Govinda Ghoṣa, also known as Ghoṣa Ṭhākura, was a devotee in the disciplic succession of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was born in the Kayastha caste of the North Rāḍhī clan. His śrīpāṭa (residence and place of worship) was at Agradvīpa. He was the brother of the renowned Vaiṣṇava poet Vāsudeva Ghoṣa, and the third of the three Ghoṣa brothers, the others being Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa. Vāsudeva resided at Tāmluk, Mādhava at Dainhāṭa, and Govinda at Agradvīpa. According to Viśvakośa, Govinda Ghoṣa lived at Kāśīpura Viṣṇutalā near Agradvīpa. Some hold that he was born at Vāsināvatala, where Kayastha families bearing the surname Ghoṣa still reside.
Govinda Ghoṣa is mentioned in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi-līlā 10.115, 118) as being instrumental in the installation of the Deity Śrī Gopīnātha. The name Govindānanda mentioned in Caitanya-bhāgavata (Madhya-khaṇḍa 3.8.16) is possibly a reference to Govinda Ghoṣa. Information concerning him is also found in the Vaiṣṇavācāra-darpaṇa.
Govinda accompanied Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates when they departed from Nīlācala for Vṛndāvana. A historical account recorded by Acyutacaraṇa Caudhuri in Śrīhaṭṭera Itivṛtta narrates that one day, after completing His midday meal, Lord Caitanya desired harītakī as a mouth freshener. Govinda promptly brought the fruit and offered it to the Lord. Observing Govinda’s readiness, the Lord understood that he had a habit of storing items and gently admonished him, instructing him to remain behind at Agradvīpa and take responsibility for installing the Deity of Śrī Gopīnātha. Although assured by the Lord, Govinda felt deep separation at being left behind.
Some days later, while bathing in the Gaṅgā, Govinda felt a heavy floating object touch his back. That night, he received divine instruction in a dream to preserve the object carefully and present it to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu upon His arrival. Upon retrieving it, Govinda realized it was a kṛṣṇa-śilā. The following morning, Lord Caitanya appeared at Govinda’s house and instructed him that a sculptor would come to carve a Deity from the śilā and that Govinda should arrange for its installation. In this way, the Deity of Śrī Gopīnātha was manifested and installed at Agradvīpa.
By the Lord’s order, Govinda later married and served the Deity together with his wife. He was blessed with a son, but in due course both his wife and son passed away. Overcome with grief, Govinda ceased his Deity service. Lord Kṛṣṇa then appeared to him in a dream and questioned whether it was proper to neglect one son after losing another. Govinda expressed his concern that without a surviving son, no one would perform his śrāddha rites. The Lord assured him that He Himself would eternally observe Govinda’s death anniversary and requested food. Reassured, Govinda joyfully resumed his service to Śrī Gopīnātha.
When Govinda Ghoṣa eventually departed this world, it is said that Śrī Gopīnāthajī personally held kuśa grass to perform his śrāddha ceremony, a custom that continues to this day. Govinda instructed before his passing that his body should not be cremated but buried near the Dolāprāṅgaṇa.
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