Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 036 Tuesday 10-02-2016
10-02-2016 Wednesday
Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 036
Marriage and After – 01
WHILE SARADA WAS GROWING UP in the rural environment of Jayrambati, there was unfolding at Dakshineshwar, near Calcutta, a drama of great spiritual significance, in whose denouement Sarada later played a vital part. Sri Ramakrishna, who was born in 1836 at Kamarpukur, had shown, since early childhood, an intense longing for the realization of God. 1 (1 Sri Ramakrishna’s life has been described in a number of books. The following are especially recommended: Life of Sri Ramakrishna (Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1955); The Life of Ramakrishna, by Romain Rolland (Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1954); The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (New York: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, 1953) In 1852 he went to Calcutta and soon accepted the duties of priest at a temple in the suburban village of Dakshineswar, where the principle deity is the Divine Mother Kali, known as Bhavatarini, the Saviour of the World. Worship of the Divine Mother whetted his desire for direct realization, which soon became an all-consuming passion, and he was finally blessed with a vision of Her. This first experience of the Divine Mother only intensified his yearning for uninterrupted communion with God. He began to practise various disciplines to realize this ideal. Completely God-intoxicated, he became indifferent to food, sleep, and the other necessities of life. Day and night he spent in meditation and prayer. His restless yearning for God expressed itself in agonizing cries for the Divine Mother. He shunned worldly people, and the outside world ceased to have meaning for him. His conduct resembled that of a madman.
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Holy Mother - Being the Life of Sri Sarada Devi Wife of Sri Ramakrishna And Helpmate in his Mission By Swami Nikhilananda p: 25
