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Yet another time, some people were performing Hari Leela to the accompaniment of drums and musical instruments, along the streets. An actor was dancing and singing to the beat. Eager to listen to the Krishna Kirtan, Haridas came out of his hut and joined the spectators.

The episode of Kaliya Nartan was being enacted at that time. The actor's voice was mellow and his dance was graceful. With elegance, he was enacting the scene where Yasoda, Nanda and other cowherds lament after Krishna jumps into the lake. Haridas fainted on seeing this. On witnessing the manifestation of an extremely pure ecstatic state (Sattvic Bhava) in Haridas, the actor stopped his dance and smeared his head with the dust of Haridas’ Holy feet. He then collected a handful of the dust in a piece of cloth to take home.

Another Brahmin who was watching all this desired a similar honour and fainted ostentatiously once the actor began dancing again. The actor, knowing it to be a mere pretence, began hitting him hard. Unable to bear the pain, the Brahmin got up and ran away. Those present there asked the actor, “You honoured Haridas when he fainted in ecstasy. How do you justify your beating the Brahmin?”

The actor replied, “Haridas is a Bhãva bhakta (devotee). He fainted since he was filled with emotion and ecstasy manifested in his body. But the Brahmin is a hypocrite. He acted because he craved for recognition and honour. That is the reason why I hit him. Haridas is a priceless gem while this man is a piece of worthless glass. The very presence of Haridas purifies the whole world.” Thus explaining his action, the actor went away.

Mahatma Haridas found a cave for himself near the village of Puliya and began to live in solitude. As his fame spread far and wide, many came to have a darshan of Haridas. All those who visited him in the cave, experienced a kind of itch in their body. Nobody could understand the reason for this. Though everybody experienced an inexplicable peace at his abode, they were bewildered by the mysterious itching sensation in their bodies.

A doctor concluded that this was due to the breath of a very venomous serpent that lived in the cave and expressed his surprise at Haridas living there unaffected. He further stated that if the serpent were to come out and hiss in anger, death would befall all those present there.

Hearing this, people of the village pleaded Haridas to leave the place and go elsewhere. Haridas pacified the people and said, “If I am causing inconvenience to all of you, I shall do as you say. If the serpent does not leave the place tomorrow, I shall surely vacate the place by tomorrow evening. From tomorrow it will be either me or the serpent in this cave. We will not live together anymore.” Pleased with the reply, the people went home happily.

The next day, many devotees were gathered before Haridas and were performing Krishna Kirtan. While they were singing, they were awe struck by a bright gleam of light emanating from the dark cave. A huge variegated serpent with exquisite colours emerged and started moving towards the Ganges. There was a huge gem on its hood, which was shining brilliantly. Devotees assembled there trembled with fear on seeing it.

The serpent crawled along the banks of the Ganges and went far away. From that day onwards, none of the devotees experienced the itching sensation when they visited Haridas's cave. This indeed is the greatness of Bhaktas! Even a venomous serpent forsakes its nature and bows down before their glory!

Such is the eminence of devotees like Haridas!

To be continued...

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