Shri Parmananddasji

Date of Birth: V.S 1550 (A.D 1493)

Place of Birth: Kanoj

Left the World: V.S 1641 (A.D 1584) at Surbhikund.

Sung before whom: Shri Navnitpriyaji and Shri Goverdhannathji

Instrument: Nil

Favourite Raag: Sung in almost all raags

First meeting with Shri Mahaprabhuji:

Once he went to Prayag for Makar Snan (i.e. taking bath in the river Ganga). He wanted to meet Jalghariya Kshatri Kapur. So he went to Adel. He met Shri Mahaprabhuji on the bank of river Yamunaji for the first time.

Biography:
After meeting on the bank of river Yamunaji at Prayag, Shri Parmananddasji stayed with Shri Acharyaji and sang childhood sport (Bal leela) kirtans there. Shri Acharyaji delegated him the service of singing kirtans at different times before Shri Navnitpriyaji. When Shri Mahaprabhuji went to Gokul, Shri Parmananddasji also went with him and there he wrote many padas related to childhood sport(Bal leela) at Gokul. He requested Shri Mahaprabhuji to allow him to stay with him at Gokul for his service. Shri Mahaprabhuji offered him also kirtan seva before Shri Goverdhannathji. However, as Shri Mahaprabhuji had bestowed him with joy of the childhood sport he wrote thousands of kirtans of the secret sentiments of childhood sport.

Episode:

  • One 11th bright night, Shri Thakorji told Parmananddas that He heard his kirtans sitting in the lap of Jalghariya Kshatri Kapur. Shri Navnitpriyaji appeared before Him in million times beautiful form than that of Kamdev (God of Love) that he could not resist going to Adel to have darshan of Shri Navnitpriyaji and to meet Kshatri Kapur. There on the banks of river Yamuna he saw Mahaprabhuji doing Sandhya rituals and in him he had darshan of Shri Krshna Himself in him. Shri Acharya asked Parmananddas to sing kirtan of Shri Krshna’s leela. He sang the song of agony of separation. Shri Mahaprabhuji asked him to sing the songs of sport related to childhood of Krshna. Shri Parmananddas humbly with folded hands said that he does not know anything about that. Then Shri Mahaprabhuji asked him to take a bath in Yamunaji and come back. After that Shri Mahaprabhuji bestowed him with the initiation of Hastakshar and Bramhasambandh and also narrated him to “Dashamskandh Anukramanika” (index of the incidents of the tenth chapter of Shri Bhagwat). Consequently according to Shri Mahaprabhuji’s order he sang the songs of childhood sport of Shri Krshna in Ashavari, Bilaval, Kanhara ragas.

  • Once Shri Parmananddasji invited Shri Mahaprabhuji to his house at Kanoj. Shri Mahaprabhuji asked him to sing songs of glory of Bhagwan Shri Krshna. Parmananddas started singing “Hari teri leela ki sudhi aave”. Shri Mahaprabhuji just on hearing this got deeply absorbed in the Bhagwat Leela and opened his eyes on the fourth day. Shri Parmananddas seeing this decided never to sing such songs by which Shri Mahaprabhuji could get absorbed in Bhagwat Leela and might not return in this world for liberation of the divine souls.

  • One day Shri Parmananddasji after offering Dandvat Pranaam to Shri Gusaiji climbed down the mountain and offered Dandvat Pranaam to the Dhwaja (flag) of Shri Goverdhannathji desiring to leave the body came to Surbhi Kund and lied down over there. Shri Gusaiji not seeing Parmananddasji at Rajbhog Aarti inquired about him. One disciple said that he has gone to Surbhi Kund in a condition of deep anguish. Shri Gusaiji then went to Surbhi Kund to enquire about him. Shri Parmananddasji seeing Shri Gusaiji offered him Dandvat Pranaam and created and sang “prit to shri nandnandam sao kije” in raga Sarang before Shri Gusaiji. One disciple requested Parmananddasji to show him some means by which Shri Thakorji bestows his grace on me. Shri Parmananddasji sang “pratsamaye uthkariye shri laxmansut gaan” in raga Bhairav and said that if you sing this with concentration then you will get the fruits. Shri Parmananddas after that concentrating his mind the Jugalswaroop (twin idols) sang in Sarang “Radhe baithi tilak sav arti” and left the body. Shri Gusaiji remarked at that time that there were two “oceans” in Pushtimarg i.e. Surdasji and Parmananddasji.