Today is the most auspicious appearance day of Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. His very appearance was predicted by Lord Caitanya, and Mahāprabhu had kept for Narottama His own love stored in the Padmā River. By Nityānanda’s grace, when Narottama went to bathe in the Padmā, she overflowed and handed over Mahāprabhu’s ecstasy to him.

Narottama not only changed in bodily complexion, but he became a reservoir of loving ecstatic emotions for Kṛṣṇa.

Leaving Behind Mahāprabhu’s Love

Sometimes, we may think that by obtaining or accumulating things, we can do great good to this world. But our ācāryas show that by leaving behind, one can do the greatest benefit.

What if Śrīla Prabhupāda had not left Vṛndāvana? We could never have attained Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
What if Mahāprabhu had not left His family life? His primary purpose in taking sannyāsa was to gift bhakti to the entire world.
What if Lord Rāma had not left His dearest Ayodhyā? His mission of destroying the demons and establishing Rāma-rājya would have been foiled.

Why were Rūpa, Sanātana, and Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmīs so eager to leave their homes? They had no dearth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness—either in their hearts or in their homes. If they had remained where they were, would we ever have received the gift of Vṛndāvana?

Therefore, Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, in his exquisite glorification of Lord Caitanya, says:

vairāgya-vidyā-nija-bhakti-yoga-
śikṣārtham ekaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-śarīra-dhārī
kṛpāmbudhir yas tam ahaṁ prapadye

Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach real knowledge, devotional service, and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet. CC Madhya 6.254

Mahāprabhu came to give us vairāgya-vidyā. There is pain in leaving, but there is also a higher pleasure in leaving for the purpose of giving.

Mahāprabhu left behind His own love for Narottama, and Narottama reciprocated by distributing that love to whomever he met.

Narottama left behind for us the ecstatic Gaura-pūrṇimā festival, wherein he invited all devotees, including Jāhnavā Devī, the wife of Lord Nityānanda. During this festival, Mahāprabhu, who had long before disappeared, appeared personally with His associates, visible to everyone.

Narottama’s love made Mahāprabhu appear, and Narottama left behind that love for us in the form of his entire life and teachings.

Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī would say that one can get love for God for twenty-five cents. How? By purchasing the two books of Narottama—Prārthanā and Prema-bhakti-candrikā. His devotional ecstasies pour forth in these works.

Leaving Behind Vṛndāvana

Narottama was urged to go to Vṛndāvana by many Vaiṣṇavas. Gaurāṅga and Nityānanda appeared to him separately in dreams and urged him to go. He studied in Vṛndāvana under Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and felt he would live there for his entire life.

But he was later asked to leave Vṛndāvana for a higher cause, along with Śyāmānanda and Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, carrying the books and message of the Gosvāmīs. This was perhaps the greatest challenge of Narottama’s life. He knew it would be his last time in Vṛndāvana. He never returned. He never again met his spiritual master, who had Narottama as his only disciple.

But was there any diminution in his realizations of Vṛndāvana? No. In deep separation, Narottama composed the song “Vṛndāvana Ramya-sthāna.” What profound realizations he expresses there! He beholds Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa along with the aṣṭa-sakhīs, and that vision eternally resides in his heart.

By leaving Vṛndāvana, Narottama gave us Vṛndāvana.
By leaving Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Prabhupāda gifted us Vṛndāvana.
By exhibiting separation from Vṛndāvana, Mahāprabhu gave us the mood of Vṛndāvana.

And Gadādhara Paṇḍita, who was none other than Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, gave us Vṛndāvana without ever going there even once.

Leaving Behind His Own Example

Narottama left behind his entire life as an example for us to emulate.

He brought a renaissance in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism by vigorously preaching Mahāprabhu’s teachings, by unifying devotees during the first Gaura-pūrṇimā festival he organized, and by expanding the outreach of the Gosvāmīs’ books.

Narottama accepted disciples from all backgrounds. Crest jewels among brāhmaṇas like Gaṅgānārāyaṇa took shelter of him, and he extended his mercy even to the most fallen sinners like Candra Rāi.

Devotees do not leave this world when they die. Rather, they leave behind many things while they live. And by doing so, they leave permanent impressions on history and in the hearts of sincere followers.

A Prayer on His Appearance Day

On this auspicious appearance day of Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, let us pray that he appears in our hearts and makes them fertile for the appearance of Gaurāṅga. Let us pray for the strength to leave our petty attachments and to leave a mark in this world by following in his footsteps.

His appearance falls between Nityānanda Trayodaśī and Gaura-pūrṇimā. If Narottama is present in our heart, will there not be a perpetual Gaura-pūrṇimā festival there? And if Gaura-pūrṇimā is being celebrated, will Mahāprabhu not appear? And if Mahāprabhu appears, will not our heart become a playground of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes?