Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Vasudeva Ghosh
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 – Sri Vasudeva Ghosh tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Los Angeles California, USA and Mayapura,. West Bengal, India time]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Rare picture of Sri Caitanya Maha Prakasha with Advaita Acarya and Sita Thakurani worshpping Lord Gauranga ‘s lotus feet, Narahari Sarakara Thakura fanning and Vasudeva and Madhava Ghosh singing for Lord Caitanya
vāsudeva gīte kare prabhura varṇane
kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇa drave yāhāra śravaṇe
SYNONYMS
vāsudeva—of the name Vāsudeva; gīte—while singing; kare—does; prabhura—of Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; varṇane—in description; kāṣṭha—wood; pāṣāṇa—stone; drave—melt; yāhāra—whose; śravaṇe—by hearing.
TRANSLATION
When Vāsudeva Ghoṣa performed kīrtana, describing Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing it. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.19 :
TEXT 42
govinda-ghoṣa-pradhāna kaila āra sampradāya
haridāsa, viṣṇudāsa, rāghava, yāhāṅ gāya
SYNONYMS
govinda-ghoṣa—Govinda Ghosh; pradhāna—the chief; kaila—formed; āra—another; sampradāya—group; haridāsa—the younger Haridāsa; viṣṇudāsa—Viṣṇudāsa; rāghava—Rāghava; yāhāṅ—where; gāya—sing.
TRANSLATION
The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghosh as leader. In this group the younger Haridāsa, Viṣṇudāsa and Rāghava were the responding singers. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra : Madhya 13.42
mādhava, vāsudeva-ghoṣa,-dui sahodara
nṛtya karena tāhāṅ paṇḍita-vakreśvara
SYNONYMS
mādhava—Mādhava; vāsudeva-ghoṣa—Vāsudeva Ghosh; dui sahodara—two brothers; nṛtya karena—dances; tāhāṅ—there; paṇḍita-vakreśvara—Vakreśvara Paṇḍita.
TRANSLATION
Two brothers named Mādhava Ghosh and Vāsudeva Ghosh also joined this group as responsive singers. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the dancer.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra : Madhya 13.43 : T
kalavati rasollasa gunatunga vraje sthitah
shri-vishakha-kritam gitam gayanti smadya ta matah
govinda-madhavananda-vasudeva yatha-kramam
Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were three gopis in Vraja, namely Kalavati, Rasollasa and Gunatunga, who used to sing the songs composed by Vishakha.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 188)
The meritorious Madhava Ghosh devoted himself to kirtan. There was no singer on earth who was his equal. It was said of him that he was a singer from Vrindavan. He was most dear to Nityananda Prabhu. The three brothers, Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva began to sing while Lord Nityananda danced.
(Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.5.257-9)
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu danced to the kirtan of the three brothers, Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva.
(Chaitanya Bhagavat 1.15.115)
govinda, mādhava, vāsudeva–tina bhāi
yāṅ-sabāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-nitāi
SYNONYMS
govinda—of the name Govinda; mādhava—of the name Mādhava; vāsudeva—of the name Vāsudeva; tina bhāi—three brothers; yāṅ-sabāra—all of whom; kīrtane—in the performance of saṅkīrtana; nāce—dance; caitanya-nitāi—Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda Prabhu.
TRANSLATION
The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda used to dance in their kīrtana performances.
PURPORT
The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa all belonged to a kāyastha family. Govinda established the Gopīnātha temple in Agradvīpa, where he resided. Mādhava Ghoṣa was expert in performing kīrtana. No one within this world could compete with him. He was known as the singer of Vṛndāvana and was very dear to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. It is said that when the three brothers performed saṅkīrtana, immediately Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda would dance in ecstasy. According to the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (188), the three brothers were formerly Kalāvatī, Rasollāsā and Guṇatuṅgā, who recited the songs composed by Śrī Viśākhā-gopī. The three brothers were among one of the seven parties that performed kīrtana when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu attended the Ratha-yātrā festival at Jagannātha Purī. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the chief dancer in their party. This is vividly described in the Madhya-līlā, Chapter Thirteen, verses 42 and 43.
nityānande ājñā dila yabe gauḍe yāite
mahāprabhu ei dui dilā tāṅra sāthe
ataeva dui-gaṇe duṅhāra gaṇana
mādhava-vāsudeva ghoṣerao ei vivaraṇa
SYNONYMS
nityānande—unto Lord Nityānanda; ājñā—order; dila—gave; yabe—when; gauḍe—to Bengal; yāite—to go; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ei dui—these two; dilā—gave; tāṅra sāthe—with Him; ataeva—therefore; dui-gaṇe—in both the parties; duṅhāra—two of them; gaṇana—are counted; mādhava—of the name Mādhava; vāsudeva—of the name Vāsudeva; ghoṣerao—of the surname Ghoṣa; ei—this; vivaraṇa—description.
TRANSLATION
When Nityānanda Prabhu was ordered to go to Bengal to preach, these two devotees [Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa] were ordered to go with Him. Thus they are sometimes counted among the devotees of Lord Caitanya and sometimes among the devotees of Lord Nityānanda. Similarly, Mādhava and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa belonged to both groups of devotees simultaneously.
PURPORT
There is a place named Dāṅihāṭa, near the Agradvīpa railway station and Pāṭuli in the district of Burdwan, where the Deity of Śrī Gopīnāthajī is still situated. This Deity accepted Govinda Ghoṣa as His father. Even until today, the Deity performs the śrāddha ceremony on the anniversary of the death of Govinda Ghoṣa. The temple of this Deity is managed by the rāja-vaṁśa family of Kṛṣṇanagara, whose members are descendants of Rājā Kṛṣṇacandra. Every year in the month of Vaiśākha, when there is a bāradola ceremony, this Gopīnātha Deity is taken to Kṛṣṇanagara. The ceremony is performed with eleven other Deities, and then Śrī Gopīnāthajī is brought back to the temple in Agradvīpa. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.14-15 :
govinda, madhava, vasudeva—tina bhai
yan-sabara kirtane nace caitanya-nitai
(CC. 1.10.115)
The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda used to dance in their kirtana performances.
The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosa all belonged to a kayasthafamily. Govinda established the Gopinatha Temple in Agradwipa, where he resided.
prabhura ajñaya nityananda gaude calila
tanra sange tina-jana prabhu-ajñaya aila
(CC. 1.10.117)
By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, three Devotees accompanied Lord Nityananda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal to preach.
ramadasa, madhava, ara vasudeva ghosa
prabhu-sange rahe govinda paiya santosa
(CC. 1.10.118)
These three were Ramadasa, Madhava Ghosha and Vasudeva Ghosha. Govinda Ghosha, however, remained with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri and thus felt great satisfaction.