Piousness is Prevalent

Mother Sharda Mani in Jairam Bati is hearing rumors about her husband. People say, “You have married an insane man. He is crazy.” After attaining teenage, she asks permission from her parents, “Father and mother, shall I go to Dakshineshwar?” They allow her. There is a group of pilgrims going to the Himalayas crossing Dakshineshwar. She packs her meager requirements and leaves with the group of pilgrims, at early dawn, on foot. It is not an easy journey; they need to cross deep forests. On the way, Sharda Mani falls ill and suffers from a high fever. The pilgrims become tense. They find a lodging place for the night. Sharda Mani lies down but is restless and shivering out of the cold. All others fall asleep. Soon, a lady, a year elder to her, appears before Sharda Mani and says, “Don’t worry. I’m your elder sister. You shall be good till morning.” The lady places her hands on Sharda Mani’s head and, till the next morning, the fever disappears. The pilgrims wake up the next day and find Sharda Mani hale and hearty. They rejoice and resume their journey. 

They reach Dakshineshwar. Thakur Ji is standing at the door of the mandir waiting for Sharda Mani. There are no communication systems prevalent. The previous night, Thakur Ji becomes aware that Sharda Mani shall come. He goes to the mandir and says to Mother, “Mother, Sharda Mani shall come. What shall I do?” The mother replies, “Why are you worried? It is me who is coming in her form.” 

On seeing Thakur Ji, Sharda Mani bows mentally and bows her sight towards Thakur Ji’s feet. Even Thakur Ji bows mentally before Mother Sharda. Mother of Thakur Ji comes out and hugs her daughter-in-law, Sharda Mani. There is a blissful environment. 

After all the basic formalities, Mother says, “Dear, Your family members have sent you here. It is my responsibility to introduce you to your husband.” She takes Sharda Mani to Thakur Ji’s room and says, “You are husband and wife.” She leaves. Thakur Ji and Sharda Mani are left alone. 

Thakur Ji asks Sharda Mani politely to sit on the bed. He says, “do you want me to live with you like a husband or a sannyasi? I’m your consort. But, I have taken the Sannyas Deeksha.” Sharda Mani replies, “I like the life of a Sannyasi.” Thakur Ji takes her to the mandir. In the mandir, Thakur Ji and Sharda Mani see the opulent form of Mother Kali. There is just oneness. Mother Kali, Thakur Ji, and Sharda Mani merge in one form. There is no dualism. As the early dawn descends, in the Brahma Muhurta, Mother Kali takes the form as an idol, and Thakur Ji and Sharda Mani appear in original form. 

This is the first night Thakur Ji and Sharda Mani spend together.

Moral: Purity exists. It gets clouded by the mind. Once the mind becomes silent, purity manifests. We need not get rid of any negativity, it sheds off automatically. Thakur Ji and Maa Sharda are the only ones who never had any children of their own, but the entire world is their children. 

There is a deep reason why Sharda Mani experienced fever. When we uproot a mature plant from a place and replant it, it takes some time to adjust or rather dies. But, a woman is the only plant who leaves all her inbuilt sanskaras and imbibes the sanskaras of the new world. The heat of the fever burnt all her previous feelings about her family members. She was not attached to her family but merely carried out her responsibilities. She just existed and, Mother Kali played through her. 

All pilgrims could have seen Mother Kali disguised as a girl, but their mind was not pure enough. They were out for a pilgrimage just for fun. External pilgrimages are worthless; the soul itself is the shrine.