ghm section ia part 4

7/28/2019 Ghm Section Ia Part 4

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Part 4:Recorded by Sarayubala

Devi, Udbodhan Office, Calcutta.

May 1914That day the Holy Mother was coming to our Ballyganj home. All

the necessary arrangements had been made from the previousday. A separate seat, a new set of white marble vessels, etc., hadbeen purchased for her use. The whole night I couldn't sleep for

joy at the thought of the Mother's coming. She was to come onlyby noon, but under the impression that her arrival was to beearlier, Sri Shokaharan had gone to her Baghbazar house early inthe morning and was waiting there with the carriage. We alsofinished our household duties early and were ready to receiveher. I spread the Holy Mother's seat, decorated all-around with

flowers, sprinkled Ganges water all over the house, and made agarland of flowers. On either side of her seat two large bouquetsspread their fragrance.

As the time of her arrival neared, we were on the lookout, ineager expectation. At last the blessed moment arrived. Hearingthe sound of the carriage, we all went downstairs. As the carriagestopped, I beheld the Holy Mother's smiling face casting a

compassionate glance on us. When she got down everyonecrowded round to take the dust of her feet. Seeing us all, hereyes were filled with tears of love.

Golap-Ma, the youngest aunt, Nalini-Didi Radhu and a few monkscame with her. We led her upstairs, and after seating her, bowed


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down at her feet. The Mother said affectionately, "Have you allfinished your meal?" With these words, she touched my chinendearingly. Till now I was too busy with the arrangements forthe visit to think of meals or anything else. I now hurrieddownstairs to arrange for lunch.

Upstairs the gramophone was playing. Finding a little respite fromwork, I went up. Listening to the music of the machine, the HolyMother was immensely pleased. "What a wonderful machine isthis!" she said, bubbling with joy like a small girl. It was very hot.The Mother was reclining in the verandah on a mat. Near her allothers were seated. In a stone pot iced water was kept, whichthe Holy Mother sipped now and then. Seeing me, she called,"Hullo, take a little ice water." I drank some as her Prasad andwent to the kitchen.

After dusk, the offering to the Master was arranged in the nextroom. The Holy Mother came and asked Golap-Ma to make theoffering but she declined. "You do it please. When you are here,why should I?" she said. So the Holy Mother sat down to makethe offering. "How beautifully has everything been arranged!" sheremarked. She was all praise for everything she saw and made usall immensely happy. Offering was over, and the Mother and therest sat down to partake of the Prasad. The Holy Mother finishedher meal first. She sat in an easy chair in the verandah andcalled to me, "Hullo, give me a betel roll." I was yet busy servingGolap-Ma. Quickly I took a betel roll to her. Ashamed that she

had to ask for the roll, I said to Sumati, "Could, you not wait nearthe door with a betel roll? You saw how busy I was." A little laterthe Holy Mother came down. Taking a lamp, I also went with her.

It was time for departure. The Mother did not like to travel bycar, as once a dog was crushed under her vehicle. But the


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distance was long and unless a car was used, she would reachher destination very late. So the Mother agreed to the devotees'request to use a car. She got ready, after making repeatedPranams to the Master. Blessing us all, she got into the vehicle.

* * * *

I saw the Mother one night. She was lying on her bed. Anotherwoman was near her. She at once sat up in bed so that I mightbow before her. In the course of conversation she said, "At thetime of creation, people were born with the quality of Sattva,light. They had wisdom from their very birth. Consequently theyat once realized the unreal nature of the world. They renounced itand practised austerity. They were liberated in no time. TheCreator found that the purpose of his creation was going to befrustrated. These wise men, who were thus liberated, were unfitfor the continuance of the play of the world. Then he againstarted the work of creation and mixed the qualities of Rajas,(activity) and Tamas (inertia) with, the Sattva. Thus His purposewas fulfilled." Then she cited a popular verse bearing on thetheme of creation, and said, "In our young age we acquired theseideas from the country dramas. But now these have becomerare."

Some of the young girls, relatives of the Holy Mother, werereading loudly from a book in another room. The Mother said,"Listen, how loudly they are reading! They have forgotten that

there are many people on the ground floor."

Radhu's mother, the insane sister-in-law of the Holy Mother,entered the room and said, "Lakshmi-mani (Sri Ramakrishna'sniece) is going to Navadvip on a pilgrimage. I wanted to go withher. But you have stood in my way." She left the room in a pique.


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The Mother said, "How can I allow her to go with Lakshmi?Lakshmi is a devotee. She would sing and dance with otherdevotees. She would not observe the distinction of caste andwould dine with others. But Radhu's mother would notunderstand this. She hardly knows that the devotees need notobserve caste rules among themselves. So she would come backand criticize the conduct of Lakshmi before others. Have you metLakshmi?"

Devotee: No, Mother.

Mother: She is in Dakshineswar. Visit her one day. Have youbeen to Dakshineswar?

Devotee: Yes, Mother, I have visited the place many a time. But Idid not know that she had been living there.

Mother: Have you seen the Nahabat at Dakshineswar, where Iused to stay?

Devotee: Yes, Mother, I have seen it from the outside.

Mother: When you visit the place another day, go inside theroom. When I stayed there, my entire world consisted of thatsmall room. Even the vessel containing fish was hung up. I hadnever seen water taps before. I came to Calcutta one day andentered a room where there was a tap. I opened the tap. Before

the water rushed out, there came a hissing sound, like that of asnake, out of the tap. I was terror-stricken and ran from theroom. I at once came to the other ladies of the house and cried,"There is a snake in that water pipe. It is hissing." They laughedand said, "There is no snake there. Do not be afraid. The hissing


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sound comes from the air being forced out by the rushing water."Then we laughed and laughed till our sides began to ache.

Saying this, the Holy Mother laughed heartily again. So sweet andinnocent a laughter! I too could not hold back my laughter anymore and thought, "So guileless is our Mother!"

Mother: Have you seen Sri Ramakrishna's birthday festival atBelur?

Devotee: No, Mother. I have never been to the monastery atBelur. I have heard that the monks who live there do not like acrowd of women in the monastery. Therefore I hesitate to gothere.

Mother: Go there once and see the celebration of SriRamakrishna's birthday.

* * * *

It was evening when I went to Baghbazar to see the Holy Mother.She was kind enough to ask me to spread her small carpet on thefloor and fetch her beads. She soon became absorbed in hermeditation. Across the lane there was an open space. A fewlabourers lived there with their families. One of the malemembers began to beat a woman severely, probably his wife.Slaps and fisticuffs began to be showered upon her. Then he

kicked her with such force that she was thrown to a distance witha child in her arms. Then he started kicking her again. TheMother could not proceed with her meditation any more. Thoughshe was extremely modest and would not usually talk even loudenough to be heard by people on the ground floor, she nowcame to the porch of the second floor, stood by the iron railing,


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and cried aloud in a tone of sharp reprimand, "You rogue! Areyou going to kill the girl outright? I am afraid she is alreadydead!" Hardly had the man looked at her than he became quietlike the snake before its charmer, and released the woman. Thesympathy of the Mother made the woman burst into loud sobs.We heard that her only fault was that she had not cooked in time.

Afterwards the man became his old self again and wanted to beat peace with the woman. The Holy Mother saw this and cameback to her room.

Some time later, the voice of a beggar was heard in the lane. Hewas crying, "Radha-Govinda! Glory unto God! Please be kind tothe blind." The Mother said. "This beggar passes yonder lanealmost every night. At first he would cry, 'Please be kind to thepoor blind.' But Golap one day rightly said to him, 'Please utterthat name, Radha-Krishna-the name of God. This will serve thedouble purpose of uttering the holy name and also of remindingthe householders of God. Otherwise you will, day and night, thinkof your blindness alone.' Since then, the blind man, while passingthrough this lane, takes the name of God. Golap gave him a pieceof cloth. He also gets alms in other forms."

* * * *

I went to Baghbazar one evening and heard the Holy Mothersaying, "New devotees should be given the privilege of service inthe shrine room. Their new zeal makes them serve the Lord

carefully. The others are tired of service. Service, in the realsense of the word, is not a joke. One should be extremely carefulabout making His service perfectly flawless. But the truth is, Godknows our foolishness and therefore He forgives us." One womandevotee was near her. I do not know if these words were directedtowards her. The Mother was asking her to be careful in picking


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the right kind of flowers and in making sandal paste for thepurpose of worship, as also in not touching any part of the body,cloth or hair while working in the shrine. "One must work in theshrine room with great attention," said she, "Offerings and therest should be made the proper time."

* *

It was half-past eight in the evening when I came to the place ofthe Holy Mother. She was absorbed in meditation in the porch tothe north of the shrine room. We waited for a while in anotherroom. The Mother came there and said with a smile, "I am gladto see you, my child."

Devotee: I have brought my sister with me, Mother. Is Aratrika(the evening service) over?

Mother: No. You may witness it now. I shall join you presently.

The evening service soon commenced. Many ladies sat in theshrine room and began to pray. After the worship was over, weprostrated before the image and came to the adjacent room tomeet the Holy Mother.' While we were at her place we wereunwilling to lose sight of her even for a moment.

A few minutes later, the Mother came to the room. An old ladywas learning a devotional song from another. The Mother said.

"I am afraid she may not be able to teach the song correctly. Ah,what a great singer the Master was! His voice was so sweet.While singing he would be one with his song. His voice is stillringing in my ears. When I remember it, other voices appear soflat. But Naren also had a melodious voice. Before leaving thiscity he came to see me and sang a few songs. While taking leave


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of me he said, 'Mother, if I can return as a man in the true senseof the term. I shall see you again; otherwise good-bye!' what doyou mean, my child?' I cried. 'Well,' he replied, 'I shall soon comeback through your grace.' Girish Babu also' had a sweet voice."

Radhu came to the room and requested the Mother to lie downby her. She said, "You go and lie on the bed. These devoteeshave come from a distance. I should like to sit with them for awhile." Radhu still insisted. I said, "Let us also go to yourbedroom. You may lie there on your bed." The Mother asked usto follow her. The Mother lay on her bed and began to talk to usabout various things. I was fanning her. She said after a fewminutes, "It is now cool. Please do not take any more trouble." Irubbed her feet. An old lady was explaining to another about thesix centres as described in Yoga. Golap-Ma forbade her to do so.But still she continued. The Mother heard her words and said tome with a smile, "Sri Ramakrishna with his own hands drew forme the picture of Kundalini and the six Yogic centres." I askedher if she still had the picture with her. The Mother replied, "No,my child. I had then no idea of the devotees coming to us. I havelost the paper."

It was eleven o'clock at night. We prostrated before her and tookleave of her. The Mother sat on her bed and blessed us. Shecalled me aside and said, "Spiritual progress becomes easier ifhusband and wife agree in their views regarding spiritualpractices."

October-November, 1914

We had plenty of flowers at our Ballygunj home. The Holy Motherwas always pleased with flowers. One day I gathered a largequantity of them and came to see her. I found her just ready for


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the worship. I arranged the flowers, and she sat on the carpetbefore the image. I forgot to keep aside some flowers forworshipping the feet of the Holy Mother. So I was sorry to thinkthat it would not be possible for me to worship her that day. But Isoon found out that she had anticipated my secret desire. Sheherself had separated some flowers on the tray. After the worshipwas over, she said to me, "Now, my dear child, I have kept thoseflowers in the tray for you. Bring them here." Just then a devoteecame to see the Mother with a large quantity of fruits. She wasvery pleased to see him. She put a mark of sandal paste on hisforehead and stroked him by touching the chin. I had never seenher express her affection for any man devotee in such a manner.Next she asked me to hand over a few flowers to him. Heaccepted them. I found his whole body trembling with devotionalfervour. With great joy he offered those flowers at her feet andleft after accepting the Prasada. She sat on the cot and invitedme very tenderly to come to her. I worshipped her feet. Withgreat love, she placed her hand on my head and kissed me. I wasdeeply touched by her blessings.

After a while I found her on the roof drying her hair. She invitedme to come near her and said, "Take off the cloth from your headand dry your hair, otherwise it may affect your health." Golap-Macame to the roof and requested the Mother to make an offeringof food in the shrine room. The Mother came down from the roof.I also followed her after a while to the shrine room. Like a bashfulyoung bride, she was saying to Sri Ramakrishna in a soft voice,

"Come now; your meal is ready." Then she came to the image ofGopala and said, "O my Gopala, come for your meal." I was justbehind her. Suddenly she looked at me and said with a smile, "Iam inviting them all to their noonday meal." With these words,the Holy Mother entered the room where the food was offered.Her earnestness and devotion made me feel that the Deities, as it


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were, listened to her words and followed her to the offeringroom. I was pinned to the ground with wonder!

After the offering was over, we all sat together for our meal.Then the Mother asked me to rest for a while. A man came with abasket of fruits. The fruits were meant for offering. He asked themonks what he should do with the basket. They told him to throwit out in the lane. The Mother got up and went to the porch. Shelooked at the lane and said to me, "Look there. They have askedhim to throw away such a nice basket! It does not matter forthem in the least. They are all monks and totally unattached. Butwe cannot allow such a waste. We could have utilized the basketat least for keeping the peelings of the vegetables." She askedsomeone to fetch the basket and wash it. The basket was keptfor some future use. I learnt a lesson from her words. But we areso slow to learn.

After some time a beggar came to the house and shouted forsome alms. The monks felt annoyed and said rudely, "Go awaynow. Don't disturb us." At these words the Holy Mother said,"Did you hear their remarks? They have driven away the poorman. They could not shake off their idleness and give somethingto the beggar. He only wanted a handful of rice. And they couldnot take the trouble to do this bit of work. Is it proper to deprivea man of what is his due? Even to the cow we owe these peelingsof the vegetables. We should hold these near her mouth."

Year 1917

I went to see the Holy Mother in the evening. I had been residingat our Baghbazar house at that time and I visited her almostevery day. Finding her alone I narrated to her a dream and said,"Mother, one night I saw Sri Ramakrishna in a dream. You had


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been living then at Jayrambati. I saluted him and asked, 'Whereis the Mother?' He said, 'Follow that lane and you will find athatched cottage. She is seated in the front porch.'" .The HolyMother was on her bed. With great enthusiasm she sat up andsaid, "You are quite right. Your dream is true." "Is it, then, true?"I said in surprise, "I had the idea that your home at Jayrambati isa brick building. But in the dream I saw the earthen floor,thatched roof, etc., and therefore concluded that it was allillusory."

In the course of conversation regarding austerity for therealization of God, she said, "Golap-Ma and Yogin-Ma devoted agreat deal of their time to meditation and the repetition of God'sname. Yogin-Ma practised the greatest austerities. At one timeshe lived only on milk and fruits. Even now she spends much ofher time in spiritual practices. The mind of Golap-Ma is hardlyaffected .by external things. She does not even hesitate to eatcooked vegetables purchased from the market, which a Brahminwidow would never touch. "

It was arranged to have devotional songs on the Goddess Kalisung that evening at the house of the Holy Mother. The monks ofthe Belur Math would take part in it. The music commenced athalf-past eight in the evening. Many of the women devotees saton the verandah to hear the music. I was rubbing oil on theMother's feet and could hear the songs from the room. I hadheard them many a time before. But that day those songs,

coming from the mouth of the devotees, had a novel charm. Theywere full of power and thrill. My eyes became moist. They weresinging now and then those songs which Sri Ramakrishna hadhimself sung. At such times the Holy Mother would cry out withenthusiasm, "Yes, Sri Ramakrishna would sing this song!" Theycommenced the song whose first line runs thus: "The bee of my


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mind has become fascinated with the blue lotus of the DivineMother's feet!" The Holy Mother could not lie down any more. Afew tear-drops trickled down her cheeks. She said, "Come,darling. Let us go to the verandah." After the singing was over, Isaluted the Mother and returned home.

ghm section ia part 4

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