Page 4 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

addicted to sinful activities regardless of their race can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to
His (Lord Krishna) being the supremely powerful.” (SB 2.4.18)
It is recommended that we have to simply follow the example of great personalities, who have taken up the path of
pure devotion or mahajano yena gatah sa panthah (Cc. Madhya 17.186). Saintly personalities teach others by their
exceptional behavior. It is said, “Example is better than precept.” A bona fide spiritual authority trains an ideal leader.
He, in turn, teaches by example how to follow the rules and regulations of spiritual life. If he wants people to rise early
in the morning to attend spiritual programs, then he or she must consistently be present early in the morning to lead
the programs. One becomes a leader by being a strict and happy follower.

Kirtih – fame: Examples of famous men and women who followed and then became leaders by example
The first feminine quality is called kirtih, fame. What makes a person famous? It is their ability to follow the principles
of dharma (dutiful adherence to the principles of Krishna consciousness), and thereby lead a genuinely righteous life
of devotion and love for Krishna. It is considered a feminine quality because it is based on following a senior devotee
submissively. Krishna possesses these six opulences in full, more than anyone else can imagine or emulate. Fame is
one of them.
Haridas Thakur became a saintly Vaishnava. He was born in a Muslim family, but he later dedicated his life to serving
Lord Caitanya, who is the combined incarnation of Radha and Krishna. A Hindu Brahmana named Ramachandra Khan
tried to defame Haridas Thakur by hiring a prostitute to make him fall down from his vow of celibacy. Haridas Thakur
remained faithful to his vow of chanting over 300,000 names of Krishna every day, which amounts to 192 rounds on
his beads. This is equivalent to 108 x 192 x 16. There are 108 beads in one round. On each bead, one recites the entire
mantra - Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. There
are 16 names of Krishna in each mantra. If one chants 192 rounds it is equivalent to reciting over 300,000 names of
God in one day. To do this one must chant at least 23 hours a day.
The prostitute approached Haridas Thakur in the evening, but she was obliged to wait until he finished his rounds for
that day. For two consecutive days, she fell asleep before he finished and by the time she woke up it was the next day
and he was again chanting his rounds. During those two evenings, she listened to his chanting. She became somewhat
purified by his pure chanting of the holy names of God. On the third night, she became penitent and revealed her
sinister plan to make him break his vow of celibacy so that he would be dishonored. When the prostitute accepted to
help Ramachandra Khan make Haridas Thakur fall down, she participated in his enviousness of the saint. The best way
to overcome enviousness of someone is to render service to that person without any malice.
Haridas Thakur said he knew her motive for approaching him. He blessed her to change her ways so that she could
continually get the mercy of Krishna. He offered her the opportunity to live in his humble abode after she gave away in
charity all the money and possessions she accumulated by her unclean activities. He recommended she shave her
head, dress in simple white cloth, and begin to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra in front of his holy Tulasi plant. He
gave his hut to her and went away, never to come back again.
The prostitute followed his advice and almost instantly was purified of her ill-intentioned effort to defame the saint. At
the same time, she became famous (kirtih) for her complete renunciation and total dedication to chanting. She did not
attempt to maintain herself. Her sincere preoccupation was chanting the holy names of Krishna. Many people came to
see her and they brought gifts of food and anything else she needed for her renounced lifestyle of a humble saint.
By accepting Haridas Thakur as her guru and following his advice, the prostitute began the auspicious process of
surrender to the will of God. There are six points on the path of surrender (saranagati):
1- One should accept everything favorable for executing devotional service to the Lord. (anukulyasa sankalpa)
2- One should give up everything unfavorable for spiritual life. (pratikulyasa varjanam)
3- One should be confident that in all circumstances Lord Krishna will protect him from difficulties. (raksisyatiti
visvaso)

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