Shri Saranga Murari Thakura used to reside at Modadrumadwipa Mam-gachi, where his Deities of Shri Shri Radha-Gopinath are still present. There is also a Bakul tree there which is perhaps existing since the time of Sharanga 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 Saran-ga, “This Bakul tree is dying, so what are you going to do?”
Sharanga 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.
Sharanga 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 and will remain in the service of he who has given me life again, for I am indebted to him.
According to Gaur-Ganoddesa-Dipika (text 172.) Sharanga Thakura was previously Nandi Mukhi, in Braja lila.
vraje nandimukhi yasit
sadya saranga-thakkurah
prahlado manyate kaishchin
mat-pitraa na sa manyate
The Vraja-brahmani Nandimukhi-devi appeared as Saranga Takura. Some people think that Sharanga Thakura was the incarnation of Prahlada Maharaj. My father (Shivananda Sena – the father of Kavi-karnapura) did not agree with them.”
His appearence 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 (Mrigarirsa – November-December).
The temple of Sharanga Thakura and his worshipable Deities, Shri Shri Radha-Gopinath are still being worshipped at Mamgachi (Jaharnagar), just North of the present town of Navadwip. The worshipable Deities of Vasudeva Datta Thakur, Shri Shri Radha-Madan Gopal are also residing there.
Recent Comments