Life of Sri Maa - 22

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Life of Sri Maa - 22

 

Sometime in 1893, at Nilambar Babu's house, Holy Mother performed

the Panchatapa, or `Austerity of Five Fires'. Accordingly, on the roof of

the house, four blazing fires of dried cowdung were lighted about six-feet

apart. The sun which shone brightly overhead was the fifth fire. Holy

Mother bathed in the Ganga, and entered the fire. She was required to sit

there surrounded by the five fires from sunrise to sunset. She went through

this ordeal for seven consecutive days. Holy Mother felt an inner peace,

but her fair complexion became dark. Yogin-ma also underwent this austerity.

When an intimate disciple wanted to know the real reason for her going through

this kind of ordeal, she said: `My child, I went through it for the sake of

all of you. Can you practise austerities? This is why I had to do it.'

 

Swami Vivekananda, before sailing for America, asked her permission

for this great venture, and Holy Mother blessed him with the words: `Come

back safely after conquering the world. May the Goddess of Wisdom dwell on

your tongue.' He did really `conquer' the world and returned in 1897.

 

 

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Extracts from the book : Sri Sarada Devi (A biography in pictures)

Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta (http://www.advaitaonline.com/).

 

 

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