14-January-2012 (Saturday) : Reminiscences of The Holy Mother!!!
14-January-2012 (Saturday)
Reminiscences of The Holy Mother!!!
SWAMI SARADESHANANDA-11
At Jayrambati, the food served in Mother’s household was like one served in any average middle class family. In the morning there would be puffed rice, and for lunch, parboiled rice of medium quality would be served with kalai-dal, some preparation of poppy seeds, a hot vegetable item and some chutney. At times, edible herbs or curry or fried stuff would be added. Fish was also served frequently. Occasionally, other items of food also would be there. Mother herself used to cook and serve the food as long as she was physically strong. Towards the end, she couldn’t. But she used to sit there from first to last and watch while everyone ate. The mats, the leaves (used as plates), the glasses, all had to be clean and properly placed. The water in the glasses had to be neither too little not too much, and the leaves had to be placed right in the centre in front of the mats which, in their turn, had to be carefully spaced, neither too close nor too far, equidistant from each other. As food would be served, one would hear Mother’s sweet call, “Son, it is quite late, come quickly, the rice has been served, come and eat.” At times the boys would be late due to some work at hand. Mother used to guard the food from flies, driving them away with the loose end of her dhoti. How radiant her face would become as she watched us eating! Lovingly she would ask, “How is the food?” One had no rice on his plate, another needed more dal – what great pains she would take to ensure that everyone had his fill, each according to his taste!
(REMINISCENCES OF Sri Sarada Devi by Monastics, Devotees, and others - Compiled and Edited in Bengali by SWAMI PURNATMANANDA - Translated by MALOTI SEN GUPTA : P 28-29)
