Sri Saranga Murari Thakura used to reside at Modadrumadwipa Mamgachi, where his Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath are still present. There is also a Bakul tree there which is perhaps existing since the time of Saranga Thakura.
There is a local legend concerning this tree. One day when Mahaprabhu came there, he noticed that the Bakul tree in the courtyard of Saranga’s temple was dying. So he asked Saranga, “This Bakul tree is dying, so what are you going to do?”
Saranga Thakura replied, “Besides Your mercy Prabhu, I don’t see any hope for
this tree.” Then Mahaprabhu embraced that tree, which has remained healthy to
this day and is now quite large.
Saranga Thakura had resolved that he would not accept any disciples but
Mahaprabhu nevertheless repeatedly requested him to do so. Finally he relented
and agreed by saying, “Tomorrow morning the first person I see I will initiate
with the divine mantra.”
The next day, in the early morning, he went to take his bath in the Ganges. By
chance a dead body came and touched his feet as he entered the water. Picking
up this body he said, “Who are you? Get up.” From behind Mahaprabhu who was
witnessing everything called out, “Saranga! Say the mantra in his ear!” Then
when Saranga said the mantra into the ear of that dead child, the body became
conscious. He said, “My name is Murari. I am your servant. Please bestow your
mercy upon me.”
On the day when this boy was to be invested with the sacred thread he was by
chance bitten by a snake and died. As he was only a boy, the custom was not to
burn the body but rather to place it on a raft of banana trees and float it
down the Ganga.
When his parents received the news that their child was alive, they came there to take him home. However Murari declined to accompany them to his former home. He told them, “I will remain in the service of he who has given me life again, for I am indebted to him.”
“Sri Saranga Murari Thakura was constantly in forgetfulness of himself, absorbed as he was in the bliss of speaking his inner thoughts. Sometimes he would remain in the within the water for 2 or 3 days without suffering any bodily inconveniences. He appeared to be almost insentient and therefore his activities were imperceptible. Such was the fierce intensity of his immeasurable prowess. How much can I describe of the interminable transformations of his devotional sentiments?” [Chaitanya Bhagavat Antya-lila. 5:426-434]
The descendants of his family are still residing at Sargram in Barddhaman
district.
According to Gaur-Ganoddesa-Dipika (text 172.) Saranga Thakura was previously
Nandi Mukhi, in Braja lila.
vraje nandimukhi yasit
sadya saranga-thakkurah
prahlado manyate kaishchin
mat-pitraa na sa manyate
“The Vraja-brahmani Nandimukhi-devi appeared as Saranga Takura. Some people
think that Saranga Thakura was the incarnation of Prahlada Maharaj. My father
(Shivananda Sena – the father of Kavi-karnapura) did not agree with them.”
His appearance is on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asar.
His disappearance is on the 13th day of dark fortnight of the month Agra hayon
(Mrigarirsa – November-December).
