As Prahlada Maharaja appeared in a family of demons and Hanuman appeared as a monkey, Sri Haridasa Thakura appeared amongst the lower caste. Haridasa had a handsome form with all aristocratic features. Highly intellectual, he won all debates in Sanskrit and philosophy. Yet, he never lost his temper. In his youth, he became famous for his extreme devotion and ascetism. Though born in a Muslim family, when he became a Vaisnava, even brahmanas would eagerly smear their bodies with the dust of his feet.
The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, “Even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva always desire to associate with such devotees as Haridasa. And the demigods desire to touch the transcendental body of Haridasa. Simply by saying his name, Haridasa, one will be promoted to Krishna’s abode.” (Caitanya Bhagavata)
Navadvipa was full of gross materialists and Kali worshipers guided by smarta brahmanas before Mahaprabhu began His sankirtana movement. The smartas forbid loud chanting by the Vaisnavas on the plea that “it might awaken Lord Vishnu, who would become angry and curse Navadvipa with a famine.” But it was Haridasa’s habit to loudly chant Hare Krishna while wandering along the Ganges bank. Every day before taking his one and only meal he would finish 192 rounds (300,000 holy names of Krishna).
One time a rascal brahmana challenged Haridasa Thakura. The brahmana said that the proper method is to chant Hare Krishna silently within one’s mind. Quoting the Vedas, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Naradiya Parana, Haridasa conclusively proved that loud chanting of Krishna’s names gives one-hundred times more result than silent chanting. Yan-nama grhann akhilan, srotrn atmanam eva ca, sadyah punati… “Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear his chanting, as well as himself.” {Srimad Bhagavatam 10.34.17) Haridasa concluded with, “Which is better–to feed yourself, or to feed yourself and simultaneously feed a thousand others?”
Some people mistakenly think, “Since Haridasa Thakura always chanted Hare Krishna he wasn’t relishing the mellows of Radha-Madhava’s pastimes.” Krishna’s name is a wish-fulfilling gem (nama cintamani) and the very embodiment of rasa (rasa vigrahd). So, by purely chanting the holy names Haridasa Thakura definitely tasted the transcendental mellows of loving devotion to Radha-Madhava. Haridasa Thakura, the connoiseur of the holy name, taught everyone how to enter the rasa sastras through the door of Mahaprabhu’s mercy, received by purely and constantly chanting the holy names of Krishna.
Feeling threatened by Haridasa Thakura’s conversion to Vais-navism, the Muslim ruler arrested him. To enlighten the Kazi Haridasa said, “All living entities in creation are inspired by the Lord in the heart to act in different ways. People of different religions praise the Lord’s holy names and qualities according to the view of their scriptures. The Supreme Lord accepts everyone’s mood. If anyone shows malice towards another’s religion he actually shows malice to the Lord Himself, who is worshiped by that religion. Since God is one, that person becomes envious of the same Supreme Lord that he himself is worshiping.”
The governor grasped these words, but the Kazi (the local ruler) insisted that Haridasa make a choice: “Either give up your belief or die.”
Haridasa replied firmly, “If my body is hacked to pieces and even if I am killed—still I will keep chanting Hare Krishna.”
The infuriated Kazi ordered Haridasa Thakura publicly whipped to death. He was brutally beaten, dragged through twenty-two markets, and thrown in the Ganges. Absorbed in remembering Lord Hari, he miraculously survived by God’s grace. The Kazi, the brahmanas, and his rivals ran to Haridasa. They gave Haridasa Thakura an enthusiastic welcome and begged forgiveness for their offenses. He forgave them and blessed them with devotion. Haridasa thought the ordeal was fit punishment for his having heard Vaisnava blasphemy from the mouth of the Kazi.
Prema-vilasa says Haridasa took diksa from Sri Advaita Acarya. Haridasa Thakura exerted immense influence from the start of Sri Caitanya’s sankirtana movement. Teaming up with Lord Nityananda, he spread Krishna consciousness in Bengal. When Haridasa Thakura came to Jagannatha Puri Lord Caitanya gave him a room in the garden next to His. Every day the Lord sent prasadam to Haridasa. They also met regularly to discuss Ktishna-katha.
While seeing Lord Caitanya’s lotus face, holding His feet upon his chest, and chanting Sri Krishna Caitanya, Haridasa left the world. Lord Caitanya personally carried the body of Haridasa to the sea. And with His own hands buried him in the sand. Then Mahaprabhu begged alms for a festival to honor Haridasa Thakura’s departure. Lord Caitanya paid tribute to His pure devotee:
“Let us all sing the glories of Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa was the crest-jewel of the world. By his death the earth has lost its treasure. Out of His great mercy Krishna had given Me his association. And now He has taken him away. When Haridasa himself wished to leave the world I could not hold him back. Just like Bhismadeva, Haridasa gave up his life at his own will.” (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 11.93-98.)
The samadhi of Haridasa Thakura is located by the sea in Jagannatha Puri.
Sri Harinamacarya Srila Thakura Haridasa ki jai!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Biography # 2
Sri Haridas Thakur appeared in this world in the village of Buron, in the present district of Sat-kira, which was previously a subdivision of Khulna, Bangladesh. By this great fortune that land has been blessed, in that the chanting of the Holy Names of Hari-Nam Sankirtan, became revealed there. After remaining there for some time, he came to the banks of Ganga at Fulia, near Santipur. Advaita Acarya was overjoyed to get his association and roared very loudly. The two of them thus began to float in the waves of the mellows of pastimes of Sri Krsna-Govinda. [C. B. Adi 16.18]
Sri Haridas Thakur is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord. The associates of the Lord are worshippable wherever they make their appearance. Just as Garuda appeared as a bird, and Hanuman as a monkey, Haridas Thakur appeared in a family of Yavanas (Mohammedans). From his very birth he was very deeply devoted to the Holy Names of Sri Krsna.
When he came to live by the banks of the Ganges, Advaita Acarya was very happy to get his association. The brahmana residents of Fulia were very pleased to see how he worshipped the Holy Name, and they used to come everyday to have his darsan. Gradually word began to spread of his glories. When the Mohammedan administrator came to know of all this he began to burn with malice and went to the local Mohammedan king to inform him, “Though he is Mohammedan, he behaves as a Hindu, are therefore he should be brought here for trial.” Hearing the words of that sinful man, the local king who was also very sinful, had Haridas Thakur brought there immediately. [C. B. Adi 16.37].
The Mohammedan King told Haridas, “Just give up this chanting and say the Kalma (prayer of the Mohammedans).”
Haridasa Thakura replied, “The Supreme Lord is one, though His names might be different. The Hindu sastras are the Puranas and the Muslim sastra is the Koran. Everyone acts as he is inspired by the Lord, as also do I. Some Yavanas become Hindus and some Hindus become Yavanas, to worship the Lord. O Maharaja, you can now judge me.”
Hearing these words the Kazi replied that it would be necessary to punish him. Hearing the decree of the Kazi, the Mulukpati addressed Haridasa, “My brother, just follow your own religion. Then you will have nothing to worry about. Otherwise you will have to be punished.”
In reply to this Haridasa Thakura exclaimed, “Even if you cut my body into pieces, I will never give up the chanting of Hari nama.” [C. B. Adi 6.94]
After hearing these words of Haridasa spoken with great determination, the Kazi declared, “He should be beaten in twenty-two market places. If he doesn’t die after this, then I will know that the learned gentleman speaks the truth.” Thus having heard the words of the Kazi, the sinful Mulukpati then ordered that Haridasa Thakura be beaten in twenty-two market places. Haridasa remembered the Lord by chanting “Krsna Krsna”, and in the happiness of that remembrance, he didn’t feel any bodily inconvenience. [C. B. Adi 16.102].
As the demoniac associates of Hiranyakasipu tried in so many ways to kill Sri Prahlada Maharaja, but were unsuccessful, similarly the demoniac Mohammedans, though they tried to harm Haridasa Thakura, were unable to do so. Haridasa Thakur was immersed in the nectar of the Name and thus gradually the Mohammedans could understand that he wasn’t an ordinary person.
Thus they humbly submitted to the Thakura, “Haridasa! We can understand that you are a genuine saintly person. No one can do anything to you. But the Mulukpati won’t understand any of this. Rather he will have our heads.” Hearing their frightened pleas Haridasa’s external consciousness ceased and he entered into deep meditation on the Lord’s Holy Name.
Then the Mohammedans carried his body on their shoulders to the Mulukpati, who surmised that he was dead. Thinking as such he ordered that his body be thrown in the Ganga. Haridasa’s body floated down the Ganga until he reached Fulia ghat, where he got out of the water and began to loudly chant Hari Nama. Seeing the greatness of Haridasa Thakura, the Mulukpati became fearful. Along with the other Mohammedans he came there and begged Haridas Thakur to forgive him for his offense.
Considering him to be a holy man, they all offered their salutations and thus were delivered from their offences. Having witnessed the pastimes of the Thakura the devotees were in ecstacy.
Haridasa Thakur used to chant Hari Nama in a hollowed out cave-like hole at the base of a tree. This “cave” still exists near Fulia, on the banks of the Ganga. One can get there by train from Santipura. Within the roots of this tree also lived a poisonous snake. Being fearful of this snake the devotees couldn’t remain there for very long and one day they mentioned to the Thakura about this snake which was worrying them. Seeing the distress of the devotees Haridasa Thakur called to that snake and spoke to him, “My dear sir, if in fact you are residing here, then I am requesting that you please leave by tomorrow, otherwise I myself will definitely leave here.”
Hearing these words of the Thakura, that snake immediately came out of its hole and after offering namaskar to the Thakura, it went elsewhere. Seeing this pastime, the devotees were struck with wonder and they developed profound and deep devotion for Haridasa Thakura.
One time Haridasa Thakura came to a village within Jessore district named Harinode-gram, which was predominantly inhabited by brahmanas. One day during a religious discussion one puffed-up brahmana approached Haridasa Thakura and remarked, “O Haridasa! Why do you chant the holy name loudly? In the scriptures it is recommended to chant within the mind.” In reply Hari dasa Thakura told him, “The birds, beasts and insects cannot chant themselves, but if they get to hear Hari Nama then they also become delivered. If one chants only to himself then he delivers only himself, but if one chants loudly, the benefit is a hundred times greater. This is the conclusion of the scriptures.” [C. B. Adi 16.180]
Hearing this objective statement of Haridasa Thakura that sinful brahmana couldn’t tolerate it and exclaimed, “In Kali yuga sudras will recite the sastras, now I am seeing this with my own eyes.” In answer to this personal insult delivered by that miscreant brahmana, Haridasa Thakura simply silently walked out of that assembly. Within a few days that brahmana contracted ulcerous leprosy. The result of vaisnava-aparadha became immediately manifest. In Kali yuga, Raksasas take birth in brahmana families in order to give trouble to the honest, virtuous people. [C.B. Adi 16.300]
Another time, Haridasa desired to have darsana of the Vaisnavas of Navadwipa. Everyone there became overwhelmed with ecstasy, to see Haridasa. Adwaita Acarya loved Haridasa as much as His own life and he would offer the first prasadam to Haridasa Thakura (which is to be offered only to high class brahmanas) after performing Pitr-sraddha (worship of his forefathers).
Haridasa Thakura lived for some time at Benapol, which was within Jessore district. Every day and night he would chant three hundred thousand Holy Names. At the time, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu displayed His divine opulences by manifesting Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the courtyard at Srivasa Pandita’s house, He was calling his dear devotees: “Haridasa! when those Mohammedans were beating you I was ready to destroy them with My Sudarsana Cakra, but as you were praying for their welfare I was unable to do anything.” [C. B. Madhya 10.42]
Therefore I accepted their blows on My own body. Just see, the scars are still here on My body.” Seeing those marks Haridasa fainted in ecstatic love. Regaining his consciousness he began to praise the Lord of his life, “O Lord Viswambhara, master of the universe, please have mercy on this sinner, who has fallen at Your feet. I have no good qualities and am a vile wretch, rejected by all classes of men. How can I describe Your divine character?” [C. B. Mad 20.58]
Thakura Haridasa was present during most of the Lord’s pastimes in Nadia, and when the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa also went and took up residence there. Everyday, after attending Lord Jagannath’s mongol aroti, Lord Caitanya would come to see Haridasa Thakura and would bring him some of Lord Jagannath’s prasadam. When Sri Sanatana Goswami and Sri Rupa Goswami would come from Vrindavana to Puri they used to stay with Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa, in order to maintain the etiquette, would not go near Lord Jagannatha’s temple but would offer his obeisances to the Cakra on top of the temple, from a distance. As he was considered to be a Mohammedan by birth, his presence in the temple would be objectionable to those who were caste conscious.
Mahamayadevi took initiation in the maha-mantra from Haridasa Thakura and Caitanya Mahaprabhu appointed him as the acarya of the Holy Name. His departure from this world, in the presence of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is fully described by Sri Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami in the Antya-lila of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.