Guru Poornima Series - Guru Bhakthi-4 : Girish Chandra Ghosh

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Radhe Krishna To All,

 

 

One who has attained a Uttama Guru will be totally free from worries because he

will exhibit steadfast faith in the Guru. He would say, “Even if I am the

worst kind of sinner in this world my Guru will certainly uplift me.†If, on

the contrary, someone has a great Guru but does not have such faith in Him it

only means that he has not really surrendered unto the Guru.

 

Once, while Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was bathing in the Holy Ganges, his

ardent devotee Girish Chandra Gosh was standing on the banks of the river. Sri

Ramakrishna asked him to bathe in the Ganges and Girish Chandra Gosh refused to

do so. Sri Ramakrishna said to him, “If you don’t observe such dharma then

who else would?†Hearing the words of his Guru, Girish immediately took a dip

in the Ganges. From then on he used to bathe in the Ganges quite frequently. At

such times he would think, “It is said that when normal people bathe in the

Ganges she cleanses them of their sins. But when a Mahan bathes in the Ganges,

He cleanses the Ganges and enhances the purifying potential of the Ganges. My

Guru, out of immense compassion, has taken away all my sins. So if I bathe here,

the power of Ganges to cleanse and purify will increase hundredfold.â€

 

Since he was a fervent and superior Guru Bhakta, his Bhavam was also lofty.

 

Girish Chandra Gosh was renowned for his implicit faith and total surrender unto

his Guru. He worshipped Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa verily as an incarnation of

God. He spoke of his Guru as an “Avatara Purusha†to everyone he met.

 

Once after seeing a play about Prahlada, the great devotee of the Lord, at the

Star Theatre, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was conversing with His disciples.

Girish, who was also there, said to his Guru, “Master! I am a sinner who is

beyond redemption. The very ground where I sit would become unholy. I utterly

lack sincerity. Please bestow me with sincerity.†To this Sri Ramakrishna

Paramahamsa replied, “What can I bless? Sages like Sri Narada and Sri Shuka

Deva would have been able to do that.†Unrelentingly Girish said, “I don’t

see Sri Narada or Shuka Deva. You are the only God I know and You are standing

right before me. Please do not refuse.†Immensely pleased with the deep faith

of his beloved disciple, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa smilingly blessed him

saying, “All right! So be it! You have such a faith!â€

 

Such was the faith that this great disciple had which his Guru acknowledged

lovingly.

 

Girish Chandra Ghosh was a man full of vices. Name the vice and he had it.

However, he had deep affection for Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Ramakrishna

asked him to chant the Lord’s Divine Name every morning and evening. Girish

Chandra Ghosh said, “I cannot. It is not possible for me to chant the Divine

Name every morning and evening.â€

 

Paramahamsa said, “Well! Chant it just before you take your meals.â€

 

Girish Chandra Ghosh, “No, Sir! This is not possible for me!â€

 

Paramahamsa said, “Well! Chant just once before going to bed.â€

 

Girish, “No! This, too, is not possible for me!â€

 

Paramahamsa said, “Well! then, surrender to me. I will take care of you. I

will take you to Moksha. Give the power of attorney to me.â€

Girish Chandra’s joy knew no bounds. He thought, ‘what fortune! I can lead

my life as I have been living. The Master will do japa for me and take me to

Moksha.’

 

At once he gave his power of attorney to Paramahamsa.

 

But, what happened after this? The moment Girish lifted the wine bottle he saw

Ramakrishna’s face on the bottle. He could not drink. When he visited any

woman for company he saw Ramakrishna in her and could not go near her. Girish

was unable to carry on life in his old style. He thought, ‘I thought that

surrender was very easy. But, it is not so.’ Every moment, in all actions, he

saw only the Master. He just could not forget him.

 

Girish Chandra Gosh boldly proclaimed to the world that his Master was an

incarnation. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was also fully aware of Girish’s

conviction.

 

One day, while Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was taking a walk in the garden with

his devotees at his heels, he said to Girish, “Girish! What do you see in me

that you tell everyone that I am an incarnation?†Girish at once fell on his

knees before his Master and with a voice choked with emotion said, “What can I

say about the One whose glories even great sages like Vyasa and Valmiki

couldn’t describe enough!†Moved by the words of this great disciple, Sri

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said, “What more can I tell? Be illumined!†Saying

so Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa touched all the devotees present there and

blessed them with Spiritual awakening.

 

Thus, Girish displayed deep faith and love that moved his Guru to bless not just

him but all the devotees. This day, January 1(1886), is lovingly remembered as

the ‘Kalpataru Day’ when the love of a disciple made his Guru a

‘Wish-fulfilling tree’!

 

 

Regards

 

Please Chant

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

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