Vrindavana Dasa Thakura

Vrindavana Dasa Thakura Biography

Vrindavana Dasa Thakura, who lived in the 16^th century in West Bengal, is the author of the Chaitanya Bhagavata, the first full-length biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This biopic was written in Bengali language in the year 1535. It was first named Chaitanya Mangala. But the title was changed as another work was already written with the same title by another author. His mother was the niece of Srivasa Pandita, a direct follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Dasa is considered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas as the Vyasa of Chaitanya’s pastimes because he was the first person to reveal that Chaitanya was God himself and not just an incarnation of Godhead.

Vrindavana Dasa was born in Mamgachi in the Navadvipa area of West Bengal. He was born to Vaikunthanatha Vipra and Narayani. His father belonged to Sylet in East Bengal and died before Dasa was born. His mother was the niece of Srivasa Pandita, a direct follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. After the death of his father, his mother moved to the house of Srivasa in Mayapura. Vrindavana Dasa took initiation from Nityananda, one of the main associates of Chaitanya. He was the last disciple accepted by Nityananda.

In 1535, Vrindvana Dasa wrote the Chaitanya Bhagavata, a biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was first named as Chaitanya Mangala. But a poet Lochana Dasa also wrote a work with the same title. So the leading Vaishnavas in Vrindavana met and decided that Dasa’s work will be known Chaitanya Bhagavata thereafter. Chaitanya Bhagavata was the only major work written by Vrindavana Dasa. Though many works have been attributed to him, there are no enough proofs to validate it.

Published: N/A

Updated: March 12, 2014