Paramesvara Dasa, also known as Paramesvari Dasa, was one of the intimate associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. He is described as the life and soul of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and his body was the place of Lord Nityananda’s pastimes.
He was always filled with the ecstasy of a cowherd boy and is identified as Arjuna, a friend of Krishna and Balarama in Krishna lila. Among the twelve gopalas, he is known as the fifth gopala.
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Complete Surrender to Nityananda Prabhu
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya that Paramesvara Dasa was completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu.
The Caitanya Bhagavata states that Paramesvara Dasa, known sometimes as Paramesvari Dasa, was the life and soul of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. His life reflected deep devotion and spiritual ecstasy.
He lived for some time at Khadadaha village and remained absorbed in the mood of a cowherd companion of the Lord.
Paramesvara Dasa accompanied Srimati Jahnava Devi when she performed the festival at Khetari.
It is stated in the Bhakti Ratnakara that by the order of Srimati Jahnava Mata, he installed Radha Gopinatha in the temple at Atapura, in the district of Hugli.
The Atapura station is on the narrow-gauge railway line between Howrah and Amata.
Another temple in Atapura, established by the Mitra family, is known as the Radha Govinda temple.
Samadhi of Paramesvari Thakura
In front of the temple, in a very attractive place among two bakula trees and a kadamba tree, is the tomb of Paramesvari Thakura.
Above it is an altar with a tulasi bush.
It is said that only one flower a year comes out of the kadamba tree. It is offered to the Deity.
Family Background and Descendants
Paramesvari Thakura belonged, it is said, to a vaidya family.
A descendant of his brother is at present a worshiper in the temple. Some of their family members still reside in the district of Hugli, near the post office of Chanditala.
The descendants of Paramesvari Thakura took many disciples from brahmana families, but as these descendants gradually took to the profession of physicians, persons from brahmana families ceased becoming their disciples.
The family titles of Paramesvari’s descendants are Adhikari and Gupta.
Worship of the Deity
Unfortunately, his family members do not worship the Deity directly. They have engaged paid brahmanas to worship the Deity.
In the temple, Baladeva and Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha are together on the throne.
It is supposed that the Deity of Baladeva was installed later because according to transcendental mellow, Baladeva, Krishna, and Radha cannot stay on the same throne.
Disappearance Festival
On the full-moon day of Vaisakha (April–May), the disappearance festival of Paramesvari Thakura is observed in this temple.
