Unto that GURU I prostrate!
Thinking of whose grace, I cannot but weep in solitude!

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The Pundit argued,“All this is mere exaggerated talk. If everybody would be elevated by mere chanting, then why did all the shastras come into existence? All this has been said in order to instill faith in the Lord’s Name and there is no use in mere chanting without earning any other religious merits.” Haridas replied,“Oh! Pundit! Immense faith in the Lord’s name is indeed difficult to attain. But if the Divine Names are chanted with fervent devotion and dedication, knowledge of the shastras is not required. For, the shastras themselves only ask us to worship the Lord and have faith in Him. The shastras have come to exist only to enhance this faith in us!”

The Brahmin could not reply further. In a fit of rage he said,“ If anything could be got just by chanting the Divine Names, then I shall severe my nose and ears.” Haridas said, “It does not matter if you lack faith. I only conveyed my belief to you”. Saying thus, Haridas moved away from that place. In a few days, the Brahmin’s nose became rotten due to a disease called ‘Peenasa’ (a cold related disease) and fell off on its own. The effects of slandering the Divine Names are limitless. The root cause for all our sorrow is the lack of faith in the Name of the Lord.

In this manner, Haridas lived along the banks of the Ganges firmly establishing the faith in the Lord’s Names. After the advent of Chaitanya, he came to stay in Navadweep basking in the glory of Bhagavan Nãma . He shone as the intimate devotee of Mahaprabhu. He would take part in Namasankirtan along with Mahaprabhu all night, lose himself in dancing and would swoon in ecstasy. Even thinking of Haridas the greatest among devotees, would impart on us the faith in the Lord’s Name.

To be continued...

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