Narottama Dasa

Narottama Dasa Biography

Narottama Dasa, also known as Thakura Mahasaya was a Gaudiya Vaishnava saint of 15^th century. He is known for spreading Vaishnava bhakti throughout Odisha and Bengal. He was born in a royal family of Kayastha caste to King Krishnananda Datta and Narayani Devi of Gopalpur Pargana of the Rajsahi district of present day Bangladesh. He was not married. Narottama Dasa is best known for his devotional poetry which describes his emotionally intense feelings towards Radha and Krishna. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a spiritual descendant of Narottama who propagated Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout world. According to him, the prayers of Narottama Dasa sounds above the material platform and directly linked to spiritual platform. He has also commented that Dasa’s prayers are nothing short of thunder burst that can be understood by anyone irrespective of its language.

He was born in the year 1466 to King Krishnananda Datta and Narayani Devi of Gopalpur Pargana of present day Bangladesh. His father ruled Gopalpura in Rajashahi district and their capital was Khetri, on the banks of river Padma. He was born on the purnima in the month of Magha. When he was born astrologers predicted that either he will become a famous king or a mendicant preacher. Since childhood he was attracted towards Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Vaishnava principles. He also learnt Sanskrit and its grammar in short time.

At the age of twelve Narottama dasa Thakura had a vision of Lord Nityananda in a dream. As instructed he bathed in Padma River and according to popular belief, river goddess appeared before him who gave him pure love of Godhead. He also vowed that he will eat begging only (vow of madhukari). Later he became a great preacher of Vaishnava bhakti throughout Odisha and Bengal and wrote numerous devotional poems praising Krishna and Radha too.  

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Updated: March 12, 2014