- Mother Shitala and Lakshmi
- Buying Land in the Name of Raghuvir
- “That Kadamba Tree is Within.”
- Identification with Radha
- “I Was in The Land of The White People.”
- Did You Come Here Only to Sleep?
- “In Every Age I Come Back”
- “Go and Spread The Lord’s Name”
- Beware, Holy Man!
- Sri Ramakrishna and Lord Jagannath
Laxmimani Devi (1864-1926)—Daughter of Rameshwar Chattopadhyay, second elder brother of the Master. Born in parental home on the day of Saraswati Puja in February 1864, had two brothers, Ramlal and Shivaram. Attended the local primary school and shared her lessons at home with aunt Sri Sarada Devi. Married at the age of eleven to Dhanakrishna Ghatak of Goghat village who, having left in search of work after a day’s stay at Kamarpukur, disappeared forever. After twelve years Lakshmi performed the shraddha ceremony of her husband. Did not accept any share of husband’s property, never lived in his house. Upon hearing the news of her forthcoming wedding the Master had forecast her widowhood, declaring that she was an incarnation of Devi Shitala.
After a stay of three years at Kamarpukur moved to Dakshineswar and lived with the Holy Mother at Nahabat. The Master initiated her with Krishna mantra. After his passing, went on pilgrimages with Holy Mother, and returned to Kamarpukur. Did not befriend Holy Mother in the early days of her solitary sojourn there. Returned to Dakshineswar in 1905 and lived with Ramlal for ten years. A talented singer and dancer, skilled story-teller with a charming personality. Began initiating people and her disciples helped her build a house at Dakshineswar near the Ganga. Visited many centres of pilgrimage. Due to her fondness for Puri her disciples built a house for her there near the sea naming it Lakshmi Niketan, where she lived from 1924 and died on 24.2.1926. Known as Lakshmi-didi among devotees of the Order. In close circles was very entertaining. When Sister Nivedita entertained Holy Mother by imitating a lion, Lakshmi rode on her back as Goddess Jagaddhatri. Krishnachandra Sen Gupta, one of her disciples, wrote a biography of her.
One day in Kamarpukur, Thakur said, “Now, today you must sing and I will listen.” They all remained silent. Not one dared utter a sound. But there was one girl whom Thakur loved very much, so much that whenever she did not come, he would send for her. As soon as she saw that no one else would sing, she sang a song in a weak, high-pitched, quavering voice. All the girls began to laugh at her, but when she had finished Thakur was delighted. “See how great is her devotion,” he exclaimed. “Just because I asked her, she has sung so frankly and simply. She alone among you has true devotion.”
Lakshmi told the following story to some Calcutta devotees: “Sri Ramakrishna could not bear to hear any worldly talk. Once at Kamarpukur he overheard from his home the conversation of some village women who were at the bathing ghat of the Haldarpukur [pond]. They were discussing their menus for that day. The Master said to Hriday: ‘Look, those women are talking only about how they prepared different fish dishes. Shall I go and tell them not to talk such nonsense?’ Hriday discouraged the Master because the aristocratic women from the Haldar family were there. But as soon as Hriday left, the Master rushed to the pond and said to the women, ‘Do you want to pass your precious life talking only about fish preparations or about God?’”