Disappearance Day of Sri Rasikananda

What is the disappearance day of Sri Rasikananda?

On the disappearance day of Sri Rasikananda, devotees remember how this great disciple of Sri Syamananda left this world and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes. In 2027 the day falls on Tuesday, 9 March, the same day as the disappearance of Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji.

Significance

Rasikananda appeared in a royal family in Mallabhumi. A voice from the sky foretold that he would become the disciple of Sri Syamananda. Syamananda later initiated him and his wife into the Radha-Krishna mantra and gave him the service of Sri Radha-Govinda Deva at Gopiballabhpur. From there Rasikananda preached for about sixteen years. Kings and landowners took shelter of him, and a wild elephant sent against him became a servant of the Vaishnavas.

By the tremendous influence of Rasikananda's preaching, many rogues, robbers and atheists were delivered from their sinful activities and received his mercy.

Bhakti-ratnakara 15.86

A Gaudiya biography says that on the first day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna, which falls in February and March, Rasikananda walked quietly to Remuna. There he asked the devotees to begin sankirtana and entered the temple of Sri Ksira-cora Gopinatha. Today his samadhi stands at that temple.

How to observe it

Devotees hear the story of Rasikananda's meeting with Syamananda and of his love for Lord Jagannatha. To honour a departed acarya they sing the bhajana Je anilo prema dhana. You can also read Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, chapter 4, which tells of Ksira-cora Gopinatha at Remuna.