Sources
of Biographical Information about M.Sources
of Biographical Information about M.
M. was the pen name of Mahendra Nath Gupta (1854-1932), the headmaster of Vidyasagar's High School in Calcutta. M. met Sri Ramakrishna in 1882 and recorded in his diary many of the Master's conversations and teachings until the latter's passing away in 1886. Excerpts from this diary were first published in Bengali in five volumes under the title Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita. In 1942 Swami Nikhilananda translated this into English and combined the five volumes into one, entitled The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. In his later life M. was surrounded by devotees, and his conversations with them about Sri Ramakrishna and spiritual life were recorded by Swami Nityatmananda from 1923 to 1932. These conversations were published in Bengali in sixteen volumes under the title Srima Darshan [page 289].
Mahendra Nath Gupta, better known as M, author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, left his mortal body on Saturday, June 4, 1932. [Shivananda Vani, II] He was seventy-eight years old when he died. The news moved Mahapurushji [Swami Shivananda] very much and he sat silent for a while. Unable to control his feelings any longer he then gently remarked to those who were close by: " The Master placed me in such a position that I could not even go and see M (when he was sick). One by one the Master is taking away his devotees . . . Ah! M lived in Calcutta, illumining the entire city, as it were. How many devotees visited him and heard from him the Master's words and thus were filled with peace! This loss will never be made good. M had nothing else to discuss but the words of Sri Ramakrishna; his life was filled with the Master. How dearly the Master loved him!
"At one time M spent many days in succession at Dakshineswar. He was very simple as regards his food, living mostly on milk and rice. The Master himself arranged for a pint of good milk that he needed every day. M had a very strong body, that's why he could do so much of the Master's work. Whatever he heard from the Master he would note down in his diary after going home. From those notes he wrote that wonderful Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He had a prodigious memory. He merely jotted down meagre notes, and from those notes, by exercising his memory through meditation, he compiled the Gospel. He belonged to the group of Sri Ramakrishna's intimate disciples. The Master, as it were, brought M with him for that particular work. M was accustomed to visit the Master every Saturday or Sunday or on any holiday. He also saw him when the Master came to Calcutta or wherever else he might be visiting. On such occasions, interesting subjects were sure to be discussed, with a big crowd present. All of a sudden Sri Ramakrishna would turn to M and ask: ' M, did you understand? Note that point well.' Sometimes the Master would repeat certain points. We did not realize then why he spoke to M in that way.
"The Master's words were so impressive and instructive that I too felt tempted to make notes. One day at Dakshineswar I was listening to him, looking intently at his face. He was explaining many beautiful things. Noticing my keen interest, suddenly the Master said: 'Look here! Why are you listening so attentively?' I was taken by surprise. . He then added: 'You don't have to do that. Your life is different.' I felt as if the Master had divined my intention to keep notes and did not approve of it, and that was why he had spoken in that way. From that time on I gave up the idea of making notes of his conversations, and whatever notes I already had I threw into Ganga."
The next morning some devotees who had associated with and served him devotedly for a long time came to the monastery from Calcutta. They seemed to be grief-stricken over M's passing away. Upon hearing from them the details of M's death, Mahapurushji affectionately said: " Ah! It is a great blow to you. This bereavement is fresh; words will not assuage this grief What is to be done? No one has any control over this. Sri Ramakrishna himself is taking away his devotees. But we know that the relationship of M with us and with the Master is eternal. Never think for a moment that M passed away for good and that there has been an end of everything."
Talking in this vein, Mahapurushji tried to console the devotees, and while bidding them good-bye said: " What is there to fear, my children? The Master is living (in a spiritual sense)! We are still in the flesh. Whenever you find time, come to the monastery ".
When the devotees had left, Mahapurushji said, " Ah! M was like a refuge to the devotees-a haven of peace. Particularly after Swami Saradananda's death many devotees used to go to M, and he would gladden their hearts by speaking to them about the Master. This loss cannot be replaced! He was indeed a holy soul. What great work of the Master he accomplished! Even if he had written only one volume of the Gospel (there are five such volumes in Bengali), it would have immortalized him. His work is imperishable." [pages 318-321]
