Akincana Gocara

Haridasa Thakur was a contemporary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, known for his constant chanting of the name of Krishna. Mahaprabhu called Haridasa the Namacharya, the living example of how to chant the holy names. Though Haridasa was born in a Muslim family, Lord Chaitanya and His devotees respected him as better than the best of Brahmanas (Vedic priests). He would not eat or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krishna 300,000 times.

Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridasa Thakur spread the chanting of Krishna’s name throughout Bengal. In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridasa Thakura spent his later days, Lord Chaitanya would regularly send him remnants of sacred food, prasadam, from the Jagannath temple and discuss with him topics of Krishna. Haridasa Thakura died chanting Krishna’s name in the presence of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridasa Thakura’s death, Lord Chaitanya carried his body to the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand.