A READING from: "In The Company of The Holy Mother" 


(available at all Vedanta Centres)

Page 341

Swami Ishanananda:

In this connection I am reminded of another incident. Once venerable Gauri-Ma was on her way to Jayrambati from Koalpara to see Mother. She took me with her (as a guide) and left Koalpara in the afternoon. On reaching the river near Jayrambati, she found that daylight lingered still, and so she hit upon a plan and waited there. 

A little after nightfall she reached the main door of Mother's house. Asking me to wait outside, she advanced a little and in imitation of beggars cried out, "May I have a little alms, mother!" At this the youngest aunt (Radhu's mother) came out and enquired, "Who is that?" Gauri-Ma repeated, "May I have a little alms, Mother?"

Aunt was now totally put out at this unusual appearance of a beggar at night. She cried in terror and ran to Mother. At her cry, Mother came out slowly and demanded in a firm voice, "Who is that?" Gauri-Ma kept at her own place and repeated, "May I have a little alms, mother? I am a nightly beggar."

Mother recognized Gauri-Ma's voice in the dark and said, "O, it is you *Gaur-dasi! Come in, come in. When did you arrive?" Then there was much merry-making.

*(The Master and Mother addressed her thus, probably because she had Vaishnava affiliations in the past and worshipped Sri Gauranga, Gaur-dasi meaning a servant-maid of Gaur.)

(to be continued....)