*NAVARATRI WEEK* SARVAMANGALA ( continued )

[Guest guest]

Now Devicharan and his wife were very happy. Their daughter had come

home. She seemed more beautiful than ever and her face was bright

with joy. She took care of her mother and did all the work of the

house. The same evening Sarvamangala helped her father to dress the

image of Durga for the worship which would begin the next day. The

Image stood in a decorated shrine and when they had finished they

were amazed at its beauty. Sarvamangala's mother now felt much

better

and she too praised the image.

 

"See how beautiful Sarvamangala has dressed the image,"she

said. "And

see how beautiful Sarvamangala is herself." We have no costly

silks

and jewes, yet our goddess and our daughter will find no equal

anywhere for charm and beauty.

 

The first two days of the festival passed happily. Devicharan

worshipped Durga and his heart was filled with peace. The third day

came, and this was the day when guests should be fed.

 

"Today we must give a feast to all the neighbours,"

Sarvamangala said.

 

"Are you joking, child?" Devicharan replied. "How is it

possible for

us to give a feast?" We have only a few fruits to offer."

 

"I am not joking, Father." Sarvamangala said. "You have

worshipped

the Mother in your house. The worship will not be complete if you do

not give a feast. I am going now to invite all the neighbours."

 

Sarvamangala went to the neighbour's house. Devicharan prepared

for

the worship.

 

"Now that my daughter is married to a rich man's son, "

Devicharan

thought, "she thinks it is easy to give a feast"

 

When Sarvamangala returned, Devicharan sat down to worship the

goddess. Sarvamangala assisted him. The image seems to be living and

Devicharan's face shone with joy. The whole room seemed to shine

with

light from the goddess.

At noon the neighbours began to arrive. Sarvamangala had invited them

all to partake of the fruits offerings made to the Mother.

 

"Just see what a prank the girl has played," Devicharan said,

feeling

very worried.

 

"We shall look very foolish when they find we have nothing to

offer

them, " his wife said.

 

"Now you both stop worrying," Sarvamangala said firmly.

"Leave it all

to me. I have invited them and I shall give them the offerings"

 

Devicharan welcomed all the guests, and then went and sat before the

Mother.

 

"Let me not be put to shame, Mother," he said.

 

He remained sitting before the image, for now he was afraid to face

the guests.

 

Sarvamangala asked the guests to sit down, and then she served the

fruit that had been offered to Durga during the worship.

 

"My father is poor, " Sarvamangala said, "so he cannot

give you a big

feast. It is his good fortune that you have come, and I request you

to partake of these offerings."

 

"What a delicious fruit!" they exclaimed. "We have never

tasted

anything like it. Just a little of it is quite satisfying. This is

better than a big feast."

 

With great happiness the guests went home. They showered their good

wishes and blessings upon Sarvamangala and her parents.

 

"Have the guests all gone?" Devicharan asked. "Did they

laughed at me

or curse me?"

 

"Nothing of the kind." Sarvamangala's mother said,'

half the

offerings still remain, yet the guests were completely satisfied."

 

"It is indeed strange, " Devicharan said. "Mother had

blessed us, "

he added, and tears of joy flowed down his cheeks.

 

 

The following day was the last day of the worship. Devicharan felt

sad, for today the Mother would leave his house. He sat before the

image, offering the goddess a special dish made of rice, curds and

fruits. As Devicharan sat there with his eyes closed he did not

notice Sarvamangala enter the room. Quietly she began to eat the food

that was being offered to the goddess. Then Devicharan opened his

eyes. He was shocked to see his daughter eating the offering.

 

"What are you doing, daughter?" he cried.

 

Without saying a word, Sarvamangala ran from the room. Devicharan

asked his wife to prepare a fresh offering, and when it was ready he

again sat down to worship the Mother. Again Sarvamangala crept into

the room and ate up the food that was being offered, and again

Devicharan asked his wife to prepare some more. For the third time

Sarvamangala crept into the room and ate up all the offerings. Now

Devicharan felt angry with her.

 

"What is wrong with you today?" he cried. "Do not spoil

my worship

again. Go away"

 

Sarvamangala went to her mother.

 

"Father told me to go away, Mother, " she said, "So I am

going"

 

"Today you will have to go back to your father-in-law's

house,

child, " her mother replied, "for the festival is over. When

your

father has finished the pooja he went to his wife.

 

"Where is Sarvamangala?" he asked.

 

"She was here a short while ago, " his wife replied. "She

must be

waiting for you to take her home. They searched and searched for

Sarvamangala, but could not find her anywhere.

 

"The foolish girl must have gone alone to her father-in-law's

house."

Devicharan said. " I must go and see that she is safe."

 

When Devicharan reached the house he was relieved to see that his

daughter was there.

 

" I scolded you for spoiling the worship, " he said to her.

"Is that

why you came away alone? Are you very angry with me/"

 

"What are you talking about, Father?" Sarvamangala replied

looking

very puzzled.

 

"Did you not eat up all offerings as I was doing pooja?"

Devicharan

said. "Did I not scold you/"

 

"But Father, I have been here all the time, " Sarvamangala

replied. "My father-in-law told you I could not go with you."

 

Devicharan was astonished. Then he understood what had happened. It

was Durga herself who had come in the form of his daughter.

 

"Mother, Mother, " he cried, weeping tears of joy. `You

came to me

and I did not know you!"

 

>From :

 

Sri Ramakrishna tells stories.

 

 

 

Om ParaShaktiye Namaha