Introduction: The Journey to Jagannatha Puri
During the later years of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life, He resided in Puri, where every year a large group of devotees from Bengal would travel to take His darshan. Among these devotees was Sivananda Sena, an exalted Vaishnava who took on the responsibility of organizing the journey and making arrangements for all the pilgrims.
The Compassionate Sivananda Sena
On one such journey, Sivananda Sena encountered a dog that began following the group. Out of compassion, he allowed the dog to accompany them, providing it with food and care. As the group traveled, they needed to cross a river, but the boatman refused to allow the dog on board. Sivananda Sena, unwilling to leave the dog behind, paid the boatman ten pana of conch shells to take the dog across.
One day, while Sivananda was delayed by a tollman, his servant forgot to feed the dog. When Sivananda returned and learned that the dog had not been fed, he became very upset. He immediately sent ten men to search for the dog, but despite their efforts, the dog could not be found. Sivananda was so troubled that he fasted that night, and the next morning, the group continued their journey to Jagannatha Puri in great anxiety.
The Dog’s Amazing Transformation
Upon arriving in Puri, the devotees went to see Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as usual. To their amazement, they found the same dog sitting near the Lord, who was lovingly throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Mahaprabhu, smiling gently, instructed the dog to chant the holy names “Rama,” “Krishna,” and “Hari.” To the astonishment of all, the dog was chanting “Krishna, Krishna” repeatedly.
Sivananda Sena, overwhelmed with humility, immediately offered obeisances to the dog, recognizing his own offenses in failing to care for it properly. The next day, the dog was nowhere to be found, having attained a spiritual body and departed for Vaikuntha, the eternal spiritual abode.
The Potency of Prasadam and Sadhu-Sanga
This pastime demonstrates the incredible potency of Krishna prasadam and the association with pure devotees like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. As Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita (Antya 1.32), even a dog can attain the highest spiritual destination through the mercy of a Vaishnava. This mercy is accessible to all living beings, whether through taking prasadam, chanting the holy names, or associating with devotees.
Srila Prabhupada’s Secret Weapon: Prasadam
Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, often emphasized the transformative power of prasadam. When he first started the Krishna Consciousness movement in the West, he welcomed all, regardless of their background, by offering them prasadam and engaging them in kirtan. Over time, many of these people, who were initially drunkards, drug addicts, and hippies, became dedicated devotees. Prasadam, as Prabhupada described, was his “secret weapon” in spreading Krishna consciousness.
Moral of the Story: The Power of Prasadam and Compassion
The story of Lord Chaitanya delivering the dog teaches us the importance of treating all living entities with respect and compassion. Even a small act of kindness, like feeding prasadam to a dog, can have profound spiritual consequences. Prasadam has the power to purify and elevate the consciousness of all beings, regardless of their current state. As devotees, we should have faith in the potency of prasadam and strive to distribute it widely, knowing that it can cleanse the hearts of all who partake in it.
Prayer:
O Lord Chaitanya, who is the most merciful incarnation of Krishna, we offer our humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. Please grant us the understanding and compassion to treat all living beings with respect and to share the mercy of prasadam with everyone. May we follow in the footsteps of great devotees like Sivananda Sena, who showed such care for even the smallest creatures. Help us to always remember the transformative power of prasadam and to distribute it with love and devotion, so that all beings may attain the supreme destination of Vaikuntha. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who revealed this secret weapon to the world. Jai Sri Krishna! Jai Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!
