vasudama sakha yash ca panditah shri-dhanaïjayah

 

   Krishna’s friend Vasudama became Dhanaïjaya Pandit in Gaura-lila.

   (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 127)

 

   Dhanaïjaya Pandit was Nityananda Prabhu’s dear servant; he was very renounced and full of love for Krishna.

   (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.31)

 

   Opinions vary about Dhananjaya Pandit’s birthplace and his parentage. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is said that he was born in the village of Jariagrama in Chittagong district on the fifth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra, 1485. His father’s name was Shripati Bandopadhyaya, his mother, Kalindi Devi. His wife was Haripriya.

 

   In the book Gauranga Madhuri, another version is given: He was born in the village of Siyan Muluk, near Bolpur in the Birbhum district. His father’s name was Adideva Vachaspati and his mother, Dayamayi. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur subscribes to the former view in his Anubhashya.

 

   Dhananjaya Pandit’s primary home was in the village of Shitalagrama which is served by the Kaichara post office in the precinct of Mangalakota, district of Burdwan. Shitalagrama is about one mile north of the Kaichara railway station, nine miles west of Katwa on the narrow gauge line to Burdwan city. He is also said to have had homes in the village of Sanchara Panchara and Jalandi. This first of these villages lies two miles south of Satadeula Tajapura, which is four miles from the Memari train station. Jalandi is about 10 miles east of Burdwan city and is served by Lokanagara post office. The home of Sanjaya Pandit is also found in this village who is said by some to have been Dhananjaya’s brother and by others his disciple. Dhananjaya had no descendants. Those who supervise the Shitalagrama Temple are descendants of his disciples. 

 

   Both the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana and Gauranga Madhuri agree that Dhananjaya Pandit was married and that his wife’s name was Haripriya. It is also mentioned that he would prostrate himself in obeisances before Tulasi Devi three times a day. He was married when very young, but this did not stop him from leaving on a pilgrimage shortly after his wedding. His wealthy father gave him money for traveling expenses, but Dhananjaya gave it all to Mahaprabhu and carried only a begging bowl. This particular action has been recalled by the author of the Vaishnava-vandana:

 

 

vilasi vairagi vandon pandita dhanaïjaya

sarvasva prabhure diya bhanda hate laya

 

   Dhananjaya’s main home or shripata in Shitalagrama. The Deities of Gopinath, Nitai-Gauranga and Damodar which he worshiped are still being served there. These Deities are brought into a field not far from the Temple where the disappearance day festival is held annually in the middle of Magh.

Dhananjaya Pandit participated for a few days with Mahaprabhu in His sankirtan pastimes in Navadwip. From there he returned to Shitalagrama hence he went on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan. Before travelling to Vrindavan, he stayed for a few days in Sanchara Panchara, leaving a disciple who was travelling with him in charge of the Deity service. At present, there is no further sign of this Temple in Sanchara Panchara.

 

   Nityananda Prabhu delivered the most fallen and crushed the atheistic. These powers were manifest in his dear Devotee, Dhananjaya. Dhananjaya Pandit converted many robbers and atheists in the Shitalagrama area.

 

   Dhananjaya Pandit was an extraordinarily great Vaishnava. Nityananda took up permanent residence in his heart.

   (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.5.773)

 

   As one enters the Shitalagrama Temple, a small Tulasi altar stands on the left. This is the site of Dhananjaya Pandit’s samadhi tomb. His disappearance day is the Shukla-ashtami of Karttik month.

 

   [Excerpted from the book “Sri Chaitanya: His Life and Associates” by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.]