Śrīla Raghunandana Ṭhākura Appearance Day

Identity in the spiritual world

vyūhas tṛtīyaḥ pradyumnaḥ priya-narma-sakho'bhavat

cakre līlā-sahāyaṁ yo rādhā mādhavayor vraje

śrī caitanyādvaita tanuḥ sa eva raghu-nandanaḥ

The third member of the catur-vyūha, Pradyumna, took part in Rādhā-Mādhava’s līlā in Vraja as Kṛṣṇa’s intimate friend or priya-narmā-sakha. He has now appeared as Raghunandana, whose body is not different from that of Śrī Chaitanya [Śrī Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 70].

Raghunandana Ṭhākura’s family

From Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.120-123

Raghunandana Ṭhākura was born into a family of physicians and his father’s name was Mukunda Dāsa. Mukunda Dāsa was Narahari Sarkār Ṭhākura 's older brother, and a resident of place called Khaṇḍa. Mukunda Dāsa externally appears to be a royal physician engaged in governmental service, but internally he has a deep love for Kṛṣṇa.

Who can understand his love? One day Mukunda Dāsa, the royal physician, was seated with the Muslim king on a high platform and was telling the king about medical treatment. While the king and Mukunda Dāsa were conversing, a servant brought a fan made of peacock feathers to shade the king’s head from the sun. Consequently, he held the fan above the king’s head. Just by seeing the peacock-feathered fan, Mukunda Dāsa became absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell from the high platform onto the ground.

Māhaprabhu indicates the depth of Raghunandana Ṭhākura’s devotion

From Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.113-117

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, asked Mukunda Dāsa, “You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so? Or is Śrīla Raghunandana your father and you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away.

Mukunda replied, “Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision. All of us have attained devotion to Kṛṣṇa due to Raghunandana. Therefore, in my mind he is my father.”

Hearing Mukunda Dāsa give this proper decision, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed it, saying, “Yes, it is correct. One who awakens devotion to Kṛṣṇa is certainly the spiritual master.”

Kṛṣṇa eats Raghunandana Ṭhākura’s offering

From Śrī Caitanya: His Life & Associates, Swami B.B. Tirtha, 2001, Mandala Publishing House

From his early childhood, Raghunandana Ṭhākura would feed the family’s Gopīnātha deity laḍḍus. One day Mukunda Dāsa, Raghunandana Ṭhākura’ father, had to go somewhere for work and he asked Raghunandana to do the service. He said, “In this house we worship Kṛṣṇa, so I want you to be sure to give Him something to eat.” And then he left. Raghunandana did as his father had ordered and made the offering to the deity. Raghunandana was just a child and in his simplicity, he said to Gopīnātha, “Eat! Eat!” Kṛṣṇa is controlled by love, and so He did as the child told Him and ate everything on the plate without leaving even a grain of rice. When Mukunda Dāsa returned, he asked the boy to bring him the prasad from the offering he had made. The child answered, “Father, Kṛṣṇa ate everything and left no remnants.”

Mukunda was so astonished at his child’s wondrous words that he asked him to make another offering. This time after he left the house, he returned and hid to watch what his son did. Raghunandana joyfully placed a laḍḍu in Kṛṣṇa’s hand and said in a commanding voice, “Eat! Eat!” When Kṛṣṇa had eaten half of the laḍḍu, Raghunandana saw Mukunda Dāsa in the doorway. Mukunda saw that Kṛṣṇa did not take another bite and that the half-eaten laḍḍu remained in His hand. This caused him to be filled with love. He embraced his child and, as tears of joy rained from his eyes, spoke to him in a broken voice. To this day, fortunate people come to Khaṇḍa to see the half-eaten laḍḍu in Gopinath’s hand.

Lessons from life of Śrīla Raghunandana Ṭhākura

1. By asking about the relationship Mukunda Dāsa has with Raghunandana, Māhaprabhu has established that the spiritual master is not a mere external form, but rather an embodiment of spiritual realization and a transparent medium through which divine grace flows. When the spiritual master imparts knowledge, practices, and teachings that awaken and nourish the dormant love for Krishna within the heart of the disciple, they are considered to be fulfilling their role as a spiritual master.

2. Kṛṣṇa looks beyond external actions and examines the inner motives and the quality of one’s heart. By sincerely seeking a connection with Kṛṣṇa and engaging in devotional service, individuals can attract Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and experience spiritual growth and fulfillment in their lives.