Sri Lochana Dasa Thakura, the celebrated author of Sri Chaitanya-mangala, was a disciple of Sri Narahari Sarakar Thakura. In the eternal pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, there shines a bright star – Sri Lochana Dasa Thakura, a beloved devotee and empowered soul. Sri Lochana Dasa Thakura was blessed to have the association of Mahaprabhu during His manifest pastimes.

Vishwa Guru Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to the song Parama Karuna:

“Parama koruna, pahu dui jana, nitai gauracandra. This is a song sung by Locana dasa Thakura, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, almost contemporary. He wrote one book, Caitanya-mangala, depicting the activities of Lord Caitanya. That is a very famous book, Caitanya-mangala and he has composed many songs. Practically all Vaisnavas, they are transcendentally poetic. That is one of the 26 qualifications of the Vaisnava. So he says that “These two Lords,” nitai gauracandra, “Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga, or Lord Caitanya, They are very merciful incarnations.” Saba avatara-sara siromani. “They are the essence of all incarnations.”

A Heart Captivated by Love

Lochana Dasa Thakura’s devotion was not ordinary; it was a heart captivated by the love of Lord Chaitanya. His compositions, like the soul-stirring Sri Chaitanya Mangala, reveal the depth of his love and understanding of the Lord’s glories.

A Treasure of Devotion

Sri Lochana Dasa Thakura’s life teaches us that true devotion is not about rituals, but about love and surrender. He was a well known poet and composed many devotional songs glorifying Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.