Saranga Thakura

[Paramananda das]

Saranga Thakura

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has written: “Ramadasa, Kavidatta, Sri Gopala dasa, Bhagavat acarya, and Thakura Saranga dasa were all important branches of the Sri Caitanya tree.” (C.C. adi 10.113)

Sri Saranga Murari Thakura is also sometimes known as Sarnga Murari, Sarnga Pani, or Saranga Dhara. He lived on the banks of the Ganges in Modradrumadvipa in Nabadwipa dhama in what is now known as Mamagacchi. At present in that place there is a temple of Radha-Gopinatha. The old temple was built next to an ancient Bakula tree that is supposed to have been standing since the time of Saranga Thakura. Recently a new temple building has been constructed there which is at present under the management of the Gaudiya Matha.

It is said that Saranga Murari Thakura had vowed never to accept any disciples. But again and again he received some messages from Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraging him to make disciples. At length, he decided to accept a disciple and said, “I shall make a disciple of the first person I see tomorrow and shall initiate him into the mantra. The next morning he went to the Ganges to bathe, and as he was bathing he touched a dead body with his foot. Grabbing hold of the dead body, he brought it to life again and asked it, “Who are you? What is your gotra?” The man gradually regained consciousness, and, finding himself in the presence of a great soul, he bowed down before Saranga Thakura. At last the man who had risen from the dead by the power of Saranga Thakura identified his caste and family background, saying, “My name is Murari. Have mercy on me!” At that time, Saranga Thakura accepted him as his disciple and gave him mantra-diksa. It is for this reason that he became famous as Saranga Murari Thakura. After a few days Saranga Thakura trained his new disciple in the worship of his deities, Radha-Gopinatha. That disciple became famous as Murari Thakura.

According to Kavikarnapura's Gaura-ganodesa-dipika, “That person who was formerly the gopi called Nandimukhi in Vraja-lila appeared in the pastimes of Sri Caitanya as Saranga Thakura.”

Saranga Thakura's appearance day is on the fourteenth day of the dark moon in the month of asadha and his disappearance day is on the thirteenth day of the dark moon in the month of Agrahayana.

Sharanga Thakura

An important branch of the Shri Chaitanya tree, Shri Sharanga Thakura (Sharanga Murari) lived in Mamagacchi, Modadrumadwipa (Navadwipa). Staying under a Bakula tree, Sharanga Thakura worked hard every day to please his worshipable Deity. Single handedly, he would collect fruits, vegetables and firewood. He would also beg rice, cook, bathe, dress, and feed his Lord. After a full day of Deity service Sharanga would cross the Ganges River to join Mahaprabhu's Hari-Nama sankirtana party in Mayapur. During one visit, Lord Gauranga noticed that Sharanga's beloved Bakula tree was drying up and almost dead. Lord Chaitanya embraced the tree with His beautiful golden arms. Completely rejunvenated, the tree burst forth with green leaves and fresh super fragrant flowers. To this day, Devotees of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu worship this special kalpa vriksha tree of Shri Dhama Mayapur. Some Devotees collect small pieces of wood, which occasionally fall off, and make neckbeads or worship it.
Sharanga Thakura vowed to never initiate disciples despite Lord Chaitanya's insistence. One day he relented and decided to initiate the first person he saw. While bathing in the Ganges he brushed against a floating corpse. Suddenly it sprang to life. Stunned, the man slowly identified himself and bowed down to Sharanga Thakura who had just miraculously renewed his life. After giving him mantra diksha, Saranga Thakura became famous as "Sharanga Murari Thakura," because the disciple's previous name was Murari.
In Vraja lila Sharanga serves Radha-Gopinatha as Nandimukhi-sakhi. By taking a forty five minute rikshaw ride from downtown Navadwipa, you an still see the Deities of Sharanga Thakura and the kalpa vriksha Bakula tree.

please open this nice link also Srila Saranga Thakura - Disappearance - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT
Sharanga Thakura

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Paramananda Das
Nandi Mukhi--Literally, 'Bull Face.' An older gopi who participates in the pastimes, but in a strictly platonic way

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Paramananda Das
Nandi Mukhi is described in Sri Sri Radha Krsna Ganodessa Dipika : Nandimukhi
Nandimukhi-devi has a fair complexion and wears exquisite garments. Her father is Sandipani Muni and her mother is the chaste Sumukhi-devi.
Her brother is Madhumangala and her paternal grandmother is Paurnamasi-devi. She wears various jeweled ornaments and she glows with youthful luster.
She is expert at various arts and crafts. Full of love for Radha and Krsna, she is expert at making various arrangements for Their rendezvous. (SSRKGD)

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Paramananda Das

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Paramananda Das
she is dear to Sri Sri Radha Krsna because she help Sri Sri Radha Krsna to meet

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Paramananda Das
Srila Raghunath das Gowami has offered his obaisences in this way : Her heart enchanted by repeatedly hearing the glories of the divine couple and longing to meet Them, Nandimukhi-devi left Avantipura and went to the land of Vraja, where she eternally increases the happiness of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna’s splendid and nectarean pastimes. I eternally offer my respectful obeisances to Nandimukhi-devi.

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Paramananda Das
there are many pastimes in Govinda lilamrta and Krsna Bhavanamrta mentioning Nandi Mukhi and involving her