Advice by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Re:Temple Restrictions

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like to disturb a popular custom. Consequently the Lord asked His servant simply

to look at the Viṣṇu wheel on top of the temple and offer obeisances

(namaskāra). This means that if one is not allowed to enter the temple, or

if he thinks himself unfit to enter the temple, he can look at the wheel from

outside the temple, and that is as good as seeing the Deity

within.==================Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I cannot go

near the temple because I am a low-caste, abominable person. I have no authority

to go there." PURPORT Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was such a

highly exalted Vaiṣṇava that he was addressed as Haridāsa

Gosvāmī, he still did not like to disturb the common sense of the

general populace. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was so exalted that he was

addressed as ṭhākura and gosāñi, and these titles are

offered to the most advanced

Vaiṣṇavas. The spiritual master is generally called

gosāñi, and ṭhākura is used to address the

paramahaḿsas, those in the topmost rank of spirituality. Nonetheless,

Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not want to go near the temple, although

he was called there by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself. The

Jagannātha temple still accepts only those Hindus who are in the

varṇāśrama order. Other castes, especially those who are not

Hindu, are not allowed to enter the temple. This is a long-standing regulation,

and thus Haridāsa Ṭhākura, although certainly competent and

qualified to enter the temple, did not want even to go near it. This is called

Vaiṣṇava humility. CC Madhya 11.161: After thus offering respect

to each and every devotee, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became

very jubilant. However, not seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura,

He inquired, "Where is Haridāsa?" CC Madhya 11.162: Śrī Caitanya

Mahāprabhu then saw in the distance that Haridāsa Ṭhākura

was lying down flat on the road offering obeisances. CC Madhya 11.163:

Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not come to the Lord's meeting place but

remained fallen flat on the common road at a distance. CC Madhya 11.164: All

the devotees then went to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, saying, "The Lord

wants to meet you. Please come immediately." CC Madhya 11.165: Haridāsa

Ṭhākura replied, "I cannot go near the temple because I am a

low-caste, abominable person. I have no authority to go there." CC Madhya

11.166: Haridāsa Ṭhākura then expressed his desire: "If I could

just get a solitary place near the temple, I could stay there alone and pass my

time. CC Madhya 11.167: "I do not wish the servants of Lord Jagannātha to

touch me. I would remain there in the garden alone. That is my desire." CC

Madhya 11.168: When this message was relayed to Śrī Caitanya

Mahāprabhu by the people, the Lord became very happy to hear

it.============================ quarters. CC Madhya 11.185: After this,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to meet Haridāsa

Ṭhākura, and He saw him engaged in chanting the mahā-mantra

with ecstatic love. Haridāsa chanted, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare

Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare

Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare." CC

Madhya 11.186: As soon as Haridāsa Ṭhākura saw Śrī

Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he immediately fell down like a stick to offer Him

obeisances, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised him up and

embraced him. CC Madhya 11.187: Then both

the Lord and His servant began to cry in ecstatic love. Indeed, the Lord was

transformed by the qualities of His servant, and the servant was transformed by

the qualities of his master. CC Madhya 11.188: Haridāsa Ṭhākura

said, "My dear Lord, please do not touch me, for I am most fallen and

untouchable and am the lowest among men." CC Madhya 11.189: The Lord said, "I

wish to touch you just to be purified, for your purified activities do not

exist in Me." CC Madhya 11.190: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exalted

Haridāsa Ṭhākura, stating, "At every moment you take your bath

in all the holy places of pilgrimage, and at every moment you perform great

sacrifices, austerity and charity. CC Madhya 11.191: "You are constantly

studying the four Vedas, and you are far better than any brāhmaṇa or

sannyāsī." CC Madhya 11.192: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

then recited

the following verse: "'My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his

tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may

be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore by material calculation may be

the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of

chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who

chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all

kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has

already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. He has studied all

the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.'" CC Madhya 11.193: Saying this,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Haridāsa Ṭhākura

within the flower garden, and there, in a very secluded place, He showed him

his residence. CC Madhya 11.194: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura, "Remain

here and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. I shall

personally come here to meet you daily. CC Madhya 11.195: "Remain here

peacefully and look at the cakra on the top of the temple and offer obeisances.

As far as your prasādam is concerned, I shall arrange to have that sent

here." CC Madhya 11.196: When Nityānanda Prabhu, Jagadānanda Prabhu,

Dāmodara Prabhu and Mukunda Prabhu met Haridāsa Ṭhākura,

they all became very pleased.http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/11/en

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