Section V
Sri Ramakrishna at the Dakshineswar Temple with Rakhal,
Ram, Kedar, Tarak, M., and other Devotees
Chapter I
At Dakshineswar
Temple – worship
of Thakur’s holy feet
After the evening worship in the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar,
Sri Ramakrishna stands before the image of the Divine Mother. He fans her with
a chamara[1]
for some time.
It is summer, Friday, 8 June 1883, the third day of the bright
fortnight of the month of Jaishtha. (Some incidents that happened on the new
moon day[2]
were recorded in Volume II, Section V of the Kathamrita.) After dusk Ram, Kedar (Chatterji), and Tarak arrived from
Calcutta in a carriage. They have brought flowers and sweets for Thakur.
Kedar must be about fifty
years old. He is a great devotee. As soon as there is talk of God, his eyes are
filled with tears. He used to visit the Brahmo Samaj and then the Kartabhaja
and several other new religious sects. At last he has taken refuge at the feet
of Sri Ramakrishna. He holds a government accountant’s job. His home is in the
village of Halishar near Kanchdapara.
Tarak[3]
is about twenty-four years old. He had married but his wife died after only a
few days. His home is in the village of Barasat. His father is a spiritual
aspirant of a high order and has visited Sri Ramakrishna a number of times.
After the death of Tarak’s mother, his father married a second time.
Tarak frequently visits Ram at his house. He often comes to
visit Thakur with Ram and Nityagopal. He works in an office these days but his
attitude is always one of indifference to worldly things.
Sri Ramakrishna comes out of the Kali Temple and lies
prostrate on the platform in salutation to the Mother.
He sees Ram, M., Kedar, Tarak, and the other devotees
standing there.
Affection for Tarak –
Kedar and ‘lust and greed’
He touches Tarak’s chin affectionately. Indeed, he is very
happy to see him.
Thakur sits on the floor of
his room in an ecstatic mood. He stretches his legs out before him. Ram and
Kedar decorate his feet with various kinds of flowers and garlands. Thakur is
in samadhi.
Kedar has the attitude of a
new devotee. He holds the big toe of Sri Ramakrishna, believing that by doing
so, he will receive power from Thakur. Returning somewhat to the normal state,
Thakur says, “Mother, what can he do to me by holding my toe?” Kedar humbly
folds his hands.
Sri Ramakrishna (to Kedar, in the state of
ecstasy): “Your mind is attracted to ‘lust and greed.’ What use is it just to say that your mind
does not dwell in them?
“Go forward. There is more
after the sandalwood forest. A silver mine, a goldmine, and then diamonds and
jewels. You’ve attained a little divine inspiration – don’t think you’ve
achieved everything.”
Thakur again begins to talk to the Divine Mother, “Mother,
please take him away.”
Kedar says to Ram, his throat dry with fear, “What is Thakur
saying!”
God-incarnate and his intimate disciples
Seeing Rakhal, Thakur is again absorbed in ecstasy and
addresses him: “I have been here many days! When did you come?”
Is Thakur hinting that he is an incarnation of God and Rakhal is his intimate disciple, a companion of his inner circle?