Disappearance Day of Sri Gauridasa Pandita
Disappearance Day of Srila Rupa Gosvami
Disappearance Day
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What is the Disappearance Day of Sri Gauridasa Pandita?
The disappearance day of Sri Gauridasa Pandita marks the day this close associate of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda left this world and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes. He had made his home at Ambika Kalna, on the Ganges across from Santipura, in West Bengal. In 2027 the day falls on Friday, 13 August, the day after Pavitraropana Ekadashi.
Significance
In Vrindavan, Gauridasa Pandita was Subala, a cowherd friend of Krishna and Balarama. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives this identity from the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika. Gauridasa was the younger brother of Suryadasa Sarakhela and settled at Ambika Kalna with his elder brother's permission. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes how fully he surrendered:
Making Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda the Lords of his life, Gaurīdāsa Paṇḍita sacrificed everything for the service of Lord Nityānanda, even the fellowship of his own family.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 11.27
Tradition holds that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Themselves came to pose for the neem-wood Deities of Gaura-Nitai, who are still worshipped at Ambika Kalna. One story tells that while Gauridasa, Their priest, was offering arati during an ecstatic kirtana, the Deities joined the dancing.
How to observe it
Read Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 11.26 and 11.27, and hear the story of the Deities who joined the kirtana. Singing the names of Gaura and Nitai, with the care Gauridasa Pandita gave to Their service, is a fitting way to honour him. Srila Rupa Gosvami's disappearance is observed on the same day.
Questions
When is the disappearance day of Gauridasa Pandita in 2027?
It falls on Friday, 13 August 2027, the day after Pavitraropana Ekadashi. Srila Rupa Gosvami's disappearance day is on the same date.
Who was Gauridasa Pandita?
Gauridasa Pandita was a devotee of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda who lived at Ambika Kalna, across the Ganges from Santipura. In Krishna's pastimes he was Subala, a cowherd friend of Krishna and Balarama.
What is special about the Deities at Ambika Kalna?
Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda are said to have come Themselves to pose for these neem-wood Gaura-Nitai Deities. They are still worshipped at Ambika Kalna, in a small temple.
Why was Hridayananda called Hrdaya Caitanya?
Because Lord Caitanya leapt into Hridayananda's heart. A story told at Ambika Kalna says this happened when the Gaura-Nitai Deities had joined a kirtana and Gauridasa Pandita was chasing Them with a stick.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Friday, 13 August 2027
- Also on this day
- Disappearance Day of Srila Rupa Gosvami
- Pastimes in Vrindavan
- Subala, a cowherd friend of Krishna and Balarama
- Place
- Ambika Kalna, across the Ganges from Santipura
- Deities
- Gaura-Nitai, made of neem wood
Seva for this day
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