All glories to Haridasa Thakura who revealed the importance of chanting the holy name

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THE GLORIES OF NAMACHARYA HARIDASA THAKURA

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave this benediction: "Anyone who has seen the festival of Sri Haridasa Thakura's passing away, anyone who has chanted and danced here, anyone who has offered sand on the body of Haridasa Thakura and anyone who has joined this festival to partake of the prasada will achieve the favor of Krsna very soon. There is such wonderful power in seeing Haridasa Thakura.

 

"Being merciful upon Me, Krsna gave Me the association of Haridasa Thakura. Being independent in His desires, He has now broken that association. When Haridasa Thakura wanted to leave this material world, it was not within My power to detain him. Simply by his will, Haridasa Thakura could give up his life and go away, exactly like Bhishma, who previously died simply by his own desire, as we have heard from shastra. Haridasa Thakura was the crown jewel on the head of this world; without him, this world is now bereft of its valuable jewel."

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then told everyone, "Say 'All glories to Haridasa Thakura!' and chant the holy name of Hari." Saying this, He personally began to dance. Everyone began to chant, "All glories to Haridasa Thakura, who revealed the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord!"

 

Thus I have spoken about the victorious passing away of Haridasa Thakura. Anyone who hears this narration will certainly fix his mind firmly in devotional service to Krsna. From the incident of Haridasa Thakura's passing away and the great care Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took in commemorating it, one can understand just how affectionate He is toward His devotees. Although He is the topmost of all sannyasis, He fully satisfied the desire of Haridasa Thakura.

 

At the last stage of Haridasa Thakura's life, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him His company and allowed him to touch Him. Thereafter, He took the body of Thakura Haridasa on His lap and personally danced with it. Out of His causeless mercy He personally covered the body of Haridasa Thakura with sand and personally begged alms from the shopkeepers. Then He conducted a great festival to celebrate the passing away of Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was not only the topmost devotee of the Lord, but also a great and learned scholar. It was his great fortune that he passed away before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (CC Antya-lila 11.91-105)

 

"O Haridasa Thakura, who is equal to you? You are one of the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore you are the most fortunate. The mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for which He has descended as an incarnation, is to spread the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Now instead of personally doing so, He is spreading it through you. My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name 300,000 times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting. Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krsna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world." (Sanatana Goswami CC Antya-lila 4.99-103)

 

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare