CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 33.

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33 - This too is the Dharma

 

Once in Calcutta, in the Kali temple constructed by Rani Rasmani, a

Gopala idol fell down and its foot was broken a little. Since many

elders declared that according to the Sastras a broken image should not

be worshipped, Rani Rasmani made arrangements to get a new one made by

sculptors. Ramakrishna heard of this and he reproached the Rani, saying:

" Maharani, if your son-in-law breaks his leg, what will you do? What is

the correct thing to do? Bandaging the foot and setting it right, or

discarding the son-in-law and getting another in his stead? " The Elders

and Pundits were dumb-founded; the broken foot of Gopala was set right

and the image was installed and worshipped as before. See, when Bhakthi

is purified and is ascendant, the Lord will be patent even in a broken

idol. This too is the Dharma declared in the Sastras.