10 Parameshvara Dasa

 

Shri Paramesvara dasa Thakura appeared in a family of physicians. His Shripat is at Atapur, which was on the Canpandanga branch of the Howrah-Amrah rail line. Rail service on this line has been discontinued. Direct bus service is available from Howrah station; it is about a 2 hour journey from there. He was Arjuna Gopa in Krishna lila.

 

Atapur was previously known as Visakhala. Shri Shri Radha-Govinda are still residing at his Shripat. In front of the temple are two Bakul trees and in between them is Paramesvara Thakura's Samadhi mandira. Shri Krishna das Kaviraj Gosvami has written: "Paramesvara das, said to be the fifth gopala of Krishna-lila, completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityananda. Anyone who remembers his name, Paramesvara dasa, will get love of Krishna very easily." [C.C. Adi 11.29]

 

Shri Kavi Karnapura Gosvami has written: namnarjunah sakha prag yo dasah paramesvarah, "Paramesvara dasa Thakura was previously the cowherd friend of Shri Krishna named Arjuna." Shri Vrindavana dasa Thakura has written:

 

Nityananda jivan paramesvar das, jahar vigrahe Nityananda vilasa

Krishna das paramesvar das dvi jon, gopabhave hoi hoi kore sarvakkon

 

"Paramesvara is the life of Lord Nityananda and his form (body) is the place of his pastimes. Krishna dasa and Paramesvara, being in the mood of cowherd boys, are always raising a commotion."

 

When Jahnava Mata attended the festival at Kheturi, Paramesvara accompanied her and went to Vrindavana with her as well. He installed Shri Shri Radha Gopinatha at Atapur in accordance with the desire of Shri Jahnava-devi, who was personally present during the installation celebration.

 

paramesvari dasa thakura bandibo sabdhane

shrigale loyar nam sankirtan sthane

 

One day, near Shri Rampur, at Akna Mahesh (the Shripat of Kamalakara Pippalai), there was a festival of nama-sankirtan going on within the temple of Lord Jagannatha there. Paramesvara was present and was dancing in a completely God-intoxicated state. At that time some miscreants passed by there, and seeing a dead fox lying on the road, they picked it up and threw it into the midst of the sankirtan party.

 

The highly exalted Vaishnavas present didn't feel any anger towards those ignorant fools, but Paramesvara felt sad to see the unfortunate dead fox, and so by his merciful glance he brought it back to life. Then that fox trotted out of the nat-mandir (kirtan hall) to the utter bewilderment of those miscreants, who then immediately fled from the spot.

 

Paramesvara dasa Thakura accompanied the Deity of Radharani that Shri Jahnava-devi sent to Vrindavana for Shri Govinda. He was the very dear servant of Shri Jahnava Mata.

 

His disappearance is on the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha. On that day the khunti that he used in sankirtan is placed next to his samadhi mandir.

 

*khunti* - this is a symbol carried on a staff preceeding the kirtana party. Supposedly its history dates from the time when the Kazi gave his promise that no one would ever disturb the sankirtan parties again. This was an emblem of the Kazi, and its presence infront of the sankirtan party indicated that the party was sanctioned by the Kazi and thus no one should disturb them. Today it is decorated with eyes, tilak, flower garlands and cloths, and worshipped as a manifestation of Mahaprabhu Himself.