The dead back to life by chanting Harinama

Sri Sri Radharaman Charan Das Dev, brought the dead back to life by chanting Harinama on several occasions.

The most striking example was that of a lady whom he revived at the cremation ground itself, in the presence of thousands of people in Calcutta.

The dead body of a young lady had been brought by some Marwaris to the cremation ground on the bank of the Ganges, where Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev was bathing along with Jogen Babu and several other disciples. Upon seeing this, Baba became deeply absorbed within himself. He murmured, “Ah! The lady is going without hearing the Name of the Lord. Poor thing—she will have to suffer the unending cycle of birth and death.” Then he said to Radhavinoda and Phani, “Go and see what the Marwaris are doing with the body. Ask them not to burn it until I come.”

Radhavinoda and Phani went and saw that the Marwaris had already placed the dead body on the pyre and were about to set fire to it. They said, “Our Guru Maharaja has requested that you please wait until he arrives.” But they did not listen. Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev, then sent Jogen Babu, who pleaded earnestly, “Please—for God’s sake—wait a while. Our Gurudeva is coming.”

The Marwaris looked at Jogen Babu and at one another in astonishment, uncertain of what to do. In the meantime, Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev arrived and said, “Brethren, please bring the corpse down from the pyre.” His heart overflowed with compassion; his eyes radiated affection, and his voice carried a divine and benedictory tone. They brought the body down.

Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev instructed Rama Das (Sri Ram Das Babaji maharaj) to sit behind the head of the body, with Radhavinoda and Phani Das on either side. He himself sat at the feet, holding her great toes in both hands. He began chanting:

“Bhaja Nitai-Gaura Radhe-Syama, japa Hare Krishna Hare Rama,”

and asked everyone present to join in.

A crowd gathered, chanting fervently, eyes fixed alternately on Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev and the lifeless body. This continued for about half an hour. Then, suddenly, Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev exclaimed, “Jai Nitai!” and gave a sharp tug to the lady’s toes.

And lo! The lady opened her eyes.

The Marwaris leapt with joy. Everyone cried out, “Haribol!” while the lady looked around, bewildered. Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev asked her, “Do you recognize your relatives?” She nodded in affirmation with her eyes.

He asked the Marwaris to bring milk. The lady slowly drank it, sip by sip. As she did, cries of “Haribol!” once again echoed in the sky.

The news spread like wildfire that a sadhu had brought a dead body back to life at Nimtala Ghat. Crowds poured in from all directions for over an hour and a half. Eventually, Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev released her toes. She closed her eyes—and ceased breathing.

Her relatives fell at Sri Radharamana Charan Das Dev’s feet, begging him to revive her once more and return her to life. But Baba Mahasaya said, “How can I do what even Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself did not deem proper with the son of Srivasa?”

— From *The Saints of Bengal* by O.B.L. Kapoor, disciple of Sri Gouranga Das Babaji Maharaj (of the Nityananda Parivar, Radharaman Charan Das Dev lineage).