The example of a dog is very significant in this connection. A dog naturally does not become a devotee at any time, but still it is sometimes found that a dog of a devotee gradually becomes a devotee also. We have actually seen that a dog has no respect even for the tulsi plant. Indeed, a dog is especially inclined to pass urine on the tulsi plant. Therefore the dog is the number one non devotee. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement is so strong that even a dog like nondevotee can gradually become a devotee by the association of a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Srila Shivananda Sena, a great householder devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, attracted a dog on the street while going to Jagannath Puri. The dog began to follow him and ultimately went to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was liberated. Similarly, cats and dogs in the household of Srivasa Thakura were also liberated. Cats and dogs and other animals are not expected to become devotees, but in the association of a pure devotee they are also delivered.
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The Lord feeds Sivananda Sen’s dog with His hands ~ One day while Sivananda was detained by a toll man, 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 Vaishnavas 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 that the same dog was sitting a little apart from 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 Krishna, and Hari." Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting "Krishna, Krishna" 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 Krishna, Sivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.
- Caitanya-Caritamrta, Antya-lila 1.20-31
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 Vaishnavas 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 that the same dog was sitting a little apart from 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 Krishna, and Hari." Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting "Krishna, Krishna" 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 Krishna, Sivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.
- Caitanya-Caritamrta, Antya-lila 1.20-31
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