"I offer my respectful obeisances to Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, who is respected by the entire Vaishnava community and who discovered the place where Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared." (In the image: Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Mharaja).

   "I offer my respectful obeisances to Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, who is respected by the entire Vaishnava community and who discovered the place where Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared."

   Shri Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was born in the Mayamansingh district of West Bengal. Gaudiya Vedanta-acharya Shri Baladeva Vidyabhushana had a disciple named Uddhava das. His disciple was Shri Madhusudana Dasa Babaji who lived in Suryakunda. Madhusudana Dasa Babaji's disciple was Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja.

   Jagannatha Dasa Babaji lived in Vrindavan and performed his bhajan there for quite some time. He became famous among the Devotees there as one who was perfect in Krishna-bhakti. In 1880, Shrimad Bhaktivinoda Thakura went to Vrindavan and saw his lotus feet for the first time. While there, he received many divine instructions on Hari-bhakti from Jagannatha Dasa. Some time later, Babaji Maharaja visited the Barddhaman district during the month of Phalgun. He stayed at a town called Amalajorha. At that time, Bhaktivinoda Thakura again had the good fortune to take darshan of his holy feet.

   Seeing Bhaktivinoda Thakur's enthusiasm for preaching the Holy Name of Krishna, Shrila Babaji Maharaja was very happy. He stayed in Amalajorha during Ekadashi, and that night there was kirtan and Hari-katha. Later, at Amalajorha, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura established his Prappana-Ashram. 

Shri Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was born in the Mayamansingh district of West Bengal. Gaudiya Vedanta-acharya Shri Baladeva Vidyabhushana had a disciple named Uddhava das. His disciple was Shri Madhusudana Dasa Babaji who lived in Suryakunda. Madhusudana Dasa Babaji's disciple was Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja. (In the image: Surya Kund, Shri Vrindavan Dham).

   In 1893, Shrila Babaji Maharaja went from Koladwip (the part of Navadwipa where Shrila Shridhara Maharaja's Temple is presently located) to Surabhi-kunja in Godrumadwipa. There he took his seat. His arrival in Surabhi-kunja was a wonderful event. Shri Jagannatha Dasa Babaji revealed many lost holy places in Mayapura, including the Yogapith, Shrivasa Angana and others. It is said that when he came upon the holy place of Mahaprabhu's birth he danced, although he was very old and walked with difficulty. For some time he remained in Nadia and performed his bhajan on the banks of the Ganges. His bhajan kutir and samadhi mandir are still there at present. He ordered Bhaktivinoda Thakura to build a hut so Devotees could stay near his bhajan kutir, and Bhaktivinoda did so.

   When Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was twelve years old, he was an expert in the Jyoti-shastras explaining Vedic astrology. Hearing this, Shrila Babaji Maharaja one day called upon him to prepare the Vaishnava calendar in accordance with the proper siddhanta. He did so and Babaji Maharaja was very pleased. With this, the Navadwipa Panjika, the Vaishnava calendar recording the dates of the appearance and disappearance of important Vaishnava saints and the celebration of important festivals, began. 

   Shrila Babaji Maharaja always had great enthusiasm for kirtan and Vaishnava seva. Even when he was nearly 135 years old, he went on preaching the message of Shri Chaitanya throughout the world for the benefit of the fallen masses. In his old age, although he was almost paralyzed by infirmity, whenever it was time for kirtana he would still raise his arms in ecstasy. 

Shri Jagannatha Dasa Babaji revealed many lost holy places in Mayapura, including the Yogapith, Shrivasa Angana and others. It is said that when he came upon the holy place of Mahaprabhu's birth he danced, although he was very old and walked with difficulty. For some time he remained in Nadia and performed his bhajan on the banks of the Ganges. His bhajan kutir and samadhi mandir are still there at present. (In the image: Neem Tree under which Lord Chaitanya appeared).

   Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was the veda or Babaji guru of Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja. Bhagavat dasa in turn gave the dress of a babaji Gaurakishora dasa Babaji. Jagannatha dasa Babaji's servant's name was Bihari dasa. He was extremely strong and powerful. In his old age, Babaji Maharaja could not walk. Bihari dasa used to carry him in a basket on his shoulders so that Babaji Maharaja could move from place to place. 
When he went to Calcutta, Babaji Maharaja would stay at the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Manikatala Street. Bhaktivinoda was always very eager to invite him to his house for Prasada, but Babaji Maharaja was very renounced and would come only occasionally.

   When he was in his old age, Babaji Maharaja was nearly blind. Many people would come to see him and to offer him donations for the service of Shri Krishna. His servant Bihari dasa would keep all these donations in a bag. One day, Babaji Maharaja said, "Bihari! How many rupees have I got?"

 
   Bihari dasa had put some rupees aside for some service he had planned to render Babaji Maharaja. When asked by Jagannatha dasa Babaji about how many rupees were on hand, Bihari placed some rupees in his hand and kept twelve Rupees aside. Even though his eyesight was failing, however, Babaji Maharaja detected the discrepancy. 

   "Bihari!" he said, "Why have you kept twelve Rupees aside? Give me all the rupees!" 
   Smiling at this fun, Bihari surrendered the remaining coins to his guru. At that time, Babaji Maharaja made his wishes known as to how the money should be spent. The total came to two hundred rupees. Babaji Maharaja ordered Bihari dasa to take the money at once and buy sweetballs, rasagolas, to feed all the cows in Navadwipa dhama.

   Once Babaji Maharaja was on the banks of the Ganges, living under a makeshift canvas tent. Nearby that place there lived a dog with five puppies. Whenever Babaji Maharaja would take Prasada, the dogs would come around and lick the food from his plate. When Bihari dasa caught hold of one of the dogs to drive it off, Babaji Maharaja told him: "Bihari! If you wish to drive these dogs off, you may take my plate away as well. I shall not eat today." When Bihari complained, "But guru maharaja – these dogs are unclean!" Babaji Maharaja remarked, "No. These dogs are residents of the holy dhama. You may not abuse them."

   Many people used to come and beg alms from Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. He did not want to give them alms, but told them to do service. One day a man named Shri Gaura Hari dasa came and asked Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja for alms, but Babaji Maharaja would give him nothing. When the man persisted for three days, fasting outside Babaji Maharaja's tent, Babaji Maharaja finally relented. He tore off a piece of his kaupina, his undergarment and gave it to Bihari dasa, his servant, with the instruction to present it to the beggar as alms, thereby informing the beggar that he must first learn to control his senses before taking up the profession of a saint.

   One day, Shri Babaji Maharaja remarked about the professional readers of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, "This kind of professional Bhagavata kirtana is simply prostitution. Those who make their living by reading Shrimad-Bhagavatam are offenders to the Holy Name of Krishna. No one should listen to the kirtana and Bhagavatam readings that they produce. And one who listens to such offensive readings and thus commits offenses against the Holy Name of Krishna certainly go to hell. Those who are involved in this professional reading should immediately give it up. Such a person should worship the residents of Vrindavan with great care and attention, considering himself most fallen, and thus pray for forgiveness."

   Shrimad Bhaktivinoda Thakura remarked of Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja that he was the topmost general among Gaudiya Vaishnavas. 

Many people used to come and beg alms from Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. He did not want to give them alms, but told them to do service. One day a man named Shri Gaura Hari dasa came and asked Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja for alms, but Babaji Maharaja would give him nothing. When the man persisted for three days, fasting outside Babaji Maharaja's tent, Babaji Maharaja finally relented. He tore off a piece of his kaupina, his undergarment and gave it to Bihari dasa, his servant, with the instruction to present it to the beggar as alms, thereby informing the beggar that he must first learn to control his senses before taking up the profession of a saint. (In the image: Shri Vrindavan Dham).

Babaji Maharaja always had great enthusiasm for kirtan and Vaishnava seva. Even when he was nearly 135 years old, he went on preaching the message of Shri Chaitanya throughout the world for the benefit of the fallen masses. In his old age, although he was almost paralyzed by infirmity, whenever it was time for kirtana he would still raise his arms in ecstasy. (In the image: Jagannath Dasa Babaji Maharaj, original photo).

   Jagnnatha dasa Babaji was very austere; he never hesitated to fast without taking any water for three days at a stretch. He used to sit up the entire night chanting the Holy Name and at early dawn finish his ablutions. In the morning he took Prasada of curd and flat rice.

   The following is a list of disciples of Siddha Jagnnatha dasa Babaji:

    1. Biharidasa Babaji
    2. Bhagavata dasa Babaji
    3. Gaurahari dasa Babaji
    4. Ramahari dasa Babaji
    5. Ramadasa Babaji
    6. Nityananda dasa Babaji, a resident of Varshana
    7. Harekrishna dasa Babaji, a resident of Kadamakhandi

   Jagannatha dasa Babaji lived in Vrindavana and performed his bhajan there for quite some time. Once he asked his servant Bihari dasa to locate a Deity to install there. Bihari dasa personally approached a weaver-caste Zamindar to help him in this regard. The Zamindar thus arranged to bring Deities of Gaura-Nitai from Dainhata and gave them to Bihari dasa. Nitai-Gaura looked so beautiful when They were installed that it appeared as if They were made of gold. On the occasion of the installation ceremony a sum of Rs. 3,000 was spent to feed the Vaishnavas of Suryakunda and Radhakunda.

   One day a band of dacoits approached him with the motive of stealing the Deities which they thought were made of gold. He told them that he possessed nothing and they might look into the Temple for booty. The dacoits broke open the Temple door and quickly gathered up everything they could find, including the Deities. However, in rushing to make their escape they stumbled on the door step and dropped the Deities. Seeing that the sun had risen outside the dacoits left the Deities and rushed off with the rest of the booty. After this incident he asked Bihari dasa to arrange for the Deities to be cared for by someone else. Bihari dasa carried the Deities to Vrindavana where he handed Them over, along with Rs. 2,000, to Mother-Goswamini, a resident of Gayespur in the district of Maldaha. At present these Deities are residing at Dhopapada in Gopalbag and are known as "Sonara Gaura".

   Sometime later he again asked Bihari dasa to locate another Deity for him. Bihari dasa found a Deity of the six-armed Lord Chaitanya which had been kept hidden in a bag of cattle-feed. This Deity belonged to Dinu Babaji, a Manipuri Vaishnava residing in Mathura near Radhakunda. Bihari dasa brought the Deity to Vrindavana where he cleansed and decorated Him, then carried the Deity, along with all items for worship, to Suryakunda.

   For ten years thereafter Babaji Maharaja worshiped this Deity until one day he said, "Bihari, please put this Deity in the care of someone else in Vrindavana. I would like to go to Navadwipa. Let my body be offered at the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga." Bihari dasa brought the Deity to Vrindavana and after receiving a donation of Rs. 25 from Mother-Goswamini of Gayespur handed over the Deity as well as the money to Narottama dasaji, the head of the Gopalaguru Matha. At present this Deity is being served at the lane of Nidhuvana.

   In 1880 Bhaktivinoda Thakura went to Vrindavana and saw him for the first time. While there, he received many instructions on Hari-bhakti from Jagannatha dasa. Some time later, Babaji Maharaja visited the Barddhaman district during the month of Phalguna. He stayed at a town called Amalajora. At that time, Bhaktivinoda Thakura again had the good fortune to take his darshana.

   Seeing Bhaktivinoda Thakura's enthusiasm for preaching the Holy Name of Krishna, Babaji Maharaja was very happy. He stayed in Amalajora during Ekadashi, and that night there was kirtan and Hari-katha. Later, at Amalajora, Bhaktivinoda Thakura established his Prappana-ashrama. 

Samadhi of Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja.

   In 1893 Babaji Maharaja went from Koladwipa to Surabhi-kunja in Godrumadwipa. There he took his seat. His arrival in Surabhi-kunja was a wonderful event. Jagannatha dasa Babaji revealed many lost holy places in Mayapura, including the Yogapitha, Shrivasa Angana, and others. It is said that when he came upon the holy place of Mahaprabhu's birth he danced, although he was very old and walked with difficulty. For some time he remained in Nadia and performed his bhajan on the banks of the Ganges. His bhajan kutir and samadhi mandir are still there at present. He ordered Bhaktivinoda Thakura to build a hut so Devotees could stay near his bhajan kutir, and Bhaktivinoda did so.

   When Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was twelve years old, he was an expert in the Jyoti-shastras explaining Vedic astrology. Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja one day called upon him to prepare the Vaishnava calendar in accordance with the proper siddhanta. He did so and Babaji Maharaja was very pleased. With this, the Navadwipa Panjika, the Vaishnava calendar recording the dates of the appearance and disappearance of important Vaishnava saints and the celebration of important festivals, began.

   Babaji Maharaja always had great enthusiasm for kirtan and Vaishnava seva. Even when he was nearly 135 years old, he went on preaching the message of Shri Chaitanya throughout the world for the benefit of the fallen masses. In his old age, although he was almost paralyzed by infirmity, whenever it was time for kirtana he would still raise his arms in ecstasy.

   Jagnnatha dasa Babaji was the vesa, or Babaji, guru of Bhagavata dasa Babaji Maharaja. Bhagavata dasa in turn gave the dress of a babaji to Gaura Kishora dasa Babaji. Jagnnatha dasa Babaji's servant's name was Bihari dasa. He was extremely strong and powerful. In his old age, Babaji Maharaja could not walk and Bihari dasa used to carry him in a basket on his shoulders. When he went to Calcutta, Babaji Maharaja would stay at the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Manikatala Street. Bhaktivinoda was always very eager to invite him to his house for Prasada, but Babaji Maharaja was very renounced and would come only occasionally.

   When he was in his old age, Babaji Maharaja was nearly blind. Many people would come to see him and to offer him donations for the service of Shri Krishna. His servant Bihari dasa would keep all these donations in a bag. One day, Babaji Maharaja said, "Bihari! How many rupees have I got?" Bihari dasa had put some rupees aside for some service he had planned to render Babaji Maharaja. When asked about how many rupees were on hand, Bihari placed some rupees in his hand and kept twelve rupees aside. Even though his eyesight was failing, however, Babaji Maharaja detected the discrepancy. "Bihari!," he said, "Why have you kept twelve rupees aside? Give me all the rupees!" Smiling at this fun, Bihari surrendered the remaining coins to his guru. At that time, Babaji Maharaja made his wishes known as to how the money should be spent. The total came to two hundred rupees. Babaji Maharaja ordered Bihari dasa to take the money at once and buy sweetballs, rasagulas, and feed all the cows in Navadwipa dhama. 

"Bihari!," he said, "Why have you kept twelve rupees aside? Give me all the rupees!" Smiling at this fun, Bihari surrendered the remaining coins to his guru. At that time, Babaji Maharaja made his wishes known as to how the money should be spent. The total came to two hundred rupees. Babaji Maharaja ordered Bihari dasa to take the money at once and buy sweetballs, rasagulas, and feed all the cows in Navadwipa dhama. (In the image: Calves in Govardhan Eco Village, Wada, Maharashtra).

   Once Babaji Maharaja was on the banks of the Ganges, living under a makeshift canvas tent. Nearby that place there lived a dog with five puppies. Whenever Babaji Maharaja would take Prasada, the dogs would come around and lick the food from his plate. When Bihari dasa caught hold of one of the dogs to drive it off, Babaji Maharaja told him: "Bihari! If you wish to drive these dogs off, you may take my plate away as well. I shall not eat today." When Bihari complained, "But guru Maharaja, these dogs are unclean!" Babaji Maharaja remarked, "No. These dogs are residents of the holy dhama. You may not abuse them."

   Many people used to come and beg alms from Jagnnatha dasa Babaji. He did not want to give them alms, but told them to do service. One day a man named Shri Gaura Hari dasa came and asked Jagannatha dasa Babaji for alms, but Babaji Maharaja would give him nothing. When the man persisted for three days, fasting outside Babaji Maharaja's tent, Babaji Maharaja finally relented. He tore off a piece of his kaupina (undergarment) and gave it to Bihari dasa, his servant, with the instruction to present it to the beggar as alms, thereby informing the beggar that he must first learn to control his senses before taking up the profession of a saint.

   One day Babaji Maharaja remarked about the professional readers of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, "This kind of professional Bhagavata kirtana is simply prostitution. Those who make their living by reading Shrimad-Bhagavatam are offenders to the Holy Name of Krishna. No one should listen to the kirtana and Bhagavatam readings that they produce. And one who listens to such offensive readings and thus commits offenses against the Holy Name of Krishna certainly goes to hell. Those who are involved in this professional reading should immediately give it up. Such a person should worship the residents of Vrindavana with great care and attention, considering himself most fallen, and thus pray for forgiveness."

   In Navadwipa Jagannatha dasa Babaji preferred to live beneath a tree where now the bhajan kutir of Bihari dasa stands. Later Bihari dasa bought ten cottahs of land from Madhava Datta for Rs. 40. That plot had a huge ditch in it which Bihari filled up by carrying earth from the Ganges at night after Jagannatha dasa went to bed. Sometime later Kedaranatha Datta Bhaktivinoda arrived there and both he and Bihari dasa sought bhiksa from Nafar Pal Chowdhury of Mahesaganj and raised two shades. A while later, with the approval of Jagannatha dasa, Rajarshi Banamali Raya Bahadur built three small rooms and fenced them in with a surrounding wall. The aged Manamohini dasi, a resident of Kaigrama, arranged to dig a well. He lived here for 32 years until his disappearance at the age of 147 years.

   Shrimad Bhaktivinoda Thakura remarked of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja that he was the topmost general among Gaudiya Vaishnavas. 

"This kind of professional Bhagavata kirtana is simply prostitution. Those who make their living by reading Shrimad-Bhagavatam are offenders to the Holy Name of Krishna. No one should listen to the kirtana and Bhagavatam readings that they produce. And one who listens to such offensive readings and thus commits offenses against the Holy Name of Krishna certainly goes to hell. Those who are involved in this professional reading should immediately give it up. Such a person should worship the residents of Vrindavana with great care and attention, considering himself most fallen, and thus pray for forgiveness."

Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja.

   Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja was born around the year 1800 AD. He spent many years in Vrindavana where he became famous as a perfect Devotee, though more than this is not known of his early years and pastimes. What we do know, however, is that he was particularly enthusiastic in serving the Lord's Devotees and performing 'kirtan'. In later life his servant, Bihari Lal, used to carry him on his shoulders in a basket, though when  he would hear a 'kirtan' or himself be engaged in 'kirtan', his body would extend itself out of the basket like a beautiful banyan tree and he would loudly shout, "Nitai ki nam eneche re!  Nitai, ki nam diteche re!"  "Oh Lord Nityananda, what a wonderful name you have brought! Oh Nitai, what a wonderful name you have given!"

   The stories which I will now relate are at the time when he was more than 120 years old. Living in a tent at Shri Navadwipa with Bihari Lal, his servant, he would eat 'Prasadam' from a large brass plate which someone had given as a donation. A litter of puppies which had taken birth nearby began to come and eat off Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja's plate, but he did not object. After a few days however, Bihari Lal saw what was happening, and disgusted to see the dogs eat from his 'gurus' plate, he drove them away. Jagannatha dasa Babaji chastised Bihari Lal angrily saying, "If the dogs can't eat I won't eat!" His servant had to search out and bring back the puppies, and as they joined Babaji Maharaja again over his plate he exclaimed, "All glories to the 'dhama' dogs!" Thus he always displayed his great respect for all the residents of the holy 'dhamas'. On another occasion he had his servant purchase two hundred rupees worth of 'rasagulas' and instructed him, "Feed them to all the 'dhamas' cows, but don't give one to those rascal 'sahajiya babajis' (pretenders)." 

Due to his old age, Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji couldn't open his eyes, but had to forcibly open them with his fingers, what to speak of walk. If he went anywhere he was carried in his basket by Bihari Lal, but upon arriving at the transcendental site, he leapt out of the basket and danced in ecstasy shouting, "Haribol!" and "Gauranga!", definitely establishing it to be the very same birthplace of Lord Chaitanya. (In the image: Yoga Pitha-birthplace of Lord Chaitanya).

   Shrila Jagannath dasa Babaji Maharaj was such a great Devotee that the famous Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Kedarnath Datta) called him the commanding chief of the Devotees. When Shrila Bhaktivinoda was looking for the actual place where Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace was, he asked Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja to go with him. During the many changes in the course of flow of the mighty Ganges River, some parts of the sacred 'dhama' of Navadwipa (nine islands) had changed. The Ganges had revealed old and lost places and reclaimed new ones. To his surprise Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered that the modern day city called Navadwipa was not more than 100 years old and therefore wasn't the Navadwipa of Shri Chaitanya. Some said the birth site was on a place now in the Ganges, while some said it was in the city of Navadwipa. Dissatisfied, Bhaktivinoda pushed on looking. He found some antiquarian maps and government records, and authentic books written at the time of Lord Chaitanya, all of which agreed that Mayapur Navadwipa Dhama is situated on the east bank of the Ganges. To Bhaktivinoda's amazement he found several large mounds covered with sacred Tulasi plants on land owned by Mohammedans. It was shrouded with local rumours of strange lights and sounds, so the owner, believing it to be haunted, would not go there. Many old babajis of the time, however, believed this to be the actual birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Convinced it was true, Bhaktivinoda, inspired by Jagannatha dasa Babaji, went there to the spot, with Jagannatha dasa Babaji being carried in his basket.

   Due to his old age, Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji couldn't open his eyes, but had to forcibly open them with his fingers, what to speak of walk. If he went anywhere he was carried in his basket by Bihari Lal, but upon arriving at the transcendental site, he leapt out of the basket and danced in ecstasy shouting, "Haribol!" and "Gauranga!", definitely establishing it to be the very same birthplace of Lord Chaitanya.

gauravirbhava bhumes twam nirdesta sajjana priyah
 vaisnava sarvabhauma sri jagannathaya te namah

   "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Shri Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, who is respected by the entire Vaishnava community and who discovered the place where Lord Chaitanya appeared."

Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja had a disciple named Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja, and Gaura Kishora dasa Babaji was his disciple. However at this time there was another great exponent of Vaishnava teachings that, on passing, we have already mentioned. His name is Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.  And so the line again divides like this:
 

                        JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI MAHARAJA
                        I                                                                I
          BHAGAVAT DASA BABAJI                     SHRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA
         GAURA KISHORA DASA BABAJI 

"Nitai ki nam eneche re! Nitai, ki nam diteche re!" "Oh Lord Nityananda, what a wonderful name you have brought! Oh Nitai, what a wonderful name you have given!" (In the image: His Holiness Indradyumna Swami and other Devotees, Ukraine).