© 1999 VNN
|
EDITORIAL December 11, 1999 VNN5061 Comment on this story The Life Of Narottama Das Thakur BY ARIJIT DAS EDITORIAL, Dec 11 (VNN) — 2nd Installment Day after day, Narottama began to think of how he could become free from family life and constantly engage himself in the Lord's service. He was indifferent to all material enjoyment; where most children usually like to play, he was uninterested in playing games. At this time, hearing the glories of Shri Nityananda and Shri Gauranga, from the lotus lips of the devotees of the Lord, his heart was filled with spiritual joy. As if he had been given new life, he felt great ecstasy. Within a few days of hearing the wonderful qualities of Gaura and Nityananda, he began to chant their holy names in japa day and night. One night the merciful Shri Gaurasundara, surrounded by his eternal associates appeared to Narottam in a dream and gave him darshan. After this, in order to understand how to become free from family life, Narottam das Thakur began to think day and night of how he could go to Vrindavana. Narottam has prayed, "Hari Hari! kabe haba Vrindavanavasi?" O Hari, when will I become a resident of Vrindavana? When will I serve the beautiful divine couple in Vrindavana with tears in my eyes? In this way, Narottama would constantly sing. Seeing Narottama's indifference to all sense pleasure and his intense renunciation, King Krishnananda and Narayani Devi began to think about what to do with him. Seeing that he was not inclined towards family life, and that he might soon leave home unexpectedly to go to Vrindavana they became very worried. They employed a guard to watch over him so that he couldn't leave. Narottama Das saw that the difficulties involved in escaping were becoming more impassable than the Himalayas, and thought that he might never be able to go to Vrindavana and absorb himself in the worship of the holy feet of Sri Gauranga. Thinking only of how to get the mercy of Shri Gaura-Nityananda, he began to pray very earnestly for guidance from them. And so it came to pass that some messengers came from the Ruler of Bengal, informing King Krishnananda that the ruler of Bengal wanted to meet with him. I order to meet with the Ruler of Bengal, Raja Krishnananda and his brother Purushottama Datta set out on a long journey to the court of the Ruler of Bengal. Narottama took advantage of the moment, thinking it to be a good opportunity to leave home. At that time, he secretly left his mother and his protectors, turned towards Vrindavana and began his journey to that Holy Land. It was on the full moon day in the month of Kartika that Narottama Thakura left his family behind. Passing through Bengal in a short time, he soon found himself on the road to Mathura. All the other pilgrims he would meet were very affectionate toward Narottama, as they could recognize him as the son of the king. He would sometimes live by drinking milk and sometimes would eat the roots and fruits as he went along. His constant hankering to see Vrindavana made his hunger and thirst go away. As he moved from place to place, he would hear the glories of Gaura and Nityananda from the mouths of many devotees. In this way he was always thinking about their lotus feet, constantly absorbed in meditation. As he walked and walked, he prayed to the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, as he has written: "ara kabe nitai chand..." "When will Nityananda show his mercy to me and free me from the world of birth and death? By his mercy one may give up material enjoyment and purify his mind. In this way, by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, one can attain Vrindavana." In this way, walking and walking, Narottama das arrived in Mathura and, seeing the Yamuna, he offered many prayers. Remembering the names of the Six Goswamis headed by Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, he began to weep in ecstasy. Gradually he came to Vrindavana itself and entered into that holy land. He was sent by Sri Jiva Goswami to serve the lotus feet of Lokanatha Goswami. Lokanatha Maharaj was very old, and was so deeply agonized by the pain of separation from Sri Gauranga that it was as if his very life had been taken away. Narottama offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of Sri Lokanatha and Lokanatha asked him, "Who are you?" Narottama said, "I am your fallen servant. I wish to serve your lotus feet," Lokanatha replied, "How can I, who an unable to serve Gaura-Nityananda, accept any service?" A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj said many times that Narottama dasa thakura is giving us the direction, how to reach reach highest perfectional stage of associating with Radha and Krsna. The first thing is that one should be very much attached to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That will help us. Because He came to deliver the understanding of Krsna consciousness, we should therefore first of all surrender to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By surrendering to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu will be pleased, and by Him being pleased, we shall be freed from material desires. And when material desires are no more, then we shall be able to enter Vrndavana. And after entering Vrndavana, when we are sincerely eager to serve the six Gosvamis, then we will reach the platform that will allow us understanding of the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. Submitted for the pleasure of the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by Arijit Das Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
