Chaitanya Mahãprabhu (36)

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Among the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda and Swami Haridas were ‘Sanyasins’. Once Prabhu called them and said - “It is not enough if we keep doing NãmaSankirtan in solitude like this! From now on, we must propagate Hari Nãma (the chanting of the Lord’s Divine Names) by going from village to village, street to street, house to house. I hand over this responsibility to you both. You must go to every street and every house of Navadweepa and spread the importance of chanting Hari Nãma. Casting away all notions of differences, you must initiate all - be it a child or an elderly or a brahmin or a person belonging to a lower class in the society or a scholar or a fool - without bias. Indeed, all creatures are entitled to chant Hari Nãma. Plead to even those creatures to chant the Divine Name of Hari. Go! May Lord Krishna help you in your endeavor.” Prabhu thus blessed them and sent them on their mission.

Both of them started with great zeal to accomplish their Lord’s task. Though, both had the same goal and had set out on the same task, there was a very wide difference in their natures. Nityananda was very fair and tall while Haridas was short and dark in colour. Haridas had a majestic and calm personality while Nityananda was bubbling with enthusiasm and mischief. Haridas was quite old while Nityananda was a youth. Haridas behaved in a very humble manner whereas the Nityananda always teased others. These poles - apart duo went to propagate the Divine Name. They went to every house and sang aloud -

`Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare`

Some mistook them for beggars and offered them a variety of alms. These two replied - “We are not beggars seeking for food. We have come to beg for the Names of the Lord. Will you please chant aloud atleast once the sweet names of the Lord -

“Sri Krishna ! Govinda ! Hare ! Murare !
He ! Natha ! Narayana ! Vasudeva !”

And cool our hearts? That indeed is the greatest alms that you can give us!” Hearing these words, they too sang the Hari Nãma in a loud voice with a heart melting with devotion. Soon, the pair went to the next house.

As they moved, people gathered and followed them singing along with them. In this manner, all the colonies of Navadweepa began to echo with the sweet names of Hari.

To be continued...

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