Gauracarana Dasa, a descendant of the family of Lokanatha Gosvami, was born in Talakhadi village in Jessore district, Bangladesh. In his early childhood he had the fortune of hearing the glories of Lokanatha Gosvami and Narottama Thakura, which inspired him deeply in devotional service (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 5.23, purport).
Shortly thereafter, he left home and traveled to Navadvipa, where he took shelter under Siddha Caitanyadasa Babaji (some say Siddha Bhagavandasa Babaji of Kalna). He remained under the guidance of Siddha Babaji for a long time, until the desire to visit Vrndavana arose in his heart. When he sought permission from his guru, he was advised: “You may go, but remember, if you become too attached, you will never want to return here” (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 5.24).
Upon reaching Vrndavana, Gauracarana traveled alone to Caurasi Krosa and later to Dauji of Gokula Mahavana. That night Dauji appeared in a dream and instructed him to practice bhajan in a nearby cave. Gauracarana, initially reluctant to disobey his guru’s instructions, eventually realized the divine direction and remained in the cave, chanting the holy names of Radha-Krsna. He became fully absorbed in sakhyarasa, considering himself the younger brother of Sridama and elder brother of Radharani. He chanted on a long rosary and resided in that cave for twenty consecutive years (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.24, purport).
His daily routine consisted of rising at dawn for ablutions, performing bhajan in the cave, studying sastras until dusk, and then going for madhukari. Gauracarana interacted with no one, yet Dauji, moved by his devotion, personally appeared to feed him butter and sugar-crystals.
During this time, a lower-caste devotee arrived in Vrndavana and waited for one year near Gauracarana’s cave, seeking his blessings. Eventually, Gauracarana permitted him to enter and read from an old manuscript of Caitanya-caritamrita. After one year of hearing the scripture, Gauracarana initiated him, giving diksa and vesasraya, and named him Dayala Dasa, his first disciple (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 5.45, purport). Gradually, Gauracarana shifted his meditation from Radha-Krsna to Nitai-Gauranga bhajan, chanting: “Sri Gauranga Nityananda Sri Advaitacandra Gadadhara Srivasadi Gaurabhaktavrnda.”
After Dayala Dasa departed for Navadvipa, Gauracarana, deeply attached to his disciple, wandered calling “Dayala, Dayala,” recognizing him as a manifestation of Lord Gauranga who had come to teach him Gaurabhakti. Six years later, he settled in Kunjara village in a hut offered by local residents, where he gathered many disciples, among whom Jagannathadasa Babaji was foremost.
Gauracarana’s later years were spent in Vrndavana, residing near Dulala Saha at Dhirasamira and finally with his disciple Kailasadasa (alias Krsna Caitanyadasa) at Manipuri Kunja, where he departed from this world at a mature age.
He was absorbed in sakhyarasa, demonstrating extraordinary devotional mood. Once, he stretched his leg towards the deity of Govindaji, requesting obeisances to be offered at his feet. The priests, mistaking him for a madman, drove him out, but he insisted that the deity must come out to touch his feet. Gauracarana also displayed strict adherence to devotional sentiment; once he slapped a kirtana singer who inserted rasabhasa into a recital of Gosthalila, teaching the proper respect for devotional sentiment (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 5.67, purport).
Gauracarana was famous for loudly chanting the holy names even during deep sleep, demonstrating his complete absorption in nama-bhajana. His life exemplified vairagya, intense devotional absorption, and the mood of service in Vrndavana (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23.47, purport).
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