He belonged to the spiritual lineage of Lord Chaitanya. (CC. 2.13.38, 1.10.110).
He is the fifty-sixth branch of Chaitanya tree. Subhananda, who formerly lived in Vrindavana as Malati, was one of the kirtana performers who danced in front of the Ratha-yatra car during the Jagannatha festival. It is said that he ate the foam that came out of the mouth of the Lord while He danced before the Ratha-yatra car. (CC. Adi 10.110).
In his past incarnation he was Malati. (GGD. 194, 199).
sei phena laña subhananda kaila pana
krsna-prema-rasika tenho maha-bhagyavan
The foam that fell from the mouth of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was taken and drunk by Subhananda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Krishna. (CC. Madhya 13.110).
He was also present at the Kheturi festival.