Fifth Janmotsav, BOMBAY

1920 A.D-1327 B.S.

2nd July, 1920

The Birth-festival at the fifty fifth year of Sri Sri Thakur Haranath whom the people know and recognise as “Pagal Haranath” was well performed at the city of Bombay on 2nd July, 1920. The seed of emotion that sprouted in the heart of a devotee about five years back has this youthful development within these few years.

Utsav on 2nd July: To-day is the Janmotsav. Kirtan commenced in the morning and went on up to 10 a.m. At 11 a. m. commenced the Birth – festival of Thakur. This was not merely a commemoration festival – it was a festival of the worshippers who got their deity in a human body near them. In accordance with the rules of worshipping a deity Jugmohan Kaliandas worsbipped. Pandit Damodar Kanji, the religious preacher of the Baroda State made Jugmohan Kaliandas recite the mantras. (In the booklet “Hara Pujana Vidhi” composed by him the mantras composed for the occasion should be seen.) On the right side of the hall were seats for women while on the left side were for the men. Before the worship, Thakur’s devotees of Calcutta did Kirtan at the top of voice. At the time of Puja “Annakuta” was arranged. The food articles of Annakuta (food-hill) were-Borfi, Peda, Khugra, Gopra Pak, Dudhika Halwa, Golap Jambu, Laddu Mesup, Badami Halwa, Jilapi, Multhan, Ras golla. dangar, Khergura Khaja, Matri, Sutar Peni, milk, butter, sugar candy, boiled rice, Kadi, Bataka, Kachuri, Muki Pabbal, Dal, Charu pani, Mangoes, Sananta, Nabangi, Kela, papenas, peach. On two silver thrones decorated with flowers were seated Thakur and Thakurani and very costly umbrella was held over their heads. Thakur’s throat was ornamented with gold necklace and flower garlands. Thakurani’s throat was ornamented with a gold necklace and bead with gold crown. Some Parsee men and ladies joined this Mahotsav. They also worshipped Thakur’s and Thakurani’s feet with flower garlands.

They began the Sankirtan – “What a fenzy! The quarters resounded with shouts of “Jay Haranath, Jay Kusum Kumari.” Bengalis, Gujarathis, Marathis, Madrasis, Parsees-all became engrossed in the joy of Kirtan consisting of words – “Gour Bolo, Nitai Bolo, Pagal Haranath Bolo” (Say Gaur, say Nitai, say Pagal Haranath). In such an environment devoid of sense of distinction, mind and heart of everyone became full of supreme liberality and broke as under all restraints. With heaps of garlands devotees worshipped the feet of Thakur and Thakurani. Incessant Sankirtan and singing of Name went on. What enthusiasm and joy! After that the whole day went on “Diyatam Bhujyatam” (give and eat), the real Mahotsav was performed with great pomp and magnificence.

Such devotion, such openhearted modesty (egolessness), humility of a real Vaishnava in the lives and services of Bhagwandas, Jagmohandas, Dwarakadas, Ranchordas etc., who are all great millionaires are really rare. So, and even excelling them in every respect were their wives and Gujarati ladies, polished and enriched with education, initiation and civilization, having wealth, beauty and quality. When Srimati Maneck Bai, wife of Sjt. Dwarkadas remained fully engaged in the supervision of all works and in maintaining order, she appeared not only as a grave lady but also as an image of world – nourishing mother Annapurna in person. When the most affectionate Vimala Bai, the devotion incarnate sat before Thakur, the beauty smeared with devotion, affection and respect that bloomed on her face was an unearthly sight. Seeing that heavenly sight one was inclined to say, “Jay Jagannath, Jay Jagannivasa, Jaya Pranavallabha, millions of pranams to your feet, unthinkable and Omnipresent.” At this time a photo was taken of the Couple. It was 2 p m. when the Puja was finished. After that tiffin was arranged; before Puja also there were arrangements for tiffin, but none took tiffin till the Puja was finished. At 3 p.m. the devotees along with Thakur joined the Mahotsav (dinner) in great joy. This day the poor Narayanas were fed. Before doing Mahotsav Thakur and Thakurani went to witness the Daridra Narayanas (the poor). The poor were not fed where Utsava was held but in a Dharma Shala about four miles away from this place. The articles of food for the Daridra Narayanas were Laddu, Khichuri, Ghee, Sevene, Ganthia, Alluka Achar, Dai Chanti, Panpaisaka Arthana, Kari etc.

At 5 p.m. Kirtan was begun again. In the Kirtan many got “Bhava Samadhi” or “Dasha’ of some kind. On this day an informal meeting was held with a view to establishing “Bombay Haranath Tattwa Pracharini Sabha.” and the meeting dissolved at 8 p.m. It was about 12 p.m. before the kirtan was finished. Many had “Bhava” in this kirtan, specially the “Bhavavesha” (trance ecstasy, frenzy, strong emotion etc.) of Mohan and Narayan, two boys of Bombay 10 or 12 years old, was a thing beyond description. Indeed those only who are acquainted with the state of Samadhi (trance) understand the state of Samadhi.

After the Kirtan was finished, the devotees taking Thakur with them became engaged in Mahotsava i.e. eating. Eating together of the devotees with such great joy is generally called Mahotsav. That merry shout “Take care, O Sadhu” along with various talks willy and nilly at intervals instead of silence during eating went on making the scene merry. After eating at about 1 a.m. Thakur’s female devotees of Calcutta, Sonamukhi and Bombay made Mata Thakurani wear the gold crown, decorated Her with flowers seated Her and Shari Ma on swing and swang them. The female devotees of Bombay, beautiful and beautifully dressed, sang clapping their hands and dancing round and round Thakurani. After that Shari Ma was taken down from the swing and Thakur was seated there and they were swung. A photo was taken of this time. It was 2 a.m. before this play of “Rai Raja” was finished.

Function on 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th July :

3rd July: In the morning Thakur sat on the verandah. One of His devotees Ram Mitra, commenced the Kirtan of “Gostha Lila” up to 11:30 a.m., the time passed in this joy only. Now is the turn of tiffin. Finishing tiffin at noon Sankirtan was begun again and time passed in this way till the Mahotsava. The Mahotsava began at 3 p. m, and was finished at about 4 p.m. At 4 p.m. Kirtan was again begun. At 6 p.m. devotees drank tea. Every day the devotees were gratified being given tea to drink at 6. p. m. Haranath lifted the Nandan Kanan of heaven and planted that as it were in the field of sacrifice, that is this Birth-festival of His.

At 8 p.m. Kirtan was over. At 8 p.m, commenced the session of Haranath Tattwa Pracharini Sabha. Thakur was present in this. Dwarkadas Kaliandas again took the seat of President. At 11 p.m. the work of the Sabha was finished. The Bombay Haranath Tattwa Pracharini Sabha was founded on 2.7.1920 on the occasion of Haranath’s Birth festival.

Then all the female devotees of Thakur seated Him on the swing and made worship and “Arati” to Him. Now they paid attention to Mahotsav or eating at midnight. At the time of Mahotsav all resounded the sky with the sound of “Say Gour Hari.” It cannot be described what joy the devotees had in their heart by making the sky and air of Bombay resound thus with the name of Sri Chaitanya deva of Bengal. Gour Hari of Bengal was bodily present as it were today in the body of Haranath.

4th July : In the morning Thakur came and sat on the verandah. Ram Baba’s Kirtan was as before. The subject of Kirtan was “Purvaraga Pala”. At 7 a.m. tea was served to the devotees. Kirtan became more and more charming.

At 9 a.m. Thakur came to the hall and coming down from the high seat sat down. When the “Purvaraga Pala” was finished, “Viraha Lila of Radha” was commenced. At this time Thakurani was taken to and seated on the high seat. On this side the singer is singing “Mana Bhanjana.” To remove the anger of Radha, Sree Krishna is today seated at Her feet. The devotees were hearing that, thinking of that with great emotion. On this side again they see Thakur seated below the feet of Thakurani, as if Radha and Krishna of Brindavan were present before them, some such feeling arose and overwhelmed all. Thakur was raised from the lower seat and was seated on the high seat beside Thakurani. On this side in the Kirtan also song of reunion has begun at the end of “Mana Bhanjana”. People were seeing with their minds a picture of reunion of the couple within their mind, while with the physical sight they were seeing before them real living figures of those very mental pictures. Thakur’s and Thakurani’s figures shone with floral decoration. The Kirtan became so charming that 40 to 50 of the devotees who joined the Kirtan were shedding tears with sobs at the influx of emotion. It is doubtful whether such shedding of tears happened at any time before this. As they were swimming thus in the ocean of emotion Kirtan was broken at 11 a.m. by Thakur’s order, otherwise what would have been the condition of the devotees cannot be said. After the Kirtan was over all began to bow to Thakur and Thakurani. Shedding tears at this time of bowing, also was a strange affair. At this time tears were seen in Thakur’s eyes also. At this time Thakur said, “With the Ganges water of these tears have been washed away the sins of the weepers.”

Jai Haranath Jai Kusumkumari Jai

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Collected from, Lord Haranath – Antya Leela (Vol-3 ; Part-1), Written by A. Ramkrishna Sastry (1971)