(
Hinduism,
Vaishnavism)
A great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Haridasa Thakura is considered the "namacarya", the spiritual
master in chanting the holy name of Krishna (hari-nama). Though he was born in
a Muslim family, Lord Caitanya's devotees respected him as being
better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat or sleep
until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krishna
300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridasa Thakura
spread the chanting of Krishna's name throughout Bengal. In
Jagannatha Puri, where Haridasa Thakura spent his later days,
Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and discuss with
him topics of Krishna. Haridasa Thakura died chanting Krsna's name
in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridasa
Thakura's death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to the sea and
with His own hands buried him in the sand.
(See Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi-lila 10.43-47 and Antya-lila, chapters 3 and 11.)