Life of Sri Maa - 38

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Life of Sri Maa - 38

 

A young man, who later came to be known as Padmabinode, had visited

Sri Ramakrishna and received his blessings. In the later life he became

addicted to alcohol. He knew Swami Saradananda intimately and addressed him

as `friend'. While returning home late at night he used to talk incoherently,

under the influence of drink. Often he called for his `friend' while passing

the Udbodhan. But the residents of the house were instructed not to respond

for fear of disturbing Holy Mother's sleep. One night, finding no one paying

attention to his call, he started singing in a plaintive voice:

Waken, Mother ! Throw open your door.

I cannot find my way through the dark;

My heart is afraid.

How often I have called out your name,

Yet kindly Mother,

How strangely you are acting today !

... ... ... ...

Is it because I was lost in play

That you shun me now ?

Look on me kindly, and I shall not

Go playing again.

To whom can I run, leaving your side ?

Who but my Mother will bear the load

Of this wretched child ?

As Padmabinode sang in the street with all his soul, the shutters of

a window of the Mother's room opened. He saw this and said with great

satisfaction: `Mother, so you have awakened. Have you heard your son's

prayer ? Since you are up, please accept my salutation.' He began to roll

on the ground and take its dust on his head. Again he sang:

Cherish my precious Mother Shyama

Tenderly within, O mind;

May you and I alone behold Her,

Letting no one else intrude.

Whith emphasis, he improvised a new line: `And surely not my " friend " ',

refering to Swami Saradananda. The next day Holy Mother asked about him

and was told his story. `Did you notice his firm conviction ?' she remarked.

At least once more he saw Holy Mother thus. When the devotees complained

about the disturbance of her sleep, she replied: `I cannot contain myself

when he calls me in that way.'

 

 

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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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