Madhya-līlā

Chapter 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Verse 165 of 239
Cc Madhya 11.165

হরিদাস কহে,—মুঞি নীচজাতি ছার মন্দিরনিকটে যাইতে মোর নাহি আধিকার

हरिदास कहे,—मुञि नीचजाति छार मन्दिरनिकटे याइते मोर नाहि आधिकार

haridāsa kahe,—muñi nīca-jāti chāra mandira-nikaṭe yāite mora nāhi ādhikāra

Synonyms

haridāsa kaheHaridāsa Ṭhākura said; muñiI; nīca-jātilow caste; chāraabominable; mandira-nikaṭenear the temple; yāiteto go; moramy; nāhithere is not; ādhikāraauthority..

Translation

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 paramahaṁsas, 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.

Verse 165 of 239
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