SRI SARANGA MURARI THAKURA

1)

ramadasa, kavicandra, sri gopaladasa
bhagavatacarya, thakura sarangadasa

The seventy-third branch of the original tree was Ramadasa, the seventy-fourth
was Kavicandra, the seventy-fifth was Sri Gopala dasa, the seventy-sixth was
Bhagavatacarya, and the seventy-seventh was Thakura Saranga dasa. [CC Adi
10.113]

PURPORT

Another name of Thakura Saranga dasa was Sarnga Thakura. Sometimes he was also
called Sarngapani or Sarngadhara. He was a resident of Navadvipa in the
neighbourhood known as Modadruma-dvipa, and he used to worship the Lord in a
secluded place on the bank of the Ganges. He did not accept disciples, but he
was repeatedly inspired from within by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to
do so. Thus one morning he decided, "Whomever I see I shall make my disciple."
When he went to the bank of the Ganges to take his bath, by chance he saw a
dead body floating in the water, and he touched it with his feet. This
immediately brought the body to life, and Thakura Saranga dasa accepted him as
his disciple. This disciple later became famous as Thakura Murari, and his
name is always associated with that of Sri Saranga.

His disciplic succession still inhabits the village of Sar. There is a temple
at Mamagacchi that is supposed to have been started by Saranga Thakura. Not
long ago, a new temple building was erected in front of a bakula tree there,
and it is now being managed by the members of the Gaudiya Matha. It is said
that the management of the temple is now far better than before. 

In the Gaura-gannodesa-dipika (172) it is stated that Saranga Thakura was 
formerly a gopi named Nandimukhi. Some devotees say that he was formerly 
Prahlada Maharaja, but Sri Kavikarnapura says that his father, Sivananda Sena,
does not accept this proposition.


2)

Sri Saranga Murari Thakura used to reside at Modadrumadwipa Mamgachi, where
his Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath are still present. There is also a Bakul
tree there which is perhaps existing since the time of Saranga Thakura. There
is a local legend concerning this tree. One day when Mahaprabhu came there, he
noticed that the Bakul tree in the courtyard of Saranga's temple was dying. So
he asked Saranga, "This Bakul tree is dying, so what are you going to do?"

Saranga Thakura replied, "Besides Your mercy Prabhu, I don't see any hope for
this tree." Then Mahaprabhu embraced that tree, which has remained healthy to
this day and is now quite large.

Saranga Thakura had resolved that he would not accept any disciples but
Mahaprabhu nevertheless repeatedly requested him to do so. Finally he relented
and agreed by saying, "Tomorrow morning the first person I see I will initiate
with the divine mantra."

The next day, in the early morning, he went to take his bath in the Ganges. By
change a dead body came and touched his feet as he entered the water. Picking
up this body he said, "Who are you? Get up." From behind Mahaprabhu who was
witnessing everything called out, "Saranga! Say the mantra in his ear!" Then
when Saranga said the mantra into the ear of that dead child, the body became
consious. He said, "My name is Murari. I am your servant. Please bestow your
mercy upon me."

On the day when this boy was to be invested with the sacred thread he was by
chance bitten by a snake and died. As he was only a boy, the custom was not to
burn the body but rather to place it on a raft of banana trees and float it
down the Ganga. When his parents received the news that their child was alive,
they came there to take him home. However Murari declined to accompany them to
his former home. He told them, "I will remain in the service of he who has
given me life again, for I am indebted to him."

Vrindavana dasa Thakura has described this Murari Caitanya das as follows:
"There was an external consiousness present in Caitanya dasa's transcendental
body. He would enter into the forest just to chase tigers. Sometimes he would
jump on the back of a tiger, who by his influence remained inert. At other
time he would put a python on his lap and play with great delight. It was by
the mercy of Avadhuta Mahasaya (Nityananda Prabhu) that he was able to play in
this way with tigers and snakes. Sri Nityananda Raya is very affectionate to
his servants, and thus by a simple wink of his eye they are able to enjoy
mellows which are not even accessible to Lord Brahma.

"Caitanya was constantly in forgetfulness of himself, absorbed as he was in
the bliss of speaking his inner thoughts. Sometimes he would remain within the
water for 2 or 3 days without suffering any bodily inconveniences. He appeared
to be almost insentient and therefore his activities were imperceivable. Such
was the fierce intensity of his immeasurable prowess. How much can I describe
of the interminable transformations of his devotional sentiments?" [C.B. Ant.
5.426-434]

The descendants of his family are still residing at Sargram in Barddhaman
district.

According to Gaur-ganoddesa-Dipika Saranga Thakura was previously Nandi Mukhi,
in Vraja lila.

His appearance is on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asar.
His disappearance is on the 13th day of dark fortnight af the month Agrahayon.

The temple of Saranga Thakura and his worshipable Deities, Sri Sri Radha-
Gopinath are still being worshipped at Mamgachi (Jaharnagar), just North of
the present town of Navadwip. The worshipable Deities of Vasudeva Datta
Thakur, Sri Sri Radha-Madan Gopal are also residing there. One can go there by
rickshaw or tram from Navadwip town. By train one should go north towards
Katwa and get down at the 2nd stop, Bhandar tikuri.

