Leaving home at Budhana, Haridasa Thakura came to the Benapole, a remote jungle during those times. He made a thatched hut in a secluded part of the jungle, where daily he chanted three lakhs of the holy name and worshipped Tulasé-devé. All the people in the area observed his spotless character and his staunch devotion to the holy names, and always offered him their respects.
At that time an atheistic landowner, Rämacandra Khan, became jealous of Haridasa Thakura’s increasing reputation and decided to ruin it by exposing a flaw in his character. To this end he devised numerous tactics, none of which were successful. Finally, he called a very beautiful young prostitute named Héra Bai.
Héra Bai went and stood beside Haridäsa. She began to use all the femine wiles at her command, flirting with him by saying, “You are a very handsome man, Öhäkura. You are in the full bloom of youth; what woman would be able to resist you?”
Haridasa Thakura replied, “I have just begun chanting my regular daily vow of the holy name. As soon as I am finished I will do as you wish. While waiting, please sit and listen to the sound of the holy names.” He kept chanting and chanting until morning, when the prostitute became impatient and left. She returned to Rämacandra Khan and told him the whole story.
This scenario happened for three consecutive nights, and on the third night, as Héra Bai sat and listen to Haridäsa chanting, the contamination in her mind started to melt away and she began to regret her mission. She finally fell down at Haridäsa’s feet and begged his forgiveness, telling him all about Rämacandra Khan’s evil intentions.
She then asked him for penance and how she could be saved from her sinful actions. Haridäsa advised her to take shelter of harinäma. At this time, Haridäsa moved to Phulia, near Çäntipura. On the way to Phulia, he stayed a few days in a place near Benapole. Now this place is known as Haridäspur. In 1976, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda visited there and laid the foundation stone of the ISKCON temple that now stands there in honor of Srila Haridasa Thakura.
By the order of Haridäsa, Héra Bai gave in charity whatever money she had earned by sinful means, and took up residence in a hut. She did exactly as her guru instructed, shaving her head before returning to her hut dressed in just a single cloth. She then started to chant one lakh of names and became known in the area as Läkñähéra.
Presently Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa, Çré Çré Gaura-Nitäi, Çréla Haridäsa Öhäkura, and Läkñähéra Devé are being worshipped in the temple, popularly known as Patbaree. The ancient creeper under which Çréla Haridäsa used to chant, mädhavi-latä, is still visible today. There is a museum in Patbaree temple where portraits, murals, and sculptures of various léläs performed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura are displayed.
Rämacandra Khan lived in Kagajpukuria, a place near the Çrépät (Patbaree temple). Once, Nityänanda Prabhu came to Rämacandra’s house with His associates, during His pastimes of saving the fallen souls. As a result of his offenses to Haridasa Thakura, Rämacandra Khan had become a complete demon and thus was unable to give Nityänanda and His companions the proper respect. Nityänanda became even more displeased with Rämacandra Khan, and left the place. Not long after Nityänanda Prabhu left, the Muslim tax collector came with his soldiers to collect Khan’s overdue taxes. He and his men stayed in the Durgä Mandapa at Rämacandra Khan’s house, and killed a cow there. They took him and his family prisoner and looted the house and village, destroying his caste, his wealth, and his family in one fell swoop.
How to Go There
Benapole is situated on the Bangladesh side of the Bangladesh-India border. Buses are available from Dhaka to Benapole. The Patbaree temple can be reached by auto-rickshaw or even by foot from Benapole bus stop.
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