20200706 The Passing of Haridāsa Ṭhākura

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 6^th July 2020 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Introduction: So, we are continuing with the Disappearance of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Since we are very much aggrieved by the disappearance of His Holiness Bhakti Cāru Swami. So, we thought that we can learn something from the disappearance of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Chapter Eleven - The Passing of Haridāsa Ṭhākura

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.26

ebe alpa saṅkhyā kari’ kara saṅkīrtana”
haridāsa kahe, — “śuna mora satya nivedana

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

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.27

haridāsera pāṣāṇadrāvaka dainyavākya o prabhumahimā-kīrtana :—

hīna-jāti janma mora nindya-kalevara
hīna-karme rata muñi adhama pāmara

“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.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura was presenting himself as a very lowborn person, but actually he is an incarnation of Lord Brahmā. But he asked to take this lowly birth so that he could be forgiven for his offence of stealing Kṛṣṇa’s calves and cowherd boys, but he was presenting himself very humbly.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.28

adṛśya, aspṛśya more aṅgīkāra kailā
raurava ha-ite kāḍi’ more vaikuṇṭhe caḍāilā

“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.”

Jayapatākā Swami: If someone is accepted by Lord Caitanya or His representative, as a servitor, then he is naturally delivered from all hellish conditions and elevated to the spiritual world, the Vaikuṇṭha platform.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.29

svatantra īśvara tumi hao icchāmaya
jagat nācāo, yāre yaiche icchā haya

“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.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.30

aneka nācāilā more prasāda kariyā
viprera śrāddha-pātra khāinu ‘mleccha’ hañā

“My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. For example, I was offered the śrāddha-pātra, which should have been offered to first-class brāhmaṇas. I ate from it even though I was born in a family of meat-eaters.”

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in his Anubhāṣya, quotes from the Viṣṇu-smṛti in reference to the śrāddha-pātra.

brāhmaṇāpasadā hy ete kathitāḥ paṅkti-dūṣakāḥ
etān vivarjayed yatnāt śrāddha-karmaṇi paṇḍitaḥ

According to this verse, if one is born in a brāhmaṇa family but does not behave according to brahminical standards, he should not be offered the śrāddha-pātra, which is prasādam offered to the forefathers. Advaita Ācārya offered the śrāddha-pātra to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, not to a brāhmaṇa who had been born in a brāhmaṇa family. Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in the family of meat-eaters, because he was an advanced devotee he was shown more respect than a first-class brāhmaṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explained how a brāhmaṇa has 12 qualities, and all the brāhmaṇas present were very happy. But then he presented how a Vaiṣṇava has 13 qualities, 12 of the brāhmaṇas and one more, the pure devotion for Kṛṣṇa. So, in this way, the Vaiṣṇava is superior to even a first-class brāhmaṇa. So, He awarded the upanayanam to those who were not born in a brāhmaṇa family but were practicing vaiṣṇava-dharma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.31

prabhusamīpe nijābhiprāya-jñāpana :—

eka vāñchā haya mora bahu dina haite
līlā samvaribe tumi — laya mora citte

“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.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.32

prabhura aprakaṭera pūrvei svīya līlā-sambaraṇecchā :—

sei līlā prabhu more kabhu nā dekhāibā
āpanāra āge mora śarīra pāḍibā

“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.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he doesn’t want to be present when the Lord leaves the world. He wishes to leave earlier and do not see the departure of the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.33

kāyamanovākye gaura-kṛṣṇasevāsukhapara svābhilāṣasaha aprakaṭecchā jñāpana :—

hṛdaye dharimu tomāra kamala caraṇa
nayane dekhimu tomāra cāṅda vadana

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

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.34

jihvāya uccārimu tomāra ‘kṛṣṇa-caitanya’-nāma
ei-mata mora icchā, — chāḍimu parāṇa

“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.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was the desire of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, to hold the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya on his chest, and his heart, and then chant the name ‘Kṛṣṇa Caitanya’ and leave his body.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.35

mora ei icchā yadi tomāra prasāde haya
ei nivedana mora kara, dayāmaya

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

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura wants to leave his body in full consciousness of Lord Caitanya. He is begging for this mercy from the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.36

ei nīca deha mora paḍuka tava āge
ei vāñchā-siddhi mora tomātei lāge”

“Let this lowborn body fall down before You. You can make possible this perfection of all my desires.”

Jayapatākā Swami: If one leaves the body in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then one is guaranteed a transit to the spiritual realm.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.37

prabhukartṛka haridāsera vāñchā-pūraṇa :—

prabhu kahe, — “haridāsa, ye tumi māgibe
kṛṣṇa kṛpāmaya tāhā avaśya karibe

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My dear Haridāsa, Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that He must execute whatever you want.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Haridāsa Ṭhākura has executed pure devotional service for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, then naturally, the Lord reciprocates to satisfy his desires.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.38

līlā-parikarera viccheda-smaraṇe prabhura ati marmasparśī o karuṇa vākya :—

kintu āmāra ye kichu sukha, saba tomā lañā
tomāra yogya nahe, — yābe āmāre chāḍiyā”

“But whatever happiness is Mine is all due to your association. It is not fitting for you to go away and leave Me behind.”

Jayapatākā Swami: There is a verse which says, what is the greatest suffering? It is said that the separation from a pure Vaiṣṇava is the greatest suffering. The verse is

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 8.248

‘duḥkha-madhye kona duḥkha haya gurutara?’
‘kṛṣṇa-bhakta-viraha vinā duḥkha nāhi dekhi para’

Jayapatākā Swami: Dukkha madhe kon dukkha hoi, guru tara Kṛṣṇa bhakta virahina…. what is the greatest suffering?

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?”

Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Kṛṣṇa, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, someone was asking that in Kṛṣṇa consciousness there seems to be unhappiness. Well, according to Rāmānanda Rāya that’s true. But would anyone trade even a moment’s devotee with a pure devotee, for anything else? So, Lord Caitanya is expressing that He will feel separation from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and we are feeling separation from Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are feeling separation from his dear devotees, especially His Holiness Bhakti Cāru Swami.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.39

haridāsakarttṛka prabhura niṣkapaṭa kṛpā-yāñchā :—

caraṇe dhari’ kahe haridāsa, — “nā kariha ‘māyā’
avaśya mo-adhame, prabhu, kara ei ‘dayā’

Catching the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “My Lord, do not create an illusion! Although I am so fallen, You must certainly show me this mercy!”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.40

punardainyokti :—

mora śiromaṇi kata kata mahāśaya
tomāra līlāra sahāya koṭi-bhakta haya

“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.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura is expressing that Lord Caitanya has so many devotees, so by his not being present, will not be an obstacle in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.41

āmā-hena yadi eka kīṭa mari’ gela
eka pipīlikā maile pṛthvīra kāhāṅ hāni haila?

“My Lord, if an insignificant insect like me dies, what is the loss? If an ant dies, where is the loss to the material world?”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura is presenting himself as an insignificant insect.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.42

bhaktavatsala prabhusamīpe haridāsera āpanāke taddāsābhāsa- varṇana o svābhīṣṭa-siddhiviṣaye āśābandha :—

‘bhakata-vatsala’ prabhu, tumi, mui ‘bhaktābhāsa’
avaśya pūrābe, prabhu, mora ei āśa”

“My Lord, You are always affectionate to Your devotees. I am just an imitation devotee, but nevertheless I wish that You fulfill my desire. That is my expectation.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura is expressing his desire to Lord Caitanya. In all humility he is comparing himself as an imitation devotee, bhaktābhāsa. Even though he is Namācārya and the greatest of all devotees, he is presenting himself very humbly.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.43

prabhura prasthāna o paradivasa prabhura āgamana viṣaye āśvāsana :—

madhyāhna karite prabhu calilā āpane
īśvara dekhiyā kāli dibena daraśane

Because He had to perform His noon duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up to leave, but it was settled that the following day, after He saw Lord Jagannātha, He would return to visit Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.44

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre kari’ āliṅgana
madhyāhna karite samudre karilā gamana

After embracing him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left to perform His noon duties and went to the sea to take His bath.

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, Haridāsa Ṭhākura considering himself lowly born, therefore he didn’t go to the Jagannātha Purī temple. But Lord Caitanya is considered as non-different from Lord Jagannātha and He is a walking Lord. So, He would come very day to visit Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and will see that Haridāsa Ṭhākura got Jagannātha prasāda. So that’s how great Haridāsa Ṭhākura was and how Lord Caitanya even embraced him before going to perform His noon duties and take His bath in the sea.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.45

paradivasa prāte bhaktagaṇasaha jagannāthadarśanānte haridāsake darśanārtha prabhura āgamana:—

prātaḥ-kāle īśvara dekhi’ saba bhakta lañā
haridāse dekhite āilā śīghra kariyā

The next morning, after visiting the Jagannātha temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by all His devotees, went hastily to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.46

haridāsera niryāṇa varṇana, haridāsera bhakta o bhagavānera caraṇa vandana :—

haridāsera āge āsi’ dilā daraśana
haridāsa vandilā prabhura āra vaiṣṇava-caraṇa

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the devotees came before Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who offered his respects to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the Vaiṣṇavas.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see how humble is Haridāsa Ṭhākura. He is offering his respects not only to the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but to all the Vaiṣṇavas present.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.47

prabhukarttṛka haridāsera kuśala-jijñāsā; haridāsera golakagamanodyoga :—

prabhu kahe, — ‘haridāsa, kaha samācāra’
haridāsa kahe, — ‘prabhu, ye kṛpā tomāra’

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired, “My dear Haridāsa, what is the news?” Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “My Lord, whatever mercy You can bestow upon me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.48

haridāsa-kuṭīra-sammukhe bhaktagaṇasaha prabhura mahākīrtanārambha :—

aṅgane ārambhilā prabhu mahā-saṅkīrtana
vakreśvara-paṇḍita tāhāṅ karena nartana

Upon hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately began great congregational chanting in the courtyard. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the chief dancer.

Jayapatākā Swami: On the request of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, to receive the Lord’s mercy, the Lord started the great saṅkīrtana, congregational chanting, in the courtyard. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and all the other Vaiṣṇavas were dancing.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.49

svarūpa-gosāñi ādi yata prabhura gaṇa
haridāse beḍi’ kare nāma-saṅkīrtana

Headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu surrounded Haridāsa Ṭhākura and began congregational chanting.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.50

sakala bhaktera vismaya o haridāsera pada-vandana :—

rāmānanda, sārvabhauma, sabāra agrete
haridāsera guṇa prabhu lāgilā kahite

In front of all the great devotees like Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to describe the holy attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya began glorifying Haridāsa Ṭhākura in front of all the devotees, mentioning all his holy attributes.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.51

haridāsera guṇa kahite prabhu ha-ilā pañca-mukha
kahite kahite prabhura bāḍe mahā-sukha

As He described the transcendental attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu seemed to possess five mouths. The more He described, the more His great happiness increased.

Jayapatākā Swami: We see how Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to glorify His devotee, His pure devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.52

sakala bhaktera vismaya o haridāsera pada-vandana :—

haridāsera guṇe sabāra vismita haya mana
sarva-bhakta vande haridāsera caraṇa

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.

Jayapatākā Swami: By Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, glorifying the transcendental attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the devotees present became very much struck with wonder, and they all offered their respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.53

nija-sammukhe prabhuke darśana o prabhura nāma-kīrtanamukhe ṭhākurera niryāṇa vā utkrānti —

haridāsa nijāgrete prabhure vasāilā
nija-netra — dui bhṛṅga — mukha-padme dilā

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.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.54

sva-hṛdaye āni’ dharila prabhura caraṇa
sarva-bhakta-pada-reṇu mastaka-bhūṣaṇa

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.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.55

‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’ śabda balena bāra bāra
prabhu-mukha-mādhurī piye, netre jala-dhāra

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.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we are seeing how Haridāsa Ṭhākura was meditating on the Lord’s lotus face after taking the dust from all the Vaiṣṇavas, and chanting Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, tears were pouring down his eyes.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.56

‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’ śabda karite uccāraṇa
nāmera sahita prāṇa kaila utkrāmaṇa

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

Jayapatākā Swami: Just as Bhīṣmadeva, he could give up his body at his will. So Haridāsa Ṭhākura meditating on the Lord’s holy name and the Lord’s lotus face, he gave up his air life and left his body.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.57

sakalera dvāparayugera bhīṣmera icchā-mṛtyu-smaraṇa :—

mahā-yogeśvara-prāya dekhi’ svacchande maraṇa
‘bhīṣmera niryāṇa’ sabāra ha-ila smaraṇa

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

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.58

mahākīrtana-kolāhala, prabhura premavihvalatā :—

‘hari’ ‘kṛṣṇa’-śabde sabe kare kolāhala
premānande mahāprabhu ha-ilā vihvala

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

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Kṛṣṇa and His holy name are non-different, this amazing pastime of Haridāsa Ṭhākura leaving in complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness, with all the devotees chanting the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya became overwhelmed in transcendental, ecstatic love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.59

aṅke haridāsera aprākṛta deha laḍyā prabhura nṛtya :—

haridāsera tanu prabhu kole laila uṭhāñā
aṅgane nācena prabhu premāviṣṭa hañā

The Lord raised the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and placed it on His lap. Then He began to dance in the courtyard in great ecstatic love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.60

sakalera premāveśe kīrtana o nartana :—

prabhura āveśe avaśa sarva-bhakta-gaṇa
premāveśe sabe nāce, karena kīrtana

Because of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s ecstatic love, all the devotees were helpless, and in ecstatic love they also began to dance and chant congregationally.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.61

ei-mate nṛtya prabhu kailā kata-kṣaṇa
svarūpa-gosāñi prabhure karāila sāvadhāna

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced for some time, and then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī informed Him of other rituals for the body of Ṭhākura Haridāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, since the body has to be put in the samādhī, there are various rituals. So Svarūpa Dāmodara reminded Lord Caitanya of those.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.62

bhaktagaṇasaha prabhura kīrtanamukhe ṭhākura haridāsake samudre ānayana

haridāsa-ṭhākure tabe vimāne caḍāñā
samudre lañā gelā tabe kīrtana kariyā

The body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was then raised onto a carrier that resembled an airship and taken to the sea, accompanied by congregational chanting.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees took the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and went to the sea, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.63

āge mahāprabhu calena nṛtya karite karite
pāche nṛtya kare vakreśvara bhakta-gaṇa-sāthe

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in front of the procession, and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, along with the other devotees, chanted and danced behind Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this procedure we would like to observe with all the Vaiṣṇavas. But we don’t know how possible that is, but here we have an ideal process demonstrated by Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.64

haridāsake samudre snapana, tadavadhi tatsparśe samudrera ‘mahātīrtha’tva :—

haridāse samudra-jale snāna karāilā
prabhu kahe,—“samudra ei ‘mahā-tīrtha’ ha-ilā”

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura in the sea and then declared, “From this day on, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, since Lord Caitanya bathed in the sea, it is already a pilgrimage site. But after the bathing of Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s body in the sea, Lord Caitanya declared the sea as a great place of pilgrimage.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.65

bhaktagaṇakarttṛka aprākṛta-vapu haridāsera pādodaka-pāna :—

haridāsera pādodaka piye bhakta-gaṇa
haridāsera aṅge dilā prasāda-candana

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.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.66

kīrtanamukhe samādhi-pradāna rīti :—

ḍora, kaḍāra, prasāda, vastra aṅge dilā
vālukāra garta kari’ tāhe śoyāilā

After a hole was dug in the sand, 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.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the special spiritual remnants of the Jagannātha Deity, were put on the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. So, devotees should put deity remnants on the body of some devotee who is put in samādhī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.67

bhaktagaṇera kīrtana o narttana :—

cāri-dike bhakta-gaṇa karena kīrtana
vakreśvara-paṇḍita karena ānande nartana

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

Jayapatākā Swami: Vakreśvara Paṇḍita is the best dancer of Lord Caitanya’s kīrtana party. He could dance nonstop for 72 hours. That he was dancing around the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, this demonstrated how important the function was.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.68

prabhura śrīhaste ṭhākurake samādhisthakaraṇa :—

‘hari-bola’ ‘hari-bola’ bale gaurarāya
āpani śrī-haste vālu dilā tāṅra gāya

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

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.69

samādhipīṭha nirmmāṇa :—

tāṅre vālu diyā upare piṇḍā bāṅdhāilā
caudike piṇḍera mahā āvaraṇa kailā

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

Jayapatākā Swami: This way, so that dogs and other animals would not go after the body, they placed a stone platform over the body, and put a fence around it. At the present time there is a temple there, at Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s samādhī and devotees go and visit that temple, from all over the world.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā 11.70

bhaktagaṇasaha kīrtana-nartanānte samudrasnānānte samādhipīṭha-pradakṣiṇapūrvaka mandire āgamana :—

tāhā beḍi’ prabhu kailā kīrtana, nartana
hari-dhvani-kolāhale bharila bhuvana

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.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when the Lord and His devotees were chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, tumultuously, it went all over the universe. So, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, by His transcendental chanting, He purified the whole universe.

Any questions?

Question: We see that Śrīla Bhakti Cāru Swami has left this planet and we see that the godbrothers of Bhakti Cāru Swami Mahārāja are appreciating him so much and they are feeling so much of separation, and we can see that they are expressing their love towards him. How can we develop such attachment and affection towards our own god-brothers? - Gopatī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: Devotees should have such a quality that they would be appreciated. Bhakti Cāru Swami had such qualities. It’s not accidental. He touched the hearts of many people, and that is shown by different devotees’ realizations. We may not have known him, Śacīnandana Mahārāja he mentioned how Bhakti Cāru Swami would visit Germany, and how his public programs had so much effect on the people. These are all very interesting and are true occasions. We heard from different speakers, their realizations, exchanges they had with Bhakti Cāru Swami, and each one is unique and special. So, we are very grateful for them all sharing their realization. Your question that how can we appreciate our god brothers. First of all, he should have such qualities, then naturally they will be appreciated. But apart from that, the devotees, we can see they are very advanced, they would see all the good qualities of Bhakti Caru Swami. So, like that we should see the good qualities in others, naturally, we will appreciate others.

Question: Dear most Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda, Guru Mahārāja, Why the full glorification of the Vaiṣṇava is done only after they leave their body and not before? So, we all can appreciate them more - respect love and look to serve them when they are still with us physically?

Your insignificant daughter,
Ojasvinī Rādhikā devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Very interesting, We should have some regular glorification of devotees; while they are still alive, good point, I will bring it up, and I think we have in the Vyāsa-pūjā celebration, at that time maybe we glorify the devotees whose appearance day it is, but that could be more promoted.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja! Daṇḍavat praṇāma! Whether Haridāsa Ṭhākura went back to Brahmaloka or to Goloka?

Your servant,
Śrīpatī Acyuta dāsa, Perambur, Chennai.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since his life as Brahmā was not over, he probably went back to Brahmāloka. But in this he had the great opportunity to associate with Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the original guru in our Brahmā sampradāya. We can see that he will definitely go back to Goloka after the end of this universe.

Submission: Dear Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. The son of our dear spiritual sister, Lokapālikā devī dāsī, was admitted to the hospital today in Moscow, in a critical condition. He is on the verse of life and death. His name is Nitāi. Please kindly pray for him. Herewith I have attached the photo of Nitāi.

Your servant,
Nārāyaṇī Rādhā devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: What situation or what disease does he have? So, we can all pray that Nitāi becomes physically, mentally, spiritually healthy and strong, and that he can be Kṛṣṇa conscious, and healthy in this lifetime. Let us all chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for him. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.