Disappearance Day of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

What is the Disappearance Day of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura?

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura lived in Vrindavana and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes at Radha-kunda. Devotees mark his disappearance on Vasanta Pancami, which in 2027 falls on Thursday, 11 February. He received the title Cakravarti because he stood foremost in the circle of Vaishnavas.

Significance

In the disciplic succession through which Bhagavad-gita As It Is was received, Srila Prabhupada lists him twenty-seventh. He follows Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura, and the line continues through Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to Srila Prabhupada himself. Visvanatha's Sarartha-darsini is a commentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Srila Prabhupada names him among the acaryas whose Bhagavatam commentaries a serious student should study. He also wrote on the Bhagavad-gita, which was spoken on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

When the Gaudiya line was challenged at Jaipur, he sent his student Baladeva Vidyabhusana to defend it, and the Vedanta commentary Baladeva wrote became the Govinda-bhasya.

On the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to Bhagavad-gita 2.41:

By satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied. And by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance of being promoted to the plane of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Bhagavad-gita 2.41, purport

How to observe it

In the same purport Srila Prabhupada quotes Visvanatha's famous prayer to the spiritual master, which begins yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado. On 11 February, read that purport slowly and think it over. Then spend some time with Visvanatha's Bhagavatam commentary, or with your own chanting.