)
“This human form of life is gotten, we have received, after many, many births. These people, they do not know. It is very rare. Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings, manuṣya janama pāiya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nā bhajiyā, jāniyā suniyā viṣa khāinu. Hari hari viphale janama goiṅu. He is lamenting, ‘My dear Kṛṣṇa, I am so unfortunate. I got this human form of life. It was meant for developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But I have wasted my time otherwise. So how it is so? Jāniyā suniyā viṣa khāinu. Knowingly I have taken poison. Knowingly.”
(Śrīla Prabhupāda Lecture, London, July 26, 1973)
“It is not my mental concoction, but I believe in the words of Narottama Dasa Thakur that the shelter of the Lotus Feet of Lord Nityananda is as cooling effectively as the combined moonshine of millions of moons. So I am sure anyone taking shelter of Krsna Consciousness Movement will be happy. Please try to push this Movement on this process.”
(Śrīla Prabhupāda Letter, September 2, 1970)
“As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is ‘yes.’ This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: ‘cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei’, he is my Lord birth after birth.”
(Śrīla Prabhupāda Letter, January 7, 1976)
Read More:
Read the songs of Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura from the book ‘Songs of the Vaishnava Acaryas’ (Original 1972 Edition): https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CQTB7Hrw3_9NQJhj8NN17HgvRRDZfo59&usp=drive_fs
