Behind the story of Sacred “Ananta Kunda”

Thakur desired to dig a tank in His garden. Having come to know His intention, Bhagawandas of Bombay sent Him all the things necessary for digging the tank and on receipt of this help, Thakur felt full confidence that the digging of the tank would be completed to His full satisfaction. Thanking him and his wife Smt. Vimala Ma, He wrote that He would go to Bombay to see them after finishing the work.

It was His theme always, to get great things done through the earnestness of His devotees bearing all the expenditure not by a single soul but many together. He used to write always to the benefactors, “As long as you are here why shall I be poor? No poverty can ever touch the shadow of my person as long as you are here. I am the son of several kings. I think very little for my poor self. I do like to ‘help if possible the needy and helpless and that, I do accomplish through the help of all of you.”- He had a mind to dig a tank and thereby give labour to the poor and drinking water to the public. There was a patch of land attached to the new garden which would be two and a half acres in full measurement and which He was trying to acquire for the intended tank. The owner of the land was hesitating to lease out the land hoping much better bargain in the nearest future. But He was determined to acquire the land anyhow and complete the desired work. He informed the fact to Sjt. Bhagawandas of Bombay and said that after acquiring the land, He would let him know for the fund and that it would cost little more to dig it out and to make two pacca Ghats of two sides. Vithaldas of Bombay also was very ‘anxious about the digging of the proposed tank and inquired after the measurements of the tank.

The Tank in the Garden: The land for the proposed tank was acquired in May 1917. He informed Sjt. Bhagwandas that the land for the proposed tank had been acquired and that the excavation work would commence when the fund would permit and that it would be a very great work which involves an expenditure of some thousands. At that time Bhagwandas and his wife were at Simla to which place they went for a change. Saying that He would not care a bit for the work as long as Bhagwandas was and wished him long life to complete many such good and beneficial works.

Bhagawandas Mody of Bombay

The excavation of the tank went regularly, many men and women were coming to do work in large numbers. By 25th October 1917, the tank was excavated 3 cubits deep and looked very beautiful and gave great joy to Thakur.

The digging of the tank was going on at Sonamukhi under the supervision of Bhutnath and Anukul. He purchased at Calcutta pick-axes, spades etc. Though, He was moving from place to place, He was all the time anxious about the Sonamukhi works, the tank and the house, was always eager to know the progress in the works, enquired about them and gave necessary instructions- “how have your bricks been burnt, how many people are being employed in the pond work? If more people are available on a little more wages, do not mind the loss.”

Water in the tank has come : In the garden tank much water came out from the “Patala” (nether world), the water rose about 8 or 10 cubits high, and went on increasing. Seeing this mercy of the Lord they were greatly charmed. His attention turned towards the construction of a Ghat to the tank. There was much water in the tank and it was increasing day by day.

During the days of Manohardas festival Thakur conducted “Vaishnava Seva” very well, towards the later part of the 2nd week. He fixed 15th April 1919, to perform the foundation ceremony of “Ananta Kunda”. For this He was very busy collecting various articles. Again He intended to feed Brahmins on this occasion also. On 15th the foundation ceremony was well performed and on a small scale Brahmins too were fed in extreme joy. He could inform all before-hand about this foundation ceremony. Thakur was extremely delighted and others were really struck dumb.

A Visit of the Magistrate of Bankura to Sonamukhi: The Magistrate of Bankura hearing much about the good works by fathers and mothers of Bombay came to the house of Thakur during the second week of September (1919) unsolicited with his mem (a European lady) and stayed as His guest for two days. Seeing the garden the Sahib was greatly pleased, and with them Thakur passed two days. Thakur says. “Coming unsolicited to the house of a small subject like me the Magistrate has greatly enhanced my honour.” He saw the garden and the tank and thanked them (the Bombay people) all very much for the good and great deeds they were doing at Sonamukhi. The Magistrate named the tank as “Bombay tank”. Surely proper epithet was given to the tank and it carried the memory of all those of Bombay mothers and fathers, that got it dug and who had left no stone unturned towards the completion of those works.

Being asked at some other time Thakur Haranath said, “The water of the “Ananta Kunda” is Mandakini of the heaven.”

**One More Interesting incident Regarding “Ananta Kunda” :

Akshay kumar Gupta (Police inspector a fearless person) told Baba (Thakur Haranath) “I like to see the tank at midnight today. ” Baba said, there may be snakes etc moving around .Akshay babu replied I carry my service revolver. Saying so he went to bagan (Garden) at midnight. Lo…what he saw there? He saw great many personalities taking bath there. Also a hefty man was walking towards him. He was afraid and started running towards the house. He too followed him briskly walking.

Thakur asked Akshay babu “what is the matter?” He narrated the experience. Thakur laughing said “whom all you saw bathing there are rishis and angels. Daily they visit and purify the tank. The person who followed is RomaHarsha…. the father of Soota maharshi. He wants to hug you. That is why he followed you. The round bunch of hair on his chest signifies that he had seen that number of Indras of heaven.”

N.B. Collected and compiled from various incidents (Mention here only the story behind “Ananta Kunda”) from the Book “Lord Haranath-Antya Leela (Volume 3-Part 1)” written by A. Ramakrishna Sastry, 1972.

**The (One More Interesting incident Regarding “Ananta Kunda”) incident was told by Tulasidas Banerjee (Grandson of Thakur Haranath) to V. Subba Rao of Nagpur. (Soota maharshi is the architect of all our rituals/ pujas(vrata kathas) like Ganesh festival,Satyanarayana vrata Katha and many others.)

Jai Haranath Jai Kusumkumari Jai