He belonged to the lineage of Lord Chaitanya. Govinda Datta was the principal singer in Lord Chaitanya’s kirtana party (Cc 1.10.64). He was one of the Devotees who took part in kirtana with Lord Chaitanya in front of the Ratha cart of Lord Jagannatha (Cc. 2.13.37,73). According to Vasinavacaradarpana his Shripata was at Sukhchara on the bank of the Ganges in district Twenty-four Parganas, between Khaddaha and Panihati, where the Deities of Shri Shri Nitai Gauranga were installed by Govinda himself. This Temple now lies within the precinct of the Devalaya owned by Mahendranatha Chattopadhyaya, who spent a considerable amount for the upkeep of the Temple and Deva-seva Govinda Datta spent the final stage of his life in Vrindavana.
prabhu-priya govindananda mahabhagavata
prabhura kirtaniya adi sri-govinda datta
(C.C. 1.10.64)
Govindananda and Govinda Datta, the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth branches of the tree, were performers of kirtana in the company of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Govinda Datta was the principal singer in Lord Chaitanya’s kirtana party.
damodara, narayana, datta govinda
raghava pandita, ara sri-govindananda
(C.C. 2.13.37)
The five who responded to the singing of Svarupa Damodara were Damodara Pandita, Narayana, Govinda Datta, Raghava Pandita and Shri Govindananda.
advaitere nrtya karibare ajña dila
srivasa—pradhana ara sampradaya kaila
(C.C. 2.13.38)
Advaita Acharya Prabhu was ordered to dance in the first group. The Lord then formed another group with Shrivasa Thakura as the chief man.
Shrila Prabhupada writes in the Purport: In the first group, Damodara Svarupa was appointed chief singer, and the responding singers were Damodara Pandita, Narayana, Govinda Datta, Raghava Pandita and Govindananda. Shri Advaita Acharya was appointed as a dancer. The next group was formed, and the chief singer was Shrivasa Thakura.
srivasa, ramai, raghu, govinda, mukunda
haridasa, govindananda, madhava, govinda
(C.C. 2.13.73)
The Lord’s Devotees—including Shrivasa, Ramai, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridasa, Govindananda, Madhava and Govinda—all combined together.