Part 39 (1/2)
be a need of man, cramped in his narrow personality, can any escape compare with the majesty of omnipresence?
In my sacred experience at Dakshi+neswar, the only extraordinarily-enlarged objects were the te else appeared in its norh each was enclosed in a halo of ht-white, blue, and pastel rainbow hues My body seemed to be of ethereal substance, ready to levitate Fully conscious ofa few steps without disturbing the continuity of the blissful vision
Behind the telimpsed my brother-in-law as he sat under the thorny branches of a sacred BEL tree I could effortlessly discern the course of his thoughts Somewhat uplifted under the holy influence of Dakshi+neswar, his mind yet held unkind reflections about racious form of the Goddess
”Divine Mother,” I prayed, ”wilt Thou not spiritually change ure, hitherto silent, spoke at last: ”Thy wish is granted!”
I looked happily at Satish As though instinctively aware that some spiritual poas at work, he rose resentfully fro behind the te his fist
The all-elorious Goddess; the towering temple was reduced to its ordinary size, ain my body sweltered under the fierce rays of the sun I jumped to the shelter of the pillared hall, where Satish pursued rily I looked at my watch It was one o'clock; the divine vision had lasted an hour
”You little fool,”there cross-legged and cross-eyed for six hours I have gone back and forth watching you Where is my food? Now the temple is closed; you failed to notify the authorities; we are left without lunch!”
The exaltation I had felt at the Goddess' presence was still vibrant within my heart I was emboldened to exclaim, ”Divine Mother will feed us!”
Satish was beside hie ”Once and for all,” he shouted, ”I would like to see your Divine Mother giving us food here without prior arrangements!”
His words were hardly uttered when a temple priest crossed the courtyard and joined us
”Son,” he addressedhours of , and felt a desire to put aside aainst the temple rules to feed those who do not make a request beforehand, but I have azed straight into Satish's eyes He flushed with eaze in silent repentance When ere served a lavish oes, I noticed that er He was bewildered, diving deep into the ocean of thought On the return journey to Calcutta, Satish, with softened expression, occasionally glanced at le word after the h in direct answer to Satish's challenge
The following afternoon I visited reeted me affectionately
”Dear brother,” she cried, ”what amy husband wept openly before me
”'Beloved DEVI,' {FN22-1} he said, 'I a sche to undo every wrong I have done you Froe bedroom only as a place of worshi+p; your s quarters I am sincerely sorry that I have ridiculed your brother
For the sha, I will punish ressed in the spiritual path Deeply I will seek the Divine Mother from now on; someday I must surely find Her!'”
Years later, I visited my brother-in-law in Delhi I was overjoyed to perceive that he had developed highly in self-realization, and had been blessed by the vision of Divine Mother During reater part of every night in divinefro the day at his office
The thought came toone Roma must have read my mind
”Dear brother,” she said, ”I am well, and my husband is sick
Nevertheless, I want you to know that, as a devoted Hindu wife, I a now before I pass on”
Taken aback at her o of truth I was in America when est brother Bishnu later gave me the details
”Roma and Satish were in Calcutta at the ti she dressed herself in her bridal finery