"By the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
three devotees accompanied Lord Nityananda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal
to preach. These three were Ramadasa, Madhava, and Vasudeva Ghosh. Govinda
Ghosh, however, remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and thus felt great
satisfaction."
According to the Gaura-Parsada-caritavali the three brothers, Vasudeva Ghosh, Madhava Ghosh and Govinda Ghosh were especially sweet-throated singers. When these three would sing, Nityananda Prahbu Himself would dance in great ecstasy.
It is said that their home village was within Sri Hatta in a place called either Baduna or Burangi grama. In any case it is known that Vasudeva Ghosh Thakura’s father resided in Kumara hatta. After the passing away of their father, Vasudeva, Govinda, and Madhava Ghosh went to live in Nabadwipa dhama. They came from the kayastha caste that has its origin in the Northern part of the Rada-desa, where the Ganges does not flow. All three of them are eternal associates of Sri Caitanya and Nityananda . According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada these three are situated in the madhurya-rasa and are in the section of those who have accepted Sri Radhika as their ultimate asraya-vigraha.
According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Govinda Ghosh, Madhava Ghosh, and Vasudeva Ghosh Thakura were formerly the gopis in Vrndavana named Kalavati, Rasolasa and Gunatunga Sakhi. When Mahaprabhu was staying in Jagannatha Puri, these three brothers would come every year for the Ratha-yatra and perform their famous kirtana. After the passing of Mahaprabhu from this world into the spiritual world, these three brothers went their separate ways. Govinda Ghosh Thakura went to live in Agradwipa, Sri Madhava Ghosh Thakura went to live in Danihatta, and Sri Vasudeva Ghosh went to live in the village of Tamala.
It is said that Govinda Ghosh Thakura
had no children. As he grew old, he was in some anxiety, worrying about
who would perform his funeral ceremony and offer a sacrifice in his honor
after his passing away. One night in a dream Gopinatha, his Krsna Deity,
came to him and said, "Do not worry, I shall perform the sacrificial offerings
myself. Have no fear." Even to this day, every year on the anniversary
of the passing away of Sri Govinda Ghosh Thakura, the Gopinatha Deity performs
the sacrificial ceremonies in his honor. Sri Vasudeva Ghosh Thakura passed
away on the second day of the full moon in the month of Kartika.
When he was a small child, Shrinivasa
received the mercy of Shri Govinda Ghosh Thakura and Narahari Sarakara
Thakur. After some time, Shrinvasa’s father passed away. At the disappearance
of his father, Shrinivasa was devastated with grief. So bereaved was he
that he would allow no food or drink to pass through his lips, and in the
way he fasted for some time.