SRI PARAMESVARA DASA THAKURA

Sri Paramesvara dasa Thakura appeared in a family of physicians. His Sripat is
at Atapur, which was on the Canpandanga branch of the Howrah-Amrah rail line.
Rail service on this line has been discontinued. Direct bus service is
available from Howrah station; it is about a 2 hour journey from there.

Atapur was previously known as Visakhala. Sri Sri Radha-Govinda are still
residing at his Sripat. In front of the temple are two Bakul trees and in
between them is Paramesvara Thakura's Samadhi mandira.

Sri Krsna das Kaviraj Gosvami has written: "Paramesvara das, said to be the
fifth gopala of Krsna-lila, completely surrendered to the lotus feet of
Nityananda. Anyone who remembers his name, Paramesvara dasa, will get love of
Krsna very easily." [C.C. Adi 11.29]

Sri Kavi Karnapura Gosvami has written: <MI>namnarjunah sakha prag yo dasah
paramesvarah.<M> "Paramesvara dasa Thakura was previously the cowherd friend of
Sri Krsna named Arjuna."

Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura has written:

<MI>nityananda jivan paramesvar das jahar vigrahe nityananda vilasa krsna das
paramesvar das dvi jon gopabhave hoi hoi kore sarvakkon<M>

[C.B.]

"Paramesvara is the life of Lord Nityananda and his form (body) is the place of
his pastimes. Krsna dasa and Paramesvara, being in the mood of cowherd boys,
are always raising a commotion."

When Jahnava Mata attended the festival at Kheturi, Paramesvara accompanied her
and went to Vrindavana with her as well. He installed Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha
at Atapur in accordance with the desire of Sri Jahnava-devi, who was personally
present during the installation celebration.

<MI>paramesvari dasa thakura bandibo sabdhane srigale loyar nam sankirtan sthane<M>

One day, near Sri Rampur, at Akna Mahesh (the Sripat of Kamalakara Pippalai),
there was a festival of nama-sankirtan going on within the temple of Lord
Jagannatha there. Paramesvara was present and was dancing in a completely
God-intoxicated state. At that time some miscreants passed by there, and seeing
a dead fox lying on the road, they picked it up and threw it into the midst of
the sankirtan party.

The highly exalted Vaisnavas present didn't feel any anger towards those
ignorant fools, but Paramesvara felt sad to see the unfortunate dead fox, and
so by his merciful glance he brought it back to life. Then that fox trotted out
of the nat-mandir (kirtan hall) to the utter bewilderment of those miscreants,
who then immediately fled from the spot.

Paramesvara dasa Thakura accompanied the Deity of Radharani that Sri
Jahnava-devi sent to Vrindavana for Sri Govinda. He was the very dear servant
of Sri Jahnava Mata.

His disappearance is on the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha. On that day
the khunti (a symbol carried on a staff preceeding the kirtana party) that he
used in sankirtan is placed next to his samadhi mandir.

Supposedly its history dates from the time when the Kazi gave his promise that
no one would ever disturb the sankirtan parties again. This was an emblem of
the Kazi, and its presence in front of the sankirtan party indicated that the
party was sanctioned by the Kazi and thus no one should disturb them. Today it
is decorated with eyes, tilak, flower garlands and cloths, and worshipped as a
manifestation of Mahaprabhu Himself.
