As a humble devotee of Krishna, Akshay took formal initiation from his family guru a year before he met Sri Ramakrishna, and practised japa and meditation at night on the bank of the Ganges. In time, however, he became discouraged because, in spite of all his spiritual practices, he still had not received a vision of God.
One day Akshay was enjoying a smoke on the veranda when he overheard Devendra and Dhirendra, a young man of the Tagore family, talking about a paramahamsa (a man who has realized Brahman and renounced the world). Akshay was intrigued and wanted to know more about this paramahamsa. He knew that such a high soul was a knower of God—one who could help others to see God.
Later, when Devendra was alone, Akshay approached him, saying: “Sir, you were talking about a paramahamsa. Could you tell me where he is?” Brushing the question aside, Devendra asked him, “What good could it possibly do you?” Akshay was hurt, but his curiosity increased. Later he came to know from Dhirendra that Sri Ramakrishna was the paramahamsa, and that he lived in Dakshineswar.
Six months passed. Akshay’s mind was possessed by Sri Ramakrishna. Coming from a village, he had no idea where Dakshineswar was located, and without the help of Devendra he would never have the opportunity to meet Sri Ramakrishna. Summoning his resourcefulness, Akshay decided to serve Devendra anonymously. Knowing that he smoked early in the morning, Akshay, before Devendra arose from his bed, prepared perfumed tobacco with burning charcoal and left his hubble-bubble in front of the door to Devendra’s room. Devendra, of course, was delighted to have his favourite smoke but wondered who was serving him. Within a few days he found out that it was Akshay who was preparing the tobacco for him. When he asked why, Akshay said, “Sir, would you please take me to meet the paramahamsa?” Seeing his sincerity and humility, Devendra agreed.
On a Saturday, probably in the early part of 1885, Mahimacharan Chakrabarty arranged a festival and invited Sri Ramakrishna and the devotees to his house at 100 Cossipore Road, in North Calcutta. Akshay heard that Devendra was planning to attend the function and that Dhirendra was going with him. His heart was pounding, for it was unbearable to wait any longer to see this paramahamsa. As the two men were getting into their hired carriage, Akshay rushed to Devendra and holding his feet with both hands, pleaded with him, saying, “Sir, please allow me to accompany you to the place you are about to visit.” Devendra consented.
The carriage arrived at Mahima’s house at 5:00 p.m. Ram, Manomohan, Surendra, M., VijayKrishna Goswami, and other devotees were present. Devendra and others took the dust of the Master’s feet, and Akshay did likewise. Akshay noticed that the Master smiled a little and cast a gracious glance towards him. Then he sat in a corner and looked intently at the Master. Forgetting his body and surroundings, he was captivated by Sri Ramakrishna’s charm and conversation. He felt as though he were being carried away on a current of bliss. After a while the devotees began to sing kirtan in the courtyard. As soon as the Master heard the sound of the drum and cymbals he hurriedly joined the kirtan party and started to sing the following song:
Behold, the two brothers have come,
who weep while chanting Hari’s name,
The brothers who dance in ecstasy and
make the world dance in His name!
Behold them, both weeping, and making
the whole world weep with them,
The brothers who, in return for blows,
offer to sinners Hari’s love.
Intoxicated with divine joy, Sri Ramakrishna began to dance with the kirtan group. At times he went into samadhi and remained motionless like a statue; at other times, in partial consciousness, he danced slowly and rhythmically. The Master created such a tangible spiritual atmosphere that Akshay felt as though he were in heaven. Vijay Krishna Goswami, a Brahmo leader, was dancing next to the Master. Suddenly he pointed to Sri Ramakrishna and exclaimed: “This is our Krishna!” These words were a revelation to Akshay, and he directly experienced their truth—that the Master was none other than Sri Krishna for whom he had been yearning since his youth. The Master appeared to him as the veritable incarnation of love.
The kirtan ended at 9:00 p.m., and the devotees began to tend the Master. One fanned him and another brought ice water for him to drink. Meanwhile Mahima arranged a dinner with various delicacies for Sri Ramakrishna and the devotees. After dinner Sri Ramakrishna was taken to a room where he talked with the devotees. Akshay thought to himself: “The Master has revealed his divine nature to his close devotees. Without his grace and without devotion, none can understand him.”
Suddenly Sri Ramakrishna began to sing Lord Krishna’s words in his melodious voice:
Though I am never loath to grant salvation,
I hesitate indeed to grant pure love.
Whoever wins pure love surpasses all;
He is adored by men;
He triumphs over the three worlds.
Listen, Chandravali! I shall tell you of love:
Mukti a man may gain, but rare is bhakti.
Solely for pure love’s sake did I become
King Vali’s doorkeeper
Down in his realm in the nether world.
Alone in Vrindaban can pure love be found;
Its secret none but the gopas and gopis know.
For pure love’s sake I dwelt in Nanda’s house;
Taking him as My father,
I carried his burdens on My head.
When the festival was over the Master left for Dakshineswar. Akshay got into Devendra and Dhirendra’s carriage along with Ram, a householder disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Ram had befriended him that evening, telling him many wonderful things about the Master. Thus, when Ram got out of the carriage in Simulia, where he lived, Akshay got outwith him. In Ram’s house he listened to many more stories about Sri Ramakrishna. At 2:00 in the morning he finally went home.