27-September-2020 (Sunday)
Passages from:
THE COMPASSIONATE MOTHER SRI SRI SARADA DEVI – 025
Chapter 8
THE AWAKENING OF GODDESS SIMHAVAHINI – 02
After staying there for about a year, Sarada Devi came down with a severe attack of dysentery. Though she recovered to some extent due to Shambucharan Mallik’s devoted care and medical arrangements, she left for Jayrambati for a change in September 1875.3 [3 The Mother was treated by Dr. Gangaprasad Mukhopadhyay.] However, there the disease relapsed, and she was again bedridden. She was then so seriously ill that even her survival seemed to be at stake. During this sickness, she used to relieve herself on the bank of the pond Kalu-gede near her house. Finding it difficult to go there repeatedly, [as she was weak and emaciated], she laid herself down on the bank of the pond. There, in the water of the pond, she one day saw the reflection of her body, which was by then reduced to skin and bone. She then even felt like putting an end to her life.
However, desiring to get the ailment cured, she vowed to fast at the temple of Simhavahini, the village deity.4 [4 It is a custom in which one goes without food and drink in the presence of the deity until one’s wish is fulfilled. – Ed.] Regarding this vow of fasting, she said in her later days, “I did not have to wait even for five minutes. ‘Why have you laid yourself down, my dear?’ The deity, Simhavahini, raised me up with these words.” [Narrated by Nalin Bihari Sarkar] We come to hear that, as a medicinal cure, Simhavahini had instructed her to partake of a little bit of soil from under the yam tree. [Narrated by Indumati Devi]5 [5 The Mother used to always keep this soil with her and partake a little of it everyday.] As the result of taking this medicine prescribed by Simhavahini, she gradually recuperated and became strong. Prior to this incident, the people of the neighbouring villages did not know much about this deity of Jayrambati. But after the Mother awakened the deity by her vow of fasting, its glory spread in all directions. People now promise to make offerings to this deity to get their wish fulfilled; and they even succeed. Added to this, as people now gather here to offer worship and do charity, the temple precinct always remains crowded and noisy.6 [6 Regarding the glory of Simhavahini, there are also other descriptions. In her later days, the Mother used to say, “I was ill then; the whole body was swollen and liquid matter flowed down from the nose and ears. Umesh (her brother) said, ‘Sister, there is Simhavahini here; will you take a vow of fasting before her?’ It was he who made me agree and led me by the hand there. To me, then, a full-moon night was as dark as a new moon one – I had lost my sight through continuous shedding of tears. Going there, I lay down on the basement of the shrine. To crown it all, I had dysentery; three or four times I had to crawl on all fours to go out. There was a woman whom I called ‘godmother’; her house was near at hand. She cleared her throat off and on, so that I might not get frightened. A little while later, She (the deity) appeared to my mother in the form of a blacksmith girl of the age of Radhu (twelve or thirteen years) and said, ‘Go quick, hasten; raise her up and bring her. Give her this medicine; this indeed will relieve her.’ Besides, She said to me, ‘Apply to your eyes drops of juice of the gourd flower made into a paste with salt; that will relieve you.’ Then I took the medicine that my mother had received, and applied to the eyes drops of juice of the gourd flower. As soon as I did this, all the foul matter fell off from my eyes. The eyes were cured that very day, and the swellings in the body subsided. I felt greatly relieved. I recovered. To every enquirer I said, ‘Mother (Simhavahini) gave me the medicine.’ From that time, the fame of goddess Simhavahini spread around. I got the medicine, and the world also was blessed.” [Narrated by Ganendranath]
6contd… There is a small pond called Punyapukur near the Mother’s house. One day, in the bamboo bush near this pond, a poisonous snake bit the forefinger of a boy’s left hand. Hearing this, the Mother immediately said, “Carry him to the Simhavahini’s temple, make him sip the consecrated water, and apply the temple’s soil on his finger.” Her instructions were carried out and the boy recovered. [Narrated by Vibhutibhushan Ghosh]
6contd… Another day, Mother’s nephew, Bhudev, was returning along a mound between two fields. Just then he was bit by a poisonous snake and he fell unconscious. The Mother applied the soil of Simhavahini on the wound and kept him in her house for the whole night. Next day morning the boy came round. [Narrated by Indumati Devi]
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The Compassionate Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi
The Oldest Biography of Sri Sarada Devi by Brahmachari Akshaya Chaitanya
Translated by Swami Tanmayananda
Revised and Edited by Swami Shuddhidananda
Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2009. p. 53 – 55
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