Monday, January 6, 2020

Holy Mother: Purity Incarnate



            It is rainy season. Puddles of rain water have formed on the road and children are beside themselves with joy. Ah! How cool it is, and to play in the puddles! One baby has made a paper boat and is making it float in the mini lake, while the other is making a drain to drain away the accumulated water. Suddenly one child slips down. He is hurt and, of course, all its clothes are spoilt by mud. All other children collectively laugh aloud. Poor child! He can't even weep! With tears in the eyes and bitterly ashamed to be a mocking lot in front of so many children, it is trying hard to suppress its cry. Suddenly, hearing the noise, its mother comes out of the house. Seeing her, the child bursts out into a loud cry. The mother quickly picks up the child, and takes him into the house. She pats and consoles it, changes its dress and dresses it in clean clothes after thoroughly washing it. This is a regular day-to-day affair in every family. There is nothing abnormal or unusual in washing and cleaning of a child by the mother if it has spoilt itself or has slipped down. This is not a very difficult task either. After all, who will wash and clean the child if not the mother. In the same strain, the Holy Mother used to say: "If my child gets smeared with dust, I will have to wash and clean him. Who else will do it?"

            But this statement of hers was not made in the context of physical or bodily cleaning. The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi used to perform the arduous task of washing moral blemishes tarnishing the character of people with the ease and spontaneity of a mother. To transform others' character, to destroy the sins of others, or to vicariously bear the suffering caused by others' sins on one's own body in the form of pain or disease can be done only by rare few highly evolved spiritual giants. Jesus was one, so were Sri Ramakrishna and the Holy Mother. She once said: "All can become the mother of virtuous. How many would like to be the mother of the wicked? If I don't bear the sins of others, who else will?" About the purpose of the divine advent of Sri Ramakrishna and herself, she had once said: We have come for this (emancipation of the fallen and sinners) only. We have not come only to eat rosogullas. [Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Gambhirananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras, 1999, p.400]

            Who can sanctify others? To be able to absolve others of sins and passions, one must have, to begin with, purity of the highest degree. We cannot expect to wash a dirty cloth with dirty water; similarly, an impure person cannot purify someone else. Instead, he or she will get all the more impure if he/she comes in contact with a person of bad character. Novices and spiritual aspirants are therefore advised to remain away from people of dubious character. Mental purity and impurity and spirituality are infectious and are communicable. Individuals with pure character can transmit it, to the degree of their purity. The Holy Mother was undoubtedly the very embodiment of purity. Rightly has the poet-saint Swami Abhedananda said: "To Her whose life story is sanctifying and character pure, To Her whose life breathes sanctity, To Her who is verily the embodiment of purity, To Her my repeated salutations." In the course of a conversation, once she said to a disciple that she had consciously never committed any sin in her life, and that the physical ailments like joint pains, etc., by which she was suffering, were not due to her own sins but due to bearing the sins of others. Besides, she asserted, she was blessed by the divine touch of Sri Ramakrishna at the tender age of five. Where then was there the possibility of any sin? [ibid, p.400]

            Sri Ramakrishna too has attested to the perfectly blemish less character of Sri Sarada Devi. He was so deeply impressed by the immaculate purity of the Holy Mother's character that in later days he bore witness to it in these words: "If she had not been as pure as she really was, if she had lost self-control and seduced me, then who can say if I too might not have lost self-control and come down to the physical plane? After my marriage I prayed earnestly to the Mother (of the universe), "Mother, do please totally eradicate all passion from my wife."Living with her at that time, I realized that the Mother (of the universe) had really responded to my importunity.' [ibid. p.47]

            Sri Ramakrishna considered the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi as pure as Ganga, which could not be tarnished by the touch of the dirtiest object. The Holy Mother used to remain always engaged in daily chores, like an ordinary worldly woman, which gave the impression to the onlookers that she is deeply entangled in the world. Such a thought arose once even in the mind of Yogin, a close companion of the Holy Mother. While taking bath once, however, in the Ganges, she saw Sri Ramakrishna in a vision, who, pointing to the dead body of an infant floating in the Ganga, said to her that just as Ganges does not become impure by the touch of the corpse, similarly, the Holy Mother cannot become impure by worldly involvements. The fact is that Sri Sarada Devi was purer than even the Ganges! Once a lady of her household on returning home from the town complained that she had become impure due to touching something impure on the road. She therefore wanted to take bath. It was winter and the Holy Mother advised her not to take bath, lest she might catch cold, and instead just wash her hands and feet. She was not satisfied with this simple prescription. So the Holy Mother asked her to sprinkle Ganges water, and take a sip of that all purifying holy water. When even this was not accepted, the Mother made a startling suggestion: "Then touch me!" This was not an egoistic statement made by an immature saint! It was a brave declaration of one's own perfect purity, and the power of sanctifying others, by the Divine Mother, who was absolutely sure of her divine purifying stature!

            Inability to see the faults of others is yet another sign of the Holy Mother's great purity. What we are within, we see without. A child does not differentiate between a sinner and a saint. To him all are good. Since its heart is pure, it does not find thieves and dacoits without. The Holy Mother, too, was absolutely pure like a child. In the course of a conversation she once said: "Formerly I also took notice of a lot of other people's drawbacks. Then, praying for long to the Master with tearful eyes, "Master, I can no more bear finding faults," could I at last get rid of the habit of picking holes in other peoples' clothes. When I was at Vrindaban, I used to visit Bankubihari (Krishna in a bent pose) and prayed to him, "Your form is bent, but your mind is straight. kindly straighten the windings of my mind." [ibid, p.369]

            The result was that the Holy Mother was not able to see faults in others, even when pointed out. Once Golap Ma, one of her close companions, was scolding a maid-servant. The Holy Mother casually asked what the matter was. Golap Ma, in reply, almost accusingly said, what was the use of telling her the mistake done by the maid-servant, since she will not be able to appreciate the fault. The Holy Mother, in response, said: "All find faults; if I don't, the world will not be destroyed. "Although the Holy Mother was pure by birth, she had done severe austerities to acquire absolute purity. At Dakshineswar, while meditating at night, looking at the full-moon, she prayed earnestly with folded hands, "Make my heart as white as your rays." [ibid, p.110]

            The fact is that the Holy Mother's mind soared far above the concepts of sin and virtue. One may be pure, but may not be inclined to help others. Hence the next condition for purifying others is the feeling of compassion towards the sinners and the suffering. It goes without saying that the Holy Mother was the very embodiment of compassion, love and mercy. She spent her whole life for the good of others. And this help was more spiritual than material. The Holy Mother would melt with pity if anyone called her as "Mother" and would unhesitatingly accept that person as her own, even though he or she might be the worst of black-guards. After the Mahasamadhi of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, initially, did not find any reason or purpose for continuing to live. However, she soon realized that she was to continue to live to fulfill the purpose for which Sri Ramakrishna had incarnated, i.e., for the good of the world, for the emancipation of the virtuous. There are hundreds of instances of the Holy Mother's compassion, and we need not go into the details. But, one may be pure, compassionate and yet not be able to help others get over their sins if one is not endowed with special spiritual power. The Holy Mother had much greater spiritual power and capacity to digest the sins of others, than the other monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. The Holy Mother could initiate and purify people with intense demonical tendencies, whom other spiritual giants like Swami Brahmananda and Swami Premananda could not help. Once, three devotees came to Jairambati with a letter of introduction from Swami Brahmananda. But the Holy Mother initially refused to initiate them and asked them to go back to Belur Math. The devotees, however, again approached her next day and importuned her more piteously to initiate them. After repeated importunities she agreed and initiated them. Listening to the detailed account of the whole incident later at the Belur Math, Swami Brahmananda and Swami Premananda were stunned to silence. After a long silence Swami Premananda heaved a long sigh and said with folded hands, "Mercy, mercy! Its by this glorious compassion that the Mother is protecting us forever. We can't express in words the poison that she has accepted. If we had done so, we would have been burnt down to ashes." [ibid, p.402]

How Mother Purified Others

            The Holy Mother accomplished this stupendous task of purifying others of their sins in various ways. First, the Holy Mother purified the disciples by imparting them spiritual initiation. It is said that during initiation, the sins of the disciple are transmitted into the Guru. The Holy Mother used to say, "I impart mantra out of pity. They become importunate, they weep, and their sight fills me with mercy. Out of compassion I grant initiation. Else what do I gain? One has to take over sins by giving initiation." [ibid, p.400]
Due to unholy company or contacts, an average individual's mind gets impure; while the highly evolved souls like the Holy Mother are not mentally tarnished. Instead, their body suffers. The Holy Mother said, "If we don't take over the sins and sufferings, and don't digest them, who else will?" And again, "A pure man's touch brings joy".

            Secondly, the Mother purified others by loving assurance and making them confess and surrender their good and bad deeds to God. This was important for those disciples who had a severe sense of guilt and who used to be burdened as it were by the psychological burden of sins committed by them. The Mother would ask such disciples to specifically utter, "I am surrendering all the sins committed by me till today." By such a declaration, their guilt feeling used to be removed and they used to plunge into spiritual practice with greater and unhindered zeal. Such confession, repentance, is one of the standard psychological method/technique accepted in all religions as a sure way of getting rid of the burden of past sins. This act of confession and getting initiated into spiritual life and giving up of the past life and its actions is called in theology 'conversion' and is considered equivalent to rebirth. God gives, as it were, a chance to the individual to forget his past and start a new life after relinquishing his past evil deeds done consciously or unconsciously, knowingly or unknowingly. This psychological process is sometimes termed 'justification'.

            But this is not enough and by this alone one does not become a saint. To become spiritual and sanctified, one must not repeat the evil deeds, and follow the path shown by the guru and must do spiritual practice in accordance with the guru's instructions. This is called 'sanctification'. The Holy Mother utilized both these methods in purifying others: First, she would instill confidence and faith in them by making them realize their spiritual relationship with her. This would destroy the sense of guilt and raise them to a higher level of consciousness. Secondly, she would goad them to do spiritual practices. She would say, "I have done what I had to do at the time of initiation; but if you want to enjoy the fruit thereof, do spiritual practice."

            A woman of a respectable family had gone astray through some evil impulse. She felt repentant and by good luck reached the Holy Mother. She stood trembling at the doorway with a sense of guilt and said, "What will be my lot? I am not fit to draw nearer to you in this holy chapel." The Mother stepped forward and throwing her holy arms round the woman, said, "Come, my daughter, come in. You have realized what sin is, and you are repentant. Come, I shall initiate you. Lay everything at the Master's feet; and cast away all fear." [ibid, p.399]

            Thirdly, the Holy Mother would herself do spiritual practice for her disciples, especially for those who were spiritually weak, or who had to face social or personal difficulties and obstacles in life, and were not able to do regular Japa and meditation.

            Finally, her superhuman love used to transform the character of the worst sinners. Amzad, a well-known figure in the drama of the Holy Mother's life, was a known robber. But he would behave as a docile child in the Holy Mother's presence. He would even prove a most resourceful person when anything was required for the Holy Mother's needs.
There was such a tremendous, purifying, soothing and sanctifying charm and power in the pure personality of the Holy Mother that whosoever came in its presence would be sanctified and elevated. The devotees would feel that by seeing her once or saluting her or touching her feet in the morning, their whole day would pass joyfully. Another devotee felt that his whole year would pass peacefully if he but once visited the Holy Mother at Jairambati!

            Once a householder devotee of the Holy Mother came to her and unhesitatingly disclosed to her all his evil passions by which he was being badly assailed. The Holy Mother silently listened to him but did not say a word of advice or consolation. She simply went on gazing at him. The poor devotee remained seated near her feet for some time and when there was no response from her, quietly got up and left, depressed and despondent. He felt all the more guilty for telling such things to the Holy Mother, which, he thought, ought not to have been told to her. For seeking comfort and consolation, he went to 'M', the compiler of "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna". Finding him sad, 'M ' asked the reason. The devotee described the whole event and said that the Holy Mother did not speak a single word, but simply went on gazing at him. 'M' was delighted and said with zeal that now he need not worry. "If the Mother has looked at you, you need not worry anymore!" Then 'M' recited a line from a famous Bengali song which meant, "One would float in the ocean of bliss if the Divine Mother simply turns and looks at him." The Mother had already showered her gracious glance at him. He therefore need have no worry.

Conclusion

            But the Holy Mother's mission of destroying the sins of people is not yet over. She is continuing to do it through her presence in her pictures. The Holy Mother herself used to say that the picture (chaya) is not other than the person (kaya) whose picture it is. The picture of saints and sages not only represent them, but their very presence can be felt in them. If we accept this principle, we can say that the Mother is actually present in her pictures even today. Through them She is showering Her gracious and benevolent, all purifying glance on all who come into its gamut. Let us keep her photo in our rooms and pray to her to continue to shower her gracious glance on us, her feeble children, who are unable to get rid of our evil propensities by our self effort and spiritual practices. The Holy Mother has promised to grant whatever one asks of her, addressing her as mother, 'Maa' or 'Mamma'. She has nothing which she cannot give. Let us, therefore, with full conviction believe that She is our real Mother, and call on Her, "Oh Maa, grant us purity. Make our character as pure as yours." Rightly has the poet saint Swami Abhedananda said: "Binding our minds to Thee with the bonds of Thy love, Thou dost transmute our very vices into virtues."