Govinda is counted among Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s branch. Eventually, he made his home in Agradvīpa, Vāsudeva in Tamluk, and Mādhava Ghosh in Dain Hat¹. Govinda Ghosh Ṭhākura’s house is not far from Agradvīpa in Kashipur Vishnutala. Some are of the opinion that Vaishnavatala was his birthplace. Govinda Ghosh participated in Mahāprabhu’s līlās in Śrīvāsa Aṅgana, in the nagara-saṅkīrtana to the Kāzī’s house, and in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. During the Ratha-yātrā festival, he was the lead singer in the fourth kīrtana group, accompanied by his two brothers, Chota Haridāsa, Viṣṇu Dāsa and Rāghava Paṇḍita. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita joined this group as the principal dancer.

On Mahāprabhu’s direction, Govinda revealed the Gopīnātha deity from a black stone in Agradvīpa. Mahāprabhu also instructed him to get married. There is a legend that Govinda Ghosh’s wife and son both died untimely. As he grew older, Govinda began to wonder who would perform his last rites (as it is considered important to have a son who can do the śrāddha ceremony to the deceased father). Govinda had a dream in which Gopīnātha appeared to him and said, “Don’t worry about this. I will perform the śrāddha ceremony for you Myself.”

When Govinda Ghosh left this world, Gopīnātha was true to His word and offered his piṇḍa. Gopīnātha continues to perform this ceremony every year on the anniversary of Govinda Ghosh’s departure from the world. This takes place on the waning moon (kṛṣṇā dvādaśī) of the month of Caitra. Vāsudeva Ghosh’s disappearance day is on the second day of the waxing moon (suklā dvitīyā) in the month of Kārtika.

Two Songs Written By Govinda Ghosh

prāṇera mukunda he!
ki āji śunilu ācambita?
kahite parāṇa jāya mukhe nāhi bāhirāya
śrī gaurāṅga chāṛibe navadvīpa

ihāto nā jāni morā sakāle milinuṅ gorā
avanata māthe āche basi
nijhare nayana jhare buka bahi dhārā paṛe
malina haiyāche mukha śaśi

dekhite takhana prāṇa sadā kare ānacāna
sudhāite nāhi avasara
kṣaṇeke sambita haila tabe mui nivedila
śuniyā dilena e uttara

āmi ta vivaśa haiyā tāre kichu nā kahiyā
dhāiyā āiluṅ tuwā pāśa
ei ta kahiluṅ āmi je karite pāra tumi
mora nāhi jivanera āśa

śuniyā mukunda kānde hiyā thira nāhi bāndhe
gadādharera vadana heriyā
e govinda ghoṣa kaya ihā jena nāhi haya
tabe muñi jāinu mariyā

(Gadādhara says,) “O Mukunda! My life! Did I really hear what I think I heard today? If I say it I will die. The words do not want to come out of my mouth. Gaurāṅga is really going to leave Navadvīpa.”

“I had no idea, but when I saw Gaura this morning, He was sitting with His head bowed in thought. Streams of tears flowed from His eyes and washed over His chest; His moon-like face had lost its luster.”

“When I saw Him like that, my own heart fluttered and I could not ask Him anything. For a moment I regained consciousness and humbly asked Him the question and that is what He told me.”

“I was so disturbed that I ran here to you right away without saying anything further to Him. I have told you this and now do what you can. I don’t think that I have any hope of continuing to live.”

“When he heard this news, Mukunda started to cry. He could no longer keep his composure when he looked at Gadādhara. Govinda Ghosh says, ‘Let it not be, for if He leaves, I will die.’”

hede re nadīyā vāsī kāra mukha cāo
bāhu pasāriyā gorācāṅde phirāo
to sabāre ke āra karibe nija kore
ke jāciyā dibe prema dekhiyā kātare
ki śela hiyāya hāya ki śela hiyāya
parāṇa putalī navadvīpa chāṛi jāya
āra nā jāiba morā gaurāṅgera pāśa
āra nā kariba morā kīrtana vilāsa
kāṅdaye bhakata-gaṇa buka vidāriyā
pāṣāṇa govinda ghoṣa nā jāya miliyā

O people of Navadvīpa, who are you staring at? Spread your arms to stop Gauracandra; make Him come back! Who is there now who will clasp you to his chest? Who will come and beg you to take love of Kṛṣṇa? I have been stabbed in the heart! I have been stabbed in the heart! The beloved of my life has abandoned Navadvīpa and gone. No longer will we be able to go and sit with Gaurāṅga; no longer will we be able to relish kīrtana the way we did. All the devotees are crying; their hearts are bursting and, like a stone, Govinda Ghosh does not go to join them.

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¹ - Agradvīpa and Dain Hat are villages lying between Navadvīpa and Katwa, while Tamluk is in Mednipur.