About Srila Lochan Das Thakur

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Singur (West Bengal), 5 February 2021, part 11
Translated from Bengali

Today is the disappearance day of Srila Lochan Das Thakur. You know Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata was composed by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, and Srila Lochan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-mangala that contains even more pastimes of the Lord than Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata.

Srila Lochan Das Thakur appeared in a village near Katwa, Bardhaman District. This is the area where also our Guru Maharaj appeared and most of our guru-varga (Sri Narahari Thakur, Sri Acharya Srinivas, and many others) stayed. I have told you before that the appearance and disappearance of Vaishnavs are non-different from each other. Today is Krishna-ashtami, the the disappearance day of Srila Lochan Das Thakur. As I have just said, Srila Lochan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-mangal and appeared near Katwa in a village called Kogram. He was very fortunate because he got association of Gauranga Mahaprabhu's devotees from a very young age. His Guru is a devotee named Srila Narahari Thakur, and Srila Lochan Das Thakur writes in Sri Chaitanya-mangal,

thakura sri-narahari, dasa prana adhikari
yanra pada prati ase asa
adhamahe sadha kare, gora guna gahibare
se bharasa e lochana-dasa

"May Sri Thakur Narahari, an exalted and competent servant of the Lord, fulfil my longing to sing the glories of Gora (Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu). This is the aspiration of this Lochan Das."

amara thakura sri-narahari-dasa
pranati vinati karon pura mora asa

"I am offering obeisance to my worshippable Lord, Sri Narahari Das, and appealing to him fulfil my prayer."

In those days, all people chanted glorification of Laksmi, Shani and other demigods, but Srila Lochan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-mangala.

The name of Srila Lochan Das Thakur's father is Sri Kamalakar Das, and his mother's name is Sri Sadanandi. Because Srila Lochan Das Thakur was the only son of his father, he was the darling of his parents, the apple of their eyes. He very often stayed at the house of his grandfather and he was married at a very early age, but it did not affect him—he was very detached from everything material. He had no attachment to the material world, and he lived in the house of his Gurudev (Sri Narahari Thakur) in Srikhanda from his youth.

Before Srila Lochan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-mangala, he offered his obeisance and prayers to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, the composer of Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata (this book was previously known as Sri Chaitanya-mangala),

vrindavana dasa vandiba eka-chite
jagata mohita yanra bhagavata gite

"I am offering my whole-hearted obeisance to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, whose 'Bhagavat-gita' [lit. the song of 'Bhagavata', ref. to 'Chaitanya-bhagavata'] has captivated the whole world."

(Sri Chaitanya-mangal, Sutra-khanda)

In Sri Chaitanya-mangala, Srila Lochan Das Thakur describes the conversation that took place between Mahaprabhu and Sri Vishnupriya Devi before Mahaprabhu left her to take sannyas. Mahaprabhu would always feel restless—He was going to leave His house and a very young (thirteen-year-old) wife. Srila Lochan Das Thakur describes,

prabhura vyagrata dekhi, visnupriya chandra-mukhi,
kahe kichhu gad-gad svare
kaha kaha prananatha, mora sire diya hata,
sannyasa karibe naki tumi

"Seeing some perturbed eagerness in the Lord, moon-faced Vishnupriya Devi spoke in a little trembling voice, 'Tell me, tell me, Prananath. Put Your hand on my head and tell me—are You going to take sannyas?'"

loka mukhe suni iha, vidarite chahe hiya,
agunite pravesiba ami
to lagi jivana-dhana, rupa nava yauvana,
vesa vilasa bhava-kala

"'I hear people talk. You want to tear my heart apart—I will enter fire! You are the treasure of my life. This time of life is filled with beauty, fresh youth, it is the time when You dress well, live well, and love.'"

tumi yabe chhadi yabe, ki kaja e chhara jive,
hiya pore yena visa jvala

"'When You leave me, what will this wretched soul live for? My heart is burning in the agony as if I have taken poison...'"

What did Mahaprabhu say hearing this lamentation of Sri Vishnupriya Devi? It is described very beautifully in Sri Chaitanya-mangala of Srila Lochan Das Thakur.

e bola suniya panhu, muchaki hasiya lahu,
kahe suna mora pranapriya
kichhu na kariha chite, ye kahiye tora hite
sabadhane suna mana diya

"Hearing these words, the Lord said with a slight, gentle smile on His face, 'Listen to Me, dear. Do not stir your heart, what I am saying to you is for your benefit. Listen to Me carefully and attentively.'"

jagate yateka dekha, michha kari saba lekha,
satya eka sabe bhagavan
satya ara vaisnava, ta vine yateka saba,
michha kari karaha geyana

"'Everything you see in this world is false. The only truth is the Supreme Lord. Devotees of the Lord are also truth; know that other than, everything is false.'"

The Lord's Name, qualities, form, associates, features are the only truth, and everything else is false.

michha suta pati nari, pita-mata adi kari,
pariname keba na kahara
sri-krsna charana bahi, ara ta kutumba nahi
yata dekha saba maya tanra

"'Sons, husbands, women, parents, etc. are all false. Ultimately, nobody belongs to anyone. Except for Sri Krishna's lotus feet, there is no kin. Everything you see here is His illusion.'"

Who will you take as your own in this world? Only Krishna. Everything else in this world that you feel akin to, it is all maya, illusion.

ki nari purusa dekha, atma se sabara eka,
michha maya-bandhe bhave dui
sri-krsna sabara pati, ara saba prakrti,
e katha na bujhaye koi

"'Whether it is a man or a woman, everyone's souls is the same. Only those who are situated in illusory bondage see them as two different entities. Sri Krishna is everyone's husband, and all souls are female. Nobody can understand this.'"

raktareta sammilane, janma vistha mutra sthane,
bhume padi haya ageyana
bala yuba vrdda haiya, nana duhkha kasta paiya,
dehe-gehe kare abhimana

"'When some blood and semen is combined, one is born from the same place where urine and stool come out. It all later falls unconscious on the ground. Going through childhood, youth, old age, souls suffer so many austerities and become proud of their body and house.'"

This is so true! My father, mother have given me this body, but they have not given me that which I am. When this body expires, dirty things (stool, urine, blood, etc.) come out of it. Nothing else comes out of it. This body is a place of urine and stool. It is born from earth and after death it is again mixed with earth. People identify themselves with this body and suffer because of that.

bandhu kari yare pali, tara sabe dei gali,
abhimane vrddhatra kala vanche
sravana nayana andhe, visada bhariya kande,
tabu nahi bhajaye govinde

"'When all their friends have run away, everyone will swear them, and they will be cheated in their old age because of their pride. Deaf and blind, filled with sorrow, they will weep, but even then they will not worship Govinda.'"

krsna bhajibara tare, deha dhari e samsare,
maya bandhe pasari apana
ahankare matta haiya, nija prabhu pasariya,
sese paya naraka-yantrana

"'They have got a body in this world and if they use it to worship Krishna, they will automatically leave all illusory bondage. However, those who lose their mind because of pride forget their own Master and in the end they undergo hellish sufferings.'"

We sing, "Ahankare matta haina, Nitai-pada pasariya, asatyere satya kori mani (অহঙ্কারে মত্ত হৈঞা নিতাই-পদ পাসরিয়া অসত্যেরে সত্য করি' মানি). Maddened with pride, forgetting Nitai's feet, I accept untruth as truth." We always think, "This my house, my son, etc." We become so proud and suffer in hell.

tora nama visnupriya, sarthaka karaha iha,
michha soka na karaha chite
e tora kahilum katha, dura kara ana chinta
mana deha krsnera charite

"'Your name is Vishnupriya [who is dear to Lord Vishnu], so fulfil its meaning. There is no need for all this false grief in your heart.' I have told you all this, so do away with all worries and dedicate your mind and body to Krishna consciousness."

"Do not be grief-stricken—I can die one day too, so what is there to cry about? I have come to this world and I can do something good for this world." Mahaprabhu advised Sri Vishnupriya Devi in this way and revealed His chatur-bhuja murti to her—He showed her that He was not an ordinary human being.

apane isvara haiya, dura kare nija maya,
visnupriya parasanna chita
dure gele duhkha-soka, anande bharila buka,
chatur-bhuja dekhe achambita

"He is independent Lord, so He removed His own illusion. Vishnupriya felt pleased at heart—her sadness and grief had gone and her heart became filled with joy. She was then greatly surprised to see the Lord's four-armed form."

Seeing the Lord's form, Sri Vishnupriya Devi became very happy, however she still saw the Lord as her husband—this feeling did not leave her.

tabe devi visnupriya, chatur-bhuja dekhiya,
pati budhhi nahi chhade tabu
padiya charana tale, kakuti minati kare,
eka nivedana suna prabhu

"Yet even seeing the four-armed form of the Lord, Vishnupriya Devi could not give up her perception of the Lord as her husband. She fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly, 'Prabhu, please hear my one prayer.'"

mo ati adhama chhara, janamila e samsara,
tumi mora priya prana-pati
e hena sampada mora, dasi haiyachilum tora,
ki lagiya bhela adhogati

"'I am a very fallen wretched soul, I was born in this material world, but You are the dearmost lord of my heart, You are my all in all. Such is my wealth, I have become Your maidservant. Why am I so unfortunate?'"

iha bali visnupriya, kande utaroli haiya
adhika badila paramada
priya-jane artti dekhi, chhala chhala kare ankhi,
kole kari karila prasada

"Saying this, Vishnupriya Devi broke down and began to sob. Her plight became even worse. Seeing the grief of His beloved, with His eyes filled with tears, He took her on His lap and spoke mercifully:"

suna devi visnupriya, tomare kahila iha,
yakhane ye tumi mane kara
ami yatha tatha yai, achhiye tomara thani
ei satya kahilama dara

"'Listen, Vishnupriya Devi. I have told you that whenever you think of Me, I am always in your room, wherever I may be at that time. I assure you this is the truth.'"

prabhu ajna vani suni, visnupriya mana guni,
svatantra isvara ei prabhu
nija sukhe kara kaja, ke dibe tahate badha,
pratyuttara na dilena tabu

"Hearing Prabhu's advice and order, Vishnupriya composed herself thinking, 'This Prabhu is independent Supreme Lord. He does what pleases Him, what use is it trying to stop Him?' So, she said nothing in reply."

visnupriya heta mukhi, chhala chhala kare ankhi
dekhi prabhu sarasa sambhase
prabhura acharana katha sunite lagiye vyatha
guna gaya e lochana dase

"Vishnupriya Devi listened to the Lord's sweet words with her face lowered and eyes filled with tears... As Lochan Das relates these pastimes of the Lord, it gives him pain to hear about this behaviour of the Lord."

This is what Srila Lochan Das Thakur writes. He also wrote kirtans in glorification of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Parama karuna, Nitai-guna-mani amara, etc. He also wrote about the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Govinda in a book called Durlabha-sara:

are nikunja vane, syamera sane,
ki-rupa dekhilum rai
kemana vidhata, gadala murati,
lakhai nahika yai

"O what sort of form have I seen of Rai next to Shyam in Their Nikunja grove! It is inconceivable that the Creator can produce such a form!"

sajala jalada, kanura varana,
champa varani rai
mani marakata, kanchane jadita,
aichhana rahala thai

"There I beheld Kanu's body is the blue emerald colour of a water-bearing cloud, and Rai's golden colour is like that of a champa flower!"

kiye aparupa, rasa mandala,
ramani mandala ghata
mana-matha mana, paila achetana,
dekhiya o anga chhata

"What a superb form! He enjoys amorous pastimes with young ladies! Seeing His lustrous form, my mind swooned and I fell unconscious."

vadane madhura, hasa adhare,
hrdaye hrdaye sanga
kona rasavati, rasera avese
kusuma sayane anga

"He is lying on a bed of kusum flowers, His face emanating sweetness, His smile most affectionate, He is filled with joy and overcome with amorous ecstasy."

navina meghera, nivida abha,
tahe vijuri ujoi
dasa lochanera, rai saravasa
o-rasa avese so-i

"There is a lightning striking through the dense glow of this fresh rain-cloud. Rai is all in all for Lochan Das who is overwhelmed by these pastimes."

At the age of eighty-five, this Srila Lochan Das Thakur left his body. Today is his disappearance day. We must pray to Vaishnav Thakur, "Wherever you are, Prabhu, please bestow your mercy on this fallen and low soul so that I may live this life serving you."

Jay Srila Lochan Das Thakur ki jay
Tandiya tirobhav tithi-bara maha-mahotsav ki jay

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