Siddha Jaganntha dsa Bbji and Nady Ngar Bhva

Dedicated to Siddha Jagannatha dasa Babaji on his tirobhava tithi

[disappearance day] Wednesday 9th March (UK) 2016

Sources of information:
The writings of Jagannatha dasa Babaji's direct disciples
Gadadhara prana dasa's research
The research of the author [Radhacarana dasa]
For more info: rbains@hotmail.co.uk

Introduction
Most readers will be surprised to hear that not only is Nadiya Nagari Bhava a genuine part of the
Gaudiya Tradition, but that many of Gauranga's associates and later Gaudiya Mahajanas also
worshipped in this way. Jagannatha dasa Babaji was one such Mahajana. As we read through this
article, we shall discover step by step how he harboured the love of a girl of Navadvipa in his heart
for Sri Gauranga.
It is a well known fact for those who are well versed in the Gaura lila sastras that such moods are
portrayed in granthas such as: Sri Caitanya Mangala of Locana dasa Thakura as well as in his
padavali songbook entitled Dhamali. Narahari Cakravartipada's Bhakti Ratnakara and Gaura Carita
Cintamani. Narahari Sarkara Thakura's padavali, granthas as well as in the works and padavali
[songs] of other Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajanas.
It must be noted that this article has not been written to establish the validity of Nadiya Nagari
Bhava. Fortunate readers may get in contact and request to receive books and material suitable for
this purpose if they wish.
Huge acknowledgements go to Gadadhara prana dasa for providing the bulk of the content for this
article, without whose steadfast determination and love for this topic, such confidential matters
would be scarcely known.
May Sri Jagannatha dasa Babaji be pleased with my efforts to make others aware of his loving
relationship with his beloved Rasaraja Gauranga.

Contents
[1] Lured from Vrindavan to Navadvipa
[2] Jagannatha dasa Babaji's sucaka kirtana
[3] His love for Srikhanda [the hometown of Narahari Sarkara Thakura]
[4] How Jagannatha dasa Babaji reconciled manjari bhava with nagari bhava
[5] Ramahari dasa Babaji Babaji's vesa disciple
[6] Closing words

Lured from Vrndavan to Nabadvipa

It is known that at a very advanced age, Jagannatha dasa Babaji suddenly decided to leave Vrndavan
and headed for Nabadvipa to engage in Gauranga's nagari bhava bhajan. This was due to the
association of Bhagavan dasa Baba of Ambika Kalna whom he had met in Vrndavan.
As Sri Rupa Gosvami states: krsna-tad-bhakta-karunya-matra-labhaika-hetuka - The only causes
of the appearance of sacred greed [to worship in a particular bhava etc] are the mercy of Krsna
or His devotee.
Jagannatha dasa Babaji had given babaji vesa to Ramahari dasa Babaji. Ramahari dasa Babaji in
turn had a disciple named Visvambhara dasa Babaji. This Visvambhara dasa Babaji explains the
situation in his own book Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava.
Sri Jagannatha dasa Babaji then requested his disciple, Bihari dasa, to carry him to Navadvipa
Dhama so he could take shelter there. On his way to Nabadvipa, Jagannatha dasa Babaji first went
to Kalna where he spent some days hearing about Nabadvipa's madhura upasana pranali [path of
worshipping Gauranga in madhura bhava] from Bhagavan dasa Babaji.
Here is how Visvambhara dasa Babaji describes Babaji's deep anuraga for Gauranga in his book,
Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava.
babaji kahena kahi ihara uttora
navadvipera tattva tomara na hoy gocara
sri gauranga gosai paratattva sima
sarva dhama hoite tara dhamera mahattva
parama nigura lila ke bhujibe tattva
navadvipa prananatha akarsilo citte
turite calibo are na pari rohite
ekhane prasada mui na bhunjibo ara
sisyagana kahe mora uttaho satvara
prananatha kache jete poriteche badha
ekhane rohite tila adha nahi sadha
TRANSLATION :
Listen, I want to go to Nabadvipa Jagannatha dasa Babaji said, Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu is the Paratattva-sima, the Highest limit of the Absolute Truth. So the glories of
his dhama surpass all others. Yet more confidential than Mahaprabhu's tattva or his Dhama's
tattva are his madhura prema lilas, which you can not understand. O Nabadvipa's
Prananatha is stealing my heart now! So quickly let me go, for I can remain here no longer. I
shall not take prasada here again. he implored them. I shall go to see my Prananatha, for I
can't even remain here for another half second! - Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava
DISCUSSION :
Visvambhara dasa Baba makes it quite clear that Jagannatha dasa Babaji was overtaken with sacred
greed [lobha] and became anxious to worship Gauranga in Nagari Bhava. Sri Gauranga's kisora
murti [youthful form] is such, that no one can blame Baba for this! Visvambhara dasa Baba

personally heard about this and other facts from those who were direct disciples of Jagannatha dasa
Babaji and of course his own Gurudeva, Ramahari dasa Babaji. We will also see what other
disciples of Jagannatha dasa Baba had to say about his mood towards Gauranga also.

Jagannatha dasa Babaji's sucaka kirtan

On the disappearance days of great Gaudiya Vaisnava bhaktas, there is often a sucaka kirtan sung to
facilitate remembrance and glorification of the particular Vaisnava. This tradition is still strong in
both Bengal and Vraja. For those unfamiliar with the term, a sucaka kirtan is basically a song
wherein the life, pastimes and teachings of a particular personality are described. They are often
composed by immediate disciples or anyone devoted or acquainted with the particular personality.
In this case, Jagannatha dasa Babaji's sucaka kirtana was written by Narahari dasa Babaji, a vesa
disciple of Baba's who knew him closely during Baba's last years before his disappearance. This
kirtan is sung in Babaji's samadhi mandira every year. They begin by singing:
sri jagannatha mahasaya jara prana-dhana
gauranga nagara kanta bhave jara upasana
Sri Gauranga Nagara was Jagannatha dasa Babaji's life and soul.
And he worshipped him in kanta bhava [as a female lover].
Let us see what the kirtan describes :
jugala bhajana sra
nadiy lil jra
rasarja gaurnga ngara
kntbhve sev sa
kori jaganntha dsa
vraja cre loye anucora
kateka divasa jaya
asiya ramya nadiyya
bhajana kutire kore vsa
lil sukha asvdana
jniya parama dhana
magna rohe koto na ullse
aharaha harinma
eka danda visrma
jato kath kahe bhvavese
gor nma dhori anga
khone nce nna range
akhinire tanu jaya bhse
priti sabra sane
sstra kath alapane
mugdha kori jato nadera vsi
sdhana bhajana patha
dekhaile akasmta
ekabra dekha do he si
narahari priya ptro
ei sudhu jni matro
koro tumi more krp dna
narahari dsa cya
mtha kutiya tom pya
jra lgi sad kde prna

TRANSLATION :
Although Radha and Krishna's jugala bhajana is your life and soul, Rasaraja Gauranga
Nagara stole your heart! So desiring to serve Gauranga in kantabhava [as a female lover] you
left Vraja, being carried by your sevaka [Bihari dasa].
Arriving in Nadiya's beautiful abode, you lived in a hut to adopt Gaura lila's relish as your
main focus in bhajana. So when steeped in the bliss of lila smarana, you chanted Harinama
japa constantly, resting only for one danda [24 mins] each day.
You were often transported in bhava from the lila world when you spoke. You wrote Gora
on your body [chest], and sometimes got up to dance, becoming soaked in tears! But you
shared your love with everyone, and when you explained the sastras, everyone became
enchanted.
Oh Baba! You showed me the path of sadhana and bhajana. But will you return [suddenly] to
offer your darsana again? You are Thakura Narahari Sarkara's dear companion [the nitya
siddha parsada of Gauranga who spread this bhava] that is all I know. So please bestow such
mercy to me. Narahari dasa cries out, I Shall pound my head in the dust because my heart
cries to attain an eternal place besides your lotus feet!
DISCUSSION :
The sucaka kirtana is certainly very interesting, for it reveals a relatively little known side of
Jagannatha dasa Babaji's life and devotion. Importantly, this sucaka kirtan corroborates the version
that we mentioned earlier from Visvambhara dasa Baba's book, Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava.
Moreover, the Vaisnavas have traditionally sung this sucaka kirtan on Jagannatha dasa Baba's
disappearance festival since 1897. This is observed 14 days before Gaura purnima. Many of the
Vaisnavas who have organise and participate in this festival have no particular interest to pursue
Gauranga Nagari bhajana themselves but yet they still acknowledge and celebrate Jagannatha
Babaji's devotion in this mood. This is quite befitting.
How one mahanta [leader] tried to censore the sucaka kirtan In recent times however [in the last 5 years], a new mahanta took charge of the samadhi mandira of
Jagannatha dasa Babaji. On one particular disappearance festival of Babaji, this mahanta selected a
new sucaka kirtan to be performed instead of Narahari dasa Babaji's which had always been
traditionally performed.
My good friend Gadadhara prana dasa took note of this and later spoke to Vrndavan dasa Babaji,
the kirtaniya who performed at Jagannatha dasa Babaji's samadhi mandira. Vrndavan dasa Babaji
told him that previously he had always sung the sucaka kirtan written by Narahari dasa Babaji, but
that this new mahanta had forced him to sing this alternative kirtan. Vrndavan dasa Babaji also
mentioned that he had been personally performing the original sucaka kirtan for many decades at
the festival and that his own Guru had also done the same previously. He was adamant that the
following year, he would return to the original kirtan describing Jagannatha dasa Babaji's Nagari
bhava.
Later, both Gadadhara prana dasa and Sadhudasa anudasa [a disciple of Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada] went to speak with the mahanta at the time. The mahanta upon being
questioned, lied and told them that the sucaka kirtana regarding Jagannatha dasa Babaji's Nagari

bhava had never been sung at the temple before! Even though many could confirm otherwise!
When Gadadhara prana dasa then produced a handwritten copy that the kirtaniya Vrndavan dasa
Babaji had given him and presented it before him, the mahanta became red faced and very angry
and begun hurling abuse. Fortunately, this was the end of the confrontation. The following year, by
Gaura's mercy, the original sucaka kirtan of Narahari dasa Babaji was restored but this episode goes
to show how this bhava is dismissed despite the abundance of positive evidence.
In late 2014, I also fortuned to meet with the kirtaniya Vrndavan dasa Babaji at the Dhamesvara
Mahaprabhu temple [Mahaprabhu badi as it is locally known] as he sang for the festival of another
Topmost rasika Siddha Mahatma's disappearance festival, Siddha Caitanya dasa Babaji.

His love for Srikhanda [the hometown of Narahari Sarkara Thakura]

Jagannatha dasa Babaji would often visit Srikhanda, the home of Gauranga's dear associate, Sri
Narahari Sarkara Thakura and centre for Gauranga Nagari Bhava worship. His visits and activities
were documented in the periodical magazine Madhumati Patrika which was active at the time.
In Visvambhara dasa Babaji's Gauranga Rasaraja Svabhava, it is written:
When Vaisnavas would approach Jagannatha dasa Babaji asking for diksa, this would disturb his
bhajana and instead he would advise them:
sri khanda nivasi iha siddha vamsa haya
era sthane diksa laibare se juwaya
narahari thakurera sambandhe je dhare
rasamaya gaura-pati milaye tahare
TRANSLATION: Why don't you take diksa from Sri Narahari's vamsa [lineage] parampara,
this is befitting. For those who maintain a relationship with Narahari Sarkara Thakura, they
will be privileged to attain rasamaya Gauranga as their lover.''
His quote on the temple at Srikhanda The quotes of many famous Gaudiya Mahajanas were on display on the temple wall at Srikhanda.
A quote commonly known to be spoken by Siddha Jagannatha dasa Babaji was also on display
there. He had said that Vrindavan was gopi-braja, Nabadvipa was bhakti-braja, and that Srikhanda
was rati-braja''.
This means that Srikhanda's special feature is that it is the embodiment of the high voltage
madhurya bhava of the girls of Nadiya, the rati-braja that is famous for rati, amorous union
[madhura milana].

Confirming the quote As well as being described in Visvambhara dasa babaji's Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava, there are
many Vaisnavas who confirm this quote of Jagannatha dasa Baba. In November 2014, I had the
good fortune to attend a 5 day viraha mahotsava [disappearance festival] in honour of Sri Narahari
Sarkara Thakura in Srikhanda itself. During this time I was also able to enquire from several
Vaisnavas regarding the quote of Jagannatha dasa Babaji.
On my last day there, I also spoke with one of Narahari Sarkara Thakura's family descendants,
Banku Bilasa Thakura. He verbally confirmed to me that previously the quote had been painted on
the wall of the temple but that the temple had been renovated and repainted a few years ago and
therefore the quotes were no longer visible but that they were well known to even the local residents
of Srikhanda, which I had already confirmed earlier with several locals.

How Jagannatha dasa Babaji reconciled manjari bhava with nagari bhava

Now, someone might ask how is it possible for those who are situated in manjari bhava in Vraja lila
to then be attracted to Gauranga romantically in Nabadvipa lila? Since the manjaris never wish to
meet with Krsna directly, not even in their dreams, how can it be compatible? Jagannatha dasa Baba
gives the answer:
eve rdh rasarja kore tmastha
ngara rupe teho hailo sksta
eve vilsate anugatye nhi jya
gaurnga vilse jugaler sukha hoy
sr gaurnga rasarja mahbhva milan
gaurnga sevile hoy jugal sevna
sarva vatre teho purusa pradhna
sei prabhu bhajile habe rase ageyna
TRANSLATION: When Radha merges with rasaraja Krsna, She directly accompanies Her
rasika nagara. So now the manjaris' prema vilasa [loving sports] with Gauranga will be an
anugata yugal seva which will please both Radha and Krsna. Therefore, who wouldn't become
spellbound when serving this Supreme purusa, Who is the Source of all Avataras ? - This
verse was recorded by Jagannatha Baba's vesa disciple, Ramhari dasa Baba, and published by his
disciple Visvambara dasa Baba in his Rasaraja Gauranga Svabhava.
The Manjaris have love for both Radha and Krsna. They have yugala prema [love for the divine
couple], therefore when they serve Gauranga in this way, this is still to be known as service to the
divine couple and not otherwise. Gauranga is the combination of both Radha and Krsna and
therefore his beauty is such, that he is able to attract and subjugate even those who are dedicated
manjaris as we see in the case of Jagannatha dasa Baba and other Gaudiya Vaisnava saints.

Painting of Narahari Sarkara Thakura, Gauranga and Gadadhara Pandita

[on the wall of Haridasa Thakura's samadhi mandira, Jagannatha Puri]

Ramahari dasa Babaji Babaji's vesa disciple

Since we have already mentioned Visvambhara dasa Babaji, it would be helpful to present
something about his Guru, Ramahari dasa Babaji focusing on his relationship to Jagannatha dasa
Babaji and his teachings.
By good fortune, Ramahari dasa Babaji met and took shelter of Siddha Jagannath dasa Babaji.
Jagannatha dasa Babaji could understand that he was very serious and determined in his sadhana
and therefore he arranged for him to receive diksa from Sri Radhikavilasa Thakura of Srikhanda
who was then staying in the kutira with him. Then Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja himself gave
him Babaji vesa and named him Ramahari dasa Babaji. Since his home and family were not far
away, his family members continued to give Ramahari trouble so he decided to go to Braja to do his
bhajana. He stayed at Kesi Ghata, Radhakunda, and Lala Babu's kunja in Vamsivata for 12 years.
He was a very loving and affection soul and treated all equally. He was especially fond of Gaura
kirtan and instructed his disciples to read Locana dasa's Dhamali as part of their daily sadhana. He
was so attracted to Gaura Naam that if anyone said the name of Gaura he would embrace them with
love. His favourite Vaisnavas to associate with were the disciples of Jagannatha dasa Babaji and he
also loved to do kirtana with the famous kirtaniya Sri Ramadasa Babaji.

Here we see a clear reference that Jagannatha dasa Babaji directed Ramahari dasa Babaji to take
diksa under Radhikavilasa Thakura who was from Srikhanda [Narahari Sarkara's hometown and
centre for Nagari Bhava]. Later on, Ramahari dasa Babaji daily read the book Dhamali, which is
full of songs in adoration of Gauranga in Nagari bhava.
Before moving on, let us quickly sample something Jagannatha dasa Babaji's disciple, Ramahari
dasa Babaji himself wrote.
gaura pranayini gane purusa abarana
keno ba rakhaye kichu suno vibarana
nagare nagare ara bajare bajare
sankirtan rasa rase bilase je kore
parikara rupa jato tahare dekhaya
antare yuvati rupe ramana koraye
TRANSLATION: Why do Gauranga's consorts externally appear in male forms? The reason
is that Gauranga's sankirtana goes everywhere, down the main roads and through the market
places. Hence those who exchange rasa bilasa with Gauranga during sankirtana rasa lila have
male parikara forms [to hide the mystery]. But they manifest their internal female svarupas to
exchange conjugal love.
As it is well known that Jagannatha dasa Baba was a siddha mahatma, by his mercy, he was able to
make others perfected also. The following excerpt describes the disappearance lila of Jagannatha
dasa Baba's disciple, Ramahari dasa Baba who followed in his footsteps:
nitya lila prabesibo guru mone kori
sisyagane kahilen sambhodana kori
prahareha bela jabe kahila takhan
srivasa prangane bahirilo sankirtan
sighra snana tilakadi kori deho more
vilamba na sohe ami jabo tathakara
ajna paya sisyagan sab samadhilo
caturdike vaisnavete kirtan arambhilo
nayan mudiya guru dheyane bosila
ujjvala murti dhori navadvipa gela
kona siddha vaisnavete kailo darsana
gaura parikara madhya hailo ganana
navina nagari eka tahara bhitore
nava rasa cahani gauranga nagare
sri gauranga tarangini svarupera nama
tahate purna hoy gora manas kama
gaura pranayini gane daya abarana
nagare nagare ara bajare bajare
sankirtan rasa rase vilasa je kore
parikara rupa jato lokera dekhaye
antare jubati rupe ramana koraye
gurudeva sikhayen ei adhama dvare
tara krpa bale likhi jaha kicher sphare
je deha rahlinga gurua korida gaman
se deha heriya kade sab sisyagan

TRANSLATION: When my gurudeva [Sri Ramahari dasa Baba] saw the fit time to enter the
nitya lila, he called and said, The night has come, and the sankirtan will soon begin at
Srivasa Angana. Please bathe me quickly and put on my dress and tilaka. Don't delay, I shall
go there immediately.
Receiving my guru's order, those disciples carried out his instructions, and the bhaktas began
kirtan Sitting in their midst my gurudeva closed his eyes to meditate. And in his effulgent
siddha deha [perfected spiritual body] he went to Nabadvipa to assume his eternal Gaura lila
svarupa. But within his male form was a kishori nagari svarupa. And upon viewing Gauranga
nagara, her love awakened for Him. Her nagari name is Gauranga Tarangini, and she can
fully satisfy his desires.
Gauranga's consorts externally appear in male forms that are outer coverings. When the
sankirtan goes through the town and the market places, the people see only those male forms
dancing beside Gauranga. Yet during the sankirtana's rasa lila, they share amorous pastimes
with Gauranga in kisori svarupas.
Although I am very fallen, my gurudeva taught me these confidential siddhantas. So it is by
his mercy that I can write about them. When he left his body, all of his disciples began
weeping in misery.
This great incident happened in Sri Vrndavan in 1907. It is noteworthy that Siddha Ramahari dasa
Baba was very famous amongst the Vrndavan Vaisnava community. Hence his disappearance
festival included one of the largest prasada distributions to have ever taken place in Vraja mandala.
The greatest mahatmas of the time all attended. Vaisnavas poured in from Radha Kunda,
Govardhana, Surya Kunda, Kamya vana, Carana pakhari, Varsana, Nandagrama and Prema
Sarovara, not to mention the many mahatmas who arrived from Bengal and other parts of India.
Although two tons of Malpua [pancake like dessert] were prepared for prasada distribution, they
had to be broken into small pieces to meet the festival's demand!

Closing words

We have heard a little bit about the uncommon glories of Jagannatha dasa Babaji's love for Sri
Gauranga Nagara. For those who doubt the authenticity of this article but wish to know more, I
request that they contact me and enquire further. For those who vehemently oppose, I still offer my
pranamas to them! For they are fortunate enough to be connected with Gora and the Vaisnavas.
In this article, we have incorporated the testimonies of various independent sources regarding
Jagannatha dasa Babaji's nagari bhava.
[1] The writings of Visvambhara dasa Baba who was a grand disciple of Jagannatha dasa Baba.
[2] The sucaka kirtana written by Narahari dasa Baba who was a disciple of Jagannatha dasa Baba.
[3] Testimony of Ramahari dasa Baba, the disciple of Jagannatha dasa Baba.
[4] Banku bilasa Thakur's testimony [descendant of Narahari Sarkara] as well as several locals.
[5] Vrndaban dasa Babaji's testimony that he and his Guru before him have been traditionally
singing the nagari bhava sucaka on Jagannatha dasa Baba's disappearance festival.

Although not mentioned thus far, it should also be mentioned that another prominent disciple of
Jagannatha dasa Babaji named Gaurahari dasa Babaji also worshipped Gauranga in nagari bhava.
He is renowned as the vesa guru of Radharaman Carana dasa deva [Barha Baba] whose group have
a large following and have spread Nitai Gaura kirtan far and wide. This is known from the
biography of Radharaman Carana dasa deva entitled, Carita Sudha, which was produced in brief by
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami's disciple Adikesava dasa [OBL Kapoor] under the title The
Life of Love.
Also, worthy of note is that Bhaktivinoda Thakura who took siksa from Jagannatha dasa Babaji
published several ancient songs in his Sajjana Tosani magazine wherein the Nagari describes her
love for Gauranga. The author of the songs Jagadananda dasa hailed from Srikhanda and was a near
contemporary of Narahari Sarkara Thakura. These songs were sent to Bhaktivinoda by Kisori
Mohan Gosvami of Burdwan. This has been discussed in previous articles.
In future articles on Jagannatha dasa Babaji's nagari bhava, we hope to produce material from the
periodical magazine Madhumati Patrika which recorded details of the regular visits of Jagannatha
dasa Babaji as he participated in the festivals at Srikhanda.
sri jagannatha mahasaya jara prana-dhana
gauranga nagara kanta bhave jara upasana
Sri Gauranga Nagara was Jagannatha dasa Babaji's life and soul.
And he worshipped him in kanta bhava [as a female lover].
Jaya Siddha Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja ki Jaya!