15. Jagannath Puri dham - Story of a dog attaining liberation

Jagannath Puri dham - Story of a dog attaining liberation:

Sri Kavi Karnapura describes how even the dogs in Jagannatha Puri perform nama-sankirtana and attain spiritual forms: 

"One year, when thousands of devotees were traveling to Purushottama-kshetra, a dog started walking beside Sivananda Sena. Seeing the dog faithfully following him, Sivananda made special food for him. Whenever they crossed a river, Sivananda paid the boatman to carry the dog. One day, when the journey was three-fourths over, Å ivananda's servant forgot to feed the dog and it disappeared. Å ivananda called out: 'Alas! Today my dog was not fed!' Sivananda searched everywhere but could not find the dog, so he became grief-stricken. 

When the party reached Purushottama-kshetra, Å ivānanda was surprised to see that dog sitting on the beach near Gauranga Mahaprabhu. At once, Sivananda offered obeisances to the dog to neutralize his offenses. 

At that time, Mahaprabhu was throwing Jagannatha coconut pulp maha-prasādam to the dog while saying, 'Chant Krsna!'

The dog was eating the coconut pulp and chanting 'Krsna, Krsna, Krsna." Astonished by the sight, Å ivananda again bowed down to the dog. 

A short time later, the dog disappeared and was never seen again. Surely, the dog attained a divine body and went to the spiritual world-svarūpāntaram labdhvā lokāntaram prāptah. (Caitanya Candrodaya Act 10 v. 7-9)



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