Saturday, 06 September 2025 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time]
Fasting for Ananta Caturdashi
Disappearance Day of Srila Haridāsa Ṭhākura
Fasting for Ananta Caturdashi
Lord Vishnu is believed to have appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Ananta (the thousand-hooded serpent).
“Prabhupāda: Yes, but not for demise of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but because that is Ananta Caturdaśī Vrata, the, generally the fasting is observed till evening, up to 5 o’clock. The next day, Viśvarūpa Mahotsava, feasting.”
(Room Conversation Vaiṣṇava Calendar Description — March 11, 1972, Vṛndāvana)
Disappearance Day of Srila Haridāsa Ṭhākura
Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the incarnation of Lord Brahmā, renowned for his unwavering dedication to chanting the holy names of Krishna. Mahāprabhu honored Haridāsa Ṭhākura as the “Namacharya”, the exemplary figure in the art of chanting the holy names. Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born into a Muslim family, Lord Chaitanya and His devotees revered him as greater than even the most esteemed brāhmanas (Vedic priests). He would neither eat nor sleep until he completed his daily vow of chanting Krishna’s name 300,000 times.
Together with Lord Nityānanda, Haridāsa Ṭhākura spread the holy names of Krishna throughout Bengal. In Jagannātha Puri, where Haridāsa spent his later years, Lord Chaitanya personally sent him prasādam (sacred food remnants) from the Jagannāth Temple and engaged in discussions with him about Krishna. Haridāsa Ṭhākura departed from this world while chanting Krishna’s name in the presence of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. Following Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s departure, Lord Chaitanya Himself carried his body to the sea and lovingly buried him in the sand with His own hands.
The Marvellous Devotion of Haridāsa Ṭhākura: Chanting 300,000 Names Daily
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 10.43 (1973 Edition). All synonyms, translation, and purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 43
হরিদাসঠাকুর শাখার অদ্ভুত চরিত ।
তিন লক্ষ নাম তেঁহা লয়েন অপতিত ॥ ৪৩ ॥
haridāsa-ṭhākura śākhāra adbhuta carita
tina lakṣa nāma teṅho layena apatita
SYNONYMS
haridāsa-ṭhākura—of the name Haridāsa Ṭhākura; śākhāra—of the branch; adbhuta—wonderful; carita—characteristics; tina—three; lakṣa—hundred thousand; nāma—names; teṅho—he; layena—chanted; apatita—without fail.
TRANSLATION
The twentieth branch of the Caitanya tree was Haridāsa Ṭhākura. His character was wonderful. He used to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day without fail.
PURPORT
Certainly the chanting of 300,000 holy names of the Lord is wonderful. No ordinary person can chant so many names, nor should one artificially imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s behavior. It is essential, however, that everyone fulfill a specific vow to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore we have prescribed in our society that all our students must chant at least sixteen rounds daily. Such chanting must be offenseless in order to be of high quality. Mechanical chanting is not as powerful as chanting of the holy name without offenses. It is stated in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-līlā, Chapter Two, that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in a village known as Buḍhana but after some time came to live on the bank of the Ganges at Fuliā near Śāntipura. From the description of his chastisement by a Muslim magistrate, which is found in the Eleventh Chapter of the Ādi-līlā of Caitanya-bhāgavata, we can understand how humble and meek Haridāsa Ṭhākura was and how he achieved the causeless mercy of the Lord. In the dramas performed by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura played the part of a police chief. While chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in Beṇāpola, he was personally tested by Māyādevī herself. Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s passing away is described in the Antya-līlā of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Eleventh Chapter. It is not definitely certain whether Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura appeared in the village named Buḍhana that is in the district of Khulnā. Formerly this village was within a district of twenty-four pargaṇas within the Sātakṣīrā division.
Read More–
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Srila Haridasa Thakura: https://harekrishnasociety.org/?p=16123
Haridas thakur discusses namabhasa chanting with Lord Gauranga: https://harekrishnasociety.org/?p=32269
