Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 041 Monday 15-02-2016
15-02-2016 Monday
Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 041
Marriage and After – 06
In 1964, when Sarada was about ten years old, Bengal was suffering from a terrible famine, whose effect Jayrambati did not escape. People were starving, and many would come to her father’s house for food. Ramachandra, a poor man himself, had stocked some rice from the previous year’s surplus and he opened a free kitchen for the hungry villagers. Rice and lentils were boiled together and kept in several large pots. This preparation is called khichuri. The members of the family, together with the famine-stricken people, ate this simple meal. But Ramachandra stipulated that some especially good rice should be cooked separately for Sarada. Sometimes the hungry people came in such numbers that the khichuri would run short and a fresh supply had to be cooked. Sarada had to fan the hot stuff in order to cool it off. One day a low-class girl, with shaggy hair and bloodshot eyes, came to the house. Evidently she has been starving for some time. Seeing some powdered rice soaked in a tub for the cattle, she at once started eating it. Sarada asked her to come inside and eat khichuri. But the girl was too impatient to wait. Recalling this incident, Sarada said many years after: ;Is it a joke to bear the agony of an empty stomach?’
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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: 28 – 29
