Songs of Sri Narahari Chakravarti Thakura

(Refrain) Overcome by tasting the nectar of His previous pastimes as Lord Krsna, Lord Gaura dances. His glistening limbs, limbs that break the golden mountain's pride, charm Kamadeva's heart.

The splendor of His gently, gently smiling face destroys the blinding darkness of a host of horrible sins. His rhythmically dancing footsteps make the earth tremble. The earth has no power to hold Him up.

The new red lotus flowers of His eyes always overflow with tears of ecstatic spiritual love. The hairs of His body stand erect. Eclipsing the lions' prowess, He roars. Frightened, the powerful age of Kali flees.

Gracefully playing khola and karatalas, His dear companions sing. Their tumultuous music breaks the sky. Now all the worlds are wild with ecstatic spiritual love. Narahari says: Now Lord Gaura's splendid pure glories fill all the worlds.

Narahari Cakravarti, who was also known as Ghanasyama dasa, is most famous for his wonderful book Bhakti-ratnakara, which tells of the lives of the great devotees after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya.

Sri Narahari Chakravarti Thakura appeared in the late seventeenth century in a brahmana family of Bengal. His father, Jagannatha Vipra, was a disciple of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Narahari took initiation from Nrsimha Cakravarti, who was in a disciplic succession from Srinivasa Acarya.

From his very youth Narahari observed a vow of celibacy. He was a reservoir of transcendental qualities, always presenting himself as very meek and humble, thinking himself to be among the most fallen. Although he considered himself to be unqualified to serve the Lord, in truth he was a master of the arts of dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. He knew very well how to utilize these arts for glorifying the Lord and His associates.

Narahari was also very well-versed in the Vaisnava literatures, and he was also very expert at performing the various branches of devotional service. Being personally appointed by the Deity, Narahari became Radha-Govindaji's cook in Vrndavana and became known as rasuya-pujari (expert cook-priest). Wherever he traveled the local Vaisnavas would always receive him with great respect.

Fulfilling the desire of his father, Narahari spent most of his life in the humble service of Lord Govindaji. He ground sandalwood pulp, collected fire wood, cleaned the temple courtyard, picked tulasi leaves, and fanned Lord Govindaji from outside by pulling a rope.

Although out of humility he always kept himself in the background, he performed the service of ten men. Indeed the temple pujaris would often plead with him not to do such lowly service. However, Narahari would reply, "I am most fallen and so it is very merciful of you to let me render whatever service I can."

Narahari passed his days deeply absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord, and he would always show great respect to whoever he met. Seeing Narahari's behavior, the Vrajavasts praised his good qualities.

Narahari Chakravartt Thakura continued to cook for the Deity well into his seventies. He simultaneously wrote many books about the Gosvamis and the other acaryas, including Narottama-vilasa, Srinivasa-carita, Bhakti-ratnakara, and Gaura-caritra-samudra.

By reading or singing these songs, anyone can become absorbed in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, for these songs give one a vivid impression of just what it was like to be present at the time of the Lord's performing sankirtana and other pastimes. Although not personally present during the advent of Lord Caitanya, Narahari sings as if he were actually there and thus one must conclude that in' his devotional meditations he actually entered the pastimes of the Lord.

Another striking feature of these songs is Narahari's natural humility, which is just in line with Lord Caitanya's teaching that one should feel himself lower than a blade of grass. In this age where pride rules the world, it is refreshing to have a cooling breeze of genuine humility pass over a person burning in the ocean of birth and death. Although translations are not expected to match the poetic grandeur of the author, in the case of Kusakratha Prabhu, it may well be the case.