Advaita and Hari Das Thakura 

Advaita and Hari Das Thakura 

Advaita Prabhu revealed, through his pastimes, that a Vaishnava is praiseworthy regardless of his family background. 

Namacarya Hari Das Thakura, who was born in a Muslim family in Burihan village in the district of Jessore, associated with Advaita Prabhu when he came to live in the village of Phuliya near Shantipur. He stayed in a grotto where he was engaged in solitary devotional practices. Previously he had spent time preaching the glories of the Holy Names at the Chandpur house of Raghunatha Das Gosvami’s father and uncle, Govardhana and Hiranya Majumdar. Advaita would invite Hari Das to come to his house in Shantipur to take prasad. This made Hari Das Thakura uncomfortable. However, Advaita Prabhu, in his role as the teacher of the people, claimed that his behavior was in conformity with all the scriptures, for to feed a great devotee like Hari Das is equal to the feeding of millions of Brahmins. He demonstrated this by giving Hari Das the plate that had been offered in the shraddha ceremony. On the annual date set aside for offering oblations to the forefathers, a householder Vaishnava offers all kinds of foodstuffs to the Lord and then invites Brahmins and Vaishnavas to take prasad. The mahaprasad is given to the guest of honor and Advaita Prabhu chose Hari Das for this special treatment. 

  

Advaita said, “Please don’t be afraid. I shall only do what is accepted in scripture. If you eat, it is as though ten million Brahmins had eaten.” After saying these words, he gave him the shraddha plate to eat.  

  

One of the branches of the Caitanya tree is Hari Das Thakura, whose activities are amazing. He would unfailingly chant 300,000 names of the lord every day. I only give an indication here of his unlimited virtues; Advaita Acarya honored him by giving him the shraddha plate.  

 

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