Disappearance Day of Sri Govinda Ghosh
Disappearance Day
All day
What is the Disappearance Day of Sri Govinda Ghosh?
The Disappearance Day of Sri Govinda Ghosh, also known as Ghosa Thakura, falls on Saturday, 3 April 2027. He sang in Lord Caitanya's kirtan party, and on this day he left this world and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes.
Significance
Govinda and his brothers, Madhava and Vasudeva, sang so sweetly that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda would begin to dance. At the Ratha-yatra festival in Jagannatha Puri, Govinda led the fourth kirtan party, and Vakresvara Pandita was its chief dancer. The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika identifies the three brothers as the gopis Kalavati, Rasollasa and Gunatunga, who sang the songs composed by Srimati Visakha.
Lord Caitanya asked Govinda to stay at Agradvipa and serve the Deity Sri Gopinatha. The Lord had noticed that Govinda kept fruit aside for the next day, and from this Srila Prabhupada draws a lesson: a Vaishnava depends on the Lord's mercy day by day. In later years Govinda worried about who would perform his last rites, and Sri Gopinatha promised to do it Himself.
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.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.115
How to observe it
Govinda Ghosh is best honoured the way he served, by singing kirtan together with other devotees. Hear, too, the story of Sri Gopinatha of Agradvipa, who is said to perform the last-rites ceremony for His devotee every year.
Questions
When is the Disappearance Day of Govinda Ghosh in 2027?
It falls on Saturday, 3 April 2027, according to the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra.
Who was Govinda Ghosh?
Govinda Ghosh was an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, famous for his sweet kirtans at the Ratha-yatra in Jagannatha Puri. He also served the Deity Sri Gopinatha at Agradvipa.
Who performed the last rites of Govinda Ghosh?
His own Deity, Sri Gopinatha, according to tradition. Govinda had no surviving son, so Gopinatha promised in a dream to perform the ceremony Himself, and devotees say He still does it every year.
Who were the brothers of Govinda Ghosh?
His brothers were Madhava Ghosh and Vasudeva Ghosh, who also sang in Lord Caitanya's kirtan party. Srila Prabhupada writes that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda would dance when the three brothers sang.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Saturday, 3 April 2027
- Deity served
- Sri Gopinatha, Agradvipa
- Brothers
- Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosh
- Eternal identity
- Kalavati-sakhi
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.