Holy Places List

Dhopakura (Pathar Hajong Jagannatha Dasa)

Srila Nityananda Prabhu is famous for distributing the treasure of love of Godhead without any consideration of qualification. Nityananda Prabhu had a disciple named Pathar Hajong Paharia. Prabhu named him Jagannatha Dasa.

Pathor Hajong took birth at Jhinaigati Garo hills in Sherpur district. Different tribes like Garo, Kuch, Bhanu, Bolai, Hajong and more, inhabit those areas. They subsist in the hilly region, so they have a lot of power in their arms. Pathor Hajong had an intense conflict with his relatives, so one dark night, he left home with the purpose of committing suicide. It was arond 1518 AD. Suddenly he heard a voice from the sky, “O Pathor! Why are you committing suicide out of grief? The deliverer of fallen souls, Çré Nityänanda, and the benevolent Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu are now in Puré Dhäma: go there and take shelter of Their lotus feet, and your life will become blessed.”

Pathor then dismissed the idea of committing suicide and at that very moment started his travels, empty-handed and wearing just one dirty cloth.. He didn’t have any clue how to reach Puré. After walking the whole night, he reached the Bramhaputra River, which was much bigger at that time compared to how it is now. He asked one boatman to take him across the river. The boatman asked for 10 kahon kori (currency) in return. Pathor had no such money with him. Feeling compelled, Pathor jumped in the river to cross it. The other side of the river was not visible and the tides were very forceful, as it was rainy season, but he was not concerned.

With great prowess he swam the river the whole day and reached the shores of the opposite banks in the evening. At that time, the king of Susanga was setting out for pilgrimage, and observed the whole incident. Witnessing the astonishing courage of Pathor and his desire to reach Puré-dhäma, the king helped Pathor to reach his destination.

After arriving in Puré, Pathor began to look for the Lord of his heart. It was the time of Ratha-yatra. He noticed a divine personality dancing in front of the chariot of the Lord. Pathor understood that this enlightened person was the Lord of his life. He started dancing with the Lord and while do so, he lost his consciousness out of ecstatic love.

Seeing his devotion, Çréväsa Öhäkura thought to himself, “Who is this person?” Mahäprabhu then drew Nityänanda Prabhu’s attention towards Pathor. Nityänanda embraced Pathor, whose heart became filled with bliss. After taking bath in the sea, Pathor took initiation from Nityänanda Prabhu and became Jagannätha Däsa.

After staying in Puré for some months, Jagannätha Däsa returned to his village on the instruction of Nityänanda Prabhu, and preached the holy name of the Lord. After returning, he constructed a Tulasé Devé altar and chanted the names of Lord Hari loudly and continuously for seven days without sleeping or eating. The villagers became attracted to his devotion, and within a few days droves of people were arriving to take harinäma initiation Jagannätha Däsa. They even started serving the deity of the Lord.

But what a mockery of fate! With the passage of time, the place is extinct. According to the address given in the Çré Gauòéya-Vaiñëava dictionary, Dhopakura village is situated in Jhinaigati Upazila in Sherpur district. This was the residence of the descendants of Pathor Hajong. According to local legend, in the year 1960, during the times of communal riot, they left the place. Later, many more from the Hajong tribe left the village for India. Now the Dhopakura village is under the possession of Muslims. Dhopakura Bazaar was previously known as Hajongpolli. Sometimes Hajong people are seen in Aambagan and Daudhara village: their behaviour and devotion easily identifies their previous traditions.

They are still attracted to Hari-kathä and harinäma. It is worth mentioning that Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura preached harinäma among the peoples of the Hajong tribe.