Hriday was a person of exceptional energy and activity, and it was hard for him to be satisfied with the regular routine of his daily temple duties. In 1868 he decided to celebrate Durga Puja in the new shrine in his home. Sri Ramakrishna gave his approval and Mathur gave Hriday the necessary money. Hriday wanted the Master to go with him, but Mathur insisted that Sri Ramakrishna attend the worship in his Calcutta home. The Master comforted Hriday, saying: “Don’t grieve. I shall be there in a subtle body every day to watch your worship. You alone will see me. Get another brahmin to read out the mantras to you and conduct the worship in your own fashion. Don’t fast altogether, but take milk, Ganges water, and rock candy syrup at noon. If you follow my instructions, the Divine Mother will certainly accept your worship.”
Hriday went home with a joyous heart and performed the worship accordingly for three days. Each day during vespers, and at the time of the sandhi-puja (a special worship held between the second and third days of worship), he was astonished to see the Master in a shining form by the side of the image. Shortly afterwards he returned to Dakshineswar and told the Master what he had seen. Sri Ramakrishna admitted: “Yes, at the time of the vesper service and again at the sandhipuja time, I was very eager to watch your worship. In samadhi I felt myself carried along a path of light, and was present at your shrine in a luminous form.” Once, in an ecstatic mood, Sri Ramakrishna had told Hriday to worship Mother Durga three times. Disregarding the Master’s words, he secretly tried to perform the worship a fourth time but a series of obstacles thwarted his plans. (Source: They Lived with God)
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