One day Bhavanath asked the Master to take away his maya. The Master told him to come to Dakshineswar on a Tuesday or a Saturday with some food and he would swallow his maya. When Bhavanath arrived with food, the Master tried to eat it, but he could not lift his hand to his mouth. He tried several times, then said with tears, “Mother is not allowing me to do it.” Swami Saradananda later explained this mystery: “The Master had two moods—human and divine. When he was in the human plane, he had infinite compassion for the suffering humanity. He was eager to remove the sufferings of those who came to him. But when he ascended to the divine plane to remove their suffering, he would see the time had not yet come and it was not the will of the Mother.” (Source: They Lived with God)
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On 22 February 1885, a large group of devotees attended the Master’s birthday festival at Dakshineswar. The devotees arranged for the Master to have a meal in his room. At the Master’s request, Narendra sang:
In dense darkness, O Mother, Thy formless beauty sparkles;
Therefore the yogis meditate in a dark mountain cave.
Who art Thou, Mother, seated alone in the shrine of samadhi?
M. recorded: “As Narendra sang the last line, the Master went into deep samadhi and lost all outer consciousness. After a long time, when he was regaining partial consciousness, the devotees seated him on the carpet and placed a plate of food before him. Still overcome with divine emotion, he began to eat the rice with both hands. He said to Bhavanath, ‘Feed me.’ Because of his ecstatic mood he could not use his own right hand. Bhavanath began to feed him.” Bhavanath was fortunate indeed that he had the chance to feed the Master.
The festivities continued throughout the day. In the evening the devotees bowed to the Master and started to go home. The Master went to the western porch, accompanied by Bhavanath and M.
Master (to Bhavanath): “Why do you come here so seldom?”
Bhavanath (smiling): “Sir, I visit you once in a fortnight. I saw you in the street the other day, so I didn’t come here.”
Master: “What do you mean? What can you gain by mere seeing? Touch and talk are also necessary.” (Source: They Lived with God)