SWAMI ADVAITANANDA JAYANTI - 18 AUGUST

[19/08/2020]

(SWAMI ADVAITANANDA JAYANTI - 18 AUGUST)

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SWAMI ADVAITANANDA: THE RECIPIENT OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA’S GRACE (2)

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GOPAL gradually became close to the Master and decided to serve him. In spite of his age he tried to keep the same pace as his young brother-disciples. When Narendra would sing to the accompaniment of tanpura, Gopal would play the tabla(drums). 

Sometimes in 1885 Gopal felt the need for initiation from the Master, but because he was bashful he couldn’t ask it in front of others. Moreover, Thakur didn’t give any formal initiation to his disciples. He would transmit spiritual power in other ways—such as touching them, or writing a mantram on the tongue, or whispering a mantram in the ear, or singing a song, or just through a glance. Latu Maharaj described :’Once , before the noon meal, the Master was walking alone in the temple garden. Gopal-da took the opportunity to express his desire for initiation to the Master. I saw from a distance that Gopal-da knelt down on the ground and holding the feet of the Master, began to cry. The Master lifted him up from the ground holding his arms. Gopal-da was still crying profusely. What the Master said to him , I didn’t hear. Since that time I have noticed Gopal - da chanting God’s name every evening in front of the Krishna temple.’

Gopal served the Master  like a nurse , giving him medicine and proper diet, when in September 1885 he was moved to  Calcutta. Usually Holy Mother prepared the Master’s food and carried it to his room. Gopal acted as Holy Mother’s messenger; he was free with her, and she didn’t cover her face with a veil in front of him. When the doctor prescribed any special diet for the Master, he would note down the details and convey them to the Mother. 

Once Holy Mother recalled a significant incident that took place when the Master lay ill at Cossipore. A number of his disciples , including Gopal, were taking turns to serve the Master day and night. But one day, instead of attending to the Master, Gopal went off for a long time somewhere to meditate. When Girish Babu heard about this, he remarked:’The one upon whom Gopal is meditating is suffering on a sick bed, and fancy, he is meditating on him!’  Gopal was sent for. When he arrived the Master asked him to stroke his legs. Then he said:’Do you think I am asking you to stroke my legs because they are aching? Oh, no. In your previous births you did many virtuous acts; therefore I am accepting your 

service.’

JAI THAKUR JAI MAA 🙏🙏🌹💐🍀🌺JAI MAHARAJ 🙏🙏🌹💐🍀🌺

Grateful thanks to Mr Sudesh Garg and Facebook.