Haridas Thakur

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Prema-vilasa (chapter 24) states:

 

advaita prabhur pade loila sarana

tar thai bhakti sastre koilo adhyayana

advaitera sthane tinho hoila diksiti

tin lakho harinama jape diva rati

lakho harinama mane lakho kane sune

lakho nama ucca kori kore sankirtane'

 

"Haridasa took shelter of Advaita Prabhu's lotus feet and studied the bhakti

sastras under Him. He became initiated by Advaita (diksita) and was chanting

three lakhs of harinama day and night. One lakh was in the mind, one softly

and one loudly."

 

There is also a similar incident mentioned in the Advaita Prakasa, although

the word "diksa" is not explicitly mentioned therein. This description

includes Advaita Acarya's giving him tilaka, tulasi-mala and name, which are

all traditional elements in diksa. The Advaita Prakasa (chapter 7)

describes:

 

"After instructing Haridasa in this way, Advaita had him shave his head and

decorate his body with tilaka and tulasi beads. Advaita had Haridasa dress

in kaupina and outer cloth, and then he initiated him in chanting the holy

names. Haridasa then began chanting the holy names in a cave on the bank of

the Ganges. As he became intoxicated with love of God, he became known as

the crest jewel among the Vaisnavas. Coming to his external consciousness,

Haridasa offered his obeisances to Advaita, who blessed him by saying, 'May

you attain Krishna. Your name is Brahma Haridasa."

 

The original text, translated here as "initiated him in chanting the holy

names", states "...nama dila prabhu shakti sancariya", describing how

Advaita empowered Haridasa to chant. Unfortunately I don't have the full

original bengali available.

 

Thus we may conclude that Haridasa was indeed initiated by Advaita Acarya,

both in chanting Harinama and diksa-mantra.

 

Vaishnavadasanudas,

Atul Krishna das

 

 

> I have heard from different sources that

> 1. Haridas was not given diksa

> 2.He was initiated by Adwaita acarya.

>

> Could anyone help me one this?

> ys bhakta Jason