The Cave at Phuliyā
After the incident with the prostitute, Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued to live near Phuliyā in a remote cave, where he could peacefully chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa without disturbance.
His life was simple and austere. He had no possessions, only the holy name on his tongue, the desire to serve the Lord in the heart, and Kṛṣṇa’s mercy protecting him at every moment. Many sincere villagers would occasionally visit to receive his darśana and hear his hari-kathā.
A Mysterious Feeling
One day, several visitors came to the cave and sat for a while to hear Haridāsa’s kīrtana. But as they sat, they began to feel dizzy, suffocated, and disturbed.
“We feel as if the air is poisoned,” they said. “Something is very wrong here.”
Haridāsa, with deep concern, looked around the cave and said, “I understand. There is likely a venomous snake living nearby. Its presence must be disturbing you. I had not noticed it before.”
Without hesitation, he declared, “If this snake does not leave this place by tomorrow, I myself shall leave. I do not wish to cause suffering to anyone.”
The Snake Obeys the Nāmācārya
That night, Haridāsa chanted as usual. He did not perform any ceremony, nor did he try to kill or trap the snake. His only action was to continue chanting the holy name with faith.
Amazingly, by morning, the snake slithered out of the cave voluntarily—peacefully, without aggression—and disappeared into the forest, never to return.
The villagers were stunned.
They fell at Haridāsa’s feet and said, “You are not an ordinary person. Even wild serpents obey your words, simply because of your chanting.”
Haridāsa replied humbly, “It is not me—it is the power of the holy name. Where Kṛṣṇa’s name is chanted purely, even poison is neutralized, and peace prevails.”
The Power of Vibration
This incident further confirmed the truth of the scriptures, which declare:
“Where the holy name is chanted purely, all inauspiciousness flees, and even wild animals become calm.”
Just as Śrīla Nārada Muni could enchant animals by his music, Haridāsa Ṭhākura attracted the hearts of even snakes and sinners by the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s name.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- The holy name purifies the environment, removing unseen dangers and negative forces.
- A true devotee has no hatred or fear, even of snakes or poisonous beings. His only shelter is the holy name.
- This pastime shows how chanting transforms the atmosphere and subdues even the most violent beings.
- Śrīla Haridāsa teaches that a devotee does not use force but bhakti and compassion to bring change.
“Let the holy name act. It will do what even weapons cannot.” – Haridāsa Ṭhākura
Origin of the Story: This lila is described in Caitanya-bhāgavata (Ādi-khaṇḍa, Chapter 16), and cited in The Divine Name as a testimony of the transformative power of nāma-saṅkīrtana.
