Understanding Visnujana’s musical talents, Prabhupada gives him the words to a song by Narottama dasa Thakur, Vrndavana ramya sthana, and asks him to compose a melody that his countrymen will like. Visnujana is excited by this service, and the next day he informs His Divine Grace that he already has a melody for the song. Prabhupada asks Visnujana to come by his room and sing the new melody. After hearing Visnujana sing the bhajan, Prabhupada is greatly pleased. He thanks him for the beautiful melody and authorizes him to compose other melodies for the devotees to chant. No other devotee has this authority. Although an outstanding musician in his own right, Visnujana is particularly impressed with Prabhupada’s musical abilities. Not only is he an accomplished mrdanga player, but Prabhupada’s harmonium playing reminds him of the top jazz musicians. And never has Visnujana heard such deep and profound singing. Yet all of Prabhupada’s music is simply to glorify the Supreme Lord, Krsna.
[from Radha Damodar Vilasa Vol. 1 by Vaiyasaki dasa Adhikari]
Author: Narottam Das Thakur
(1) Vrindabana ramya-sthana divya-cintamani-dhama ratana-mandira manohara avrta kalindi-nire raja-hamsa keli kore tahe sobhe kanaka-kamala
(3) o-rupa-lavanya-rasi amiya poriche khasi' hasya-parihasa-sambhasane narottama-dasa koy nitya-lila sukha-moy sadai sphuruka mora mane
1) Beautiful Vrndavana is filled with cintamani gems and many jewelled palaces and temples. Many regal swans play in the waters of the Yamuna, and in those waters a splendid golden lotus flower grows. 2) In the middle of that lotus is a golden place surrounded by eight petals. On these eight petals the eight principal gopis reside, and in the center Lord Syamasundara and beautiful Srimati Radharani sit on a jewelled throne. 3) The great beauty of the Divine Couple, and Their charming joking and laughter appears to be constantly showering nectar everywhere. Narottama dasa says: I pray that these blissful eternal transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple may be always manifest in my heart.