SRI VANSIVADANANDA THAKURA

Sri Vansivadananda Thakura appeared on the full moon day of the month of
Caitra. Within Kulia exist the villages, Teghari, Beciya, Bedrapara and
Cinedanga. The sons of Srikar Cattopadhyay moved from Bilvagram (Patuli) to
Beciyanagram. Sri Sri Yudhisthir Cattopadhyay had three sons: Madhava das
(Chakari Cattopadhyay), Sri Hari dasa (Tin Kari) and Sri Krsna Sampati (Dui
Kari).

When Mahaprabhu came from Puri to have darsan of his mother and the river
Ganges he stayed for seven days in the house of Madhava dasa at Kulia. At this
time he excused Devananda Pandit along with all of the offences of everyone
else. Therefore the place came to be known as 'Aparadh Banjan Pat.'

Sri Vansi Thakura appeared in the home of Sri Madhava dasa. His mother's name
was Srimati Candrakala Devi. Vansivadananda is the incarnation of Sri Krsna's
flute. On the day of his birth Mahaprabhu was present in the house of Sri
Madhava das, along with Sri Advaita Acarya. Madhava was very devoted to
Mahaprabhu and Prabhu was also very affectionate to him and his son Vansi.
Vansi das was present at Navadwipa when Acarya Prabhu came there.

Vamsi was engaged in the service of Visnupriya and was the receptacle of her
unlimited mercy. One time Visnupriya devi and Vansi Thakura decided to give up
taking food and water, there not being any point in maintaining their bodies
which were so racked with the pain of separation from Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, however, didn't approve of this and manifested Himself before
them. Then He requested them not to behave so rashly, and then instructed them
both to worship His Deity form in order to mitigate their feelings of
separation.

After Visnupriya's disappearance Vamsivadana brought this Deity of Mahaprabhu
from Mayapura to Kulia. This Deity of Mahaprabhu is very beautiful and is
still being worshipped in the present town of Navadwip. The name of the temple
and Deity is Dhameswara. It is said that the name Vansivadananda is carved
into the underneath of the base of the Deity.

When his descendant, Ramacandra Gosvami came to live at Baghna Para by the
mercy of Jahnava Mata, the worship of the Deity passed into the hands of the
residents of Malancha.

There was a Deity of Gopinath at Kulia worshipped by Vamsi's ancestors and he
personally installed a Deity of Pranaballabha at their home in Kulia. Where
these Deities are at present is unknown. Vamsi Thakur resided at Bilvagram for
some time with his relatives there. He had two sons, Sri Caitanya dasa and Sri
Nityananda dasa. The two sons of Caitanya dasa were Sri Ramacandra and Sri
Sacinandana. Ramacandra was the adopted son and disciple of Jahnava Mata. He
established the worship of Sri Sri Kanai Balai at Baghna Para. As he never
married the worship passed on to his brother Sacinandana whose descendants are
the resident Gosvamis there.

Sri Vansivadananda was a poet and composer of songs. He composed one song
about the Lord's acceptance of sannyasa based on the lamentations of Sri
Sacimata and Sri Visnupriya. Some say that Ramai (Ramacandra Gosvami), the son
of Caitanya dasa (Vansi Thakura's son) Gosai was an incarnation of Vansi
Thakura.

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Vamsivadana Thakura was born on the full moon day of Caitra (March-April) in
1416 Saka (Vamsi sikhsa). He was referred to as Vamsivadana, Vamsidasa, Vamsi
and Sri Vadana. The sons of the famous Srikara Cattapadhya came to live in
Kuliya Vendiada village from Vilvagrama or Patuli. Sri Yudhisthira
Cattapadhya, the descendant of Srikara, had three sons: Sri Madhava dasa
Cattapadhya (Chakadi Cattapadhya), Sri Haridasa Cattapadhya (Tinkadi) and Sri
Krsnasampatti Cattapadhya (Duikadi).

When Lord Caitanya from Puri to Navadvipa Kuliya to visit Sacimata and Ganga
devi, He stayed in the house of Madhava dasa Cattapadhya for seven days and
there showed His mercy to Sri Devananda Pandita and others (GGD. 179, Pata
Paryatana)

Sri Vamsivadananda Thakura was born in the house of Sri Madhava dasa
(Chakadi). His mother's name was Srimati Candrakala devi. He was the
manifestation of Sri Krsna's flute. At the time of his birth, Mahaprabhu was
present, as well as Advaita Acarya. Chakadi Cattapadhya was a very ardent
devotee of Mahaprabhu. Lord Gauranga was very affectionate to Vamsivadananda.
He is not mentioned in CC, but is refered to in CCN. In BRK, chapter nine pp.
122-123, Sri Narahari Cakravarti states that when Srinivasa came to the house
of Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, Vamsivadananda Thakura showed his mercy to
Srinivasa and helped him to have a darsana of Sri Visnupriya devi. After the
disappearance of Lord Caitanya, Vamsivadananda took care of Visnupriya devi.
He was famous as an ardent follower of Visnupriya devi. After the death of
Visnupriya devi, he transferred the Deity to Mayapura Kuliya Pahadapura. When
his descendants took shelter in Baghnapada after taking shelter of Sri Jahnava
mata, at that time that Deity was still in the hands of Malanca dwellers in
Kuliya village.

In Kuliya Pahadapura the ancestors of Sri Vamsivadananda Thakura took care of
the Deity of Sri Gopinatha. There he himself installed the Deity of
Premavallava. In later years, he lived in Vilvagrama. The Bhattacarya family
of Vilvagrama were his relatives. Sri Vamsivadananda had two sons, Sri
Caitanya dasa and Sri Nitai dasa. Sri Ramacandra and Sri Sacinandana were the
sons of Sri Caitanya dasa. Sri Jahnava mata prayed for Ramacandra and took him
into her own care. She initiated him and kept him in Adadaha to teach him the
Vaisnava tattva (Gaudiya no. 22/30-37). Sri Ramacandra Gosvami remained as
brahmacari and gave the charge of worshiping Sri Ramakrsna of Baghnapada to
his younger brother Sri Sacinandana. Sri Sacinandana's sons are the Gosvamis
of Baghnapada.

Sri Vamsivadananda Thakura composed padas which were were lively and
beautiful. He composed an equisite song about Sacimata's lamentation when the
Lord took sannyasa. He also composed many songs on Dana lila, Nauka vilasa,
and Vana vihara of Sri Krsna.

There are 17 padas in Padakalpataru with the bhanita of Vamsidasa and 25 padas
with the bhanita of Vamsivadana. Vamsivadananda was the founding father of the
Gosvami family of Baghnapada. His biography is narrated in the following
semi-authentic books: Muralivilasa, Vamsisiksa, Vamsivilasa, Vaisnava Vandana
of Jiva 249, Devakinandana 86, Vrndavanadasa 114.
