The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 16

There was a person named Prathapchandra Hajra who belonged to Shudra class came under the shelter of Thakurji, so he was made to stay in the shrine, he meditates with prayer beads, but he was never been successful in achieving concentration.   Thakurji realized it soon, one-day Thakurji shouted at Hajra saying that he is not sincere in his prayers.  Hajra felt very sad and said he is too kind to others but not to him, Thakurji said “I love everyone including Narendra, he does not have money to buy even salt” he remained silent after listening to Thakurji, one day he took away the beads from him and said “ Ma, Hajra is really foolish, he is sitting and counting beads, whoever visits you will attain the fruit instantly,” Thakurji like Hajra very much, sometimes he allows him to massage his feet, sometimes he does not allow to touch his feet at all, then immediately Hajra would understand that he had committed a sin that is why Thakurji does not allow him to touch his feet.  During those days he goes to Ghat in the night and mix mud in the Ganga water and consume, sit and do meditation.  Soon Thakurji’s eyes fall on him, he immediately call for Hajra to resume his duty of massaging Thakurji’s feet. Thakurji would say “yes it is enough, you can stop now.” Hajra would say “ No, I would continue to do this until my heart says to stop.”  These were the pastimes of Thakurji with his staunch devotees.

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 15

There was a devotee of Thakurji named Ramdhutt, his friend Sureshchand who is from well to do family, he was taking immense pleasure in the drinks and illicit relationships, but there was no peace of mind.  Sureshchand went extremely depressed and decided to take off his life.  One day Ramdhutt seeing the pathetic situation of his friend, said “You come with me to Dhakshineshwar, all your troubles will go away,”   Sureshji arrived with Dhutt to Dhakshineshwar, he did not prostrate before Ma Kali or Thakurji, he went to sit in a place, and he had no faith in ascetics or holy men.  Seeing him Thakurji said “ There are two kinds of devotees, one is like kitten which keeps crying for its mother without moving an inch, lives only with the support of its mother and another kind of devotee is like the child of a monkey, immediately after getting out of mother’s womb it starts running and jumping all over the places, it becomes highly confident, it does not care about anyone.  A devotee should be like a kitten, completely surrendered to Mother, she will not let any evil happen to her child,” These inspiring speeches of Thakurji echoed in the mind of Sureshji, he slowly moved toward Thakurji and prostrated before him.

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 14

Thakurji’s wife Saradadevi arrived in Dhakshineshwar.  He asked his wife to attend his aged mother and he returned back to the service of Ma Kali. Hridhayram continued the daily rituals of Ma Kali.   The fame of Ramakrishna Thakurji spread all over the place in Dhakshineshwar, several disciples came to be with Thakurji, Swami Vivekananda/Narendranath Dutt, Bhramanda, Niranjjanand, Athbhuthanandh, Sadanand, and many devotees arrived, several prominent people and devotees were becoming a disciple of Thakurji, some people who were really afflicted with various illnesses also came there to be with the divine presence of Thakurji.

Thakurji had a desire to visit Kashi and have a Dharshan of Baba Vishwanath,  Madhuranath made all the arrangements to fulfill the desire of Thakurji and left to Kashi.  On January 17^th, 1868, they arrived at Baidhyanath Dham and Kashi.  Thakurji met Thrailangaswamiji and told Madhuranath “ he is divine personified, he is Lord Vishwanatha of Kashi,”.  They proceed to Vrindavan and various sacred places and returned to Dhakshineshwar.  Madhuranath noticed the spiritual achievement of Thakurji, it enthused him.  There were people who where jealous of the spiritual achievement of him.  Once Thakurji was in Ardhasamadhi, then the priest of Kalighat Haldhar mocked at him, he went close to Thakurji and started talking disrespectfully, he did not receive any reply from Thakurji, so kicked him hard and went off.  Actually, Thakurji was not in a position to talk anything, he thought if Madhuranath comes to know that the priest kicked him and went away, he will not tolerate.  Soon, the priest was removed from the work due to some malpractices.  One day Thakurji discussed the matter of the priest of Kalighat with all, Madhuranath burst into rage, "why you did not tell me before? If you were told me that day, I would have cut him alive.”

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 13

Parivrajakacharya Thottapuri during the spiritual tour arrived in Dhakshineshwar, he settled in the Ghat, Ramakrishna roams around and sat near Thottapuri who was surprised to see the state of Ramakrishna.  Thottapuri understood the spiritual powers of Thakurji, he remarked this youth is not an ordinary human, he is an incomparable Yogi.  He was amazed to see the kind of practice of meditation carried out by Ramakrishna could not be seen easily, Thoththapuri after keenly observing Ramkrishna replied “you are a supreme spirit, I wanted to teach you Vedantha and Sadhana, will you learn?”  Thakurji said “I do not know anything, do not know what I want to do, my mother Kali knows everything; if she permits me I will learn.”  Thottapuri said “ Ok, right. Go and ask this matter to your Mother, I will not wait for too long here,” Thakurji went straight to Jagadamba’s shrine and became too emotional,  Ma Kali ordered “ Go and learn lessons from Him.  He came here for that purpose only” Thakurji returned to Thottapuri and informed the message of Ma Jagadamba, Swami Thoththapuri was too glad to receive him, “ In order to learn and practice Vedantha you should sacrifice the Shikha Suthra, and fine clothes,” Thakurji  said “ Please tell me what all to follow I will do it, otherwise, my mother will be disappointed,” One-day Ramakrishna was initiated into Sanyasa under the supervision of Thottapuri and continued Vedantha sadhana, but Thakurji failed to attain Nirvikalpasamadhi, Thottapuri felt so angry, he took a piece of glass and scratched on the middle of the two eyebrows, “ concentrate on this point,” previously whenever he concentrates on the meditation he was always taken to Ma Kali,  this time he firmly concentrated on the point, seeing his disciple immersed in meditation, Thottapuri came out of the chamber and closed it from outside, so that no one can break his meditation, thinking that when he gets out of the meditation, he will call for someone to open the door.  Three days went off, but Ramakrishna did not get out of the Samadhi, Ramakrishna did not ask to open the door, Thottapuri was extremely worried, he opened the lock and saw, Ramakrishna was sitting in the same posture how Thoththapuri was instructed, his body has no sign of life, his face was serene and majestic with radiance.  Thottapuri was stunned to see the Samadhi of Ramakrishna, he took forty years to achieve this state of spiritual advancement, and this Mahapurusha attained that highest state in a day.  He continued to keep checking on Ramakrishna’s breath; he said: “It is the miracle of Ma Kali.” 

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 12

In the year 1861 Bhairavi Bhramani came to visit Dhakshineshwar, she was middle-aged ascetic covered in a saffron robe, she holds a trident,  she was from the pious Bhramin family, she carries a Raghubir Shila, she was well conversant with the Thanthri principles and texts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.    She converses with Thakurji for hours after seeing his intense meditation, she got too pleased at him, and she considered Ramakrishna as her own son.  While talking Bhairavi said “ Oh! Child, I was searching for a disciple like you, You practice Thanthrasadhana, I will teach you the process,” after a few days Bhairavi told Madhuranath that Thakurji is not an ordinary human, he is an incarnation of Lord, you should take care of him in a special manner,  Thakurji will be highly propitious for all of you,” Madhuranath had the experience of the same.  Thakurji undertakes extreme Sadhanas under the bale tree, at the northern end of Dhakshineshwar garden.

One day Madhuranath arrived at the shrine with Rani Rasmoni.  At the end of Puja, Rani requested Thakurji to sing praising Ma Kali,  Ramakrishna started to sing the glories of Ma Kali. While singing he gave a slap on the upper back of Rani Rasmoni saying that “you are thinking all those things sitting before Ma Kali” All the temple workers were got infuriated at the senseless act of Ramakrishna.   Madhuranath’s eyes became red with anger, everyone knows that Thakurji is mad, at that moment Rani Rasmoni showed a gesture to stop all the chaos, she prostrates before Ramakrishna and said “ Thakur, kindly forgive my mistake,  now you start singing. I will not let my mind wander.”  Later Rani Rasmoni was surprised and said “ Thakur is Antharyami, he is omniscient, he is the knower of all while listening to his singing, my mind wandered into court matter,” Madhuranath became too devoted to Thakurji after listening to Rani Rasmoni.  He always takes sincere care of Thakurji, like a sincere servant of Lord, he remembered the words of Hridhayram “ Ma Kali always appears before Mamaji, she consumes offerings from his hand, she converses with Mamaji,” Ramkrishna learned Thanthric practices from Bhairavi Bhramani, he had some changes in his behavior.   Madhuranath was always worried about the mental health of Thakurji, he brought a doctor to treat Ramkrishna, his mother arrived to Dhakshineshwar after hearing the difficulties of Ramakrishna, saw three cousins were taking care of Ramakrishna.   Thakurji’s spiritual practices went up to the supreme state, he started practicing Adhvaithasadhana, his health conditions were getting worse day by day, he was void of sleep, hunger, clothes and  unaware of the need to perform necessary tasks for living, he stopped talking to people completely.

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 11

Ramakrishna was the youngest son, so Chandradevi had a special affection towards him.  She was too anxious about Ramakrishna after the death of Ramkumar, she received news from Kolkata that Ramakrishna became lunatic, so two of his relatives went to pick him from Dhakshineshwar.  She brought the village physician and showed Ramkrishna, and followed the medication, but there was no much effect on Ramakrishna.  The elders in the village advised her to perform the marriage of Ramakrishna at the earliest.  Chandradevi was pleased with this decision, duly informed to his son, he did not utter any word against it.  One day Ramakrishna was on meditation, he informed his mother not to conduct the search for his bride here and there, he clearly mentioned the details of his future bride and it happened exactly the same way Ramkrishna predicted.   Thus,  At the age of 23, in the year 1859, May,  Ramkrishna was married to Sri Sarada Devi from the Jayrambati.  Sri Sarada Devi was born on Dec 22^nd 1853; she was the eldest daughter of Sri Ramachandramukhopadhyay and Devi Syamasundari.   Saradadevi was 6 years when she got married to Ramakrishna, after one year of marriage he returned to Dhakshineshwar.  In the year 1872, she had a vision Ma Kali who instructed her to join with Ramakrishna in Dhakshineshwar, at the age of 19 years she joined with Ramakrishna.  She dutifully served her husband and his disciples who were treated her as Mother.  Ramakrishna envisioned Ma Kali in Saradadevi, he performs Shodasha Upachara Puja to her.  In between she had to move to her father’s home, once again in 1877 she joined with Ramakrishna while he imitated the Puja of Jagadhathri in Dhakshineshwar,  she was celestial being symbolizes Jnana, Bakthi and Karama Yoga, she has reflected the qualities of simplicity, kindness, compassion, care, and love.  She was exceptional in being a devoted wife, the supreme ascetic, compassionate mother, and preceptor. Once Ma Sharadadevi asked her husband “ How did you think of me?” Sri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa said “ I am seeing you as Ma Kali who resides in the shrine of Sri Dhakshineshwar”, he was treated all the females as the form of Ma Kali. 

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 10

Ramtharak followed all the yogic practices and meditation of Gadhadhar, he also heard from Hridhayram that Gadhadhar performs meditation without clothes in the Panchavati, it has become a regular practice that the whole shrine was reverberating with the painful cries of Gadhadhar “Ma , Ma, “.  One day Ramtharak said “ Ramkrishna, I have understood you. Your body holds the presence of the supreme Lord.”  Madhuranath thought it must be the cause of strict celibacy Ramkrishna facing intense emotional disturbances,  Madhuranath felt terribly upset seeing the  pitiful emotional state of Ramakrishna Thakur.  In order to bring some changes in his mental state, he brought a most beautiful young lady to Dhakshineshwar, so that she could attract Ramakrishna with his lustful physical appearance, later she was sent to the streets of prostitutes, everyone got attracted towards her, they all have seen the presence of Jaganmatha in her.  Madhuranatha saw everyone approaches her calling “Ma, Ma,”,  rest of the ladies become too devoted and kind,  Madhuranath felt guilty for his evil thought, eventually, he became too devoted to Ramakrishna.   Madhuranath would go terribly disturbed in his absence.