19830921 Caitanya Caritamrita Antya Lila.11.1-101 Passing Away Of Haridas Thakur Atlanta

19830921-Caitanya-Caritamrita-Antya-Lila.11.1-101-Passing-Away-of-Haridasa-Thakura-Literal-Version

The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami on September 21st, 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia. The class begins with a reading from the Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter 11, Verse 1 through 101.

Jayapataka Swami:

namāmi haridāsaṁ taṁ

caitanyaṁ taṁ ca tat-prabhum

saṁsthitām api yan-mūrtiṁ

svāṅke kṛtvā nanarta yaḥ

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura and his master, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who danced with the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura on His lap.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya dayāmaya

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya dayāmaya

jayādvaita-priya nityānanda-priya jaya

jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

jaya gadādhara-priya svarūpa-prāṇa-nātha

jaya gadādhara-priya svarūpa-prāṇa-nātha

jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

jaya gadādhara-priya svarūpa-prāṇa-nātha

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya dayāmaya

Devotees: jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya dayāmaya

Jayapataka Swami: jayādvaita-priya nityānanda-priya jaya

Devotees: jayādvaita-priya nityānanda-priya jaya

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is very merciful and who is very dear to Advaita Ācārya and Lord Nityānanda!

jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

Devotees: jaya śrīnivāseśvara jaya...

Jayapataka Swami: haridāsa

jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

Devotees: jaya śrīnivāseśvara haridāsa-nātha

Jayapataka Swami: jaya gadādhara-priya svarūpa-prāṇa-nātha

Devotees: jaya gadādhara-priya svarūpa-prāṇa-nātha

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to the master of Śrīnivāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to the master of Haridāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to the dear master of Gadādhara Paṇḍita! All glories to the master of the life of Svarūpa Dāmodara!

jaya kāśī-priya jagadānanda-prāṇeśvara

Devotees: jaya kāśī-priya jagadānanda-prāṇeśvara

Jayapataka Swami: jaya rūpa-sanātana-raghunātheśvara

Devotees: jaya rūpa-sanātana-raghunātheśvara

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya, who is very dear to Kāśī Miśra! He is the Lord of the life of Jagadānanda and the Lord of Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.

jaya gaura-deha kṛṣṇa svayaṁ bhagavān

Devotees: jaya gaura-deha kṛṣṇa svayaṁ bhagavān

Jayapataka Swami: kṛpā kari’ deha’ prabhu, nija-pada-dāna

Devotees: kṛpā kari’ deha’ prabhu, nija-pada-dāna

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to the transcendental form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! My dear Lord, kindly give me shelter at Your lotus feet by Your causeless mercy.

jaya nityānanda-candra jaya caitanyera prāṇa

Devotees: jaya nityānanda-candra jaya caitanyera prāṇa

Jayapataka Swami: tomāra caraṇāravinde bhakti deha’ dāna Devotees: tomāra caraṇāravinde bhakti deha’ dāna

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to Lord Nityānanda, who is the life and soul of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! My dear Lord, kindly give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

jaya jayādvaita-candra caitanyera ārya

Devotees: jaya jayādvaita-candra caitanyera ārya

Jayapataka Swami: sva-caraṇe bhakti deha’ jayādvaitācārya

Devotees: sva-caraṇe bhakti deha’ jayādvaitācārya

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is treated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as superior due to His age and respectability! Please give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

jaya gaura-bhakta-gaṇa, — gaura yāṅra prāṇa

Devotees: jaya gaura-bhakta-gaṇa, — gaura yāṅra prāṇa

Jayapataka Swami: saba bhakta mili’ more bhakti deha’ dāna

Devotees: saba bhakta mili’ more bhakti deha’ dāna

Jayapataka Swami: All glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for the Lord is their life and soul! All of you, kindly bestow devotional service upon me.

jaya rūpa, sanātana, jīva, raghunātha

raghunātha, gopāla, — chaya mora nātha

All glories to Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana! They are all my masters.

e-saba prasāde likhi caitanya-līlā-guṇa

yaiche taiche likhi, kari āpana pāvana

I am writing this narration of the pastimes and attributes of the Lord by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. I do not know how to write properly, but I am purifying myself by writing this description.

ei-mata mahāprabhura nīlācale vāsa

saṅge bhakta-gaṇa lañā kīrtana-vilāsa

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus resided at Jagannātha Purī with His personal devotees and enjoyed the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

dine nṛtya-kīrtana, īśvara-daraśana

rātrye rāya-svarūpa-sane rasa-āsvādana

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.

ei-mata mahāprabhura sukhe kāla yāya

kṛṣṇera viraha-vikāra aṅge nānā haya

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very happily passed His days in this way at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī. Feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa, He exhibited many transcendental symptoms all over His body.

dine dine bāḍe vikāra, rātrye atiśaya

cintā, udvega, pralāpādi yata śāstre kaya

Day after day the symptoms increased, and at night they increased even more. All these symptoms, such as transcendental anxiety, agitation and talking like a madman, were present, just as they are described in the śāstras.

svarūpa gosāñi, āra rāmānanda-rāya

rātri-dine kare doṅhe prabhura sahāya

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, the chief assistants in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes, remained with Him both day and night.

eka-dina govinda mahā-prasāda lañā

haridāse dite gelā ānandita hañā

eka-dina govinda mahā-prasāda lañā

haridāse dite gelā ānandita hañā

One day Govinda, the personal servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went in great jubilation to deliver the remnants of Lord Jagannātha’s food to Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

dekhe, — haridāsa ṭhākura kariyāche śayana

manda manda kariteche saṅkhyā-saṅkīrtana

When Govinda came to Haridāsa, he saw that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying on his back and chanting his rounds very slowly.

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?

“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

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 honor it. It is said here, karilā vandana, “he offered prayers.” When taking mahā-prasādam, one should not consider the food ordinary preparations. Prasāda means favor. One should consider mahā-prasādam a favor 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.

āra dina mahāprabhu tāṅra ṭhāñi āilā

sustha hao, haridāsa — bali’ tāṅre puchilā

The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Haridāsa’s place and inquired from him, “Haridāsa, are you well?”

namaskāra kari’ teṅho kailā nivedana

śarīra sustha haya mora, asustha buddhi-mana

Translation:

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

prabhu kahe, — ‘kon vyādhi, kaha ta’ nirṇaya?’

teṅho kahe, — ‘saṅkhyā-kīrtana nā pūraya’

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired from Haridāsa, “Can you ascertain what your disease is?” Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “My disease is that I cannot complete my rounds.”

Purport:

If one cannot complete the fixed number of rounds he is assigned, he should be considered to be in a diseased condition of spiritual life. Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura is called nāmācārya. Of course, we cannot imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but everyone must chant a prescribed number of rounds. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we have fixed sixteen rounds as the minimum so that the Westerners will not feel burdened. These sixteen rounds must be chanted, and chanted loudly, so that one can hear himself and others.

Hare Krishna.

prabhu kahe, — “vṛddha ha-ilā ‘saṅkhyā’ alpa kara

siddha-deha tumi, sādhane āgraha kene kara?

“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.

Purport:

Unless one has come to the platform of spontaneous love of God, he must follow the regulative principles. Ṭhākura Haridāsa was the living example of how to follow the regulative principles. Similarly, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī was also such a living example. In the Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka it is stated, saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ kālāvasānī-kṛtau. The Gosvāmīs, especially Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds. Not only was Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī chanting a fixed number of rounds, but he had also taken a vow to bow down many times and offer obeisances to the Lord.

loka nistārite ei tomāra ‘avatāra’

nāmera mahimā loke karilā pracāra

“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.”

Want to read the purport, Gurukula?

Gurukula:

Haridāsa Ṭhākura is known as nāmācārya because it is he who preached the glories of chanting hari-nāma, the holy name of God. By using the words tomāra avatāra (“your incarnation”), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms that Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the incarnation of Lord Brahmā. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that advanced devotees help the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His mission and that such devotees or personal associates incarnate by the will of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord incarnates by His own will, and, by His will, competent devotees also incarnate to help Him in His mission. Haridāsa Ṭhākura is thus the incarnation of Lord Brahmā, and other devotees are likewise incarnations who help in the prosecution of the Lord’s mission.

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.”

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “Kindly hear my real plea.

hīna-jāti janma mora nindya-kalevara

hīna-karme rata muñi adhama pāmara

“I have had one desire for a very long... 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.

Don't take them seriously.

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.

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.

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.

Who can read that purport?

Devotee:

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.

Jayapataka Swami:

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.

sei līlā prabhu more kabhu nā dekhāibā

āpanāra āge mora śarīra pāḍibā

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.

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.

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.

mora ei icchā yadi tomāra prasāde haya

ei nivedana mora kara, dayāmaya

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

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.”

prabhu kahe, — “haridāsa, ye tumi māgibe

kṛṣṇa kṛpāmaya tāhā avaśya karibe

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

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 aside.”

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!

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.

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?

‘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.”

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.

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.

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 other devotees, went hastily to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

haridāsera āge āsi’ dilā daraśana

haridāsa vandilā prabhura āra vaiṣṇava-caraṇa

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

prabhu kahe, — ‘haridāsa, kaha samācāra’

haridāsa kahe, — ‘prabhu, ye kṛpā tomāra’

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

Purport:

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

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.

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.

rāmānanda, sārvabhauma, sabāra agrete

haridāsera guṇa prabhu lāgilā kahite

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

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.

haridāsera guṇe sabāra vismita...

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.

haridāsa nijāgrete prabhure vasāilā

nija-netra — dui bhṛṅga — mukha-padme dilā

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.

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.

‘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, 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’ 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.

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 yogī’s, everyone remembered the passing away of Bhīṣma.

‘hari’ ‘kṛṣṇa’-śabde sabe kare kolāhala

premānande mahāprabhu ha-ilā vihvala

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

ḍora, kaḍāra, prasāda, vastra aṅge dilā

vālukāra garta kari’ tā...

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.

cāri-dike bhakta-gaṇa karena kīrtana

vakreśvara-paṇḍita karena ānande nartana

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

‘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!”

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.

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 jubilation.

tabe mahāprabhu saba bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge

samudre karilā snāna-jala-keli raṅge

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 chanted in congregation, and the tumultuous sound vibrated all over the city. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu had a big prasada distribution. A big feast in memory of him... in commemoration of Haridasa Thakura's transcendental departure.

In regard to listening about this festival, Lord Caitanya gave everyone a benediction.

premāviṣṭa hañā prabhu karena vara-dāna

śuni’ bhakta-gaṇera juḍāya manas-kāma

Overwhelmed with ecstatic love, 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.

kṛpā kari’ kṛṣṇa more diyāchilā saṅga

svatantra kṛṣṇera icchā, — kailā saṅga-bhaṅga

“Being merciful upon Me, Kṛṣṇa gave Me the association of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Being independent in His desires, He has now broken that association.

haridāsera icchā yabe ha-ila calite

āmāra śakati tāṅre nārila rākhite

“When Haridāsa Ṭhākura wanted to leave this material world, it was not within My power to detain him.

icchā-mātre kailā nija-prāṇa niṣkrāmaṇa

pūrve yena śuniyāchi bhīṣmera maraṇa

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

haridāsa āchila pṛthivīra ‘śiromaṇi’

tāhā vinā ratna-śūnyā ha-ila medinī

“Haridāsa Ṭhākura was the crown jewel on the head of this world; without him, this world is now bereft of its valuable jewel.”

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

eta bali’ mahāprabhu nācena āpani

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told everyone, “Say ‘All glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura!’ and chant the holy name of Hari.” Saying this, He personally began to dance.

sabe gāya, — “jaya jaya jaya haridāsa

nāmera mahimā yeṅha karilā prakāśa”

Everyone began to chant, “All glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who revealed the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord!”

tabe mahāprabhu saba bhakte vidāya dilā

harṣa-viṣāde prabhu viśrāma karilā

Thereafter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to all the devotees, and He Himself, with mixed feelings of happiness and distress, took rest.

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.

Purport:

Devotee:

At Puruṣottama-kṣetra, or Jagannātha Purī, there is a temple of Ṭoṭā-gopīnātha. If one goes from there to the sea, he can discover the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura still existing. Every year on the date of Ananta-caturdaśī there is a festival to commemorate the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. At the same place, Deities of Nityānanda Prabhu, Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Advaita Prabhu were established about one hundred years ago. A gentleman named Bhramaravara from Kendrāpāḍā, in the province of Orissa, contributed funds to establish these Deities in the temple. The management of the temple was under the Ṭoṭā-gopīnātha gosvāmīs.

This temple was later sold to someone else, and this party is now maintaining the sevā-pūjā of the temple. Near this temple and the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura constructed a small house called the Bhakti-kuṭī. In the Bengali year 1329, the Puruṣottama-maṭha, a branch of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, was established there. In the Bhakti-ratnākara it is stated:

Jayapataka Swami:

śrīnivāsa śīghra samudrera kūle gelā

haridāsa-ṭhākurera samādhi dekhilā

bhūmite paḍiyā kailā praṇati vistara

bhāgavata-gaṇa śrī-samādhi-sannidhāne

śrīnivāse sthira kailā sasneha-vacane

punaḥ śrīnivāsa śrī-samādhi praṇamiyā

ye vilāpa kailā, tā śunile drave hiyā

Devotee:

“Śrīnivāsa Ṭhākura quickly ran to the seashore. When he saw the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, 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 obeisances to the tomb. Hearing of the separation that Śrīnivāsa expressed in his lamentation at the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura makes one’s heart melt.”

Jayapataka Swami: So, (inaudible) can lead the other prayers.

(musical chanting)

"Jaya Haridasa."

"Jaya Jaya Haridasa, Jaya Jaya Haridasa"

"Jaya Jaya Haridasa Haridasa Haridasa"

Nitai Gaura Premanande Hari Haribol!

(inaudible)

Devotees: Haribol!

Jayapataka Swami: After bathing the body of lord... of Haridasa Thakura, bringing him personally with His own hands to the hole in the sand and covering up with His own hands and dancing and distributing prasadam and performing all types of transcendental service for His devotee, although He was a great sannyasi... the greatest sannyasi, still all the transcendental reciprocation He showed with Haridasa Thakura is incomparible, and gives an insight to His devotees, how much He loves His devotees and how intimate is His relationship with them.

So, at this celebration... also how... although, of course in losing the association of Haridasa Thakura, Lord Caitanya was in distress, but in seeing Haridasa Thakura successfully complete his life and pass away very gloriously chanting the holy name in complete Krishna consciousness, just as Bhismadeva did was also a cause for rejoicing, so in this type of mixed feelings, everyone had a great festival. There wasn't a material lamentation. To pass away as Haridasa Thakura did, there's no cause of any material lamentation. That is the perfection of life. The only distress is that now the association of such devotee... such a devotee was uh, taken away from all the other devotees.

So, this should be the focal point of our whole life. Of course we cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura, but we should try to follow in his footsteps to regularly chant the Hare Krishna maha mantra and to be prepared to leave our body in full Krishna consciousness, absorbed in the thoughts of Sri Krishna Caitanya.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Not really much to say; everything is there.

Devotee: Jaya Acaryapada.

Transcribed by Jagannatha dasa Brahmacari


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