Haridas Thakur Samadhi, Puri, Odisha

Haridas Thakur Samadhi, Puri, Odisha

Haridas Thakur Samadhi is a Hindu burial shrine, located in located in Puri, a famous pilgrimage town in the state of Odisha, India. It is situated on the oceanfront in the area of Svargadvara opposite to ISKCON Temple (Bhakti Kuti) and next to Purusottama Gaudiya Math. It is located at about 2 Kms from Jagannath Temple, 3 Kms from Puri Bus Stand and 3.5 Kms from Puri Railway Station.

History

Haridasa Thakur made Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sit down in front of him, and then he fixes his eyes, like two bumblebees, on the lotus face of the Lord. He held the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya on his head and then took the dust of the feet of all the devotees present and put it on his head. He began to chant the holy name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya again and again. As he drank the sweetness of the face of the Lord, tears constantly glided down from his eyes. While chanting the holy name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, he gave up his air of life and left his body.

There was a tumultuous noise as everyone chanted the holy names “Hari” and “Krishna.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became overwhelmed with ecstatic love. The Lord raised the body of Haridasa Thakur and placed it on his lap. Then, he began to dance in the courtyard in great ecstatic love. Haridasa Thakur's body was bought in procession from Siddha Bakula (where he left his body) to the beach. Sri Chaitanya personally bathed the body of Haridasa Thakur and declared, "From this day on, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site."

Haridasa's body was placed in a hole in the sand along with Lord Jagannath's remnants (silken rope, sandalwood pulp, food, and cloth). Lord Chaitanya covered the body with sand, chanting Hari Bol! Hari Bol!. A platform was constructed, and a fence erected to protect the site. Lord Chaitanya and the devotees filled the whole universe with tumultuous chanting and dancing all around the platform. After Sankirthana, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in the sea with his devotees, swimming and playing on the sea water with great jubilation.

After circumambulation the tomb of Haridasa Thakur, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to the Simha-dwara gate of the Jagannath temple. Lord Chaitanya then begged prasadam for a festival honoring the passing away of Haridasa Thakur. All the devotees then sat down and had a huge feast. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave this benediction: "Anyone who has chanted and danced here at Haridasa Thakura's samadhi will achieve the favor of Krishna very soon. There is such wonderful power in seeing Haridasa Thakura."

The Samadhi

The Samadhi temple of Haridasa Thakur, the Namacharya (the teacher of the chanting of the Holy Name) is located next to Purusottama Gaudiya Math, near by the beach in the Svarga Dwara area. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself placed his samadhi here. It is known as Hari das Math. It is one of the important landmark in Swargadwar Puri. The actual Samadhi is in the courtyard as a small tomb. Towards the west of the samadhi, there are three altars where the deities of Lord Gauranga, Lord Nityananda and Sri Advaita Acharya are worshipped. All the deities are in the sitting posture and doing Nama Bhajana.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/01/puri-odisha-connectivity-puri.html

Location