19900904 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.29.17 Caitanya-caritamrita Antya-līlā

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami on September 4th 1990 in Bombay India. and begins with a reading from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4th canto, chapter 29, verse 17 and continues to  Caitanya-caritāmṛta antya līlā 11th chapter.

 

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams ca

sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam

sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-caitanya-devam

sri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca

 

Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya

(devotees repeat)

Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya

(devotees repeat)

Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya

(devotees repeat)

 

SB[4.29.17]

yathā yathā vikriyate

guṇākto vikaroti vā

tathā tathopadraṣṭātmā

tad-vṛttīr anukāryate

 

yathā yathā — just as; vikriyate — is agitated; guṇa-aktaḥ — associated with the modes of nature; vikaroti — as it does; vā— or; tathā tathā — similarly; upadraṣṭā — observer; ātmā — the soul; tat — of the intelligence; vṛttīḥ — occupations; anukāryate — imitates.

 

Translation:

 

Formerly it was explained that the Queen is one’s intelligence. While one is awake or asleep, that intelligence creates different situations. Being influenced by contaminated intelligence, the living entity envisions something and simply imitates the actions and reactions of his intelligence.

 

[Devotees repeats]

 

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda:

 

The queen of Purañjana is described herein as intelligence itself. Intelligence acts both in the dream state and in the waking state, but it is contaminated by the three modes of material nature. Since the intelligence is contaminated, the living entity is also contaminated. In the conditioned state, the living entity acts according to his contaminated intelligence. Although he simply remains an observer, he nonetheless acts, being forced by a contaminated intelligence, which in reality is a passive agent.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Thus, ends the Bhaktivedanta Swami translation purport to Text 17 Chapter 29 Canto 4.

 

Today is the passing away of Haridas Thakur, I’ll describe it in Antya līlā chapter eleven of Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, we’ll read from there something also

 

namāmi haridāsaṁ taṁ

caitanyaṁ taṁ ca tat-prabhum

saṁsthitām api yan-mūrtiṁ

svāṅke kṛtvā nanarta yaḥ

 

Translation:

 

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridasa Thakura and his master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who danced with the body of Haridasa Thakura on His lap.

 

Jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya dayamaya

jayadvaita-priya nityananda-priya jaya

 

jaya srinivasesvara haridasa-natha

jaya gadadhara-priya svarupa-prana-natha

 

jaya kasi-priya jagadananda-pranesvara

jaya rupa-sanatana-raghunathesvara

 

jaya gaura-deha krsna svayam bhagavan

krpa kari’ deha’ prabhu, nija-pada-dana

 

Translation:

 

These are all the names of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, All glories to the transcendental form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! My dear Lord, kindly give me shelter at Your lotus feet by Your causeless mercy.

 

jaya nityananda-candra jaya caitanyera prana

tomara caranaravinde bhakti deha’ dana

 

Translation:

 

All glories to Lord Nityananda, who is the life and soul of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! My dear Lord, kindly give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

 

jaya jayadvaita-candra caitanyera arya

sva-carane bhakti deha’ jayadvaitacarya

 

Translation:

 

All glories to Advaita Acarya, who is treated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as superior due to His age and respectability! Please give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

 

jaya gaura-bhakta-gana,—gaura yanra prana

saba bhakta mili’ more bhakti deha’ dana

 

Translation:

 

All glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for the Lord is their life and soul! All of you, kindly bestow devotional service upon me.

 

jaya rupa, sanatana, jiva, raghunatha

raghunatha, gopala,—chaya mora natha

 

Translation:

 

All glories to Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana! They are all my masters.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Then Kṛṣṇa Das Kavirāj explains how Lord Caitanya was spending His time in Jaganatha Purī Dancing and chanting the sankirtan movement with his followers.

dine nṛtya-kīrtana, īśvara-daraśana

rātrye rāya-svarūpa-sane rasa-āsvādana

 

Translation:

 

In the daytime Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu engaged in dancing and chanting and in seeing the temple of Lord Jagannātha. At night, in the company of His most confidential devotees, such as Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, He tasted the nectar of the transcendental mellows of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: So this way Lord Caitanya happily passed His days but he was feeling great separation from Kṛṣṇa and He exhibited many transcendental ecstasies that increased day by day, anxiety, transcendental anxiety, agitation, talking like a mad man, they were all present at the transcendtenal  body of lord Caitanya mahāprabhu.

 

Swarupa Damodar and Ramanda Rāya they remain with the Lord day and night.

 

So one day Govinda Das He went to deliver the remnants of Lord Caitanyas prasādam to Haridas Ṭhākura. There he saw that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying on his back chanting his rounds

 

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

very slowly, Govinda told him

 

govinda kahe, — ‘uṭha āsi’ karaha bhojana’

haridāsa kahe, — āji karimu laṅghana

 

“Please rise and take your mahā-prasādam,” Govinda said.

 

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “Today I shall observe fasting

 

saṅkhyā-kīrtana pūre nāhi, ke-mate khāiba?

mahā-prasāda āniyācha, ke-mate upekṣiba?

 

Translation:

 

I have not finished chanting my regular number of rounds. How, then, can I eat? But you have brought mahā-prasādam, and how can I neglect it?”

 

eta bali’ mahā-prasāda karilā vandana

eka rañca lañā tāra karilā bhakṣaṇa

 

Translation:

 

Saying this, he offered prayers to the mahā-prasādam, took a little portion, and ate it.

 

eta bali’ mahā-prasāda karilā vandana

eka rañca lañā tāra karilā bhakṣaṇa

 

Saying this, he offered prayers to the mahā-prasādam, took a little portion, and ate it.

 

Purport:

 

Mahā-prasādam is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, instead of eating mahā-prasādam, one should honour it. It is said here, karilā vandana, “he offered prayers.” When taking mahā-prasādam, one should not consider the food ordinary preparations. Prasāda means favour. One should consider mahā-prasādam a favour of Kṛṣṇa. As stated by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, kṛṣṇa baḍa dayāmaya karibāre jihvā jaya svaprasāda-anna dilā bhāi. Kṛṣṇa is very kind. In this material world we are all very much attached to tasting various types of food. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa eats many nice varieties of food and offers the food back to the devotees, so that not only are one’s demands for various tastes satisfied, but by eating prasādam one makes advancement in spiritual life. Therefore, we should never consider ordinary food on an equal level with mahā-prasādam.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: So The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Haridāsa’s place and inquired from him, “Haridāsa, are you well?”

 

Haridāsa offered his obeisances to the Lord and replied, “My body is all right, but my mind and intelligence are not well.”

 

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired from Haridāsa, What is your disease?”

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “My disease is that I am not able to complete my rounds.”

 

Prabhupāda here explains that If one is not able to complete the assigned number of rounds, he is to be considered to be in a diseased condition and how Prabhupāda wanted for the westerners he reduced the number to 16 rounds a day chanting loudly.

 

prabhu kahe,--"vṛddha ha-ilā 'saṅkhyā' alpa kara

siddha-deha tumi, sādhane āgraha kene kara?

 

Translation:

 

"Now that you have become old," the Lord said, "you may reduce the number of rounds you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly.

 

Prabhupad explains how unless one comes to the spontaneous love of God he must follow regulative principles very strictly. Because regulative principle is to chant fixed number Hare Krsna Mahamantra loudly so that he can hear himself.

 

loka nistārite ei tomāra ‘avatāra’

nāmera mahimā loke karilā pracāra

 

Translation:

 

“Your role in this incarnation is to deliver the people in general. You have sufficiently preached the glories of the holy name in this world.”

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya’s already called Haridas Thakur as Nāma ācārya because He preached the glories of chanting the holy name, he’s also called the avatar because advanced devotees came down into the world to help the supreme personality of Godhead to fulfil his mission.

 

So, in this way Haridas Thakur is actually the incarnation of Lord Brahmā. Other devotees are also likewise incarnations to help the Lord in His prosecution of His mission.

 

ebe alpa saṅkhyā kari’ kara saṅkīrtana”

haridāsa kahe, — “śuna mora satya nivedana

 

Translation:

 

The Lord concluded, “Now, therefore, please reduce the fixed number of times you chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.”

 

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “Kindly hear my plea.

 

hīna-jāti janma mora nindya-kalevara

hīna-karme rata muñi adhama pāmara

 

Translation:

 

“I was born in an inferior family, and my body is most abominable. I always engage in low work. Therefore, I am the lowest, most condemned of men.

 

adṛśya, aspṛśya more aṅgīkāra kailā

raurava ha-ite kāḍi’ more vaikuṇṭhe caḍāilā

 

Translation:

 

“I am unseeable and untouchable, but You have accepted me as Your servant. This means that You have delivered me from a hellish condition and raised me to the Vaikuṇṭha platform.

 

svatantra īśvara tumi hao icchāmaya

jagat nācāo, yāre yaiche icchā haya

 

Translation:

 

“My dear Lord, You are the fully independent Personality of Godhead. You act by Your own free will. You cause the whole world to dance and act as You like.

 

aneka nācāilā more prasāda kariyā

viprera śrāddha-pātra khāinu ‘mleccha’ hañā

 

Translation:

 

“My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. And he gives details of he was  offered the śrāddha-pātra that was to be first offered to the first-class brāhmaṇas. but even though I was born in a family of meat-eaters, you offered it to me. So he is expressing one desire he had.

 

eka vāñchā haya mora bahu dina haite

līlā samvaribe tumi — laya mora citte

sei līlā prabhu more kabhu nā dekhāibā

āpanāra āge mora śarīra pāḍibā

 

Translation:

 

I have had one desire for a very long time. I think that quite soon, my Lord, You will bring to a close Your pastimes within this material world.

“I wish that You not show me this closing chapter of Your pastimes. Before that time comes, kindly let my body fall down in Your presence.

“I wish to catch Your lotuslike feet upon my heart and see Your moonlike face.

 

jihvāya uccārimu tomāra ‘kṛṣṇa-caitanya’-nāma

ei-mata mora icchā, — chāḍimu parāṇa

 

Translation:

 

“With my tongue I shall chant Your holy name, ‘Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya!’ That is my desire. Kindly let me give up my body in this way.

 

mora ei icchā yadi tomāra prasāde haya

ei nivedana mora kara, dayāmaya

 

Translation:

 

“O most merciful Lord, if by Your mercy it is possible, kindly grant my desire.

 

ei nīca deha mora paḍuka tava āge

ei vāñchā-siddhi mora tomātei lāge”

 

Translation:

 

“Let this lowborn body fall down before You. You can make possible this perfection of all my desires.”  Lord explains to Haridas Thakura how Krsna’s so merciful, he must execute whatever he wants. “But whatever happiness I am getting is due to your association. It is not fitting for you to go away and leave Me aside.

 

Haridas Thakur grabbed the lotus feet of Caitanya “My Lord, do not create an illusion! With your Maya, Although I am so fallen, You must certainly show me this mercy! “My Lord, there are many respectable personalities, millions of devotees, who are fit to sit on my head. They are all helpful in Your pastimes.

 

Then Haridas Thakur expresses that I am more insignificant insect than an insect, when an insect like me dies what’s the loss? If an ant dies, where is the loss to the material world? So he’s praying that your always affectionate to the devotees my lord therefore please although I am just an imitation devotee, but nevertheless I wish that You fulfil my desire. That is my expectation.”

 

So Anyway, Lord Caitanya had to finish His midday duties daily Lord Caitanya would go to the sacred ocean and bathe so, but he’s decided that next day after darshan of Jaganath he’ll return to visit Haridas Thakura,

 

So Haridas Thakura embraced …Lord Caitanya embraced Haridas Thakura and went to take his bath. Next morning after taking darshan of the Lord Jaganath in the temple, Lord Caitanya with all of His associates went to see Haridas Thakura, they came before Haridas Thakura and immediately offered his obeisance’s to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all the Vaishnavas.

 

prabhu kahe, — ‘haridāsa, kaha samācāra’

haridāsa kahe, — ‘prabhu, ye kṛpā tomāra’

 

Translation:

 

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired, “My dear Haridāsa, what is the news?”

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “My Lord, whatever mercy You can bestow upon me.”

So then they started congregational chanting in the courtyard. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was dancing, was the chief dancer. Svarupa Damodar Goswami and all the devotees surrounded Haridāsa Ṭhākur began congregation chanting.

 

Rāmānanda Rāya, Sārvabhauma then in front of everyone Lord Caitanya started to glorify Haridas Thakure. He explained all of the transcendental attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Lord Caitanya became very enthusiastic it seemed that he not had one mouth but had 5 mouth. The more He described, the more His great happiness increased. After hearing of the transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the devotees present were struck with wonder. They all offered their respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura had unlimited glories, Haridāsa Ṭhākura one of the pastimes when he was offered the Srada Patra of Advaita actually so many caste brāhmaṇa was there but the most exalted brahman present should be offered the remnants of the prasādam that’s offered to Viṣṇu and then that Mahā prashad is offered to the departed soul. So, Advaita bypassing all the brāhmaṇa’s wanted to offer that plate to  Haridas Ṭhākura so some of the brāhmaṇa’s objected that his not brāhmaṇa how are you offering to him.

So, then advaita said whoever’s Brāhmaṇa according to the śruti mantra he can ignite fire yagna simply by mantra so he bought wood before all of them here you ignite this wood, so they brought the wood front of each one, nothing happen, Agni path! Puf!

 

Each one tried to ignite fire but there was no fire, he brought before Haridas Thakur Hare Kṛṣṇa! Puf! Fire came.

 

Haridas Thakur ki!

 

Devotees: Jaya!

 

Caitanya Mahāprabhu ki

Devotees: Jaya!

Caitanya Mahāprabhu bhakta vrinda ki

Devotees: Jaya!

Haridas Thakur ki

Devotees: Jaya!

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: So Haridas Ṭhākura, in many ways his greatness was established practically through his pastimes.

 

When he was brought before the great nawab and arrested they said why  you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, he’s saying why many people are chanting the name of Allah. They were previously in this country chanting the name of Hindus or, if one Mohamedan,

 

What’s the problem if one person  born in Mohamedan someone may like this name?

 

I happen to like the name Hare Kṛṣṇa what is wrong, I’m not harming anyone and then the nawabs like yeah what’s the big problem?

 

But then his priest imaṁ the mullah said no no this is harāmi! this is offensive! He should be punished.

 

So, they arrested him, put him in the prison, then he got everyone in the prison to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. He preached to them, he first of all started chanting and they said, what are you doing you always seem happy chanting, don’t you know you are in a prison?

 

This is supposed to be suffering, he preached to them you see you think you are in a prison. The whole world is in the prison.

 

We read today in the Bhāgavatam, so called we are the prisoner of our contaminated intelligence which is misleading us in waking and sleeping.

 

So Haridas Thakur preached to them the differences. The outside people think they are free, you think you are prisoners. But actually, the real position is we are all prisoners, we’re bound to birth, death, old age, disease, we’re bound to this material body. You are prisoners of your material desires.

 

In so many ways you are prisoners. But if you chant

 

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

[Devotees repeats]

 

then you all all be delivered. So he got everyone in the prison to chant

 

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare,

 

so then the news got to the nawab that now everybody in the prison is very happy, so he’s wondering why is everybody in the prison is so happy, they are supposed to be suffering, now they’re all chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and they’re very happy.

 

This Haridas Thakur is creating so much problems. So they brought him and again they said just give up this chanting, he first enquired why are you doing all this he had to, he gave a very nice answer and the nawab he accepted but then again his imaṁ Abdullah he didn’t accept said no if you keep one person like this then it will spread and everyone will become a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, you just had to finish him, he should be punished so then the nawab said he will beat, whipped him in Bais bazaar, 22 market places, this is very heavy whipping, cane whipping, still today in Singapore they do the cane whipping! When Indians overstay their visa, they whip them (devotees laugh) and the Indian government had to request please don’t do that we’ll take our people back!

 

But I heard from the Singaporeans that this whipping is such just to give you an example, nowadays is a modern day so they have adopted it, that normally by 3 whips a person goes unconscious, it’s a long whip about 8-foot cane, shhhew! Whak! They hit so hard that it shocks and in 3 hits you go unconscious today, they have the doctor they put water and everything but when your unconscious then they stop then they maybe have 7-5 whips or 10 whips, then again you come back after few days later and again it continues. So, you met your quota but here they are beating in each market place so many times enough time than any one market place you can kill the person, no doctor the just to monitor or his unconscious or not, the idea was he should be dead after 1 or 2 maximum or 3 market places, but instead just alright 22 market places such whipping ….

 

Actually, I heard that in Singapore if someone says give me 10 years in jail, but don’t whip me as punishment.

 

So, here this whipping of Haridas Thakur, people are coming out, they’re crying. How you are whipping is same they’re pulling and throwing back women and people they’re all crying they can’t believe when they were beating Haridas Ṭhākura instead of blaming them he’s thinking that that time the Lord he revealed later he came right from Vaikunta with his Sudarshan chakra just to chop of the heads of those 2 executioners but as he was just coming ready to do the needful. Then Haridas Ṭhākura was praying that please forgive them they know not what they are doing (devotees laugh) something in that effect. Don’t…just please forgive them it’s all due to my Karma, it’s although I’m such a sinful person I’m so offensive they’re doing its simply you see not to be consider they should be forgiven.

 

So, then the Lord he had to personally what to do he personally took all the hits on his own back and later lord Caitanya revealed showed his back was all covered in pimps, swells and scars.

 

Haridas Thakur fainted, he couldn’t bear to see it, actually the Lord he absorbed all those beatings, so after going through all the 22 market places he still was alive the executioners were very frustrated, they’re just sitting with their heads on their hands, ohhhh ohhhhh

 

Haridas Thakur goes what’s the matter?

 

What’s the matter you don’t know?

 

You are alive that’s what’s the matter, my being alive what’s the harm to you?

 

You being alive, we’re supposed to kill you, execute you by hitting you in so many market places and your still alive when nawabs finds out that after hitting you in 22 market places, your still alive he’s going to kill us, you mean if I die it will be better for you?

 

Oh, my dear sir please die, we’ll be very happy if you die, said alright.

 

So then Haridas Ṭhākura laid down and went into complete samādhi trance stop all his external action, breathing, heartbeat, everything and went into complete samādhi, meditating on the lotus feet of the supreme personality of godhead and they saw no breathing, no heart, He’s dead! He’s Dead!

 

They were so happy they just ran he’s dead yes we’ve done our job the nawab said really he came down with his priest he saw Haridas Thakur, no symptoms of life said alright so now bury him, no! no!

 

The Mūla said don’t bury him, he’s soul won’t have peace, you bury the body in the ground the soul is very peaceful but he is a sinner, he’s an offender, he’s an harāmi, you should throw him, you should not burn him nor should you bury him but rather throw him in the water so that the dogs and the vultures would tear his flesh and his soul will wander the earth in suffering for his great sin.

 

Then the nawab said alright throw him in the river so the two executioner tried to lift Haridas Thakur but they couldn’t lift because he was meditating and complete samādhi on Kṛṣṇa whose the total mass of the universe heavier than the heaviest he couldn’t move him, they pushed they pulled , he didn’t move even an inch so they called more people to push pull him so imminently couldn’t move, they finally brought elephants they tied the ropes around Haridas and the elephants were screaming the mahut taking their ankush goarding in the sight blood was coming from the elephant raaaaagh! Raaaaagah!

 

How they roar like they’re screaming and roaring Haridas Thakur wasn’t moving and the nawab what is going on?

 

Then suddenly Haridas Ṭhākura became lighter than the lightest Kṛṣṇa’s also…was floating just like his floating the planets you know he’s lighter than the lightest, so then they get to lift him like a pup with one hand, and they just lifted and threw him off to the Ganges or the river, whatever river was there and he is just floating on top of the river

 

The wind is blowing him onto the other side as the water touches Haridas Thakur goes to the other side of the river He gained conscious out of his samādhi and started to swim to the other side then he jumped up and started to chant

 

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

 

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare.

 

And he is chanting and dancing away, then the nawab he just dead now his alive again chanting he’s risen from the dead, so then he just left his priest and went to the river get me a boat, I want to cross to the other side, immediately he crossed to the other side, he ran after Haridas Thakur fell at his feet and said you are a great seer, you’re a great Guru, I have committed so many offences to you please forgive me meanwhile his mullah was running after him by his side he also spoke Hari please forgive me for my offenses,

 

Haridas Ṭhākura ki!

Devotees: Jai!

 

Haridas Ṭhākura ki!

Devotees: Jai!

 

The boat everyone falling at the feet of Haridas Ṭhākura who were so envious before, now are so respectful and humble, they requested please forgive us, he said the only way I can forgive you is you give the order that no one will be obstructed in chanting the hari nam, Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā sankirtan in the empire again, so the nawab he gave the order. Haridas Ṭhākura then permitted him to be forgiven for all his offences. Like this, there are so many pastimes with Haridas Thakur.

 

The uncle and father of Raghunāth Das, he also delivered from time when the Gopal Chakravarty was committing offences, not tolerating the glories of the holy name when Haridas Thakur was staying at Bhagavān Ācārya’s house and later that Gopal Chakravarty got leprosy for all his offences. Then the time when Haridas Ṭhākura was in khuliyā, where he was in a cave, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and a big python was there and the people were complaining. They were afraid for Haridas Thakur. He didn’t feel any fear, but then others are being disturbed. He said ok, I’ll leave then the super soul in the python just made the snake go out.

 

There was a time when Haridas Thakur was chanting in ecstasy but some astrologer…when he heard the playing of a flute in the bhajan glorifying Kalia Kṛṣṇa by one sabariya, one snake charmer and one astrologer brahman imitated him but was later exposed as a sahajiyā and chased away by all the villagers.

 

Although Haridas Thakur was so great, he was actually Brahmā taking this birth just to join in the sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya.  Haridas Ṭhākura was there.

 

When Jagāi and Mādhāi were delivered with Nityānanda Prabhu. He was there in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda in Navadwip, he was there in Jaganatha Purī although he didn’t go to the Jaganatha temple, Lord Caitanya would come every day to see him.

 

But Prabhupāda explained that although he didn’t go to Jaganath, Jaganath was coming to him, how much more important!

 

So, all these unlimited glories that you cannot find the end of Haridas Ṭhākura’s glories, Lord Caitanya was glorifying. Many devotees maybe didn’t know but when they heard they all spontaneously offered the obeisance’s to Haridas Ṭhākura

 

haridāsa nijāgrete prabhure vasāilā

nija-netra — dui bhṛṅga — mukha-padme dilā

 

 

Translation:

Haridāsa Ṭhākura made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sit down in front of him, and then he fixed his eyes, like two bumblebees, on the lotus face of the Lord.

 

sva-hṛdaye āni’ dharila prabhura caraṇa

sarva-bhakta-pada-reṇu mastaka-bhūṣaṇa

 

Translation:

 

He held the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu on his heart and then took the dust of the feet of all the devotees present and put it on his head.

 

‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’ śabda balena bāra bāra

prabhu-mukha-mādhurī piye, netre jala-dhāra

 

Translation:

 

He began to chant the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya again and again. As he drank the sweetness of the face of the Lord, tears constantly glided down from his eyes.

 

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya

 

‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’ śabda karite uccāraṇa

nāmera sahita prāṇa kaila utkrāmaṇa

 

Translation:

 

While chanting the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, he gave up his air of life and left his body.

 

mahā-yogeśvara-prāya dekhi’ svacchande maraṇa

‘bhīṣmera niryāṇa’ sabāra ha-ila smaraṇa

 

Translation:

 

Seeing the wonderful death of Haridāsa Ṭhākura by his own will, which was just like a great mystic yogī’s, everyone remembered the passing away of Bhīṣma

 

Hari Hari Haribol

 

‘hari’ ‘kṛṣṇa’-śabde sabe kare kolāhala

premānande mahāprabhu ha-ilā vihvala

 

There was a tumultuous noise as they all chanted the holy names of “Hari” and “Kṛṣṇa.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

 

So, then Lord Chaitanya raised the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura over his head and placed it on His lap first. Then He began to dance in the courtyard in great ecstatic love.

 

Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s ecstatic love created ecstatic love in all of the devotees and they also began to chant and dance in congregational Harinama sankirtan.

 

ei-mate nṛtya prabhu kailā kata-kṣaṇa

svarūpa-gosāñi prabhure karāila sāvadhāna

 

Translation:

 

So, after dancing for some time, sri Caitanya mahaprabhu after dancing for some time, then Svarūpa Dāmodara informed Him of other rituals for the body of Ṭhākura Haridāsa.

 

So, then they took the body of Haridas Thakur, raising onto a carrier that resembled a airship and they took it to the sea accompanied by the congregational chanting before Caitanya mahaprabhu, before that Lord Caitanya was dancing and behind all the other devotees, Vakreśvara and other devotees they were dancing so Lord Caitanya bathed the body of Haridas Thakur in the sea and then he declared “samudra ei ‘mahā-tīrtha’ ha-ilā”

 

“From this day on, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site.”

 

Everyone drank the water that had touched the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and then they smeared remnants of Lord Jagannātha’s sandalwood pulp over Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s body. They dug a hole in the sand and body of Haridas and the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was placed into it. Remnants from Lord Jagannātha, such as His silken ropes, sandalwood pulp, food and cloth, were placed on the body.

All around the body, the devotees performed congregational chanting, and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced in jubilation.

With His transcendental hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand, chanting “Haribol! Haribol!” Haribol!” Nitai Gaur prema anande Hari Haribol!

 

Chant Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol Haribol! Haribol

 

[Devotees repeats]

 

They covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand and then constructed a platform upon the site. The platform was protected all around by fencing.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted all around the platform, and as the holy name of Hari roared tumultuously, the whole universe became filled with the vibration.

 

tabe mahāprabhu saba bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge

samudre karilā snāna-jala-keli raṅge

 

Translation:

Translation:

 

After saṅkīrtana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in the sea with His devotees, swimming and playing in the water in great jubilation.

 

haridāse pradakṣiṇa kari’ āila siṁha-dvāre

hari-kīrtana-kolāhala sakala nagare

 

After circumambulating the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the Siṁha-dvāra gate of the Jagannātha temple. The whole city of Puri chanted in congregation, and the tumultuous sound covered all the city, vibrated all over the city.

 

So, then Lord Caitanya personally spread His cloth and began to beg from all the shopkeepers some prasad. He said “I am begging prasādam for a festival honoring the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura,” the Lord said. “Please give Me alms.”

Hearing this, all the shopkeepers immediately came forward with big baskets of prasādam, which they gave to Lord Chaitanya very jubilantly.

 

Then Svarūpa Dāmodara stopped them, and the shopkeepers returned to their shops and sat down with their baskets. Svarūpa Dāmodara sent Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu back to His residence and kept with him four Vaiṣṇavas and four servant carriers.

Svarūpa Dāmodara said to all the shopkeepers, “Deliver to me four palmfuls of prasādam of each and every item.” In this way varieties of prasādam were collected, then packed up in different loads and carried on the heads of the four servants.

In this way much prasad was brought.

 

Then Lord Caitanya made all the devotees sit in rows and personally began to distribute the prasad assisted by four other men. You see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was not accustomed to taking prasādam in small quantities. He therefore put on each plate what at least five men could eat. So, the Lord Caitanya was stopped by Svarūpa Dāmodara requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Please sit down and watch. With these men to help me, I shall distribute the prasādam.” So, then Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara and Śaṅkara distributed the prasādam continuously.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: It is important to note here how senior devotees they were distributing prashadam, he had already invited the Lord to take prasad in his house, Kāśī Miśra personally brought out all the prasādam put it in front of Lord Caitanya, solved the problem and made Lord Caitanya eat the prashadam.

 

With Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down and accepted the prasādam. When He began to eat, then all the Vaiṣṇavas began to take Prasādam.

 

ākaṇṭha pūrāñā sabāya karāilā bhojana

deha’ deha’ bali’ prabhu balena vacana

 

Translation:

 

Everyone was filled up to the neck because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu kept telling the distributors, “Give them more! Give them more!”

 

ākaṇṭha pūrāñā, ākaṇṭha mean you know the kanti mala the kanta means the neck, so ākaṇṭha means taking prashadam up to their neck, can’t take more because it will overflow, it is upto the neck.

 

bhojana kariyā sabe kailā ācamana

sabāre parāilā prabhu mālya-candana

 

then everyone washed their hands and mouths, Lord Caitanya then gave them garlands and sandalwood pulp.

 

Overwhelmed with ecstatic love, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered a benediction to all the devotees, which all the devotees heard with great satisfaction.

 

“haridāsera vijayotsava ye kaila darśana

ye ihāṅ nṛtya kaila, ye kaila kīrtana

ye tāṅre vālukā dite karila gamana

tāra madhye mahotsave ye kaila bhojana

acire ha-ibe tā-sabāra ‘kṛṣṇa-prāpti’

haridāsa-daraśane haya aiche ‘śakti’

 

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave this benediction: “Anyone who has seen the festival of Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s passing away, anyone who has chanted and danced here, anyone who has offered sand on the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and anyone who has joined this festival to partake of the prasādam will achieve the favor of Kṛṣṇa very soon. There is such wonderful power in seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

 

But then Lord Caitanya explained that he felt that it was the mercy of Krsna that he could get the association of Haridas Thakura, but now Krsna being independent has broken that association, Haridāsa Ṭhākura wanted to leave this material world, it was not within My power to detain him.

By his own will, Haridāsa Ṭhākura could give up his life and go away, like Bhīṣma, who died simply by his own desire, as we have heard from śāstra.

 Like this He glorified Haridas Thakur in so many ways, all glories to Haridas,

 

‘jaya jaya haridāsa’ bali’ kara hari-dhvani”

eta bali’ mahāprabhu nācena āpani

 

They were chanting Jaya Jaya Haridas, chanting and kirtan and then Lord Caitanya again began to dance and everyone was chanting all glories to Haridasa Thakur

 

jaya jaya jaya haridāsa

nāmera mahimā yeṅha karilā prakāśa”

 

who revealed the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord!”

 

Then Lord Caitanya bade everyone farewell and he had mixed feeling of happiness and distress

 

ei ta’ kahiluṅ haridāsera vijaya

yāhāra śravaṇe kṛṣṇe dṛḍha-bhakti haya

 

Thus I have spoken about the victorious passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Anyone who hears this narration will certainly fix his mind firmly in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

 

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami: Nitai Goura Prema anande Hari Haribol.

 

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Here in the purport it explains how Śrīnivāsa ācārya reached Jaganath Purī, He ran to the seashore and he saw tomb of Haridas he immediately fell down offering prayers and almost fainted. The devotees present there pacified him with very sweet and affectionate words, and Śrīnivāsa again offered his obeisance’s to the tomb. Hearing of the separation that Śrīnivāsa expressed in his lamentation at the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura makes one’s heart melt.

 

This is very important pastime because it reveals the very loving and intimate relationship between Lord Caitanya and His devotees and it also glorifies Haridas Ṭhākura, Glorifying Hardas Ṭhākura is glorifying the Holy name.

 

Actually, when Haridas Ṭhākura was told to stop chanting, the Nawab said, I order you to stop chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. He said, you may cut my body into little little pieces, but so long there is one piece left, it’s going to chant

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare.

Haridas Ṭhākura’s complete dedication and surrender to the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is unparalleled.

 

Simply by hearing this certainly one can be fixed in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, this is blessing also of Lord Caitanya and Kṛṣṇa Das Kavirāja. So mixed feelings of happiness and distress are natural because on the one hand the Lord is feeling distressed, he’s missing the separation…He’s feeling separation to Haridas Ṭhākura, missing His association. On the other hand happiness that Haridas Ṭhākura has left fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, this is the goal of life, we all have to leave this body and we can leave it Kṛṣṇa conscious. That is the perfection!

 

So no one can conceive of leaving their transcendental form or leaving their material form in such a transcendental way as Haridas Ṭhākura did, holding the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya to his chest, gazing at his lotus face, chanting Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya so then…

 

Haridas Ṭhākura Ki!

Devotees: Jay!

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ki!

Devotees: Jay!

Haridas Ṭhākura Thiru bhava mahā utsova ki!

Devotees: Jay!

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami: Any question?

 

bhava-sindhu taribāre āche yāra citta

śraddhā kari’ śuna sei caitanya-caritra

 

Anyone who desires to cross over the ocean of nescience, please hear with great faith the life and characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

 

So, in Bhāgavatam Śloka we heard how intelligence is polluted if we fix our intelligence in the pastimes of Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Haridas Ṭhākura then even the intelligence which is fixed in Māyā will become transcendental.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

---------------END------------------

 

Transcribed By: Dipadatri Gaurangi dd

Transcribed On: 11/05/20

 

Proof Read By: Amritha Padma DD

Proof Read on: 20-Sep-2020

 

Proof Reading by Medhavini Sakhi Devi Dasi

Completed on 16th Dec 2020