Haridasa Thakur

Haridasa Thakur Biography

Haridasa Thakur was a prominent Vaishnava saint of 15^th century who played a significant role in the spread of the Hare Krishna movement. He was a believer of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and was also known by the names - Mama Thakur and Yavana Haridas. He was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It’s believed that Chaitanya himself installed the name – Haridasa and he was a Muslim born person. As a great devotee of Lord Krishna, he used to chant Hare Krishna prayer, 300,000 times daily. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established ISKCON following the footsteps of Haridasa Thakur, which has spread across the globe.

He was born in 1450 in East Bengal. He was one among the Muslim members of Bhakti movement who boosted the spreading of Gaudiya Vaishnavism across North and East India. He was born in the village of Buron (Budana) in the present district of Sat-kira which now belongs to Bangladesh. Haridasa was 35 years older than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His and Advaita Acharya’s prayers became the reason for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descent. Haridasa Thakur was a follower of Advaita Acharya and also his close friend. He got converted to Vaishnavism at a young age. At his younger age, he was allured by the incarnation of Maya-devi. But he was able to pass those tests as he was a great devotee of Lord Krishna.

Haridasa first became associated with Advaita Acharya. When Advaita Acharya met him for the first time, he felt that Haridasa was the incarnation of Brahma and thus named him Haridasa. Haridasa spent his last years in Jagannatha Puri as a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu declared him to be the namacharya who best knows how to chant the holy names of Krishna. Gaudiya Vaishnavas believed that he advanced in spiritual life.

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Updated: March 12, 2014