Redeemer of Sinners
Upliftment of Naoroji
In a forest named Choranandi, there lived a notorious gang of robbers, headed by a merciless and violent robber named Naoroji. People were terrorized by the mere mention of his name. For this very reason, Mahaprabhu Chaitanya was advised by everyone to not pass through that forest, during his pilgrimage in southern part of India. Mahaprabhu Ji refuted all fears saying, “Robbers rob people off their wealth. I have renounced the world and beg for alms. What will they get from me? If they want to take my life, they can do so. It will be my fortune if this body can be of service to someone." Saying so, Mahapraphu Ji entered the forest. After walking in the forest for a while, He lay down under the shade of a tree to rest and started chanting the Holy Names of God.
Naoroji was informed by his informants that a renunciate has entered his forest. Accompanied by his men, he went to have Mahaprabhu Ji's darshan and humbly requested Mahaprabhu Ji to come to his house for dinner. Mahaprabhu Ji did not accept his offer saying, "I am a renunciate and stay under a tree. I eat only what I get in alms. Whatever you offer in alms I will happily accept". Hearing this, Naoroji ordered his men to bring a feast for Mahaprabhu Ji. While Naoroji and his group were busy doing so, Mahaprabhu Ji, absorbed in the thoughts of Beloved- Sri Krishn, went into a trance, losing all body consciousness. Sometimes, he'd sing in euphoria and sometimes he'd dance with gay abandon-His nimble feet throwing away the heaps of food kept in front of Him. Naoroji and his men sat around Mahaprabhu Ji, mesmerized by his highest state of ecstasy and pure love for God.
All his life Naoroji had killed and robbed people. Now Naoroji was approximately 60 years old. Mahaprabhu Ji's unprecedented love for God had a profound impact on him. He fell on the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu Ji and pleaded saying," My Lord! You have cast a spell of me. On holding your divine vision, my mind is completely detached from this world. From now on, I wish to stay under the shelter of your lotus feet and sing glories of Shri Krishn. O Lord! I was born in a Brahmin family, but since childhood, I have engaged in cruelty and robbery. Seeing you, I have undergone a complete transformation. I don't like anything other than the shelter of your lotus feet. Please grant me your foot dust. Please initiate me with the same mantra that infuses a deep love of God in your heart".
Hearing such sincere words of repentance and desire for the love of God, Mahaprabhu Ji said, "Naoroji! You are highly blessed, to have such feelings at this age. Singing glories of Shri Krishn is the essence of human life. All this wealth and luxuries are temporary and transient. Be assured, that the merciful lord, bestows His grace and mercy, on all those who pray to Him with steadfast love and devotion, even though they may have committed uncountable sins in this past. The causelessly merciful Lord has already granted you a pure intellect. Now you should always sing the glories of the Lord from the core of your heart". Hearing these words of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya, Naoroji was drenched in divine love bliss and surrendered himself completely to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya.
The following morning when Mahaprabhu Ji started to leave, Naoroji threw down his weapons and addressed his fellow mates, saying - "Brothers! I have committed multitude of sins and tortured numerous people. I have robbed millions and spent millions with these hands. But now I have become a beggar. I will beg for food and spend the rest of my life, performing devotion to Lord Shri Krishna. Please forgive me for all what I did and bless me so I may spend the rest of my life in the service of my Guru, drenched in the love of Shri Krishna" . Saying so, Naoroji left the forest with Mahaprabhu Ji.