Kali- Ramakrishna's first vision of the Mother

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Dear Holy Family,

 

I'm sharing Ramakrishna's first vision of Mother Kali which is included in one chapter from the "Life of Ramakrishna". I hope this is inspiring to others as it has been to me.

 

Here are descriptions of some people in the narrative:

Rani Rasmani: built and dedicated the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar. She built the entire Temple complex at Dakshineswar which included the Kali Temple.

Mathur: son-in-law of Rani Rasmani who became the Administrator of the Kali Temple.

Ramkumar: Ramakrishna's elder brother who was the first priest of Kali Temple. Ramkumar assumed responsibility for Ramakrishna's family after their father died.

Hriday: Sri Ramakrishna's nephew who served him throughout all of his sadhana.

Radhakanta temple: another temple inside the Temple complex built by Rani Rasmani.

 

 

First Vision of the Divine Mother

 

"Sri Ramakrishna was appointed priest of the Radhakanta temple. Mathur found that his mode of worship was different from that of the ordinary Brahmins, in that he looked upon the image as the veritable representation of God and treated it as such. When he sat down to worship, a curtain of oblivion separated him from the outside world: He was totally unconscious of the presence of those who usually gathered to attend the services. Sometimes he would sit motionless for hours, being recalled with difficulty to ordinary consciousness. While uttering the various Mantras he could distinctly see those phenomena which to the ordinary priest were but phantoms of the imagination. Thus while chanting the mystic syllable Rang, which directed the priest to conceive of a wall of fire around him, Sri Ramakrishna really found himself in the midst of a circle of fire guarding himself and the place of worship from all evil influence. He could actually feel the mystic power called the Kundalini, or the "coiled up", rushing from its place of rest at the lower extremity of the spinal column, along the channel of the Sushumna, to what the Yogis called the Sahasrara or the thousand-petalled lotus of the brain, and could visualize it passing on its upward way through the six centers of the body in the spinal cord, turning the hanging buds of the "lotuses" into erect, full-blown flowers. The radiant glow of his face at the time of worship, his deep concentration and the atmosphere of purity about him suggested to the onlookers the idea that the very spirit Brahmanahood as described in the sacred books was being manifested there. None had ever seen such intensity of feeling and devotion.

 

Sri Ramakrishna adapted himself to his new station and forgot everything else. Ramkumar was gratified, for it gave him time to direct his attention to the welfare of the family; besides he felt that his end was approaching; and if one of his brothers succeeded him, the future of the family would be assured. But he was troubled by Sri Ramakrishna's love for solitude and growing indifference to the world. He hoped that it was a passing mood, and that he would begin to take part in the festivities of the Kali temple, instead of passing his leisure hours in the thick groves of the temple garden, sitting silent under a tree far away from the bustle, or worse still, taking long solitary walks in the quiet of the early morning or before dusk, along the bank of the Ganga. He resolved to teach him the elaborate procedure of the worship of Kali, so that, later, he might assume the task. As it was not considered advisable to undertake the worship of Shakti or Kali without being properly initiated, Sri Ramakrishna decided to be initiated. At this time there was a Brahmin in Calcutta named Kenaram Bhattacharya, who was noted for his devotion and experience, and Sri Ramakrishna decided to accept him as Guru. A day was fixed, and the ceremony took place. It is said that as soon as the sacred Mantra was uttered in his ears, Sri Ramakrishna, overwhelmed with religious fervor, gave a shout and plunged into a deep concentration, which greatly astonished the Guru.

 

>From this time on Ramkumar asked his brother now and then to take over the worship of the Divine Mother, while he himself worshipped at the altar of Radhakanta instead. Mathur noticed this and one day requested Sri Ramakrishna to take over the permanent worship of Kali. "Sir, I do not know the procedure of that worship," he replied, "so how can I perform the sacred task according to the injunctions of the Shastras?" But Mathur humbly said, "You do not require any shastric code; your great devotion and sincerity alone will satisfy the goddess. Whatever you offer at the feet of the Mother with love, She will accept. Because of your devotion the Mother will surely manifest Herself through this image." Sri Ramakrishna, touched at the implicit faith of Mathur, agreed, and Ramkumar was transferred to the temple of Radhakanta. Ramkumar was aged now, and the sustained labour at the temple garden was telling on his health; he decided to go home for a change. Mathur agreed to engage Hriday for a few months during Ramkumar's absence, and the latter arranged to start home as soon as possible. But he was destined never to see his home or dear relatives again, for he breathed his last at a place a few miles north of Calcutta, where he had gone on urgent business. He had served in the Kali temple of Dakshineswar for only a year."

 

The death of Ramkumar left an indelible impression upon the mind of Sri Ramakrishna. He was so young at the time of his father's death that all his filial affection was given to his elder brother. His death, therefore, came as a great shock to him, for it occurred at a time when his mind was in a state of upheaval--when he was fast realizing the transitoriness of the phenomenal world and all his energies were given to the search for something that was real and imperishable. Convinced that man could transcend all miseries and evils and reach immortality only by knowing the sweet and perennial fountain of all bliss, his yearning to realize God and the pangs of separation from Him became inexpressible. While those about him were wasting time in all sorts of frivolity, he was burning day and night with this consuming thirst for God. It was at this time that he was asked to conduct the services of the Divine Mother. After his initiation, Kali became his favorite Deity. Every day at the time of worship he decorated Her image with flowers and sandalpaste; to him it was not inert stone but Mother Herself. All who have seen it agree that the lovely figure, with its divine expression, is a rare piece of sculpture. The Mother wears a gorgeous Benaras cloth and is decorated with precious ornaments from head to foot. From Her neck hangs a garland of skulls and round Her waist is a girdle of human arms-- made of gold. In Her lower left hand She holds a decapitated human head, also made of gold, and in the upper a sword. With Her lower right hand She offers boons to Her devotees; with the upper is symbolized, "Fear nothing!" The skulls and the sword represent Her terrible side, and Her right hands offering boons and fearlessness, the benign side. She is both terrible and sweet--like Nature--alternately destroying and creating. This is the Mother whom Sri Ramakrishna worshipped, the Preserver as well as the Destroyer. But to him She was ever the affectionate Mother--the Repository of all blessedness and power--sweet, tender, and full of motherly solicitude, the Mother who with loving care protects Her devotees from harm. To Her he offered a whole-hearted devotion, regarding Her as the only true guide in darkness and confusion.

 

[to be continued]

 

With Love,

Kumari