After Swami Vivekananda returned from the West in 1897, Nag Mahashay came to Belur Math to see him. Swamiji earnestly requested him to live at the monastery, but Nag Mahashay declined because the Master had asked him to stay at home and lead the life of a householder. In the course of conversation Swamiji said to him: “It is you who have really appreciated and understood Sri Ramakrishna. We only spend our time and energy in useless wanderings.” When Swamiji heard that Nag Mahashay was in debt, he immediately wanted to take care of it; but Nag Mahashay humbly declined to accept the gift of a monk. Swamiji expressed a desire to visit his home in Deobhog, which made him very happy. Unfortunately he could not do so during Nag Mahashay’s lifetime.
Years before, when Sri Ramakrishna had introduced Nag Mahashay to Swami Vivekananda, he said: “This man has genuine humility. There is no hypocrisy in it.” Humility was one of the main traits of Nag Mahashay’s character. “I and mine” are the warp and woof of maya, which binds the soul, and these were totally obliterated from his personality. Girish once humorously remarked that the great enchantress, Mahamaya, was in trouble when She tried to bind Swami Vivekananda and Nag Mahashay. Girish said: “As She tried to trap Vivekananda he became bigger and bigger, and at last he became so big that all Her fetters were too short and She had to let him go. And when She attempted to trap Nag Mahashay, he began to make himself smaller and smaller until he had at last reduced himself to such a degree that he could easily slip through the holes of Her net.”
One day Nag Mahashay was at Girish Ghosh’s house with other disciples and devotees of Sri Ramakrishna. They were speaking about the Master when Swami Niranjanananda turned to Nag Mahashay and said: “Well, sir, our Master used to say that one who thinks of himself as mean and wretched actually becomes so. Why then do you always think of yourself as so low and degraded?” Nag Mahashay replied: “Ah, I see with my own eyes that I am low and degraded. How can I think that I am Shiva? You can think like that. Girish Babu can say that he is Shiva. You have such great devotion for the Lord. Where is such devotion in me? If you all help me, if the Master grants me his grace, my life will be blessed.” The utter sincerity and humility of his words silenced Swami Niranjanananda. He could neither contradict him nor pursue the subject any further. Girish Ghosh later said, referring to the incident: “If a man is sincere, and if all idea of egotism has really vanished from his mind, he attains to the state of Nag Mahashay. The earth becomes blessed by the very touch of the feet of such great men.”
Nag Mahashay’s humble, guileless, and gentle behaviour easily conquered the hearts of all. Once two monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda came to visit Nag Mahashay at his village. He entertained them with great care and respect, and when it was time for them to leave, he accompanied them to the railway station. But the train was very crowded, and when the two swamis tried to get on board, the other passengers would not make room for them. Seeing the monks being treated disrespectfully, Nag Mahashay cried out in agony, “O Lord, forgive these people who have ill-treated the holy men!” At the sight of his intense suffering, the passengers inside the train became ashamed of their behaviour and hurriedly made room for the monks.
It is sometimes assumed that nonviolence and humility arise from weakness and faint-heartedness; but on the contrary, they actually originate from inner moral and spiritual strength. An ideal character is one that combines the gentleness of a flower and the power of a thunderbolt. Nag Mahashay’s life was just such a blend of these two opposite qualities. He was humble but not cowardly. Once a distinguished rich man began criticizing Sri Ramakrishna in Nag Mahashay’s presence. With great humility he pleaded with the man to stop, but the man did not pay any attention. At last Nag Mahashay became very angry. He took the man’s shoe and started to beat him with it, forcing him to leave the place. That man also lost his temper and threatened Nag Mahashay’s life. But after a few days the wealthy man came to Nag Mahashay and begged his forgiveness.
On another occasion Nag Mahashay was going by boat from Calcutta to Belur Math to see Swami Vivekananda. As soon as the monastery came into view he bowed down with reverence. Observing his exceptional devotion towards the monastery, a passenger of the boat started to criticize the monks. Soon other passengers joined him. But Nag Mahashay could not bear it. Immediately he became furious and protested: “What do you know about monks? You only know how to satisfy your cravings for lust and gold! You are blind, ignorant! Fie upon your tongues that speak ill of the monks!” Seeing Nag Mahashay’s wrath, those people became terrified and asked the boatman to put them ashore immediately. When Swami Vivekananda heard of the incident, he remarked, “At times it is necessary to behave like a lion.” (Source: They Lived with God)