Hiranya and Goverdhan Mazumdar (father of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami), the landlords of Saptagram. A certain inferiorclass brahmana named Gopal Cakravarty one day challenged Srila Haridasa Thakura's explanations of the glories of the holy name in an abrasive and offensive manner. Hiranya Mazumdar and his brother immediately sacked Gopal Cakravarty from his services. Soon after he contracted leprosy in the throat. On hearing this news Srila Haridasa Thakura was very greatly affected. He left the village and came to Phulia, taking shelter of Advaita Acarya. He lived in a cave on the banks of the Ganges and engrossed himself in chanting and meditation.

A sincere devotee always avoids, even detests, society and fame. But by the force of his purity he cannot remain anonymous. So as his name and reputation spread, the Muslims became envious and agitated. They influenced the local Muslim ruler and had Srila Haridasa Thakura severely beaten in public. Srila Haridasa is a very compassionate saintly soul. He did not blame his tormentors, but blessing them and exonerating them from their offenses, he returned to his cave.

Shortly after this incident, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advented in Navadvipa-dhama. Together with Advaita Acarya, Srila Haridasa Thakura surrendered himself at Lord Caitanya's lotus feet. Srila Haridasa Thakura became known as the nam-

The senses (whether they are the "normal" senses or "extra" senses) are really just channels by which information from the external world travels to and is impressed upon the mind. The self, then, perceives or views that information as it appears on the mind.
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acarya, or the preceptor and propagator of the holy name. When Lord Caitanya settled in Jagannatha Puri, He arranged a permanent place of residence and bhajana for Srila Haridasa near the famous Siddha Bakula tree. Srila Haridasa Thakura's passing away was glorious. Lord Caitanya personally conducted the last Vaisnava rites for Srila Haridasa Thakura, first bathing his body in the ocean and finally interring his transcendental form within the sand.

A unique feature of Lord Caitanya's pastimes is that He made the devotee who excelled in a particular aspect of devotional service His mouthpiece for broadcasting that topic to the world. By enquiring about a few points on chanting from Srila Haridasa, the Lord preached the principles of the holy name. These subjects have been discussed in scriptures like Caitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Bhagavat, etc. Inspired by certain Vaisnavas, we compiled the teachings of Haridasa Thakura into the present book form. We received several other books about Srila Haridasa. Unfortunately, many of them contained unauthorized and scripturaliy fallacious statements, and had to be rejected. One of them, however, appeared to have been written by an elevated Vaisnava. It explained the esoteric mellow of chanting the holy name. Reading it gave us considerable joy. We could surmise that Srila Haridasa must have instructed a saintly Vaisnava on the philosophy of the holy name. That Viasnava in turn penned these