CHAPTER 3
The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Țhākura
A summary of this Third Chapter of  Antya-līlā  is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Țhākura as follows. A beautiful young  brāhmaṇa  girl in Jagannātha Purī had a very handsome son who was coming every day to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This was not very much to the liking of Dāmodara Paṇḍita, however, who therefore told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "If You display so much love for this boy, people will doubt Your character." Hearing these words from Dāmodara Paṇḍita, the Lord sent him to Navadvīpa to supervise the affairs of His mother, Śacīdevī. He also especially requested Dāmodara Paṇḍita to remind His mother that He was sometimes going to her home to accept the food she offered. Thus, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Dāmodara Paṇḍita went to Navadvīpa, taking with him all kinds of  prasāda  from Lord Jagannātha.
On another occasion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once inquired from Haridāsa Țhākura, who was known as Brahma Haridāsa, how the  yavanas , or persons bereft of Vedic culture, would be delivered in Kali-yuga. Haridāsa Țhākura replied that their deliverance would be possible if they very loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mantra , for hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mantra  chanted loudly, even with but little realization, would help them.
After describing this incident, the author of  Caitanya-caritāmṛta  also describes how Haridāsa Țhākura was tested at Benāpola, a village near Śāntipura. A person named Rāmacandra Khān, who was envious of Haridāsa Țhākura, sent a professional prostitute to attempt to defame him, but by the mercy of Haridāsa Țhākura, even the prostitute was delivered. Because of offending a pure Vaiṣṇava, Rāmacandra Khān was later cursed by Nityānanda Prabhu and ruined.
From Benāpola, Haridāsa Țhākura went to the village known as Cāndapura, where he lived at the house of Balarāma Ācārya. Thereafter, Haridāsa Țhākura was received by two brothers known as Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra, but in the course of a discussion he was offended by a caste  brāhmaṇa  known as Gopāla Cakravartī. Because of this offense, Gopāla Cakravartī was punished by being afflicted with leprosy.
Haridāsa Țhākura later left Cāndapura and went to the house of Advaita Ācārya, where he was tested by Māyādevī, the personification of the external energy. She also received his favor by being blessed with the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mahā-mantra .
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