[We were discussing about the festivals held at Bangaram Ashram.]
I moved on the talk of December 25, 1990, while talking about the ‘Falgun Sankranti Festival’ of March, 1984. It will be like this situation because to discuss about one context_ another is coming, to discuss about a certain event_ another event is automatically coming ! There are so many things to say about Guru Maharaj that I can’t resist myself to do!
Once while telling about Lord Shiva, Thakur Sri Ramakrishna said in one line, “Oh, Lord Shiva ! if I try throughout my life_ it cannot be expressed your greatness by me !” Can it be possible to say or write about all the glory or greatness of our most adored and beloved ‘Maha Shiva Swami Paramananda’? No, it’s not possible !
Guru Maharaj said – “The ‘Sadhana-period’ (Sadhana i.e asceticism) of great men never be made for public. Thakur Sri Ramakrishna’s sadhana took place in the ‘Panchabati garden’ of Dakshineshwar under the supervision of Hriday and Mathurbabu . Later we came to know about it (though very little) because Thakur himself spoke a lot but certainly we didn’t know all the incidents. Was it possible to keep a record of how He passed day after day, night after night !! 24 hours of one day-night, 60 minutes of one hour !! Could anyone keep records of it ?”
On the other hand_ Guru Maharaj Swami Paramananda had a “bohemian” (Here bohemian means mystic) life. He used to say about Him_ ” This time Mother Jagadamba (Divine Mother) has gifted Me ‘Speaking mouth and walking legs'(‘chola pa–bola mukh’)!” His life of accomplishment had been completed in His long wandering life. He, who is “Purna” himself, Who is “Complete man”- is it necessary for Him to ‘complete’ again by practicing Sadhana? However, for the sake of public education, for the sake of age’s necessities__ almost all great men completed their accomplishments during their pilgrimages or Sadhana !
Gurumaharaj also did this during His traveling to Himalayas. Returning to society, in His working life (2 years and 7/8 months) He also spent night after night in the crematorium, graveyard or in a secluded temples. And after the establishment of the Bangaram Ashram, He made His ‘Nirvikalpa'(absolute desolution of self)!
I heard it from N’kaka that one day, when Guru Maharaj was coming from the Ashram to Mukherjee’s house(Bangaram) as usual after evening- He heard a voice from the space like a prophecy, Maa Jagdamba said to Him, “Raja ! Now complete your ‘Nirvikalpa'(absolute desolution of self)!” Maa Jagadamba used to address Guru Maharaj as ‘Raja’. As soon as Guru Maharaj went to N’kaka’s house, He said to all the devotees present there, that “It’s time of My ‘Nirvikalpa’, Maa ordered Me this just now!”
Dear readers ! Do you notice that I am leaving the line of discussion again and going into another way !! But don’t be sorry because we know that all the ways (discussions) have reached at ‘Paramananda’ !!
The day after the Falgun Sankranti of 1984, I returned to Shibpur (Howrah). But in those two or three days(at Ashram), I had conversations with many others in the Ashram. Talking to them, I came to know that almost everyone believes that Swami Paramananda is God Himself !!! Most people told me that Thakur Sri Ramakrishna said He would take the body on earth again or He would incarnate again after 100 years__ this time, this is His ‘Baul’ incarnation! My days of swinging in the swing of faith and disbelief were over.Then I was also in the group of believers. I met many people in Banagram at that time. I had the freedom to enter any house in the village (Bangaram) then. How close the people of Mukherjee family were to me ! Relationship with Guruji was becoming ‘easy’ then, as well as I had a good relationship with other Maharajs of the Ashram ! As a result, I began to love Banagram or Banagram Ashram very much .
[Translated by Rajarsi Basak, a student of class Ten and corrected by Ramprasad, a former student of Banagram Ashram.]
*BANAGRAM MEMORIES*_(50)
