Jhikhira festival : Govardhan Sen, Anadi Mukherji and his brother and some other young gentlemen of the locality were the chief organisers of this festival, They worked in Calcutta. They came in contact with Thakur in the bathing ghat of the Ganges where Thakur used to bathe when He came to Calcutta. Gradually they became devotees and they had the desire to take Thakur to the village and hold a joyous festival. Thakur fulfilled their desire. Kishore Mohan Roy, Zemindar of Jhikhira promised to construct an Ashram. It was settled that the foundation of the Ashram will be laid during the festival of this year.
Thakurjee went to Jhikhira (Howrah Dt.) on 24th April, 1925, on account of the Utsav from Radhanagar and Sjt. Jatindranath Mitra also reached the place from Howrah in the afternoon with Shriyukta Profulla Chandra Ganguly. Thakurjee had gone out then for a walk and on return took His seat in a chair in the Grocer’s shop. Jatindranath Mitra met Thakur there and He first enquired of his newly born son and said, “Is not the baby very healthy?” Mitra replied that the boy was very healthy as well as good-looking. He then said, “Yes, his features are looming large before my eyes every moment.” He then asked Mitra about the land mortgage affair of his. [Just before going to Jhikhira J. N. Mitra mortgaged some portion of his land attached to his house on account of his own need. But none informed Thakur of this, even his kinsmen and relatives, friends and friendly people did not know even an iota of this. Thakur asked, “Father, has the land been registered? (has the document regarding the mortgage of the land been executed?),” Mitra was astonished at this enquiry and said, “the owner of the land has mortgaged it at present. I do not know what he will do afterwards.”]
In that shop there was also a bench. Kishore Roy, the Zemindar and beloved Ashu Bagchi sat on it. There was none else then in the house, Thakur asked Mitra to sit on the Pandit’s Gadi which was vacated by him. Outside, the shades of the evening were thickening. Sitting in the shop of that Pandit of Barwari Tota during that sweet moment between day and night, Thakur began to narrate after Mitra sat the very interesting and most unprecedented mysterious event of His death and getting a new life on the way to Kashmir in a detailed manner. They listened to that account with an absorbed mind like the spell- bound. They were enthralled for about an hour or so.
In “Sri’ Haranath Sanga,” J. N. Mitra gives the following facts (till now not known) regarding the disease that caused Thakur’s death on the way from Jammu to Kashmir thus. – “On 21st Vaishak, 1303 B.S. Thakur raised His office from jammu and started for Srinagar. After going some distance He became suddenly ill. There were purging and vomiting a number of times. After that, immediately after getting into the Tonga His consciousness vanished.” After He had finished, darkness had completely enveloped the place and they slowly made their way to the house of the local Zemindar Babu, Kishori Mohan Roy, where it was arranged for them to halt with Thakur during the festival. (Letter of J.N. Mitra M.A., L.L.B., I.C.S. Chinsura)
On Akshaya Tritia, 26th April, 1925, Thakur laid the foundation of the Ashram at Jhikhira. A photograph was taken of that scene.
Ashram at Jhikhira: On 8th May Thakur started with about 30 devotees for Jhikhira village, a few miles distant from Amata Railway Station, at the earnest request of the devotees of that village though His body was unwell. They reached the village at about 12 noon. There was an Ashram temple dedicated in the name of Thakur. Field surrounded the Ashram, moreover the cremation ground and the river lay beside it, on that account the environment was very lovely. Due to all these causes, great joy appeared in Thakur’s mind. Some asked what was the import of building such Ashram near the cremation ground. Thakur replied – “None should think what was the necessity of having the Ashram here when so many places were available. Cremation ground is a very holy place. If those whose mind is very restless stay here, their mind will grow still. Man does not easily want to know what religion is. But if he comes here he must have to understand that. The very thought that he has to die one day is the chief means of stilling the mind………”
The opening ceremony of this Ashram was done on 8 – 5- 1927 by Thakur Himself and it was known as Sadhanashram. With the help of many other local people the devotees welcomed Thakur with procession in great pomp and grandeur and gave a grand feast (Mahotsava).
An event during the Ashram opening: “The new Sun is just risen, Its golden rays have fallen on the heads of trees. The morning breeze blows in the month of Vaishakha (Mid April to Mid May), the air is carrying the scent of forest flowers. Today is the day of great festival in the village of Jhikhira, the brothern are today frenzied, new with enthusiasm. The morning song of Hari’s praise on the “Rasa-mancha” pouring nectar into the ears, is maddening the heart. Under a banyan tree Lord Haranath, along with the devotees is listening to the singing of Krishna’s Name. “Sree Radha Govinda Jaya” is being sung on the ‘mancha’ (platform), hearing that the mind and heart (prana) of the devotees were charmed. That song of Radhakrishna, extremely sweet like nectar, rising high through the air touches the sky. Animate and inanimate sing “Shri Radha Govinda” hearing that Sree Hara Govinda is delighted and pleased. The song of Hari’s praise is rising from the throats of devotees, and in unison with that the breeze is singing. Leaves of plants and creepers dance in mild breeze. They too sing ‘Govinda Mangala’ with a sweet sound. Like bees in the honey forest of Brindavan, there too people were charmed and motionless. All-love Haranath is immersed in sentiment (bhava). Due to the influence of sentiment His eyes are drowsy as if due to intoxication. The ground of the great festival has become a forest of people, many shopkeepers have sat, and children are playing. Innumerable people from many other villages have made ‘Ananda Milan’ (a joyous meeting) on the border of the village.”
At this time one wonderful event happened. A snake of terrible appearance, crawling slowly, came there. It was startled on looking at Shri Hara’s feet and stopped near Him. The great Mantra of Hari’s Name entered its ear, some change in its feeling has occurred. As it went on hearing and hearing Name it became overwhelmed with emotion and it came and stood near the holy Lord’s feet. It is frightened very much at the sight of men, moved fearlessly as if it was going on a great pilgrimage. In silent language as it were, it made an earnest entreaty to offer itself at Lord’s feet. With fixed eyes looking at the Lord for a moment it went away slowly as if under the influence of love. As soon as it crossed the public road some body out of fear killed it. Being bathed in the song of Krishna’s Name its body was purified. It may be a low creature, what of that it was blessed and very fortunate. Beholding the incarnation of Love, in the midst of the waves of the song of Krishna’s praise, though fallen through curse, I do not know how much fortunate it was who went to that great holy place. (Sharanagati – 1927 Pagal Bhai Nitya Niranjan Sen).
N.B. Collected and compiled from “Lord Haranath-Antya Leela (Volume 3-Part 2)” written by A. Ramakrishna Sastry, 1972.
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