Disappearance Day of Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura

What is the Disappearance Day of Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura?

Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura wrote Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, the story of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's life. His disappearance day is the day he left this world and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes, and in 2027 devotees observe it on Saturday, 1 May.

Significance

Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura's mother, Narayani Devi, was a niece of Srivasa Pandita. While still a child she received the mercy of Sri Gauranga and became mad with love of God. Her son was the last disciple of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Living as a celibate at Mamagacchi in Navadvipa, he established and worshipped Deities of Nitai-Gauranga and Sri Jagannatha Deva.

On the order of his spiritual master he wrote Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, and for this Srila Krsna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami honours him as the Vyasa of Caitanya-lila. Srila Prabhupada's translation of Caitanya-caritamrta gives the reason:

As Vyāsadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 8.34, translation

How to observe it

Devotees honour Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura by taking up the book he gave us. Read a chapter of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, or hear the pastimes of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda that it describes, and chant some extra rounds in gratitude to the Thakura.