CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 27.

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27 - Recite the sacred name

 

Sri Krishna Chaitanya was the pioneer of the movement of Nagara

samkeertan. He used to get himself immersed in the contemplation of the

Lord while singing His glory and used to be oblivious of the external

world.

 

Once he was conducting Nagara samkeertan in Navadweep. Several leaders

of the town too joined him in his bhajan. They were all ecstatically

singing bhajans and walking along the streets. A thief also joined this

group. He thought it would be an opportunity for him to pick the pockets

of rich devotees who would be lost in singing and dancing. But when he

actually participated in it he began singing with more zeal than others.

All of them had come to a temple and were seated. He sat near Chaitanya,

while those sitting in front were listening to his discourse. Many had

left the temple precincts by then. He held Chaitanya's both feet and

said: " Swami, you are giving so much advice to so many people. Kindly

impart to me some sacred " manthra " . Chaitanya looked at him and said:

" Tell me first of all who you are and what you do " . The thief said:

" Swami! How can I lie to you? I am a thief. I have been a thief all my

life. My name is Rama; people call me 'Rama' - the thief. "

 

Chaitanya said: " Oh what a pity. I shall give you a name or a message

but what will you give me as guru dakshina? " The thief at once said

without any hesitation: " I shall give you a share in the booty I get

from my theft. " Chaitanya said: " I have no need for any money. All that

I insist is that you should give up stealing. " The thief said: " Swami,

that is my profession, how else can I earn a living, when I do not have

any other skill? " " Well, " said Chaitanya, " I shall give you a sacred

name on one condition, when you go for thieving, you must first recite

the sacred name I give you 1008 times. " Chaitanya whispered into his

ear: " Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya " . Transformation even by then had

taken place in the thief because of the touch of the holy person. He was

also freed from the sin of his past deeds because of the conversation

with Chaitanya. The thief went back a refined person.

 

One day many wealthy house-holders had locked their houses and had gone

for the darshan of Sri Krishna Chaitanya. The thief did not want to lose

this opportunity to break into a house. He went to the house of the

richest man of the town. He broke into the house and entered the room

where the iron safe was kept. He opened it and saw valuable gems and

jewels of gold. He resolved not to touch anything until he had finished

reciting 1008 times the manthra given to him. Before he completed the

number, the master of the house arrived along with the family. The lady

of the house wanted to remove all the jewels she had worn before she

left the house and keep them back in the safe. She saw a stranger lost

in the recitation of the sacred manthra " Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya. "

She thought he must be a great sage who had come to their house to bless

them. She called her husband. The thief was lost in his meditation. The

entire family sat round him with folded hands. They thought he must be a

saintly soul like Chaitanya.

 

The thief opened his eyes after the completion of 1008 times the

manthra. He was surprised to find a group of people sitting

reverentially before him. The master of the house asked him, " Oh Sir!

May we know who you are and may we request you to honour us by accepting

to take food with us today so that we shall be redeemed of our sins. "

The thief said to himself: " If the mere recitation of the Lord's name,

now and then can bring me such honour, what greater things cannot happen

to me if I sincerely make it my daily habit of reciting the name

continuously. I may certainly win the grace of the Lord. " He decided to

give up thieving. He prostrated before the master of the house and his

wife and said, " Mother, let me tell you the truth. I am a thief. Let me

go to the forest. I shall spend the rest of my life in the contemplation

of God. " All were surprised at his words but were very happy.

 

He stayed with them as their guest that night. The news of this event

spread fast around in the morning. As a result, the whole neighborhood

came to see him. They took him in a palanquin round the town and left

him in the forest where he wanted to do his tapas. Later, once again, he

came to Chaitanya and received his blessings so that he may blossom into

a real sage.