The Crying of Baby Nimai When Nimai was just a small baby, He would constantly cry, causing great concern for His parents. Jagannātha Mishra and mother Śacī were worried that something might be seriously wrong with their child. Fearing for His health, they brought in a Kaviraj, a traditional doctor, to examine Him. However, despite all efforts, the child continued to cry inconsolably. They tried everything, consulting different people and remedies, but nothing seemed to help.
The Neighbor Ladies’ Solution Finally, some neighbor ladies, who had come to visit the newborn, began to chant in kirtan, “Haribol! Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!” and also the Hare Krishna mantra:
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.”
A miracle happened: small Nimai immediately stopped crying. Not only did He stop crying, but He also joined in the kirtan by laughing and clapping His tiny hands. The ladies, noticing this, exclaimed, “Oh, you like this singing very much! We’ve found the secret! When we chant Hari nama, you stop crying. This is the cure for your crying.”
The Need for Continuous Kirtan However, when the ladies got up and started to leave, they heard the loud cries of little Nimai once again. In the absence of kirtan, He had started crying again. Realizing that the only way to keep Him calm was through chanting, the ladies returned to mother Śacī’s house and resumed the kirtan, chanting:
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.”
As soon as they began chanting, Nimai stopped crying once more. It soon became clear to Mother Śacī and all the neighborhood ladies that they had to keep chanting whenever little Nimai was awake. Otherwise, Nimai would cry loudly and inconsolably. To keep the child peaceful, kirtan was maintained around the clock. The ladies would take turns, changing shifts to ensure that there was always chanting going on in the house of Jagannātha Mishra and Śacīmata.
Reflection on the Story Even as a baby, Lord Caitanya was propagating the chanting of the holy name. He showed that nothing could make Him happy and stop crying except the chanting of the holy names. Just as baby Nimai was delighted by the chanting of the neighborhood ladies, He is undoubtedly pleased when He sees us enthusiastically chanting the holy names. If we wish to please the Lord, we should sincerely and enthusiastically engage ourselves in kirtan, following the example set by baby Nimai.
Conclusion Lord Caitanya, even in His infancy, revealed the supreme importance of the holy name and how it can bring peace and happiness to all who chant it. This story reminds us that by engaging in the chanting of the holy names, we can bring joy not only to ourselves but also to the Supreme Lord.
Moral of the Story:
This story teaches us the profound power of the holy names of Krishna. Even as a baby, Lord Caitanya demonstrated that nothing brings more joy and peace than the chanting of the holy names. It is a clear indication that if we wish to please the Lord and find true happiness, we must sincerely engage in the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. The continuous chanting that kept baby Nimai calm and happy is a lesson for us all—chanting the holy names is the most effective way to connect with the divine and experience spiritual bliss.
Prayer:
“O Lord Caitanya, just as You were pleased by the chanting of the holy names in Your childhood, may we also bring joy to You through our sincere and enthusiastic kirtan. Grant us the strength and devotion to continuously engage in chanting, knowing that it is the key to pleasing You and finding true peace and happiness.”
Quote from Shastra:
“harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā”
(Brihan-naradiya Purana 3.8.126)
“In this age of Kali, there is no other way, no other way, no other way for spiritual progress other than the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.”
This verse underscores the importance of the holy name, as shown by baby Nimai’s insistence on continuous kirtan, revealing that the holy name is the most potent and direct means of connecting with the Lord.
