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The redeeming power of saints is beyond comprehension. The mere glance of such God -intoxicated souls is enough to effect the transformation of a sinner into a devotee of the Lord. Many such instances find place throughout the life history of Sri Chaitanya.

The most interesting one is of the conversion of a thief who is the first to have been blessed by Sri Chaitanya, the redeemer of the world. Tempted by the gold jewels that adorned the fair body of Sri Gauranga, a thief once carried away the child who was playing all by himself. Strangely, the moment the thief touched Nimayi, he underwent a total change in his attitude. He hated what he had done and felt sorry for it. His heart softened at the very sight of the lotus like feet of Nimayi while the child smiled fearlessly. At home there was utter commotion as the child was missing. Everyone went out in search of the child. Sachidevi cried aloud for her son as she knocked at each and every door in the neighbourhood. Viswarupa, too, went in search of the child. Meanwhile the thief quietly returned the child to its home. From that very day he turned a new leaf. When the news spread that the child was back and playing safely at home the relatives heaved a sigh of relief and hugged him in joy.

One day, at home, Sachidevi had a vision in which she saw some men of rare brilliance worshipping Nimayi. Disturbed by this vision she checked in only to find Nimayi sleeping peacefully. She related what she had seen to Jagannath Mishra. He, however, said, "I am aware that Nimayi is no ordinary boy. He will turn out to be a Mahapurusha(a great soul/saint).

In yet another incident, Sachidevi noticed tiny footprints in the courtyard, bearing the auspicious signs of Shanka, Chakra and Dhwaja. Surprised, she showed them to Jagannatha Mishra. The couple, in all reverence, applied the dust from these footprints to their heads. Mishra then said, " It is only our great fortune that Balagopala Thakur is playing in our courtyard in human form." They found the same divine signs on the tiny feet of Nimayi, too. Jagannatha Mishra at once showed the palms and the feet of the child to his father-in-law Neelambara Chakravarthi. He read them and said, "This is no ordinary child. I have already coursed through his horoscope. The world is to benefit greatly by this child".

One day Jagannatha Mishra asked Nimayi to get a book from inside the house. While the child went in laughing, Mishra heard the tinkling of anklets from his feet. So he asked Nimayi's mother, "Have you adorned Nimayi's feet with anklets?" Sachidevi replied, "I have adorned his feet only with kappu (a plain bangle like ornament) and nothing else". When Mishra heard this he became very quiet.

Once, angry with his mother over something Nimayi was very quiet. In spite of the mother's affectionate words of consolation his mood did not change. Sachidevi, too, lost her temper and walked out of the house. Nimayi ran up and pulled her back with his soft hands. The mother, moved by this gesture of the child returned home. But suddenly being reminded of the innumerable divine plays of the child she swooned. Scared and worried, Nimayi asked the ladies who were around, "What is wrong with my mother? How am I to bring her back to consciousness?" When one of them advised him to give tender coconut he, at once, brought one and fed his mother with it. Gradually, Sachidevi regained consciousness. Nimayi said apologetically, "Ma, I wonder why I trouble you so. From now onwards I shall behave myself." The mother was overjoyed to hear this and hugged the child.

On another day, Nimayi started crying aloud for no obvious reason. The parents consoled him but in vain. The perplexed parents asked him, "What on earth do you want, Nimayi? Why are you crying so uncontrollably? We will fulfill your wish if only you would tell us what it is." Nimayi sobbed, "I want the Naivedya ( food that has been prepared for offering to God) prepared in Jagadeesa Pundit's and Hiranya Pundit's house. I want it right now. I shall stop crying only if you will get me this." The dumbfounded parents wondered how to ask for the Naivedya. Would it not be a veritable sacrilege! But Nimayi's sobbing never seemed to come to an end. "Nimayi, won't your friends laugh at you if you cry like this? Isn't it wrong, my child, to eat the food before it is offered to the Lord?" asked Sachidevi in a rebuking tone.

"After it is offered to the Lord I shall get it for you", she tried to console him, but these words of consolation were also of no use. The wailing ceased not.

The two pundits were taken aback when they learnt of Nimayi's demand. They were struck with wonder as to how Nimayi could have known about the Naivedya prepared in their homes. Immediately they brought the Naivedya to Nimayi who calmed down after he tasted a little from these. The mother, however, was worried and suspected Nimayi being possessed by some evil spirit. She prayed fervently to God for the child's welfare.

When Nimayi turned five, arrangements were made for his Aksharabhyasa.( a religious ceremony conducted to teach the child to read and write). Nimayi's father gave him a slate and a chalk to write. Nimayi, instead drew lines all over his body and drew a big 'tilak' mark on his forehead. He then remarked to his mother, "Ma, a great Vaishnavite has come to your house. Offer him food." Sachidevi laughed at this and said to him, "Nimayi, my child, you should not be playful. Don't you wish to learn? You are no longer a child. Other boys of your age have already started reading big books while you are still playful". Nimayi laughed at his mother's words and went away to play with his friends.

It was quite interesting to watch Nimayi at play. It was Nimayi who taught the other boys to dance. He would clasp his hands with four other boys and dance around until he fell down. He would roll on the dust on the ground. With raised arms, he would call out "Hari bol! Hari bol!" and dance about for hours on end. From a layman to big scholars, all passers-by, paused for a while to enjoy Nimayi play with other children. As he grew up he became more playful and no interest seemed to develop in his studies.

With his pranks Nimayi filled all with joy. At times he would tie a puppy in the house for the whole day, feed it with dhal and rice and play with it. He would wail aloud if his mother tried to chase it away. At times he would chase birds in an attempt to catch them. Sometimes, he would also play with calves and whisper something in their ears!

He enjoyed the liberty of knocking at any door at any time of the day. The ladies loved him dearly. One of them would entice him with 'sandesh' (a Bengali sweet) saying, "Nimayi, if you dance for me I will give you sandesh". But Nimayi would demand, "Give me sandesh. Only then will I dance for you." Mouth and hands filled with various kinds of sweets Nimayi would dance around gracefully with raised arms. He would bring home a lot of sweets just by dancing for others! He thus captivated the hearts of those around and filled them with immense joy.

One day, he rushed back home and called out to his mother, "Ma, I am very hungry. Give me something to eat ". The mother brought him some eats but he began to eat the mud. Highly disturbed she reprimanded him, "Nimayi, why do you eat mud?"

Nimayi replied, "Ma, you, too, have given me only mud. Haven't you?" The perplexed mother said, "I have given you milk and aval (beaten rice) but you are eating mud." Nimayi said once again, as if in explanation, "But, Ma, everything is made of this earth and so are these that you have given me". Sachidevi could not comprehend this high philosophy. She guilelessly replied, "All substances may be of this earth but each one has its own purpose. A pot is also made of mud yet we store water in it. If, however, we pour water into mud it will dry up. Will it not? " Nimayi smiled at his mother and said, "Alright, hereafter I shall not eat mud. I will eat only the food you give me." Nimayi's childhood was thus spent showering joy on his mother with such lilas.

To be continued......