Compassionate as Mahaprabhu ...

 

14 April: Few years back when we were at Hyderabad, we heard about a young boy who was very humble and took care of cleaning of Sankirtan hall, Goshala, etc. He was around 27 years old. When he was 15 years old, he suffered from severe leprosy. His hands were affected; his fingers got shortened and twisted. He underwent number of treatments but nothing was fruitful. At present his hands were totally under the grip of leprosy and signs were emerging on feet as well. Treatment was on.

 

He wanted to get initiation but many discouraged him saying that since he was suffering from leprosy, his hands and feet were affected, initiation was not possible. Even some sannyasi-brahmacharis said the same.

 

A day before when Srila Gurudeva was to return to Calcutta, Math-incharge of Hyderabad Math Tridandi Swami Sri Srimad Bhakti Saudh Jitendriya Maharaj brought him to Gurudeva and asked him to pay obeisances. Then maharaj requested Srila Gurudeva that the boy was very humble and wanted to take initiation.

 

Srila Gurudeva looked towards the boy and asked him about his name, house and family etc. Then Gurudeva took his hand in His own hands and straightened his fingers softly and asked about all the details of the disease, its occurrence, etc. Srila Gurudeva turned towards me and said, “One suffering from leprosy cannot take initiation or cannot chant the Holy Name, this is not mentioned anywhere in scriptures. When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India, He met Sri Vasudeva Vipra, who was suffering from leprosy. This boy has nothing, he had insects crawling on his body. Nobody came near him due to foul smell. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did not ignore him. He embraced him amidst his protests. Lord not only asked him to chant Harinam, but asked him to preach as well. We belong to His disciplic succession. How can we deny anyone from chanting Harinam? But we have to leave tomorrow morning 10am in order to get flight for Calcutta. Many devotees will be coming. This should have been done earlier. Let’s think what can be done.” Then Srila Gurudeva was silent. They left the room after paying obeisances. It was difficult as morning schedule was already tight and Srila Gurudeva was also performing some illness pastimes.

 

About 11:30 pm when Srila Gurudeva was about to take rest, He called for the boy along with Srimad Jitendriya Maharaj and told them that to prepare for his initiation tomorrow morning at 8am.

 

Next morning Srila Gurudeva took His bath very early, went for Mangal aarati, performed Guru-Puja Himself alone and blessed that boy giving him sermon on ‘initiation’. Srila Gurudeva gave brief introduction of tenfold offences in chanting and then awarded him right to chant ‘Hare Krishna Mahamantra’ taking shelter to Guru-parampara.

 

I observed for first time in my life that Srila Gurudeva instructed him to chant in his mind and explained in detail about how to perform chanting and kirtan in mind. Srila Gurudeva did not give him chanting beads as he was unable to hold beads in his fingers.

 

All Glory to such Guru Who is always compassionate towards conditioned souls and all glory to His object to worship Most Munificent Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all Glory to Their causeless mercy.