CHAPTER I

SRI RAMAKRISHNA AT THE TEMPLE OF DAKSHINESWARA

[Where Ramakrishna lived.] BHAGAVaN [**] SRi RaMAKRISHNA lived for many years in Rani Rashmoni's celebrated Temple garden on the eastern bank of the Ganges in the village of Dakshineswara about four miles north of Calcutta. This Temple with the garden attached was dedicated by its foundress (Rani Rashmoni) to the Divine Mother (Kali). In the northwest corner of the spacious Temple-compound is a small room which faces on the west the waters of the sacred river Ganges. This room with its holy surroundings was consecrated

as the dwelling-place for many years of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, whose Divine Presence made the spot holier and more sacred. It was from this retired corner that the rays of His Divine glory, emanating from His God-intoxicated soul, dazzled the eyes of the seekers after Truth and attracted them to Him as a blazing fire attracts moths from all quarters. Hundreds of educated men and women were drawn towards this superhuman personality to listen with the deepest reverence to the words of wisdom uttered by One who had realized God and who lived in constant communion with the Divine Mother of the universe.

[Mahendra's visit to the Temple.] One Sunday in the month of March, 1882, Mahendra, hearing from a friend about this Divine Man, was so deeply impressed that he came to the Temple garden to pay Him a respectful visit. It was the day of a special religious festival and people had gathered in great numbers in Sri Ramakrishna's room and on the veranda. The Bhagavan was seated on a raised platform, and on the floor around Him were Kedar, Suresh, Ram, Manmohan, Bijoy, and many other devotees. They gazed up into His radiant face and drank the nectar of the living words of Divine wisdom

that fell from His hallowed lips. With a smiling face Sri Ramakrishna was speaking to them of the power of the Lord's Holy Name and true Bhakti as the means of attaining God-vision. Addressing Bijoy, [**] He asked: What do you say is the means of attaining to God?

[Power of the Lord's Holy Name.] Bijoy: Bhagavan, by the repetition of His Holy Name. In this age the Holy Name of the Lord has saving powers. Bhagavan: Yes, the Holy Name has saving powers, but there must be earnest longing with it. Without earnest longing of the heart no one can see God by mere repetition of His Name. One may repeat His Name, but if one's mind be attached to lust and wealth, that will not help much. When a man is bitten by a scorpion or a tarantula, mere repetition of a mantram will not do; a special remedy is necessary.

Bijoy: If that be the case, Bhagavan, then how did Ajamila, [*+] who was the greatest of

sinners and committed all sorts of crimes, obtain salvation by repeating the Name of the Lord at the time of his death?