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A few informed Mahãprabhu that a group of people have provoked Kãji to behave rudely. Immediately, he requested that the Nãma Kirtan be stopped. All the instruments were grounded and there was silence everywhere. Prabhu roared, "Remember! If someone inflicts trouble to Kãji, it is a mistake done to me! Beware!" Hearing this from Prabhu, people dropped the stones, shrubs and plants from their hands and calmed down. He asked Kãji's men to bring him out informing him of Prabhu's arrival. He promised that nothing will happen to Kãji.

Hearing Prabhu's assurance, Kãji slowly came out. Wishing Kãji, Prabhu had him sit beside him. Smiling with affection, he asked, "We have all come as your guests. Would it suit you to hide inside?".

Shyly Kãji said, "I am blessed by your arrival. I thought you were angry and hence did not want to present myself before you in that state. That is why I stayed inside". Prabhu smilingly replied, "You are the king here. What is there to get angry over you?".

Sachidevi's father Nilãmbara Chakravarthy belonged to this village. He was a friend of Kãji. So Kãji said, "Nimãyi, going by relationships, your grandfather is my uncle equivalent. You are my nephew. I am your uncle. Even if a nephew gets angry without reason, the uncle should bear it. You can get as much angry as you want!".

Prabhu smiled again and said, "Uncle. I honor this relationship. You are way too elder to me. You have borne me on your shoulders. I am your child. Why should I get angry over you?" Shyly Kãji replied, "No! Did I not oppose Nãma Kirtan? Perhaps you are angry because of that.". Prabhu replied, "There is nothing to get angry about it. You are not independent either! You have to obey the emperor's orders too! If you have decided that all of those who performed Nãma Kirtan have to be punished, then we have all wronged. Please punish us. We will heartily accept it."

Kãji replied, "the emperor did not pass any such orders. A few of your own pundits complain about you that you are going against Shãstras in going round crying out and giving imparting to others the Lord's names which have to be kept secretive. They came to me saying that this would cause something bad befall. That is why I passed orders against Nãma Kirtan."

Prabhu questioned as to why he did not stop the Nãma Kirtan. After moments, of silence, Kãji said, "You come alone. I shall then tell you." Prabhu insisted that the others were his intimate devotees and he need not hesitate. Then Kãji said, "Gaur Hari! You are verily Hari. A few Muslims complained to me that you are spoiling the masses by calling out "Krishna, Krishna". With no other option, I entered the house where Nama Kirtan was going on, and broke all the instruments and created a mess. But the same night, I had a very bad dream. A lion frightened me saying that it would tear my stomach apart if I tear apart the instruments and oppose the Nãma Kirtan. It started attacking me by placing its sharp nails on my stomach. I immediately woke up. Don't you see the nail marks on my body?". Saying so, he showed the nail marks.

Hearing Kãji speak thus, Prabhu quickly embraced him and said, "Uncle! You have become a Vaishnavite! According to our Shãstras, if someone cries out the Lord's name, even if he does it mockingly, scornfully or symbolically, his sins are totally wiped out. You have spelled out the melodious and sweet names of Hari and Krishna and thus acquired a pure mind." Prabhu's embrace made Kãji's each body hair stand upright and he was rejuvenated. Prabhu said, "Uncle! You please refrain from opposing our Nãma Kirtan!."

Kãji replied in a emotional tone, "Gaur Hari! You are verily Lord Nãrãyana. I promise now -- I may renounce my creed, forsake my family, but shall henceforth never oppose Nãma Kirtan. Ask your people to perform Kirtan fearlessly." Hearing this, everyone jumped with happiness. The sound of "Hari Bol!" reached the skies and Prabhu continued his Nãma Kirtan tightly embracing Kãji. Kãji also followed him. After a while, Prabhu asked Kãji to return to his place and Kãji did so after bowing down to Prabhu. Since then, not only Kãji, but his entire clan supported Nãma Kirtan. Till date, Sãnth Khãn Kãji's family help in performing Krishna Kirtans. Vaishnavite devotees pay their respects at Sãnth Khãn Kãji's tomb even today.

Our obeisance to Prabhu who brought under his umberlla of love, even his enemies, and also to Kãji who was affectionately called uncle by Prabhu and received his embrace.

To be continued...

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