HARIDAS THAKURKrsna lila - Brahma / Prahlad / Richika Muni's son Mahatpah Haridas Thakur is considered to be the namacarya, the spiritual master in chanting the holy name of Krsna. Though he was born in a low class, Muslim family, Lord Caitanya's devotees respected him as being better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krsna 300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridas Thakur spread the chanting of Krsna's name throughout Bengal. In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridas Thakur spent his later days, Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and discuss with him topics of Krsna. Haridas Thakur died chanting Krsna's name in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridas Thakur's death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand. (Murari Gupta explains that one morning, Mahatapah gave an unwashed tulasi leaf to his father,
Richika Muni who became so angry at him for this that he cursed him. Because of this Mahatpah took birth in a yavana family as Haridasa Thakura.) |
