Adi-lila, Chapter 10 325

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (203) it is said, ‘‘Bhagavatacarya compiled a book
entitled Kysna-prema-tarangini, and he was the most beloved devotee of Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Varahanagara,
a suburb of Calcutta, He stayed in the house of a most fortunate brahmana who
was a very learned scholar in Bhagavata literature. As soon as this brahmana saw
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he began to read Srimad-Bhdgavatam. When Mahaprabhu
heard his explanation, which expounded bhakti-yoga, He immediately became un-
conscious in ecstasy. Lord Caitanya later said, ‘‘l have never heard such a nice
explanation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. | therefore designate you Bhagavatacarya. Your
only duty is to recite Srimad-Bhdgavatam. That is My injunction.” His real name
was Raghunatha. His monastery, which is situated in Varahanagara, about three and
a half miles north of Calcutta on the bank of the Ganges, still exists, and it is
managed by the initiated disciples of the late Sri Ramadasa Babaji. Presently,
however, it is not as well managed as in the presence of Babaji Maharaja.

Another name of Thakura Saranga dasa was Sarnga Thakura. Sometimes he was
also called Sarngapani or Sarngadhara. He was a resident of Navadvipa in the neigh-
borhood known as Modadruma-dvipa, and he used to worship the Supreme Lord in
a secluded place on the bank of the Ganges. He did not accept disciples, but he was
repeatedly inspired from within by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to do so.
Thus one morning he decided, ‘‘Whomever | see | shall make my disciple.’” When he
went to the bank of the Ganges to take his bath, by chance he saw a dead body
floating in the water, and he touched it with his feet. This immediately brought the
body to life, and Thakura Saranga dasa accepted him as his disciple. This disciple
later became famous as Thakura Murari, and his name is always associated with
that of Sri Sarariga. His disciplic succession still inhabits the village of Sar. There is
a temple at Mamagacchi that is supposed to have been started by Sarniga Thakura.
Not long ago, a new temple building was erected in front of a bakula tree there,
and it is now being managed by the members of the Gaudtya Matha. It is said that
the management of the temple is now far better than before. In the Gaura-
ganoddesa-dipika (172) it is stated that Sarnga Thakura was formerly a gop7 named
Nandimukhi. Some devotees say that he was formerly Prahlada Maharaja, but Sri
Kavikarnapdra says that his father, Sivananda Sena, does not accept this proposition.

TEXT 114

@tate Ges, fet Aetastate |
catty METS, Mts aol atte nu y98 ti

Jagannatha tirtha, vipra sri-janakinatha
gopala acarya, ara vipra vaninatha
SYNONYMS

Jagannatha tirtha—of the name Jagannatha Tirtha; vipra—brahmana, Sri-
janakindtha—of the name Sri Janakinatha; gopd/a dcdrya—of the name
