It is hard to understand how the infinite God actually assumes a finite human form and plays with human beings. But this play was in fact enacted in the life of a woman devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. She was known as Gopal-ma, or “Gopala’s mother.” Gopala, or cowherd boy, is an epithet of the child Krishna. Gopal-ma’s given name was Aghoremani Devi, but she came to be called Gopal-ma because of her fervent devotion to the infant Krishna,which culminated in Lord Krishna appearing before her as a child of seemingly solid physical form. Aghoremani attained this high mystical experience by living a life of austerity and renunciation, and through her steadfast love for her Chosen Deity, Gopala.
One way to approach God, according to traditional Hinduism, is by practising any one of five dualistic attitudes, or moods. These attitudes, or moods, are manifested in the relationship between the devotee and God, and they are: shanta bhava, the peace and stillness felt in the presence of God; dasya bhava, the attitude of a servant towards the master; sakhya bhava, the attitude of a friend towards a friend; vatsalya bhava, the attitude of a parent towards a child; madhura bhava, the attitude of a lover towards the beloved. The idea behind this classification is to help spiritual aspirants intensify their relationship with God according to their own inner nature. This is a natural path to God-realization. Gopal-ma attained her vision of God through the practice of vatsalya bhava, the attitude of a mother towards her child. (Source: They Lived with God)
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Only a jeweller understands the value of a jewel. Sri Ramakrishna recognized the spiritual magnitude of both Gopal-ma and Manomohini, and, praising them in his sweet manner, he said: “Ah!What a beautiful expression on their faces! They are floating in the ocean of bliss and devotion. Their eyes are soaked with divine love.” On another occasion Sri Ramakrishna commented about Gopal-ma, “During Krishna’s incarnation she was a fruit-seller of Vrindaban, and she would feed Gopala the sweet fruits.” ….
One day Gopal-ma came to see the Master with some women devotees. Pointing to her, he said to those present: “Ah, there is nothing inside this body but God. He fills it through and through.” Then the Master fed Gopal-ma with various delicacies and gave her some food that he had received from several Calcutta business people. At this, Gopal-ma said, “Why are you so fond of feeding me?”
Sri Ramakrishna replied, “You have also fed me with so many things in the past.”
“In the past?When?” she asked.
“In your previous life,” he said. (Source: They Lived with God)