Harinama Cintamani – Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Introduction of Harinama Cintamani

This is not an ordinary book. Only persons who have firm faith in Lord Caitanya and in devotional service, and who take shelter of the holy name, are qualified to understand this book. Persons who have faith that by following the path of sādhana-bhakti and taking shelter of the holy name they will attain all perfection are the best of spiritual aspirants. In Śrī Śikṣāṣtaka Lord Caitanya taught about the holy name. Lord Caitanya also taught Haridāsa Ṭhākura and selected him to be the great teacher of the holy name.

Authoritative biographies

affirm that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in a Muslim family. This we know for certain. Haridāsa was born in a rural village named Burana. Because of his previous pious deeds, he soon became attracted to the worship of Lord Krishna. Leaving home, and fashioning a small cottage in the forest of Benāpula, he passed his days chanting and remembering Lord Krishna s holy names. Harassed by nondevotees, he left and made a home by the Gaṅgā’s bank.

Some wicked men sent a prostitute to corrupt him. Hearing Lord Krishna’s holy names from Haridāsa’s mouth, the prostitute became a saintly devotee. Offering his small cottage in Benapula to the new devotee, Haridāsa left that province. Singing and singing Lord Krishna’s holy names, he crossed the Gaṅgā, came to Saptagrāma, and stayed in the home of Śrīla Yadunandana Acārya. Accompanied by Yadunandana Acārya, again, and again, he attended meetings hosted by the rent-collectors Śrī Hiraṇya and Govardhana.

At one of those meetings, he debated the glories of the holy name with a brahma-bandhu named Gopāla Cakravartī. Hiraṇya and Govardhana fired that brāhmaṇa from his job, and because of his offense to a Vaiṣṇava, the brāhmaṇa developed leprosy. At that time Govardhana’s small son, Raghunātha dāsa, became attracted to Vaiṣṇavism by Haridāsa’s mercy.

Sad at heart by hearing of Gopāla Cakravartī’s sufferings, Haridāsa left that place, took shelter of Advaita Prabhu in Phuliyā-grāma, made his home in a cave by the Gaṅgā’s bank, and engaged in nirjana-bhajana (solitary worship of the Lord). Thinking his personal fame and glory unimportant, a devotee may leave the association of the people in general and live like a hermit, but the glory of a devotee can never really be hidden.

In this way, Haridāsa’s fame and glory became widespread. Hearing of it, the Muslims became angry. The Muslim king of that place had Haridāsa arrested and made to suffer. Haridāsa was filled with mercy to every living being. Not considering others’ faults, he gave blessings to everyone. Leaving that place, he returned to his cave. A few days later, Lord Caitanya came to that place.

ln Lord Advaita’s company, Haridāsa met Lord Caitanya and took shelter of His feet. From that time on Lord Caitanya engaged Haridāsa in preaching the glories of the holy name. When Lord Caitanya went to Jagannātha Purī, Haridāsa followed and lived by a Siddha-bakula tree. When Haridāsa left this world, Lord Caitanya personally placed him in a samādhi by the seashore and personally performed his funeral saṅkīrtana and festival.

The devotees who associated with Lord Caitanya in His pastimes became very devoted to Kim. By His order, they preached His teachings to the world. Asking of him some questions, Lord Caitanya made the truth of the holy name appear from Haridāsa’s mouth. These teachings are described in many places in Śrī Caitanya- caritāmrta, Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, and in many other books describing devotional service.

Encouraged at various times by devotees

l have compiled an anthology of various writings describing Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s preachings about the holy name. From different faraway places, l gathered many books about Haridāsa. Seeing that the statements of the sahajiyas, baulas, and many others are only incoherent ramblings that have no value, l have taken great care to avoid their words. ln this way, l found one or two books explaining the pure Vaiṣṇava philosophy.

Actually, there were sixteen titles in thirty-two manuscripts, books pleasing to the rasikas. At this, l was very happy. Śrī Haridāsa preached the glories of the holy name to various pure devotees, and, in their gurudeva’s name, these disciples wrote various books. Seeing these books, the devotees in Śrīhatta-grāma who had originally encouraged me to write became very thankful. All these books l found contained Haridāsa’s teachings about the holy name.

This book, Harinama Cintamani, is a compilation of those teachings. To please the devotees, devotees whose only wealth is Lord Krishna, l now publish this book. l do not think persons who are not devoted to the holy name, persons who do not think Lord Krishna  is their only wealth, should read this book. l have no wish to hear the foolish arguments of the nondevotees.

There are many paths of sādhana-bhakti.

Taking shelter of the holy name is one of these paths. From the time of Śrī Krishna Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the exalted devotees have followed this path, which was taught by Śrī Haridāsa. For a long time, the devotees residing in Vraja’s forests have followed this path, and starting a few days before them, the bhajanānandī Vaiṣṇavas in Jagannātha Purī have also followed it.

With my own eyes, l have seen how they follow. At the end of their Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrī Gopāla Bhatta Gosvāmī clearly wrote about this method of performing pure devotional service, a method that consists of living in a solitary place and always hearing, chanting, and remembering the holy name without offense.

This Śrī Harinama Cintamani is written in the meter payāra. Women, children, and persons unlettered in Sanskrit can easily learn Lord Caitanya’s teachings from it. ln this book l have not placed any Sanskrit quotes, for that might trouble them. Other books have already woven a great garland of scripture quotes about the holy name. This Harinama Cintamani follows the statements of all those scripture quotes. If Lord Krishna wills, may this book be promptly published for the benefit of the devotees.

the servant Śrī Bhaktivinoda, whose only wealth is Lord Krishna

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