This is the story of how Keshav Chandra Sen lived, dipped in love for his Satguru, and departed in flying colors.
Queen Victoria is ruling British India. Keshav Chandra Sen and Vijay Krishna Goswami have met the Queen in Britain. Even the queen has come to meet them in Calcutta. Brahma Samaj is flourishing extravagantly. Keshav Chandra Sen and Vijay Krishna Goswami have established the organization to create reforms in Sanatan Dharma, viz, the Sati, the child marriage, and the rest. The growing youth is clinging to the organization. Keshav and Vijay are influential men; renowned worldwide. They are rich enough; own huge palaces, with every facility present in the country. The money hasn’t poisoned their minds. They are ground-to-earth people with pure love for Thakur Ji. They often take Thakur Ji to every program organized in Brahma Samaj.
Thakur Ji has quoted some beautiful quotes for Keshav, saying, “Keshav is like a lotus amidst the marsh of the money. He has shed his tail.” People laugh at this statement. Thakur Ji elaborates, “When a larva of a frog develops, it first turns into a tailed tadpole, which can only survive in water. But as it metamorphizes into a mature frog, it loses its tail and becomes a true amphibian, capable of living in water and on land. Similarly, Keshav is in the world but fixes his mind on the soul. No one can stain his mind with materialist filth. He is a great king, but when he comes to Mother in the mandir, he stops his carriage several feet away and then comes barefoot to the mandir with some flowers and fruits out of gestures. He never comes empty-handed. He never gathers royal clothes before coming to his Satguru. He comes and prostrates completely”.
Keshav has thousands of followers. The germinating youth of the Indian population is clinging to Keshav, seeing his works at Brahma Samaj. Seeing the devotion for Thakur Ji, all the followers come to Thakur Ji in hundreds. The followers include the literate strata of the society, the children, the growing youth, and many more.
Maa Sharda Mani and Thakur Ji’s mother are staying in the naubat. Keshav asks Thakur Ji, “Thakur Ji, can I bring my family members to you? They even wish you blessings.” Thakur Ji points towards the netted wall common between the naubat and says, “Ask Mother.” Keshav bows and asks Mother. Maa Sharda Mani nods in yes from the room.
The entire family of Keshav comes with him. The ladies go to the naubat and sit in-crowd, listening to the words of Thakur Ji through the netted wall. Maa Sharda Mani is heedless about the external occurrences, rather dipped in the divine bliss within her heart.
This continues for several days. One day, Keshav says to Thakur Ji, with tears in his eyes, “Thakur Ji! Kindly come to my place.” Thakur Ji asks him the reason saying, “you come with your family to the mandir. What is the need?” Keshav says, “I have an old mother who can’t come.” Thakur Ji agrees and goes with Keshav to his grand palace. The family members greet Thakur Ji. In the living room, Thakur Ji sees newspapers. Thakur Ji scolds, “You believe in the piece of paper but never believe in the truth. If I say a four-storied building has fallen, you will not believe me, but if the paper says, you shall believe for sure.” Keshav never lets newspapers come to his place again. After meeting everyone, Thakur Ji leaves.
Keshav feels, “All should know about my Satguru.” He prepares a write-up for publishing it in the newspaper. Then, he goes to Thakur Ji says, “Mother has sent a thought to me. I think everyone should know you.” Thakur Ji scolds him, “No, you are telling a lie. Mother would have told me and, I would have told you.” Keshav accepts the words and even burns the diary where he wrote his write-up.
The renowned scientists, named Max Muller, Huxley, and the rest, come to know about Thakur Ji through Keshav. They revered Swami Vivekananda saying, “Your Guru is Swami Ramakrishna. We rever you.” They could not meet Thakur Ji but met Swami Vivekananda.
Now, Keshav’s time has come. He is coughing gravely, suffering from a high fever. In the mandir, Thakur Ji says to Vijay Krishna Goswami, “How is Keshav?” Vijay says, “You are in the mandir. Your mind is fixed on Mother. Why are you thinking about Keshav?” Thakur Ji says, “Oh dear! Mother is in him as well. His health is not good. I have asked the mother to reduce some of his sufferings. O Mother! Let his speak something or eat something”. A few members from Keshav’s family come to Thakur Ji and says, “Kindly come to the place. Keshav is spending his last breathes.”
Thakur Ji goes to Keshav’s house. Keshav greets him. But, Keshav is coughing. His mother says, “Kindly make him healthy.” Keshav says, “No, mother. Don’t ask him to make me healthy. I am blessed to see you at the death bed.” The mother says, “He has firm faith in you. But, he is suffering do gravely.” Thakur Ji smiled listening to the words. When Keshav stops coughing, he says, “Mother! I would have died long ago because of my sins. It is his blessings that I could remain alive longer. It’s merely some remnants of debts. I only pray that I merge with the soul.” Then, Thakur Ji leaves for the mandir.
After a few days, Keshav is on his death bed, surrounded by his family. He says, “Thakur Ji has come.” Keshav’s physique changes into that of Thakur Ji, smiles, and leaves the physical abode. In the mandir, Thakur Ji says, “O mother! You have taken all the prime pillars from my life. Why should I remain alive?” He often tells Mother Kali to send true disciples, other than the ones who merely come with materialistic wishes.
Moral: From this story, we learn to realize that the things we prefer are worth being neglected. Keshav was a king but never clung to the money. Mother Sharda’s life as the commonest member, but with deepest roots of love penetrating her existence, teaches us to avoid flaunting and remain humble. Thakur Ji’s act of throwing the newspaper teaches us to avoid sticking to the media, we prefer the most these days, be it social media or print media. Thakur Ji prayed for Keshav to reduce his sufferings as he had the receiving end to receive the blessings and had pure devotion and love for Thakur Ji. Thakur Ji never asked anything from Mother Kali but he prayed for Keshav. It is said, “Kabira Mann Nirmal Bhaya Jaise Ganga Neera, Peechhe Peechhe Hari Firat Kahat Kabir Kabir.” Even, obedience is important on the path of spirituality.