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Plate 189

Lord Caitanya in the Jhārikhanda Forest

Ai Coned Catany, hrsecl hrmndh hp hir ein, foe phr winy heckaloy raes dkpmam is, - great ecstasy, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way. Packs of tigers, elephants,

rhinoceroses, and boars came, and the Lord passed right through them. Balabhadra Bhattācārya was very much afraid to see them, but by Lord Caitanya's influence all the animals stood to one side.

One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Lord Caitanya, walking along in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet. The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa!" The tiger immediately got up and began to chant "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" and dance.

Another day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was bathing in a river, a herd of elephants came there todrink water. While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gāyatrī mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and ordered them to chant the name of Kṛṣṇa. The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the Lord began to chant "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" and dance and sing in ecstasy. Sometimes Lord Caitanya chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the doe came near Him, and He patted them while reciting the following verse from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: "Blessed are all these foolish deer, for they have approached Mahārāja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection."

One day as Lord Caitanya passed through the jungle, several tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord. Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Lord Caitanya immediately remembered Vṛndāvana and recited a verse from the Bhāgavatam describing that transcendental land: "Vṛndāvana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger, or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship."

When Lord Caitanya said "Chant Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" the tigers and deer began to chant "Kṛṣṇa!" and dance. When all the tigers and doe danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhatṭācārya saw them and was struck with wonder. Indeed, the tigers and deer embraced one another and kissed. When Lord Caitanya saw all this fun, He smiled.

Thus all living entities in the forest of Jhārikhanda—some moving and some standing still- became mad by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Painting by RĀMANĀTHA DĀSA (1982)

Lord Caitanya in the Jhārikhanda Forest