One of the characteristics of a Divine Incarnation is that he gives shelter to those who take refuge in him. His all-encompassing love is not confined to human beings. Even animals find tender shelter with him. Nistarini witnessed this in Sri Ramakrishna. She told Sister Devamata: “Once a cat took refuge in Sri Ramakrishna’s room at Dakshineswara with her little kittens. The mother cat would sometimes sleep on his bed near his feet and if he reached down and touched her with his hand, at once she would get up and seem almost to make pranam [bow before him]. It troubled the Master much to know what to do with the cat and her kittens, for he felt that they did not get proper food at the temple; so one day when I came to see him, he asked me, ‘Will you do something for me?’ I clasped my hands before him and said, ‘Whatever it is, that I must do.’ But again he asked and I replied as before. Then he told me of the cats and asked me to take them. ‘Remember,’ he said, ‘that they have taken refuge with me, so see that they get the best of care.’”
“I took them home and whenever I went to the temple he would question me in every detail about the cats: Were they getting proper food? Had the kittens grown? What did I mean to do with them? He was much concerned lest I might give them away to someone who would not treat them kindly, and again he would remind me, ‘Remember, they took refuge with me.’ The mother cat never had another family. At the end of a year she was suddenly taken ill and died. As she was dying I poured Ganges water into her mouth and repeated Gurumaharaj’s name.”
…. When Nistarini had taken responsibility for the cat at Dakshineswar, the Master blessed her, saying: “May all good attend you. May you have the vision of your Chosen Deity.” Her Chosen Deity was Ramachandra. One day in the later part of her life, while repeating her mantra she saw Lord Rama in front of her. As she was about to take the dust of his feet, she saw her beloved guru, Ramakrishna, in place of Ramachandra. Then the Master said to her, smiling, “Now you know who I am.” (Source: They Lived with God)
One day the Holy Mother Sarada Devi said, “However much of Japa you do, however much of work you perform all is for nothing. If Mahamaya does not open the way, is anything possible for any one? Oh bound soul! Surrender, surrender. Then alone will She take compassion on you and leave your path open.” Saying this, she told an incident in the Master’s life at Kamarpukur. “One day in the month of Jyeshta, there was a heavy rain one evening. The whole field was covered with water. The Master was going along the main road near Dompada wading in the water. There, seeing that many fish had accumulated, people were beating them to death with sticks. One fish kept going round and round the Master’s feet. Noticing it, he said, ‘Hey, do not kill this fish. It is going round my feet, surrendering itself to me. If anybody can, let him take this fish and set it free in the pond.’ Then he himself set it free and came home and said, ‘Ah, if any one could surrender in this manner, then alone can he find protection.’” (Source: Gospel of Holy Mother)
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- Having abandoned all duties (Dharmas) take refuge in Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins. Do not grieve. (BG 18.66)