Saradananda called himself the Mother’s “doorkeeper,” and he felt proud of the position. From his small room at the left of the entrance to the Mother’s house in Calcutta he kept an eye on the devotees who went upstairs to salute her. It was not an easy task. Once a devotee walked a great distance to come to Udbodhan and was very hot. It was about three in the afternoon. Holy Mother had just returned from a devotee’s house and was resting. Saradananda said to the devotee: “I won’t allow you to go up now; Mother is tired.” With the words “Is she just your mother?” the visitor practically pushed him aside and went to the Mother. Very soon he felt repentant for his rash act and prayed that he might avoid the swami while going out. He also told the Mother about his improper conduct but was reassured by her.
Sheepishly he came down the stairs and found Saradananda seated in the same place. He asked his forgiveness for the offence. Saradananda embraced him and said: “Why do you talk about offending me? Can one see Mother without such yearning?”
On Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday Niranjanananda became Swamiji’s gatekeeper in order to prevent the general public from disturbing him. A young brahmacharin, a disciple of Swamiji, arrived from Mayavati to visit him. Since Niranjanananda did not know the young man, he stopped him at the gate. But while Niranjanananda was talking to someone else, the clever brahmacharin crawled through his legs and entered Swamiji’s room. When Niranjanananda heard this from Swamiji, he appreciated the boy’s resourcefulness and dedication.