Srila Vrndavana das Thakura

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


the personal deities of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura


Today is the disappearance day of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura. Jai!!

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura was born to Narayani, who had the mercy of Lord Caitanya as a young girl. Lord Caitanya was very fond of her and would give her remnants of His prasadam. Narayani experienced ecstatic symptoms when chanting the name of Krishna, by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura was a very dear disciple of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.



Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj writes of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura in his Caitanya Caritamrta. He writes about the glories Vrndavana das Thakura, and of that gem of literature, Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, wherein Srila Vrndavana das Thakura describes pastimes of Mahaprabhu. It was previously called Sri Caitanya Mangala.

I would like to share the praise that Srila Krsna Kaviraj gives to Srila Vrndavana das Thakura:

As Vyāsadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has composed Śrī Caitanya-mańgala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.

By reading Śrī Caitanya-mańgala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

In Śrī Caitanya-mańgala [later known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata] Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

If even a great atheist hears Śrī Caitanya-mańgala, he immediately becomes a great devotee.

The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls.
Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi-Lila, 8.34-8.40

For more nectar like this and purports by Srila Prabhupada, please go here:
link

I have found a nice page on Srila Vrndavana das Thakura that has a brief biography of his life as well as some wonderful pictures of significant pastime places:
Srila Vrndavana das Thakura

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura ki JAI!!