Talakhari is the birthplace of Sri Lokanatha Goswami , the spiritual master of Sri Narottama dasa Thakura. According to Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä (187), he is Lélä Maïjaré in kåñëa-lélä. He took birth in the home of Çré Padmanäbha Cakravarté and Sétä Devé in 1483 AD. He was two years older than Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Padmanäbha Cakravarté was a brähmaëa of the Bharadvaja clan. He had four sons: Bhävanätha, Purnänanda or Pragälabha, Lokanätha, and Raghunätha.
Srila Lokanatha Dasa Goswami was highly intellectual from an early age. He completed his academic education from his father and became a scholar. Some say that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came to Talakhari on the way to East Bengal. From his early childhood, Lokanätha was indifferent to family life. One day, giving up his mother and father and leaving his home behind forever, he went to Mäyäpura in Navadvépa to take darçana of the holy feet of Çré Gauräìga.
Before taking sannyäsa, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu ordered Lokanätha Gosvämé to perform bhajana in Våndävana and to reveal the hidden térthas there. He was also given the responsibility for the Vaiñëavas visitors to Våndävana. He associated with Çréla Bhügarbha Gosvämé, the disciple of Gadädhara Paëòita. They were the first to go to Våndävana. Lokanätha Gosvämé was always afflicted with deep separation from Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Hearing about Mahäprabhu’s tour of South India, he also went to South India. Once he arrived, he came to learn that Mahäprabhu was on the way to Våndävana. Hearing this, Lokanätha Gosvämé quickly went to Våndävana. Meanwhile, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu had already left for Prayäga-dhäma. Arriving in Våndävana and not seeing Mahäprabhu, Lokanätha was heartbroken. He resolved to set everything right by starting out the very next morning for Prayäga to meet the Lord. That night the Lord came to him in a dream and consoled him, saying, “O Lokanätha! I am very near to you! Just stay in Våndävana. You will get all blessings here in Våndävana.” Hearing this order from Mahapraphu, he visited all the places of pastimes of Çré Kåñëa, deeply immersed in himself in bhajana with great ecstasy. A few days later, he chanced to meet the most dear followers of Mahäprabhu: Çré Rüpa Gosvämé and Çré Sanätana Gosvämé, and his joy knew no bounds. He prohibited Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé from mentioning his name in Çré Caitanya-caritämåta.
He performed his bhajana in Khadirvan. He had only one disciple, Srila Narottama däsa Öhäkura. There is a village near Chatrabana named Umarao. There he stayed for some time on the banks of Kiçoré-kunòa. He had a great desire to establish the worship of a deity. Understanding Lokanätha’s aspiration to serve, Çré Rädhä-vinoda appeared before Lokanätha, who always carried the deity in a cloth bag around his neck. Çré Rädhä-vinoda are still being worshipped. These deities are still being worshipped. Residing under the tree, he was immersed in performing bhajana and entered into the eternal pastimes of the Lord while staying Khadirvan.
The birthplace of Lokanätha Gosvämé can still be found in Talakhari. There is a small altar to mark the place, which is known as “Babuder Bari.”.The Rädhä-Govinda temple known as Talakhari Ashrama is on the opposite side of the street. It has the facilities for accommodation and taking prasädam.
How to Go There
Get down at Arpara bus stop in Magura district in between Dhaka-Jashore Highway. Then go to Talkhari Bazaar by auto-rickshaw.
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