The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 22

Once Haldhiyaram told Thakurji, ‘ Mama, there as so many noble-soul and saints visiting this shrine,  no one knows their  spiritual strength, and they are performing various supernatural powers, why do not you request Ma Kali for spiritual powers?’  Thakurji replied ‘ My mother does not want to deviate my attention to supernatural powers, anyway I will ask her once.” Saying so he entered inside the shrine of Ma Kali, he folded hands together and said “ Ma, Hridhu wanted me to have some supernatural powers, whatever you feel you can do to me. I do not know anything about it,” later he told Hridhyaram, ‘supernatural powers keep an ascetic away from supreme bliss; it will not give any benefit to the worshiper.” Thakurji continued ‘ Listen I will explain a story to you, a person had two sons, the elder son grown up he went out of the house, and became an ascetic, the younger son became Dharmic teacher after his studies.  There is a rule among ascetics that if an ascetic wants to return home in twelve years he can do that, so the elder son came back to the village and saw his younger brother has his own family, he went near the door of the home and called his younger brother’s name.  They have met after several years, so they had to share a lot of happiness and sorrows, younger brother asked ‘ What did you gain after leaving home and your beloved people?” the elder brother said ‘ you want to see what I have gained, come with me.” finally these two brothers arrived on the shore of the river bank, the elder brother walked over the water and crossed the river, younger one took a ferry and crossed the river, the elder brother said’ You have seen what I have gained all these years, I have crossed the river walking on it.” The younger brother said, ‘ I have also performed the same task but I have adopted ferry to cross the river, you have wasted your twelve years on it,’  elder brother’s eye remained wide open after listening to the words of the younger brother, therefore supernatural powers have no value in the Dharmic world.  Later the elder brother became too devoted to the Supreme Lord and Dharmic way of life.”  

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 21

Once Thakurji went to roam around the garden of Shambu Malik, they conversed each other and became late in the evening, he took the help of Girija and returned to Dhakshineshwar, there was too dark all around, while leaving he was thinking of getting a lantern from Shambu Malik, it would be a great help  in the darkness,  Thakurji was holding Girija’s hand and walking, he was stumbling upon the muddy way, Girija asked him to stop and stood in front of him blocking his way.   Instantly brilliant rays were emitted from her back and throw light up to the temple of Dhakshineshwar, with the help of that light Thakurji arrived at home. 

While Swami Vivekananda immerses in meditation his divinity started to show up, Thakurji said it is not a good sign, it will not give the Dharshan of Lord, and instead, it will create hurdles.  God is the truth, the rest of the things are an illusion, and advised him not to take up meditation for a few days.  Thakurji’ narrates ‘whoever immerses in intense faith and devotion on the Supreme Lord never faces challenges, never sink, they escape with minimal hurt, when big ferries move around the waters of Ganga, little boats keep moving uncontrollably, we may feel that it will sink now, once the big ferries move away, the smaller ones manage to stand firm.  Human life is quite interesting,  we have to face some pushes and pull in day to day lives, people create their own family for happiness, they will get married, will have children, and they become grown up and they get married, the chain keeps going on and on, later he will be anxious about illness then death.  Therefore surrender to the Supreme Lord is the only way to escape from the unending miseries, grief and sorrows of worldly existence.  Unconditional love towards supreme Lord is bliss”. 

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter - 20

One day Madhuranath Biswas who is the son-in-law of Rani Rasmoni Devi, founder of famous Sri Dhakshineshwar Kali Temple in Kolkata, while conversing with people assembled, he said ‘The whole Universe and its living beings are created by the supreme Lord, and all are abide by certain rules and disciplines, even the supreme soul has to follow the same, once implemented rule cannot be changed.”   Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was fondly addressed as Thakurji said ‘What are you saying? Supreme Lord has created the rules and disciplines; he can implement as well as terminate those rules.” Madhuranath who always very fond of Thakurji and address him Baba/father, their relationship was like father and son, did not accept these words of Thakurji.   Madhuranath continued “ Red flowers bloom in the plant where it is supposed to be, white flowers cannot bloom in that plant, because it is the rule created by Supreme Lord.  Thakurji said, ‘ If I show you white flowers in a red flowering plant, will you accept?’ Sri Ramakrishna said “if he wishes he will do that.’  Madhuranath did not believe it.  One day Thakurji went for relaxing, Madhuranath notice a red flowering plant full of white flowers, Thakurji brought Madhuranath and showed the miracle, Madhuranath said ‘Yes, Baba, I agree with you. If the Supreme Lord can create a rule, he can implement or cancel the same.’  Madhuranath was the manager of Rani Rasmoni Devi, he takes care of all the affairs of properties of Rani Rasmoni, if required he will fight with people, once he came to Thakurji for help after a critical incident took place while fighting and said ‘Baba, kindly protect me’ Thakurji shouted at him ‘Every day you will bring up some fight and want me to protect you from the troubles. What can I do, you handle your problems,” Madhuranath started crying holding the leg of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Finally Thakurji said ‘Go now, everything will happen at the will of Ma Kali.’ Eventually, Madhuranath escaped with the grace of Thakurji.   Once Thakurji explained, most of the spiritual seekers begin with intense devotion and faith, they put all their effort into seeking spiritual truth, that the whole Universe is an illusion and Bramham is pure and unblemished, they achieve the fruit of highest of spiritual practice and they get attracted to the advancements they have made in the spiritual path, in this way they destroy all their piousness in vain. 

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 19

There was a successful businessman Shambuchandh Malik who was very famous in the city, he had no faith in saints or holy men, he used to comment that these ascetics worship Lord and on the other side they run after money and worry about lack of money, only Ramakrishna Thakurji is a true ascetic who contemplates upon supreme Lord. He won’t ask anything from anybody, he is married but he had no physical relationship with his wife, he is happy with whatever his wife gives him, he does not use majestic silk clothes, or symbolic mark on forehead, or ashes, he does not carry anything to prove himself as a holy man.  One day he invited Thakurji in his home, Thakurji could not visit because of ill health, so he arrived at Dhakshineshwar.  They together spend a lot of time in conversation and started to move around the garden, he fed Thakurji with the fruit of pomegranate, there were few left, he said: “ I have brought it for you, so please take it with you.” Thakurji said, “ I am not well, I do not need this.” Malik forcefully kept two fruits in his pocket, after this a surprising incident took place.  Thakurji was found it difficult to come out of the garden, there was no way to come out that place, Malik was standing and witnessing the same.  Soon Thakurji took out the Pomegranates from the pocket and kept it aside, soon everything was visible for him, Shambhu asked the reason, Thakurji said: “ Ma, refused to take the pomegranates.” Shambhu did not believe in his words, he decided to experiment the matter in the future.  One day Thakurji was swirling with the stomach pain, none of the medicines did work, soon Shambhu brought Thakurji in his garden and gave some herb, whenever Thakurji complaints of stomach ache Shambhu do the same.  Sahmbhu said ‘why you are taking the pain to visit here, take some herbs with you whenever you feel pain, swallow the same, you need not come here.” He sincerely followed Shambhu and took some herbs with him but the same thing repeated, he could not see the pathways, he lost his way, he continued to roam around in search of the exit.  Thakurji was tired and sat down, soon Shambhu removed the herbs from the pocket of Thakurji, and everything became visible for Thakurji.  It was quite unnatural for Shambhumalik.  Soon he realized that Thakurji is not an ordinary person, he is divine personified on Earth.  After that incident, Shambhumalik became an ardent devotee of Thakurji and completely surrendered at his feet.

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 18

Rameshwar Chatterji was a cousin brother of Thakurji, he had a daughter Lakshmini, her marriage was fixed, Hridhayram informed this matter to Thakurji, that time Thakurji was in a transcendental state, he said “ Lakshmi’s marriage? It is not going to bring any good. Lakshmi will become a widow soon.” Hridhayram holding Thakurji’s face said “ Mama, what did you say? On this auspicious occasion why did you say such a thing about your cousin?” soon Thakurji got out of the state, he asked “ Hridhu, did I say something? Did I say anything about bad omen?’.  Things happened in real, soon after marriage, Lakshmidevi became a widow.  Thakurji considered her as Devi Sitala.

One of the residents of Hooghly, Mahendrapal was doing the job of a physician,  Thakurji took help of this physician for his cousin, one-day Mahendrapal paid five rupees to Ramlal, another cousin of Thakurji to give to Thakurji, that night Thakurji was terribly anxious and felt pain on the chest, soon he understood the money paid by Mahendrapal was causing him the pain.  Next day Ramlal returned the five rupees to Mahendrapal, all the uneasiness of Thakurji went off.  Mahendrapal gave this money for a personal motive not with love.  Thakurji always give lectures on this to his disciple that money earned by a doctor, poets, advocates, agents, and all the professionals should not receive as contribution.  Thakurji never liked to receive any contributions, there were rich Marwadis used to visit him with fruits and sweets, he never touches these things with his hands, it would be sent to the houses of Balramvasu or Narendra, whoever pays any contribution with the pure heart would bring happiness, he was not willing to accept any contribution from selfish people.  He would say Narendra is a fire pit; all the impurities will burn into ashes.

The legend of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Thakurji!

Chapter – 17

Prabudhayalmisri is a Bhramin, there was a tragedy took place in his family, so he became so depressed and spend some days in solitude in a cave under the mountain where no people lived, one day he witnessed a divine personality who had great effulgence, soon he accepted the Isai Dharma and went in search of Lord of Christ, on this mission he met several saints and holy men,  he realized that a holy person is living near the shores of Ganga.  Soon he arrived to meet Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he saw Thakurji and he recollected the dream he had and said “These people do not recognize you, I have recognized you. You are the Lord of Christ.” Thakurji asked ‘Could you see the light?” Misri said “Yes I can. While I was living in my home I could see that often.” Soon Thakurji became emotional and went into Ghat. He gave hand to Misri and said: “It will work the way you want.”

Vishwanath Upadhyay was appointed as representative of Nepal Government in Kolkata, he has profound knowledge in scriptures and engaged in Dharmic activities.  One night he had a dream in that an effulgent divine personality calling him, he was surprised who was that? Where did he live? He did not find the answer so left the dream unnoticed.  After some time there was a flood took place in Ganga and there were many blocks of wood were washed away, it brought heavy damage to public properties, he was not in a position to submit the report of the same to the authorities, after few days the Government of Nepal collected information about him and he was aware of the fact that he would be punished for his absence in the duty.  We all remember Lord only at the time of trouble, during that time we may rush to meet saints and holy men for advice.  Finally he arrived to Thakurji “ Maharaj, kindly shower your mercy on me, otherwise, I will die of guilt and shame.” Thakurji said, “ You narrate all your troubles to Jagathjanani, pray to her, no need to be scared, inform the Government of Nepal about the issue, describe the truth, you will not be harmed.” Later Viswanath Upadhyay was promoted to a higher official for his honesty by the Government of Nepal, he believed it all because of the mercy of Thakurji.

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.