sri-ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-in-orissa

his wife. In the sanctum sanatorium there is a photo of Holy Mother in the centre on araised platform and on the two sides there are the photos of Sri Ramakrishna and SwamiVivekananda. In the hall, there are the photos of Jagadhatri, Durga, Kali and Saraswati onone side of the wall and on another side are the photos of Gopaler Ma, Yogin Ma, GolapMa, Laxmi Didi, Gauri Ma and Sister Nivedita. Outside the veranda where Holy Motherused to sit is a Tulasi grove (Basil plant on a pedestal) on which ‘Ma’ is written. Next tothis house towards the road is Radha-Shyamchand’s temple and in a hall infront of thistemple there is a huge image of Garud with folded hands. In the sanctum sanatorium,there are beautiful images of Sri Radharani and Sri Shyamchandji. Holy Motherworshiped these images. Next to these are the beautiful images of Jagannath, Balaramand Subhadra. The small images were earlier in the house of Balaram Basu at Calcuttawhere on the Ratha Yatra day Sri Ramakrishna took part in the festival which wascelebrated with singing of Bhajan and Kirtan. In 1942, Hatibagan area in Calcutta wasbombed by Japanese troops. So Basu family had shifted to Kothar taking the Ratha Yatraimages of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra with them. On the other side of Radha-Shyamchandji is kept Shaligram-Shila. The photos of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother andSwamiji worshiped by Basu family are also kept there. There is a garden of flowers,fruits and vegetables towards the boundary wall. The house is mostly in a dilapidatedcondition but three rooms out of the seventeen are renovated. In the entrance of theRadha-Shyamchand temple, we may find the huge wooden Ratha in a dilapidatedcondition. At present, there is a school and also a college in the name of Holy Mother inKothar. 1 During the stay of Holy Mother at Kothar a number of devotees came to meet herfrom distant places, many of whom were blessed by her. Basu family, the villagers andmany devotees took advantage of Mother’s stay there. Below are the few reminiscencesof Holy Mother at Kothar to show how important was her stay at Kothar.(RECORDED BY AN ANONYMOUS DEVOTEE)The Holy Mother was living in Kothar, Orissa. My second brother, who wasstaying at Shashi Niketan in Puri, wrote to one of his friends in our native village, “TheHoly Mother is now living in Kothar. You can go there to pay your respects.” Till thattime I had only a vague idea regarding the Holy Mother and Sri Ramakrishna. I had notread any book on them, nor did I know anything in particular about them. None the less Ihad felt a yearning to see her ever since I had heard about her. After being continuouslyseized for a few days by such an urge, I left for Kothar. It was almost past midday when Ireached the place. But strange to say, my yearning had by now waned, and it was not sostrong. The devotees were invited for their midday meal, and accompanied them. Themeal over, we seated ourselves in the parlour along with Revered Krishnalal Maharaj andKedar Baba (Swami Achalananda), when Ram Babu, the only son of the late BalaramBasu, came and told Krishnalal Maharaj, “The Mother has sent for the boy who has comefrom Cuttack. He should go to salute her now.” Krishnalal Maharaj replied, “I have askedhim to see the Holy Mother in the afternoon.” Ram Babu said, “No, that won't do; theMother is waiting for him. Only after the boy meets her will she go for her meal.” Iaccompanied Ram Babu and bowed down to the Mother. I had no talk with her then. Thenext day I came back home.On my return home, I experienced a similar yearning once again, and so I went toKothar. After a few days' stay there I went to the Holy Mother one morning and said,“Mother, I shall leave for home tomorrow morning.” The Mother replied, “Well, stayhere tomorrow and leave for home the next day.” I came out of the room. After a while amonk came to tell me, “The Holy Mother is going to favour you. Keep yourself ready forit after your bath tomorrow morning.” I wondered what the favour might be. I couldmake nothing of it and kept silent. Early next morning I made myself ready after mymorning bath, when Radhu-Didi announced, “Who is Vaikuntha Babu? The Mother hassent for him.”