Described by, Sri Haragopal Sepuri (Chennai)

In this context I am sharing about P.C. Ganguly’s association with Lord Haranath (Source : Haranath, the Deliverer of Mankind). What his son Sjt Gopinath Ganguly had revealed to me about his father’s relationship with our Lord, I had already uploaded on these pages long time back. P.C. Ganguly is my favourite hero – What a force! What a faith! What a strength of character! He was a hero-cum-Bhakta, a rare combination. He was an ideal player in the play of Haranath. He reminds me what Sjt Narottamdas Devidas Mehta told me, “We are the chelas of Haranath who have come here to assist Him in His play.” This is what every follower of Haranath should remember.

(1) P.C.Ganguly : First meeting with Haranath: On 24th November 1922, Haranath came to the house of Ram Ranjan Bandopadhyaya at Patna, and halted there. Profulla Chandra Ganguly had come to Patna on official work from Shahabad where he was working as a Supervisor. Having heard that Haranath was there, he along with his father-in-law Priya Kumar Chattopadhyaya went to meet Him. His wife was acquainted with Haranath and was receiving letters from Him but Ganguly had no occasion to meet Him. A thought arose in him to test the power of Haranath. Haranath was bathing and therefore he sat outside the house. When Haranath came and sat in an armchair, Ganguly bowed to His feet and sat near them with tears streaming down his cheeks. Haranath did not enquire who he was but started talking funnily, “Where is My Gopal? Give My Gopal or give Me four pice,” and stretched His palm. Ganguly remained quiet. Then Haranath directly addressed him and spoke many things bringing consolation to his heavy heart and invited him to go to Sonamukhi for the Ananda Milan. After this meeting with Haranath, two of the addictions of Ganguly disappeared, his gluttony for food and his craze for motorcycle riding.

(2) P.C.Ganguly’s experience in December, 1923 : When the post of District Board Engineer, Howrah had fallen vacant a year back, P.C. Ganguly had applied for that post of. Since the incumbent was granted extension for one year, Ganguly’s application came up for consideration in December. When the day of the final decision came, he felt restless regarding the results since there were several competitors, both Indian and English, who were equally qualified. When he fell asleep at midnight he felt the touch of a hand on his head. He came to the conclusion that it must have been Haranath who came in the astral body to bless him. Next day he received a telegram from the District Board Office selecting him for the post.

P.C. Ganguly always wondered at the similarity between Haranath and Jesus Christ in their self-sacrificing spirit. Knowing that Haranath would never encourage direct queries in respect of the mystery of His life, Ganguly asked Him once, “Where was I when Jesus Christ came to the world?” Haranath immediately replied, “You were all with Me.” Listening to the discussions among the devotees of Haranath about the real status of Haranath in the spiritual world, Ganguly was confused, rather annoyed. One day he directly asked Haranath, “Will You not let me know who You are?” Haranath evaded the answer thrice and finally said, “Why do you worry about such problems? It is enough for you to know that all your fortunes come from My hands. Do not probe further into the mystery.” (Page 346 of “Haranath the Deliverer of Mankind”) .

(3) Lord’s frolics with devotees: The Shyam Sunder Seva was held from 28th May to 14th June, 1924. During this period, P.C.Ganguly and Dwijendranath Bose, both Engineers at Calcutta were invited by Haranath, who suggested that they might come via Panagarh crossing the Damodar River. They decided to take their bicycles by train up to Panagarh and from their reach Sonamukhi riding them. When they alighted at Panagarh and reached the river, the bed of the river was full of water and slush because of rain. There was no way that their bicycles could be towed to the other side. Both the gentlemen had come dressed in waistcoats, coats, half pants, shoes and hats befitting the dresses of the engineers of those days. Finding no alternative, they removed the waistcoats and shoes. On one shoulder they hung their shoes. Tying the bundle of waist coats and coats to the handles of their bicycles, they hung the bicycles on their other shoulder and started to wade through the water with hats on their heads. It was a strange and rare sight for the passerby who started staring at them. Ganguly and Dwijendranath started sulking and thought, “Let us reach Sonamukhi, we will confront the old man (Haranath) for indulging in such jokes on us purposefully.” After crossing the river they put on their dresses and reached Sonamukhi by 1 p.m. riding their bicycles. Though all at home had taken their meals, Haranath did not take His food though He was called many times to take His food. He was standing near the main gate of His house. Ganguly and Dwijendranath had not informed Him about the date and time of their arrival; however Haranath was waiting for them. As soon as He saw them, He burst out laughing and said quoting a Hindi Proverb, “What father, sometimes the horse is on the boat and sometimes the boat on the horse.” At this both Ganguly and Dwijendranath also burst out laughing and narrated their adventure. All of them rolled in laughter. Haranath instructed that three leaf-plates might be arranged for serving food. The three of them dined together in merry talk.

Next day Haranath along with Dwijendranath and Ganguly went to the garden. Dwijendranath saw green mangoes hanging from Alphonso mango tree. He muttered to Ganguly that had they come a month later, they would have been able to eat ripe mangoes. Haranath who was about hundred yards away from them turned towards them and said, “Father, for you, the mangoes of my garden are always ripe.” He immediately asked Ganguly to pluck some mangoes. When the mangoes were cut open, they were found to be fully ripe and tasted very sweet. (From “The wonderful Lilas of Haragopal” by N.C.Ghosh)

After two days stay at Sonamukhi Ganguly and Dwijendranath wanted to return back to Calcutta next morning. The sky was overcast. Therefore they were worried about the journey up to Panagarh on their bicycles. Haranath remarked to them, “Why are you looking at the sky? Arrangements are being made for you.” That night it rained cats and dogs. But by morning the sky became clear. Ganguly and Dwijendranath bowed to the feet of Haranath to take leave of Him. Kusum Kumari said that she would pack the food for them but Haranath said, “What food will you give them? Their food is ready on the way. There is no need for delaying; otherwise when the sun rises high, the sunrays will be scorching.” They started on the journey. The road was clear in spite of the rain. They rode the bicycles with ease and reached Damodar River. They had their bath in the river. Some villagers were taking cheese in pails slung from a yoke for supplying to a shop. Ganguly asked them some quantity for their breakfast. A villager gave them about two and a half seers of cheese but seeing the sacred thread on Ganguly, he refused to take money from them saying, “Today is Ekadasi. I am fortunate to offer cheese to you. I cannot accept money from you. Ganguly and Dwijendranath consumed part of the cheese and bound the remaining in their wet cloth. Now crossing the river was a problem. Meanwhile two peasants came there and seeing the two gentlemen in a dilemma offered to carry them and their bicycles across the river. Ganguly and Dwijendranath wanted to reward them but they refused to accept money, saying, “You are coming from Lord Haranath. We remain appointed to serve you people only. How can we take reward from you?” And they went away. The two reached Panagarh railway station. While they were passing in front of the quarter of the Station Master, the Station Master came out and knowing them to be devotees of Haranath invited them into the house. He said that on the day when they were proceeding to Sonamukhi, he was on duty and therefore could not extend hospitality. As there was time for the arrival of the train, he got puris and curries prepared and fed them sumptuously. He also gave them packets of food for consumption during their journey. He then helped them to get into the train along with their bicycles and sent them off. The two understood that all these events took place by the grace of Haranath. They got into a second class compartment. They lay down on two berths side by side and kept the cheese and the food packet in the middle. After sometime Dwijendranath noted that Ganguly was sleeping. He took a piece from the food packet and put it into his mouth and ate it and lay down pretending sleep. Then Ganguly looked at Dwijendranath and thinking that he was sleeping took a piece from the food packet and ate it and lay down as if sleeping. Then it was the turn of Dwijendranath. In this way, both went on eating from the food packet. Finally the food packet became empty. Dwijendranath raised his head to see whether anything remained in the food packet. At the same time Ganguly also raised his head to see whether anything remained. They laughed cracking joke at each other and happily reached home. (Haranatha Smriti – 8.)

Jai Haranath Jai Kusumkumari Jai

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