CHAPTER IV.

Evening was drawing nigh. The devotees one after another took leave of the Master; and so did Narendra.

The day was drawing to a close. It was almost evening. The Faras^* was arranging the lights. The two priests of Kali and Vishnu were busy making their prayers as they stood in the midst of the sacred waters of the Ganges which came up to their waist;—purifying themselves, body and soul. They were shortly to go into their respective temples to perform the aratrika ceremony—the waving of lighted lamps, etc., before the images of the Deity, and do other nightly services. The young men of Dakshineshwara, stick in hand, had come with their friends to take a walk round the garden. They walked about the rampart and enjoyed the evening breeze made fragrant by the flowers. They watched the slightly-undulating breast of the swift-flowing Ganges of the month of August. Some of them, perhaps more thoughtful, could be found walking about by themselves in the solitude of the sacred trees called the Panchavati. Sri Ramakrishna also looketh on the Ganges for some time from the western verandah.

It was evening, the lamp-lighter had lighted all the lamps of the big Temple. The old maid-servant came and lit the lamp in Sri Ramakrishna's room and burnt incense there. In the meantime the aratrika ceremony began in the twelve shrines dedicated to Siva. It began, soon after, in the temples of the Mother of the Universe, and of Sri Vishnu. The united and solemn sound of gongs, bells, cymbals, etc., grew more solemn and sweet, re-echoed by the murmuring Ganges.

^* Faras.—The temple servant who arranged the lights.

It was the first lunar day after the full-moon. A short while after night-fall the moon rose. Gradually the tops of the garden trees and the big temple compound were bathed in balmy light. At her magic touch the waters of the Ganges shone bright like silver, dancing along with great joy.

The Master, just after the evening, bowed down to the Mother of the Universe. He repeated the holy Names of God, keeping time by clapping his hands. In his room were pictures of various manifestations of God and of Godmen. There were Sri Gouranga with His devotees singing the praises of God; the Baby Krishna with His Mother Yasoda; the Goddess of Learning; the Mother Kâli; Dhruva; Prahlada; Sri Rama crowned; Sri Râdhâ Krishna, etc. He bowed down to every manifestation of God, as drawn in the pictures, repeating Their Holy Names. He repeated his favourite sayings, all having a grand unifying principle running through them:—

Brahma—Atma—Bhagavân (i.e.), God the Absolute (God of the philosopher), God of the yogi, God of the devotee are three in one, one in three.

Bhâgavata—Bhakta—Bhagavân:—the Word, the devotee and the God of the devotee are three in one, one in three.

Brahma-Sakti Sakti-Brahma. (God the Absolute is the same as God the Mother).

Veda-Purana-Tantra. (The various Scriptures and their one Theme viz., God.)

Gita-Gayatri.

Saranâgata. Saranâgata (I am thine, I am thine.)

Naham, naham—Tuhu-tuhu (not I, not I, but Thou; Thou art the True Actor; I am only an instrument in Thy Hands.)

Ami Yantra, Tumi Yantri (I am the instrument, Thou art the Being who uses the instrument), &c., &c.

After all these repetitions were over, he meditated upon the Mother Divine with clasped hands.

Some of the devotees had been walking about in the garden during the evening. When the aratrika ceremonies were over in the temples, they came together one after another in Sri Râmakrishna's room. He was sitting upon the bedstead. M., Adhar, Kishori, &c., were sitting before him on the floor.

Master: Narendra (Vivekananda), Rakhal, and Bhabanath—these are Nityasiddhas (perfect even from their birth). They need no training. What training they go through is more than they need. You see Narendra never cares for any one. He was going with me in the Captain's carriage the other day. When the Captain requested him to sit upon the seat of honour, he did not mind him at all. Moreover, he never shows to me that he knows anything lest I praise him before men. He has no Mâyâ, no attachment. He looks as if he is free from all bondage. He is very polite in his manners. For a single individual, he has very many good and noble qualities, such as reading, writing, singing and playing upon musical instruments. At the same time he knows how to control his senses. He has said that he will not marry. Narendra and Bhabanath are affinities. Narendra does not come to me very often. That is good. For I always fall into Samadhi whenever I see him and do not know what to do.