Birth :
Shri Kumbhandas Ji was born on the 11th day in the month of Chaitra (March-April) in year year 1499 in a village called Jamunavata near Govardhan. He was born in a royal Kshatriya clan. Yamuna Ji used to flow from His village in Saraswat Kalpa, hence the name of this village is Jamunavata. From the very beginning, Shri Kumbhandas Ji was interested in music and composition. He had his agricultural land in Chandra Sarovar, Parasauli where he used to do farming. Shri Kumbhandas Ji was the supreme Sakha (friend) of Shrinathji and was his favored one.
When Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya came and revealed Shrinathji in Govardhan, then He called Shri Kumbhandas Ji and gave him the service of Lord, which earned him fame.
The appearance of Shrinathji (Shri Kumbhandasji surrendering to Mahaprabhu) :
Once Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya was circumambulating the earth to establish devotion of Shri Krishna. When He reached the forest of Jharkhand, there Shri Govardhannathji appeared and ordered him:
“We are three Damans hidden in Govardhan Mountain. Nagdaman, Indradaman, and Devdaman. In these three Damans, I am the Devdaman and this is my name. You should come to Govardhan soon and get me out from the Govardhan Mountain. Establish me in the temple and reveal my service."
On the orders of Shri Govardhannath Ji, Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya postponed his earth circumambulation in Jharkhand itself and started moving towards Govardhan. Sri Damodardas Harsani, Krishnadas Meghan, Govind Dube, Jagannath Joshi, and Ramdas were five Vaishnavas with him. Mahaprabhu came with these Vaishnavas at Govardhan and sat on the platform of Saddu Pandey's house. Later during the appearance of Shrinathji, Saddu Pandey became the servant of Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu entrusted the service of Shrinathji to him. Many Brajwasis also became the disciples of Mahaprabhu.
After receiving the information of Mahaprabhu, Shri Kumbhandas Ji, who was living in Jamunavata at that time, told his wife that some great scholar man had come to Aanyor and revealed Shri Govardhandharji from Shri Govardhan Mountain. Many people have become his disciples and it will be beneficial if we also become his disciple. Both of them then went to Aanyor and requested Shri Mahaprabhuji to provide them His shelter. Shri Mahaprabhuji bestowed him with Ashtakshara initiation (8 letter name Mantra). After that Shri Mahaprabhuji installed Shri Govardhandharji in a temple there and appointed Shri Ramdas Chauhan for service and Shri Kumbhdasji for Kirtan service. All the people of Braj brought milk, curd, butter, and offered them to Shrinath Ji.
Sri Mahaprabhu told all the Brajwasi servants that "Shrinathji is my everything, you altogether take care of him and always be ready to serve." He said to Shri Kumbhandas and other servants that all of you should not accept food without having darshan of Shrinathji. In this way, after giving instructions to everyone, Mahaprabhu again went to Jharkhand for the circumambulation of earth.
ShrinathJi's utmost grace on Shrikumbhandas Ji :
Now according to the instructions of Mahaprabhu, Shri Kumbhandas Ji used to have darshan of Shrinathji daily. Shri Kumbhandas Ji would regularly compose new poems and narrate to Shrinathji with a very melodious voice. Shrinathji also used to visit Kumbhandas Ji's house and perform many pastimes and melodious talks with Shri Kumbhandas Ji. Shrinathji has showered many blessings on Shrikumbhandasji.
Relocating Shrinathji to the forest of Tond due to attack of Muslim rulers:
Once upon a time, there was an attack of Muslims in Braj. The king of those Muslims was very cruel. He had come from the west after plundering all the villages. His halt was about seven kilometers away from Govardhan Mountain. Then Manikchand Pandey, Saddu Pandey, Ramdas Chauhan, and Shri Kumbhandas Ji, who were present in the service, thought together that these Muslim rulers are haters of religion, so what should we do? Then everyone thought that what are we thinking, we should ask Shrinathji only that what should be done in this situation. These four Vaishnavas were personal intimates of Shrinathji. Shrinathji used to talk to them.
Everyone came in front of Shrinathji and asked "O Shrinathji, what should we do now? The hater of religion are looting us. Now we will do whatever you command."
Shrinathji said, "Take me from here, I want to go now."
Everyone asked, "Lord, where should we take to you?"
Shrinathji said, "I want to go in the thickets of Tond."
Everyone again asked, "Lord, on which ride will you go in the thickets of the Tond."
Shrinathji said, "Saddu Pandey has a bull, bring him, I will ride on that bull."
Saddu Pandey's bull was brought as soon as this order was received. Shrinathji sat on that bull. Now, because of the gait of the bull, Ramdas Ji caught ShrinathJi from one side and Shri Kumbhandas Ji held ShrinathJi from the other side to avoid falling Srinath Ji. Giving support to ShrinathJi from both sides of the bull, everyone is going into the thickets of the Tond.
There were abundant thorns in the dense forest of Tond. The clothes of all the servants were torn by the thorns and everyone was in great pain because of the thorns on the body. Shrinathji was placed on a platform under a tree on the bank of a pond in the forest. Whatever food they had brought along, Ramdas offered it to ShrinathJi.
Now Shrinathji said to Shri Kumbhandas Ji, "Kumbhandas Ji, sing something".
Shri Kumbhandas Ji was grieving in his mind that due to Muslim rulers, they had to leave Govardhan and come to this dense forest. Here too thorn trees are covered, thorns in the way too, all clothes are torned, there is pain due to pricking thorns in the body and He [Srinath Ji] is asking to sing. Thinking of this, Shri Kumbhandas Ji started singing -
(Raag Sarang)
Bhavat Hai Toy Tondko Ghanou.
Kaante Lage Gokharu Boodhe Phatyau Jaat Yah Tanau.
Sihon Kaha Lokati Ko Dar Yah Kaha Vaanak Banyau.
Kumbhandas Prabhu Tum Govardhandhar Vah Kon Randdhehni Ko Janyau.
Hearing this poem of Shri Kumbhandas Ji, Shrinathji smiled and remained silent, did not say anything. On this, a Brajwasi came from Shri Govardhan and gave the news that the army of Muslims had returned. Everyone was pleased to hear this news and Shrinathji was again brought to Shri Govardhan and all the Vaishnavas started serving him.
Visit of Maharaja Mansingh to meet Shri Kumbhandas Ji at his house:
In 1620, when Maharaja Mansingh reached Jatipura to see Shrinathji while traveling to Braj, Shri Kumbhandas Ji was singing a beautiful composition of Him. Maharaja Mansingh was so pleased with his poems that the very next morning he reached his village Jamunavata and wanted to give a lot of money but he did not accept it. The Maharaj was greatly pleased with the contented nature of Shri Kumbhandas Ji.
Shri Kumbhandas Ji's love for Shrinathji:
Shri Kumbhandas Ji did not want to leave the service of Shrinathji and go anywhere. Once in 1631, seeing his poverty, Shri Vitthalnathji wanted to take him to Dwarkapuri. He wished that the offerings given by the Vaishnav devotees there, would remove the poverty of Sri Kumbhandasji. Shri Vitthalnath Ji said to Kumbhandas Ji "come with me to Dwarkapuri". Kumbhandas Ji didn't want to leave Braj Dham, but on the orders of ShriVitthalnath Ji, he accompanied him. But at the very first stop, when he remembered Shrinathji, tears of love started rolling out from his eyes. At that time he made a verse and sang -
Kete Din Ju Gae Binu Dekhain.
Tarun Kisor Rasik Nandnandan, Kachhuk Uthati Mukh Rekhain.
Vah Sobha, Vah Kaanti Badan Ki, Kotik Chand Bisekhain.
Vah Chitavan, Vah Haas Manohar, Vah Natavar Bapu Bhekhain.
Syam Sundar Sang Mili Khelan Ki Aavati Hiye Apekhain.
‘kumbhandas’ Laal Giridhar Binu Jeevan Janam Alekhain.
Seeing this condition of Kumbhandasji, Shri Vitthalnathji said- "The separation of Shrinathji for a day is becoming unbearable to you like ages. Your journey is done, you should go to your home."
Emperor Akbar invited Shri Kumbhandas Ji to come to the court:
It is said that once a courtier of Akbar heard a verse of Shri Kumbhandas Ji in Shrinathji's temple and he further sang that verse [Sri Kumbhandas’s] in the royal court. Akbar was very pleased to hear the couplet. When he came to know that the pada belonged to Shri Kumbhandas Ji, he sent a palanquin to bring him. Kumbhandas Ji's mind was fixed to not to leave the service of ShrinathJi and go anywhere; But thinking that it was okay to leave on the king's call, he went to the court and sang fearlessly expressing his sadness at the king's request to sing -
Bhaktan Kau Kaha Sikari Kaam.
Aavat Jaat Panhaiyan Tootin, Visar Gayo Harinaam.
Jaakau Mukh Dekhai Dukh Laagai, Taakau Karan Pari Paranaam.
Kumbhandas Laal Giradhar Bin, Yah Sab Jhoothau Dham.
What concern do the devotees have with the royal palaces? (Here the word used is ‘Seekari’ of Akbar’s Royal Palace at Fatehpur Seekari). Going to any royal place is a mere waste of time for the devotees, rather it is an act of defamation; moreover one forgets the name of Lord Hari. Further, while meeting with them, One needs to bow to those, whose glimpses and association, make one sinful. Shri Kumbhandas Ji says that without my Lord Krishn, who is the upholder of Sri Giriraj Ji, everything else is fallacious.
The kindhearted emperor was greatly impressed by his devotion and clear statement. He sent him back to Jamunavata.
Shri Kumbhandas Ji's detachment to His sons:
Although Shri Kumbhandas Ji had seven sons, He did not have the slightest affection among them all. Once when he was asked, 'How many sons do you have? He said "One and a half. One is Shri Chatturbhujdas and half is Shri Krishnadas. Chatturbhujdas stays near Shri Thakurji, worships him, does Seva, and experiences the joy of Swaroop. Krishnadas is attending cows and also has darshan of Shri Thakurji but does not have the experience of the sport (Leela) of Shri Goverdhandhar. The remaining five are of no use to Shrinathji in any way, so their existence is equal to non-existence."
How detached he was from the householder, you can know from another incident:
Once when his son Krishnadasji had gone to the forest for Shrinathji's cow grazing, suddenly a lion attacked the cows and Shri Krishnadas died in their protection. On hearing this incident, instead of expressing grief, Shri Kumbhandas Ji said, "Today I am extremely grateful that my son's life became meaningful in protecting Shrinathji's cows."
The hymns and couplets of Shri Kumbhamdas Ji, despite being simple, are of special importance from the point of view of the renunciation and devotion.
For eq:
Aawat Mohan Man Ju Haryau Haun.
Haun Grih Apane Sachu Saan Baithi, Nirakhi Badan Asvara Bisaryau Haun.
Roop-nidhan Rasik Nandanandan Nirakhi Badan Dheeraj Na Dharyau Haun.
Kumbhandas Prabhu Gobardhan Ang-ang Prem-piyoosh Bharyau Haun.
Disappearance:
After Shri Kumbhandasji became old and very weak, he sat at Sankarshan Kund near Aanyor. His son Chaturbhujdas asked him to take him to Jamunavata village, where He lived. Shri Kumbhandas Ji refused to go there and said, "There is only a short time left for me to leave this body". Meanwhile, Shri Gusainji came there. Shri Kumbhandasji bowed down to him and sang some verses of childhood pastimes and finally his mind was absorbed in Shri Govardhannathji and he left his physical body in 1583 while singing the padas of pastimes. Shri Gusainji was very sad that day and expressed his feeling that the devotee of God is no more.