Haridas Thakur’s Divine Disappearance

Srila Haridas Thakur appeared in this world in the village of Budhan, in the present district of Sat-Kira, which was previously a subdivision of Khulna, Bangladesh.
He was born in 1450 A.D. And his parents named him Mohammed Sikander Khan. He renounced family life at a young age and converted to Vaishnavism by adopting the chanting of Hare Krsna Mahamantra day and night. He used to chant 192 rounds of Hare Krsna Mahamantra on his beads, which sums up to about three lakhs (300000) Holy names daily. He set up a hut in the Forest of beanpole, Bangladesh, and used to beg alms for his daily requirement of food from nearby Brahmin households.

Sri Haridas Thakur is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord. The associates of the Lord are worshipable wherever they make their appearance. Just as Garuda appeared as a bird, and Hanuman as a monkey, Haridas Thakur appeared in a family of Yavanas (Mohammedans). From his very birth, he was very deeply devoted to the Holy Names of Sri Krsna.

When the Mohammedan administrator came to know of all this he began to burn with malice and went to the local Mohammedan king to inform him, “Though he is Mohammedan, he behaves as a Hindu, and therefore he should be brought here for trial.” Hearing the words of that sinful man, the local king who was also very sinful, had Haridas Thakur brought there immediately. [C. B. Adi 16.37].
The Mohammedan King told Haridas, “Just give up this chanting and say the Karma (prayer of the Mohammedans).”

Haridasa Thakura replied, “The Supreme Lord is one, though His names might be different. The Hindu shastras are the Puranas and the Muslim sastra is the Koran. Everyone acts as he is inspired by the Lord, as also do I. Some yavanas become Hindus and some Hindus become yavanas, to worship the Lord. O Maharaja, you can now judge me.”

Hearing these words the Kazi replied that it would be necessary to punish him. Hearing the decree of the Kazi, the Muluk pati addressed Haridasa, “My brother, just follow your religion. Then you will have nothing to worry about. Otherwise, you will have to be punished.”
In reply to this Haridasa Thakura exclaimed, “Even if you cut my body into pieces, I will never give up the chanting of Hari Nama.” [C. B. Adi 6.94]

After hearing these words of Haridasa spoken with great determination, the Kazi declared, “He should be beaten in twenty-two different market places. If he doesn’t die after this, then I will know that the learned gentleman speaks the truth.”

Thus having heard the words of the Kazi, the sinful Muluk pati then ordered that Haridasa Thakura be beaten in twenty-two different market places. Haridasa remembered the Lord by chanting “Krsna Krsna”, and in the happiness of that remembrance, he didn’t feel any bodily inconvenience. [C. B. Adi 16.102].
Slowly, His Fame spread around, that he was a renowned and committed devotee of Lord Shri Krsna. Ramchandra Khan, a rich landlord and a local ruler of Benapole became jealous of Haridas Thakur and thought of bringing disrepute to him and defaming him. He observed the daily activities of Haridas Thakur and could not find any loopholes or faults in him. At last, he called some local prostitutes and asked their help in tainting the image of Haridas Thakur who was young and handsome. One of those prostitutes named Hira Bai was most beautiful and attractive. She said that she could trap Haridas Thakur. Ramchandra Khan was very happy and suggested that he would arrange to send constables with Hira Bai so that they could arrest Haridas Thakur red-handed with her. She said that she would go alone and once she establishes a physical relationship with Haridas Thakur, it would be easy to have regular, consecutive meetings during which Ramchandra Khan could arrange for arresting Haridas Thakur and defaming him. Ramchandra Khan liked this suggestion.

That evening, the prostitute, Hira Bai, decorated herself with the best ornaments and makeup and wore some revealing clothes, reached the place of Haridas Thakur, stood at his door in a very inviting, revealing position, and addressed him that Haridas Thakur was so handsome and brimming with youthfulness and she wanted to have physical Union with him.

Haridas Thakur did not get attracted to her nor did he show any repulsive angry mood. In his normal humble mood, he replied to her that he would be very happy to fulfill her Desire and asked her to wait as he was undergoing Hari Naam Japa’s citation of his prescribed number of nonstop rounds. Hira Bai was happy and agreed. She sat in a corner of the hut, observing Haridas Thakur, who was continuously and loudly chanting the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra on his beads in front of Tulasi Devi.

Haridas Thakur was standing without a break. It was already dawn and the lady became fearful. Haridas Thakur begged forgiveness and promised to fulfill her Desire on an approaching night. She returned to Ramchandra Khan and explained the situation, and assured him that she would surely trap Haridas Thakur the next night. The next night when she approached Haridas Thakur, she bowed down to the tulsi plant and took her seat. Haridas Thakur, as usual, welcomed her and informed her in the sweetest way that he would definitely be finishing his target of chanting today and would then fulfill her Desire. Even that night the same thing happened like the previous one. Haridas Thakur chanted the whole night nonstop and expressed regret to hirabai and promised her for the upcoming night. Hira Bai again reported to Ramchandra Khan and said that the coming night she would trap Haridas Thakur.
On the third night, she came, bowed down to the tulsi plant, performed circumambulations around the tulsi plant, and sat down. Haridas Thakur, chanting, as usual, welcomed her and promised her to fulfill her Desire. She was sitting and hearing the loud chanting of Hare Krsna Mahamantra by Haridas Thakur and around midnight, she started crying, fell at the feet of Haridas Thakur, and confessed everything about the conspiracy of Ramchandra Khan. Haridas Thakur informed her that from the beginning itself, He could understand her intentions. He had decided to leave that place but had stayed there for the last three days just to purify her and deliver her. Now, this lady genuinely was regretting her lifestyle of all those years, and beg for the mercy of Haridas Thakur to come out of the mess that she had created for herself in life. Haridas Thakur said that if she wanted to repent and purify herself, then she would give away all the wealth and belongings that she had accumulated with her previous activities through all those years in charity. He told Hira Bai to come and live in his hut, serve Tulsi Devi, and constantly chant Hare Krsna Mahamantra.

The next morning Haridas Thakur left the place and this lady started following the instructions of Haridas Thakur. She began living in that hut and chanting 192 rounds of Hare Krsna Mahamantra daily. Soon She became a great saint in that area. She became famous as Lakshahira as she used to Chant Lacs of holy names in daily. Even now there is a temple built-in memory of Haridas Thakur and Lakshahira at that place in Bangladesh.
From the above past time, Haridas Thakur shows, How a spiritual master should Reform even the most sinful disciple if the disciple surrenders completely to the Lotus feet of a genuine devotee of Krsna.