Govinda Ghoṣa Disappearance Day

Identity in the spiritual world

kalāvatī rasollāsā guṇatuṅgā vraje sthitā

śrī viśākhā kṛtaṁ gītaṁ gāyanti smādya tā matāḥ

govinda mādhavānanda-vāsudevā yathākramam

The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa were formerly Kalāvatī, Rasollāsā and Guṇatuṅgā, who recited the songs composed by Śrī Viśākhā-gopī. 

[Śrī Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 188].

Pastimes in Gaura-līlā

Excerpt from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 10.115

The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda used to dance in their kīrtana performances.

Excerpt from Śrī Caitanya: His Life and Associates, Swami B.B. Tirtha, Mandala Publishing

Govinda Ghoṣa, an intimate associate of Lord Chaitanya, was known for his sweet kīrtanas at the annual Jagannātha Purī Ratha-yātrā festival. Lord Chaitanya would at once begin to dance whenever Govinda Ghoṣa would sing. Govinda Ghoṣa and his brothers Mādhava and Vāsudeva are eternal associates of Lord Chaitanya and Nityānanda Prabhu. It is stated in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.42 that Govinda Ghoṣa was the leader of one of the seven parties of saṅkīrtana that chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannātha.

Govinda Ghoṣa belonged to the kāyastha dynasty of the Uttara-rāḍhīya section, and he was known as Ghoṣa Ṭhākura. Even to the present day there is a place named Agradvīpa, near Katwa, where a fair takes place and is named after Ghoṣa Ṭhākura. [Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.88]. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda talks about Govinda Ghoṣa in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 11.14-15. “Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya, “There is a place named Dāṅihāṭa, near the Agradvīpa railway station and Pāṭuli in the district of Burdwan, where the Deity of Śrī Gopīnāthajī is still situated. This Deity accepted Govinda Ghoṣa as His father. Even until today, the Deity performs the śrāddha ceremony on the anniversary of the death of Govinda Ghoṣa. The temple of this Deity is managed by the rāja-vaṁśa family of Kṛṣṇanagara, whose members are descendants of Rājā Kṛṣṇacandra. Every year in the month of Vaiśākha, when there is a bāradola ceremony, this Gopīnātha Deity is taken to Kṛṣṇanagara. The ceremony is performed with eleven other Deities, and then Śrī Gopīnāthajī is brought back to the temple in Agradvīpa.””

There is a legend that Govinda Ghoṣa’s wife and son both died untimely. As he grew older, Govinda began to wonder who would perform his last rites, as it is considered important to have a son who can do the śrāddha ceremony on his behalf. Govinda had a dream in which Gopīnāth appeared to him and said, “Don’t worry about this. I am your son, and I will perform the śrāddha ceremony for you Myself.” When Govinda Ghoṣa finally left this world, Gopīnāth was true to His word and offered the piṇḍa on his behalf.