Mahaprabhu Saves a Dog -

To me, this is just such a sweet past time. It captures Mahaprabhu candidly taking such delight in playing with a dog, and ultimately freeing it by causing it to chant the Holy Names. There is something so human in playing with a dog, laughing, feeding it treats, etc.

Anyone have any other pet related past times, or even personal stories they would like to share?

I'll kick off the conversation with a personal experience. I returned to this passage about 2 months ago, when my long time canine companion, Greenbean, left the world, hopefully for a better place.

Greenbean was a former racing greyhound, having raced for 5 years, and came to us with many emotional scars. Unfortunately, due to the low money in greyhound racing, the dogs are treated horribly, often caged for days at a time, with little to no human contact. Many are given drugs (sometimes even cocaine and/or speed) to make them run faster. Since greyhound tracks have a rule that if a dog comes in lower than 4th place in 3 races in a row it can no longer race, every year tens of thousands of dogs are put to death. My wife and I were involved with a local greyhound rescue group prior to having kids, and Greenbean was the first dog we got.

He was a very sweet dog that quickly came out of his shell, and became a favorite when we would attend 'awareness' functions. His nice personality along with his beautiful coat won many hearts. One thing about Greenbean, he loved to run. And seeing a dog move at 25 - 30 mph is a breathtaking thing. He ran every chance he got.

Two months ago he started to get a little thin, and I took him to the vet. He was running a fever, and I took him home with some pills. He became more and more sick as a blizzard raged outside. Around 1:00 in the morning, I heard a rucus downstairs, and quickly ran down. There was Greenbean, on his side on his bed, running as fast as he could. Since he was very sick, and had not been moving much for the last few days, I knew this was not a good thing. I called my wife and told her she needed to say her goodbyes. Through many tears we said goodbye as his heart and breathing stopped. As he brought in his last few breaths, I chanted the Maha-mantra into his ear.

Greenbean! Even in his death, he gave me the opportinity to at least once in my life chant for someone other than myself!

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I'll kick off the conversation with a personal experience. I returned to this passage about 2 months ago, when my long time canine companion, Greenbean, left the world, hopefully for a better place.

Greenbean was a former racing greyhound, having raced for 5 years, and came to us with many emotional scars. Unfortunately, due to the low money in greyhound racing, the dogs are treated horribly, often caged for days at a time, with little to no human contact. Many are given drugs (sometimes even cocaine and/or speed) to make them run faster. Since greyhound tracks have a rule that if a dog comes in lower than 4th place in 3 races in a row it can no longer race, every year tens of thousands of dogs are put to death. My wife and I were involved with a local greyhound rescue group prior to having kids, and Greenbean was the first dog we got.

He was a very sweet dog that quickly came out of his shell, and became a favorite when we would attend 'awareness' functions. His nice personality along with his beautiful coat won many hearts. One thing about Greenbean, he loved to run. And seeing a dog move at 25 - 30 mph is a breathtaking thing. He ran every chance he got.

Two months ago he started to get a little thin, and I took him to the vet. He was running a fever, and I took him home with some pills. He became more and more sick as a blizzard raged outside. Around 1:00 in the morning, I heard a rucus downstairs, and quickly ran down. There was Greenbean, on his side on his bed, running as fast as he could. Since he was very sick, and had not been moving much for the last few days, I knew this was not a good thing. I called my wife and told her she needed to say her goodbyes. Through many tears we said goodbye as his heart and breathing stopped. As he brought in his last few breaths, I chanted the Maha-mantra into his ear.

Greenbean! Even in his death, he gave me the opportinity to at least once in my life chant for someone other than myself!

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A couple of days ago, we went to Kamyavan for parikrama. As we reached Bhojan Sthali (the place where Krishna and the sakhas took their meal), we found an old, sober-looking dog lazing around on the stairs there.

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After the darshan there, we headed for the darshan of Vyomasura's cave on the side of a mountain nearby. On top of the mountain, you'll see imprints of Krishna's foot and hand embedded in the stone. (That's the shrine on top of the mountain you see.)

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The walk from Bhojan Sthali to the foot of the mountain is about fifteen minutes. As we started walking, the dog accompanied us. On the way, we crossed a river and he stopped to cool himself for a moment, hot as the day was.

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The stairs leading to the top of the mountain are fairly long. Enough to exhaust you on a hot day.

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That notwithstanding, our friend accompanied us all the way up to the top of the hill, taking darshan of the sacred place with us.

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Sometimes ahead of us and sometimes behind us, he was our companion all the way through. At the end, I gave him some prasad we had received from Vrindadevi's mandir in Kaman village.

As we then got into the car and drove off, the dog stayed behind, standing still and gazing at the car moving into the horizon. He stood there as long as we could see.

I am certain he was a great soul, a mahatma who had been walking those same paths in his past lives. If you ever go to Bhojan Sthali, please bring him some prasad and convey my pranams.

A couple of days ago, we went to Kamyavan for parikrama. As we reached Bhojan Sthali (the place where Krishna and the sakhas took their meal), we found an old, sober-looking dog lazing around on the stairs there.

[attachmentid=1428]

After the darshan there, we headed for the darshan of Vyomasura's cave on the side of a mountain nearby. On top of the mountain, you'll see imprints of Krishna's foot and hand embedded in the stone. (That's the shrine on top of the mountain you see.)

[attachmentid=1430]

The walk from Bhojan Sthali to the foot of the mountain is about fifteen minutes. As we started walking, the dog accompanied us. On the way, we crossed a river and he stopped to cool himself for a moment, hot as the day was.

[attachmentid=1426]

The stairs leading to the top of the mountain are fairly long. Enough to exhaust you on a hot day.

[attachmentid=1427]

That notwithstanding, our friend accompanied us all the way up to the top of the hill, taking darshan of the sacred place with us.

[attachmentid=1429]

Sometimes ahead of us and sometimes behind us, he was our companion all the way through. At the end, I gave him some prasad we had received from Vrindadevi's mandir in Kaman village.

As we then got into the car and drove off, the dog stayed behind, standing still and gazing at the car moving into the horizon. He stood there as long as we could see.

I am certain he was a great soul, a mahatma who had been walking those same paths in his past lives. If you ever go to Bhojan Sthali, please bring him some prasad and convey my pranams.

A couple of days ago, we went to Kamyavan for parikrama. As we reached Bhojan Sthali (the place where Krishna and the sakhas took their meal), we found an old, sober-looking dog lazing around on the stairs there.

[attachmentid=1428]

After the darshan there, we headed for the darshan of Vyomasura's cave on the side of a mountain nearby. On top of the mountain, you'll see imprints of Krishna's foot and hand embedded in the stone. (That's the shrine on top of the mountain you see.)

[attachmentid=1430]

The walk from Bhojan Sthali to the foot of the mountain is about fifteen minutes. As we started walking, the dog accompanied us. On the way, we crossed a river and he stopped to cool himself for a moment, hot as the day was.

[attachmentid=1426]

The stairs leading to the top of the mountain are fairly long. Enough to exhaust you on a hot day.

[attachmentid=1427]

That notwithstanding, our friend accompanied us all the way up to the top of the hill, taking darshan of the sacred place with us.

[attachmentid=1429]

Sometimes ahead of us and sometimes behind us, he was our companion all the way through. At the end, I gave him some prasad we had received from Vrindadevi's mandir in Kaman village.

As we then got into the car and drove off, the dog stayed behind, standing still and gazing at the car moving into the horizon. He stood there as long as we could see.

I am certain he was a great soul, a mahatma who had been walking those same paths in his past lives. If you ever go to Bhojan Sthali, please bring him some prasad and convey my pranams.

A couple of days ago, we went to Kamyavan for parikrama. As we reached Bhojan Sthali (the place where Krishna and the sakhas took their meal), we found an old, sober-looking dog lazing around on the stairs there.

[attachmentid=1428]

After the darshan there, we headed for the darshan of Vyomasura's cave on the side of a mountain nearby. On top of the mountain, you'll see imprints of Krishna's foot and hand embedded in the stone. (That's the shrine on top of the mountain you see.)

[attachmentid=1430]

The walk from Bhojan Sthali to the foot of the mountain is about fifteen minutes. As we started walking, the dog accompanied us. On the way, we crossed a river and he stopped to cool himself for a moment, hot as the day was.

[attachmentid=1426]

The stairs leading to the top of the mountain are fairly long. Enough to exhaust you on a hot day.

[attachmentid=1427]

That notwithstanding, our friend accompanied us all the way up to the top of the hill, taking darshan of the sacred place with us.

[attachmentid=1429]

Sometimes ahead of us and sometimes behind us, he was our companion all the way through. At the end, I gave him some prasad we had received from Vrindadevi's mandir in Kaman village.

As we then got into the car and drove off, the dog stayed behind, standing still and gazing at the car moving into the horizon. He stood there as long as we could see.

I am certain he was a great soul, a mahatma who had been walking those same paths in his past lives. If you ever go to Bhojan Sthali, please bring him some prasad and convey my pranams.

A couple of days ago, we went to Kamyavan for parikrama. As we reached Bhojan Sthali (the place where Krishna and the sakhas took their meal), we found an old, sober-looking dog lazing around on the stairs there.

[attachmentid=1428]

After the darshan there, we headed for the darshan of Vyomasura's cave on the side of a mountain nearby. On top of the mountain, you'll see imprints of Krishna's foot and hand embedded in the stone. (That's the shrine on top of the mountain you see.)

[attachmentid=1430]

The walk from Bhojan Sthali to the foot of the mountain is about fifteen minutes. As we started walking, the dog accompanied us. On the way, we crossed a river and he stopped to cool himself for a moment, hot as the day was.

[attachmentid=1426]

The stairs leading to the top of the mountain are fairly long. Enough to exhaust you on a hot day.

[attachmentid=1427]

That notwithstanding, our friend accompanied us all the way up to the top of the hill, taking darshan of the sacred place with us.

[attachmentid=1429]

Sometimes ahead of us and sometimes behind us, he was our companion all the way through. At the end, I gave him some prasad we had received from Vrindadevi's mandir in Kaman village.

As we then got into the car and drove off, the dog stayed behind, standing still and gazing at the car moving into the horizon. He stood there as long as we could see.

I am certain he was a great soul, a mahatma who had been walking those same paths in his past lives. If you ever go to Bhojan Sthali, please bring him some prasad and convey my pranams.

Lochan Das describes a sweet incident in his Chaitanya Mangala, Adi-khanda. The first part of the narration is given below.

* * * * *

Glory glory glory to Saci’s son! He is the youthful root of all bliss. Accompanied by a host of other boys, he happily played, enjoying his childhood pastimes.

With many playful boys, he played many games. With many boys he enjoyed childhood pastimes – blissful and wonderful pastimes. Playing and playing, he suddenly met a couple of puppies. Joyfully, Gaura-Hari chose one of them.

Then one of his companions said: “Listen Visvambhara. You chose the best puppy and left the ugly ones for us. You go home. We won’t play with you.”

Then Visvambhara said: “This puppy belongs to all of us. Come to my house and we’ll all play with him.”

Speaking these words and taking the puppy with him, Gaura went to his house. Arriving home, he put a rope around the puppy’s neck and tied him to the veranda.
All this time Visvambhara’s mother was busy with household chores. Accompanied by the village ladies, she went to bathe in the Ganga.

Now the house now empty. Accompanied by the boys, Visvambhara played many games with the puppy. They all became covered with dust. As they played and played, a quarrel arose among the boys. One boy praised Gaura-Hari and another rebuked him.

Gaura said: Every day you come and every day you pick a fight. Why do you act like that?”

The other boy said: “I know what you’re like. You stole the puppy.”

Angry at heart, the boy ran off. Meeting Mother Saci with a voice choked with anger, he called out: “Listen! Listen! Your Visvambhara has a pet puppy. One moment he hugs the puppy. The next moment he holds the puppy’s neck. Go and see for yourself.”

Hearing the boy’s words, Saci hurried home. She saw the puppy in Visvambhara’s lap, putting her hand to her head Mother Saci said: “Why you play like this, I do not know. There are so many ways in which you could play. Still you play with a puppy. You are very mischievous. Your father is very religious. You are his son. What will the people say? What happiness do you think you will find by playing with a puppy? You are a brahmana’s son but do not even slightly act like one. What good words will I speak to defend you? Ah, the words I will hear will be like an iron spear pushed into my heart! What happiness do you find by covering your beautiful form with dust? I bow my head to speak such words. I feel that flames burn in my mouth. How many moons does your face defeat? Your limbs are like lightning. Still, you do not wear nice garments. Instead you cover your limbs with dust and stay among low-class boys.”

Angrily pressing her teeth to her lip, Saci-devi rebuked all the boys. To Gaura she said: “Go to your room and take your puppy with you. You can renounce your mother and father.”

After speaking these words she looked at her son’s face. She was overcome with bliss. Then she said: “Come. Dear one come and sit in my lap. Be quiet. I will kiss your face. Leave your dog, O dear one, and bathe in the Ganga’s waters. Six hours of the day have already passed. And you are not hungry? How much trouble do you give to me? Tie up your puppy and go take your bath. Later you can play with your puppy. Now you should eat some lunch.”

As a golden lotus wilts in the hot sunshine, so Gaura’s face wilted. On the tip of his nose, a drop of perspiration awakened. Gazing at her son, Saci felt her life breath split apart. Hearing Mother Saci’s words, Visvambhara smiled and said: “I will go to bathe.”

Speaking these words, he hugged his mother’s neck and prepared for his bath. Wiping the dust from his face, Mother Saci anointed his limbs with scented oil. For his bath, Visvambhara went to the Ganga’s bank. He happily played with his friends in the waters of Ganga.

Visvambhara’s form was wonderful and immovable like Mount Sumeru. As a wild elephant plays in the water with its companions, so Visvambhara played in the water with his friends.

Meanwhile Saci-devi set the puppy free. She said: “I do not know where the puppy went. Perhaps the puppy ran to his own mother.”

One of the boys was there at that time. He ran to the Ganga’s bank and said: “Visvambhara, your mother set the puppy free.”

Hearing the boy’s words, he ran home, then seeing that the puppy was gone. He looked in the four directions, without seeing the puppy. His heart burned with flames of anger, and he wept, rebuking his mother. He was overcome with grief for his puppy.

He said: “Listen, O foolish mother! Why did you do that? You gave me great suffering. That puppy was very beautiful. Why did you do that?”

Saci said: I did not know what happened to your puppy. Perhaps some boys came and stole him. Why must you cry for a puppy? Tomorrow I will search in the forests. I will find your puppy and bring him back. Don’t lament, stop lamenting now. I will bring back your puppy. I promise. Don’t weep. Please don’t weep anymore.”

After speaking these words she wiped the tears from her son’s face and hugged him. Gazing at his face, she became filled with bliss. She kissed him millions and millions of times. She wiped his limbs pretending to make him a little more clean, then bathing him with Ganga-water. Then she fed him many delicious sweets – sandesas, modakas, ksira and kadalaka.

Saci tied his hair in a topknot, decorating his eyes with splendid black kajjala. She made him completely splendid. Around his waist she tied a red sash that hung to his toes. On his chest she rested a string of pearls. On his forehead she placed sandal tilaka. She decorated him with bracelets and armlets of priceless jewels. On his feet she placed anklets. Grasping ksira and laddu in his hands, he went to play with the boys.

His graceful walking defeated the graceful wild elephants. His voice was like thick honey. Surrounded by the boys, Gaura, the king of the brahmanas, was like a moon surrounded by stars. Gazing at him as he played, the demigods all smiled. Seeing that Gaura touched even cats and dogs, Locana dasa is filled with wonder.

* * * * *

And here is the second part. The text has been adapted from the edition published by Mahanidhi Swami.

* * * * *

By Gauranga’s touch, the dog became fortunate. Abandoning his doggish nature, he became filled with transcendental knowledge. Calling out “Radha-Krishna! Govinda!” the dog danced. Everyone in Nadiya ran to see him.

Everyone watched as the dog manifested signs of ecstasy. The hairs of his body stood erect and his eyes were filled with tears. That soul suddenly renounced his dog’s body and went to Krishna’s abode, Goloka. A divine airplane suddenly arrived and took that soul on the path in the sky. Decorated with jewels and pearls that golden airplane glistened like a thousand-rayed sun. Millions and millions of bells chimed. Hosts and hosts of karatalas sounded. Hearing the sounds of the conchshells and the calls of Jaya and Hari, the gandharvas an kinnaras sang the glories of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.

The airplane was decorated with hosts of flags. It glistened like the corona of the sun. In the middle of the airplane the handsome splendid charming newly-liberated soul sat on a jewel throne. His pleasant coolness defeated ten million moons. He chanted, “Radha-Krishna! Gauranga!”

A host of siddhas fanned him with camara whisks. In this way he traveled on the path to Goloka. Brahma Siva Sanaka and a host of others stood before him with folded hands. Surrounding him on the airplane, they all sang the glories of Gauranga.

They sang: “Glory glory to Saci’s son, who is an ocean of mercy! Oh, why are you not merciful to us in this way? You delivered a dog gave him a spiritual body, taking him to Goloka. Why will you not do the same for us? Glory glory to Gaura-Hari, the shelter of the shelterless! Glory glory to him, the best of all avataras! By your mercy the souls who live in Kali-yuga will be delivered. What other wonderful pastimes will you manifest? When will we gods become fortunate? When will we attain the mercy of your feet?”

“By touching the dog, you delivered him. Even when you were Krishna, you were not kind in this way! When will we become fortunate? You gave perfection to a dog – we pray that we may become fortunate like him. Obeisances, obeisances to you, O Gaura Raya, whom only the pure and faultless may see! Obeisances, obeisances to your two graceful feet! We demigods are all your followers and servants. When will we attain Gauracandra’s feet?”

In this way that very fortunate soul went to Goloka and the great devotees sang the glories of Gauranga. Thus the very wonderful pastimes of Gauracandra were manifest. With great joy, Locana dasa describes them.

* * * * *

I had a dog named Zorro, it use to follow me to the school gate and go back home. On the way out, the dog would comeback and sharply be there on time at the gate waiting for me and my sister. Zorro was a playful dog; good friend; the best dog I ever have!



When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri from Vrndavana, Svarupa Damodara Gosani immediately sent news of the Lord's arrival to the devotees in Bengal.

Upon hearing this news, mother Saci and all the other devotees of Navadvipa were very joyful, and they all departed together for Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri].


Thus all the devotees of Kulina-grama and Sri Khanda, as well as Advaita Acarya, came together to meet Sivananda Sena.


Sivananda Sena arranged for the journey. He maintained everyone and provided residential quarters.


While going to Jagannatha Puri, Sivananda Sena allowed a dog to go with him. He supplied it food to eat and maintained it.

One day, when they needed to cross a river, an Orissan boatman would not allow the dog to get in the boat.



Sivananda Sena, unhappy that the dog had to stay behind, paid the boatman ten pana of conchshells to take the dog across the river.


One day while Sivananda was detained by a tollman, his servant forgot to give the dog its cooked rice.



At night, when Sivananda Sena returned and was taking his meal, he inquired from the servant whether the dog had gotten its meals.

When he learned that the dog had not been supplied food in his absence, he was very unhappy. He then immediately sent ten men to find the dog.



When the men returned without success, Sivananda Sena became very unhappy and fasted for the night.


In the morning they looked for the dog, but it could not be found anywhere. All the Vaisnavas were astonished.


Thus in great anxiety they all walked to Jagannatha Puri, where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met them as usual.


Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went with them to see the Lord in the temple, and on that day He also took lunch in the company of all those devotees.


As previously, the Lord provided them all with residential quarters. And the next morning all the devotees came to see the Lord.



When all the devotees came to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they saw the same dog was sitting a little apart the Lord.



Furthermore, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, "Chant the holy names Rama, Krsna, and Hari."

Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting "Krsna, Krsna" again and again, all the devotees present were very much surprised.



When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of Krsna, Sivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.



The next day, no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for Vaikuntha, the spiritual kingdom.


Such are the transcendental pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of mother Saci. He even delivered a dog simply by inducing it to chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna.

http://www.bvml.org/books/CC/antya/index.html