Çré Mukunda Datta was born in the Caööagräma district, in the village of Chanharä, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Paöiyä. This village is situated ten kroças, or about twenty miles, from the home of Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi. In the Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä (140) it is said:
“In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaëöha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya-lélä as Mukunda and Väsudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu.” When Lord Caitanya was a student, Mukunda Datta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu would fight with Mukunda Datta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Caitanya-bhägavata, Ädi-lélä, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu returned from Gayä, Mukunda Datta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Çrémad-Bhägavatam about kåñëa-lélä. It was by his endeavor that Gadädhara Paëòita Gosvämé became a disciple of Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi, as stated in Çré Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-lélä, Chapter Seven. When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Çréväsa Prabhu, Mahäprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as säta-prahariyä, Mukunda Datta inaugurated the function by singing.vraje sthitau gäyakau yau
madhukaëöha-madhuvratau
mukunda-väsudevau tau
dattau gauräìga-gäyakau
Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu chastised Mukunda Datta by calling him khaòajäöhiyä beöä because he attended many functions held by different classes of nondevotees. This is stated in the Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-lélä, Chapter Ten. When Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu dressed Himself as the goddess of fortune to dance in the house of Candraçekhara, Mukunda Datta began the first song.
Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya first went to the house of Mukunda Datta, but at that time Mukunda Datta requested Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu to continue His saìkértana movement for a few days more before taking sannyäsa. This is stated in Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-lélä Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Caitanya’s accepting the renounced order was made known to Gadädhara Paëòita, Candraçekhara Äcärya and Mukunda Datta by Nityänanda Prabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kértana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya’s acceptance of sannyäsa. After the Lord took sannyäsa, they all followed Him, especially Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, Gadädhara Prabhu and Govinda, who followed Him all the way to Puruñottama-kñetra. In this connection one may refer to Çré Caitanya-bhägavata, Antya-lélä, Chapter Two. In the place known as Jaleçvara, Nityänanda Prabhu broke the sannyäsa rod of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Mukunda Datta was also present at that time. He went every year from Bengal to see Lord Caitanya at Jagannätha Puré. (CC Adi lila 10:41. purport.)
"Lord Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in that way vanquished
all his mental depression."
PURPORT
Mukunda Datta was once forbidden
to enter the association of Çri Caitanya Mahäprabhu because
of his mixing with the Mäyävädé impersonalists. When
Lord Caitanya manifested His mahä-prakäça, He called all
the devotees one after another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood
outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was
waiting outside, but the Lord replied, “I shall not soon be pleased with
Mukunda Datta, for he explains devotional service among devotees, but then
he goes to Mäyävädés to hear from them the Yoga-väçiñöha-rämäyaëa,
which is full of Mäyäväda philosophy. For this I am greatly
displeased with him.” Hearing the Lord speak in that way, Mukunda Datta,
standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time
be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when
the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was going to give up the association
of the Mäyävädés for good, He was pleased, and He
at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association
of the Mäyävädés and gave him the association of
pure devotees. (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. CC Adi lila 17:65
purport.)
Väsudeva Datta, the brother
of Mukunda Datta (in some places he is known as the father of Mukunda Datta),
was also a resident of Caööagräma. In the Caitanya-bhägavata
it is said, yäìra sthäne kåñëa haya
äpane vikraya: Väsudeva Datta was such a powerful devotee that
Kåñëa was purchased by him. Väsudeva Datta stayed
at Çréväsa Paëòita’s house, and in the Caitanya-bhägavata
it is described that Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu was so pleased with
Väsudeva Datta and so affectionate toward him that He used to say,
“I am only Väsudeva Datta’s man. My body is only meant to please Väsudeva
Datta, and he can sell Me anywhere.” Thrice He vowed that this was a fact
and that no one should disbelieve these statements. “All My dear devotees,”
He said, “I tell you the truth. My body is especially meant for Väsudeva
Datta.” Väsudeva Datta initiated Çré Yadunandana Äcärya,
the spiritual master of Raghunätha däsa, who later became Raghunätha
däsa Gosvämé. This will be found in the Caitanya-caritämåta,
Antya-léla, Sixth Chapter, verse 161. Väsudeva Datta spent
money very liberally; therefore Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked Çivänanda
Sena to become his sarakhela, or secretary, in order to control his extravagant
expenses. Väsudeva Datta was so kind to the living entities that he
wanted to take all their sinful reactions so that they might be delivered
by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. CC Adi 10:41-42 purports)
This is described
in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Caitanya-caritämåta’s Madhya-lélä,
verses 159 through 180.
There is a railway station named
Pürvasthalé near the Navadvépa railway station, and
about one mile away, in a village known as Mämagächi, which is
the birthplace of Våndävana däsa Öhäkura, there
is presently a temple of Madana-gopäla that was established by Väsudeva
Datta. The Gauòéya Maöha devotees have now taken charge
of this temple, and the sevä-püjä is going on very nicely.
Every year all the pilgrims on the navadvépa-parikrama visit Mämagächi.
Since Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura
inaugurated the navadvépa-parikrama function, the temple has been
very well managed.