Thakur Haridas (part 3)

Thakur Haridas (part 3)

Journal ‘The Harmonist’ Edited by

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (No. 3, Vol. XXV, August 1927)

THE magnanimous Thakur understood from this incident that most of the villagers, with Ramchandra Khan as their mouthpiece, were opposed to his devotional practices. Therefore, having already realized that it was proper to give up that mode of worldly life which was unfavorable to the practice of devotion the moment the danger threatened to become actual, Thakur Haridas bestowing on that woman the Name of Hari as well as the cell of his devotional practices went off to a different place for the purpose of worshipping Hari.

The woman giving up her sinful course made an offering of her accumulation of ill-got riches for the service of brahmans. By the mercy of Haridas becoming well-versed in the Name of Hari she came to be regarded with great reverence in society.

As the result of his wicked treatment of Shree Haridas Thakur the feeling of hated against God and His devotees increased apace in the heart of Ramchandra Khan. Consequently when Lord Nityananda with His entourage of Vaishnavas arrived a few days afterwards in the mandap of Ramchandra, the evil-disposed Ramchandra treating Him with contempt said that his spacious mandap would not accommodate Him and His goshthi (personal adherents) but that he was prepared to house Him in his ‘goshtha’ (cowshed). On hearing this the Lord went away to another village.

By means of this load of iniquity which now readied its full weight Ramchandra speedily brought down upon himself the most terrible destruction. In consequence of delay, prompted by avarice, in the payment of revenue to the Mahammedan ruler of the country the yavana monarch forcibly entering his mandap polluted it for good by slaughter of animals and other similar acts; plundered all the wealth of Ramchandra; and finally spat into his mouth and even compelled him to swallow objectionable blood and flesh of animals, etc.

Ramchandra was made aware by this event that his temporary greatness had been the merest of trifles. Such greatness, the existence of which is liable to be destroyed in a moment, can never be the permanent means of obtaining the highest good.

Giving up the hut of Benapole Thakur Haridas came to Fulia a village of the Nadia district situated midway between Ranaghat and Shantipur. Shree Advaita Prabhu from Sylhet had by that time settled down at Shantipur. Having the company of Shree Advaita Prabhu Haridas with mind filled with joy went on taking the Name of Shree Hari. Giving up all worldly pleasure he passed his days immersed at all time in the bliss of the Name.

At that period there was a powerful community of brahmans in the village of Fulia. Most of them gave sundry help to the Thakur in his worship of the Name. At that time the Bhagirathi used to flow close by the village. Haridas bathed in the Granges daily and chanted the Name of Hari with a loud voice. By the severe decree of Providence several brahmans of the village of Fulia took up an attitude of opposition to his worship of the Name. On the western side of the Bhagirathi lay the muluk of Ambooa.

It was the place of residence of a powerful Kazi who was the royal officer in charge of the administration of the muluk. Those Hindu brahmans who were the enemies of the devotee of God agreeing with the views of the local yavanas formed a conspiracy to have Haridas punished by the chief Kazi of Ambooa muluk on a charge of being a promoter of social disorder. By orders of the Kazi Haridas was brought before him. As administrator of the district the muluk-pati Kazi had under arrest a large number of criminals.

Thakur Haridas availed of the opportunity of associating closely with the prisoners. Many of the captives were led to hope to be released by the intervention of Haridas. Desirous of their well-being Haridas expressed his wish to put up at the prison-house. At this the prisoners were filled with misgivings as regards the kind intentions of Haridas and were dejected. Finding that the prisoners were depressed by misunderstanding his good purpose Haridas hastened to tell them every thing that was worth knowing in a way that they could understand.

“The highest good of jiva lay exclusively in the Name of Krishna and the worship of Krishna. Being every moment deluded by material objects jiva turns his face away from Hari. Those who are at this place in the state of confinement are really most fortunate as in their case there is no opportunity of the Godless mood becoming strong. For the present at any rate being at a distance

from all pleasurable material objects these jiva have got an excellent opportunity of taking the Name of Hari during the period of captivity. After release from confinement acting according to the dictates of their desires they will have the misfortune of procuring again coveted material objects.

Although I do not wish to continue in the state of captivity, yet this is my prayer to you that you may always utter the Name of Hari forgetting material pleasures. If the Name of Hari is uttered by your mouths you will be freed from your worldly bondage within a short time”. Having thus blessed the prisoner magnanimous Haridas was brought before the Kazi, the ruler of the muluk.

The muluk-pati Kazi aware of the respectability of Haridas honored himself by offering him a seat suited to his position. Then the Kazi said, — “You have had the rare good fortune of having sprung from a yavana family of high lineage. Being born in such high family and in a superior society how has such perversion of judgment manifested itself in you? The yavanas look down upon the Hindus with an eye of contempt; they feel compunction in accepting food touched by them.

Why have you thus lowered yourself by the violation of the religion of your community giving up the customs and practices of your high ancestry! By such behavior in this world how will you obtain deliverance in the next! If you are prepared to accept my good advice, adopting the social customs of high yavana families read chahar kalma, and being again initiated in the yavana religion destroy the sins that have been practiced”.

The author is unknown