Sri Paramesvara dasa Thakura appeared in a family of physicians.
His Sripat is at Atapur, which was on the Canpandanga branch of the
Howrah-Amrah rail line. Rail service on this line has been
discontinued. Direct bus service is available from Howrah station;
it is about a 2 hour journey from there.
Atapur was previously known as Visakhala. Sri Sri Radha-Govinda are
still residing at his Sripat. In front of the temple are two Bakul
trees and in between them is Paramesvara Thakura's Samadhi
mandira.
Sri Krsna das Kaviraj Gosvami has written: "Paramesvara das, said
to be the fifth gopala of Krsna lila, completely surrendered to the
lotus feet of Nityananda. Anyone who remembers his name,
Paramesvara dasa, will get love of Krsna very easily." [C.C. Adi
11.29]
Sri Kavi Karnapura Gosvami has written: namnarjunah sakha prag yo
dasah paramesvarah, "Paramesvara dasa Thakura was previously the
cowherd friend of Sri Krsna named Arjuna."
Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura has written:
nityananda jivan paramesvar das
jahar vigrahe nityananda vilasa
krsna das paramesvar das dvi jon
gopabhave hoi hoi kore sarvakkon
[C.B.]
"Paramesvara is the life of Lord Nityananda and his form (body) is
the place of his pastimes. Krsna dasa and Paramesvara, being in the
mood of cowherd boys, are always raising a commotion."
When Jahnava Mata attended the festival at Kheturi, Paramesvara
accompanied her and went to Vrindavana with her as well. He
installed Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha at Atapur in accordance with the
desire of Sri Jahnava devi, who was personally present during the
installation celebration.
paramesvari dasa thakura bandibo sabdhane
srigale loyar nam sankirtan sthane
One day, near Sri Rampur, at Akna Mahesh (the Sripat of Kamalakara
Pippalai), there was a festival of nama-sankirtan going on within
the temple of Lord Jagannatha there. Paramesvara was present and
was dancing in a completely God-intoxicated state. At that time
some miscreants passed by there, and seeing a dead fox lying on the
road, they picked it up and threw it into the midst of the
sankirtan party.
The highly exalted Vaisnavas present didn't feel any anger towards
those ignorant fools, but Paramesvara felt sad to see the
unfortunate dead fox, and so by his merciful glance he brought it
back to life. Then that fox trotted out of the nat-mandir (kirtan
hall) to the utter bewilderment of those miscreants, who then
immediately fled from the spot.
Paramesvara dasa Thakura accompanied the Deity of Radharani that
Sri Jahnava-devi sent to Vrindavana for Sri Govinda. He was the
very dear servant of Sri Jahnava Mata.
His disappearance is on the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha.
On that day the khunti* that he used in sankirtan is placed next to
his samadhi mandir.
*khunti - this is a symbol carried on a staff preceeding the
kirtana party. Supposedly its history dates from the time when the
Kazi gave his promise that no one would ever disturb the sankirtan
parties again. This was an emblem of the Kazi, and its presence
infront of the sankirtan party indicated that the party was
sanctioned by the Kazi and thus no one should disturb them. Today
it is decorated with eyes, tilak, flower garlands and cloths, and
worshipped as a manifestation of Mahaprabhu Himself.
