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As instructed by Haridas, that girl too gave away all her wealth in charity and dressing herself simply as would an ascetic, she spent the rest of her life meditating on her Guru’s lotus feet and eating what little she got by begging. Within a short time, her fame spread far and wide. She was praised by everybody. The association of a saint, even if with a wicked intention, never goes waste. Is this not the greatness of SATSANG (company of the great ones)!

Ramachandra Khan began experiencing the result of his misdeed right away. Having failed to pay his dues to the Badshah within the stipulated time, he became the victim of royal punishment. Bound by ropes, along with his family, he was dragged to the royal court and was subject to many severe punishments by the King. Is it not true that one would have to suffer the painful punishment if saints are harmed?

Let us now see another incident which shows the extent of Haridas’s Nãma Nishta (faith and trust in the Divine Name).

Faith is the basis for all spiritual activities like Japa, austerities, Nãmasankeertan, worship and also for worldly activities. The result of an action is proportionate to one’s faith. With intense faith anything can be achieved. Was it not due to the burning faith that the poison that Meera drank turned into nectar? Namadeva fed even an idol made of stone! All these are testimonies of unshakeable faith of devotees. Similarly there are no bounds to the intense faith of Haridas in the power of Lord’s Name.

One might say that the trust and steadfastness that Dhruva and Prahlãda had in the Divine Name are stories of Puranic Age. But the details regarding the Nãma Nishta of Haridas that have been penned by his associates are events that happened 500 years back. But for such a faith, no ordinary man would have been able to bear the tribulations and ordeals he was put to! God, too, subjects the devotees to such hardships and adds glory to their lives.

After having purified the courtesan of all her sins and housed her in a hut, Haridas started from there and came to the satsang of Advaitãchãrya where he built a small hut for himself in a village called Puliya near Shantipur and led a life of seclusion. He spent his time in chanting aloud the Names of the Lord day and night.

It was a time when Islam was being widely preached in India. Nobody was able to speak anything against Islam. Khajis were stationed everywhere for preaching their religion. Even these khajis behaved as cruelly as would a Badshah.

Envious of the increasing fame of Haridas, the khaji of Puliya village made a complaint to the Badshah that Haridas, a muslim by birth, was chanting the Names of a Hindu god which was against the Muslim religion and hence deserved punishment. With the consent of the King, he arrested Haridas and placed him for punishment in front of their religious Head.

The Muslim Mulukpathi who was now in the role of a judge, felt a natural upsurge of love upon seeing the radiance and luster of Haridas. He spoke to Haridas mercifully-“My son! Haridas! You are a Muslim by birth. Why do you pursue the path of other religion? Following the tenets of Muslim religion is the only way to liberation. I feel a sort of pity for you. Even now, I shall let you surrender to Allah and beg for pardon.”

Haridas replied-“What you say might be true as far as your belief is concerned. Each man has his own belief, and he can act only according to that. Only a coward would let go off his faith due to pressure from others. Such cowards can never attain God. Even if what you say is right according to your belief, if I forsake my chanting of the Lord’s Names in fear of punishment, sin will be mine. I am unable to relinquish my natural love for the Divine Name.”

Mulukpathi’s heart melted on hearing such a reply. “I do not understand what you say. It might be appropriate to the Hindus but you are a Muslim. Should not your faiths be in harmony with the Muslim laws?” asked he. Haridas replied-“Master! Faith is not something which is in control of a person. It sprouts as a result of previous Samskaras(latent impressions). My heart harbours faith only in the Names of the Lord. You do not punish a Hindu who converts himself into a Muslim due to his natural inclination. Just as you accept that it is the freedom of any Hindu to desert his religion and convert into a Muslim, must you not grant the same freedom to a Muslim too?” This genuine argument of Haridas made the judge silent.

To be continued...

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