The Encounter by the Lake
Once, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came with devotees to a lake. The lake is in Nabadwip Dham, near Godrumdwip—when we go on parikrama, you can see that place. Mahaprabhu offered the devotees, “Let’s sit by the lake,” but one of the cowherd men of that area told Him, “Do not go there! A crocodile lives in that lake. Even the cows are afraid and do not drink water from that lake.”
Mahaprabhu’s Divine Knowledge and Chanting
Mahaprabhu already knew everything, and hearing the words of the cowherd man, He started chanting. When the crocodile heard Mahaprabhu chanting the Holy Name, it turned into a dev-sisu, a child god.
The Boy’s Story
The boy paid obeisance to Mahaprabhu and started to cry. Mahaprabhu asked him why he was crying, and the boy told Him everything—what had happened and how he became a crocodile. It happened four ages ago, during Satya-yuga.
The Curse and Prophecy
At that time, there was a forest near Vrindavan called Kamyavan. Once, when Durvasa Muni was sleeping in that forest, childishly the boy decided to play a naughty prank on him—he cut his sikha. Durvasa Muni became very angry and said, “I am giving you a curse. You will become a crocodile and stay as a crocodile in a pond for four ages. When the Lord Himself comes in Kali-yuga as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, He will come to that pond and chant the Holy Name. By the power of the Holy Name, you will get benefit and your curse will be removed—you will get your form back.”
Liberation through the Holy Name
The child god concluded his story, “Just now You have chanted the Holy Name and I have got my form back—You rescued me from the crocodile’s body. You gave me Your mercy, and I am happy. Now with Your permission I would like to go back to my parents.”
The Power of the Holy Name
You can understand from this story the power of the Holy Name. Always chant the Holy Name, wherever you are—there are no rules or regulations. You will see what the Holy Name is and that the Name can even remove big-big diseases. Always chant the Holy Name—it is the dharma, the religion of Kali-yuga.
Lessons to be Learned
- The Compassion of Mahaprabhu: This story highlights the compassion and divine knowledge of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who knew the underlying truth of the situation and acted to liberate the boy.
- Power of Chanting: The transformative power of chanting the Holy Name is emphasized, showing how it can liberate souls from even the gravest of curses.
- Faith in Divine Prophecies: The prophecy given by Durvasa Muni and its fulfillment by Mahaprabhu’s chanting underline the importance of faith in divine words and prophecies.
- Universal Access to the Holy Name: The story teaches that the Holy Name is accessible to everyone, regardless of time, place, or circumstance, and it has the power to deliver and heal.
- Significance of the Holy Name in Kali-yuga: It reiterates that chanting the Holy Name is the primary dharma (religion) of the current age, Kali-yuga, capable of bestowing immense spiritual benefits.
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