Re: Painting of Madonna and Child in Jadu Mallick's parlor (TLWG)
Through the dedicated efforts of Swami Lokeswarananda, the actual painting is now preserved with/by the Vedanta Society of Northern California. He told me the story while I was in India, twenty years ago this month.
I understand it is kept safely out of view, being brought out sometimes for special occasions. This has been true of other relics of Ramakrishna, Swamiji, and Mother. A pipe of Swami's used to be left out at Vivekananda House in Pasadena until a part of it was discovered missing. It has since been kept safely locked away. I suspect that one does not mean to be destructive, but instead may be caught up in their love for a holy person. The sad fact is that such unrestrained devotion robs future devotees the same opportunity to be in the presence of such holy items.
