08-08-2016 Monday
Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 196

Anguish and Reassurances – 20

Sometime in 1893, at Nilambar Babu’s house, Holy Mother performed the Panchatapa, or ‘Austerity of Five Fires.’ It may be reminded that when she had visited Benares, distressed in mind, she was asked by a woman ascetic from Nepal to perform the Panchatata. Later, in a vision, a monk who was a complete stranger made the same request. But she knew nothing about this austerity and asked Yogin-Ma what it was. Yogin-Ma explained it to her and said that she, too, would practise the discipline. Accordingly, on the roof of Nilambat Babu’s house, four blazing fires of dried cow-dung were lighted about six feet apart. The sun which shone brightly overhead as the fifth fire. Holy Mother and Yogin-Ma bathed in the Ganges and approached the fires. They were required to sit there surrounded by the five fires and meditate from sunrise to sunset. At first Holy Mother felt extremely nervous, but she received encouragement from her companion. Keeping Sri Ramakrishna in her mind, she entered the area surrounded by the fires and immediately felt that the fires had, as it were, lost their heat. The two women came out when the sun sank below the horizon. They went through this ordeal for seven consecutive days from dawn to dusk. Holy Mother felt an inner peace; her fair complexion, however, became dull. She generally spoke casually of this austerity.

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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: 117 – 118

Location: Bangalore