Passages from Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 06-June2021 - 292
Satwik Joglekar
Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 292
Passages from “Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play” – p: 292 – 293
By Swami Chetanananda
Vedanta Society of St Louis
CHAPTER 18
MAHAMAYA’S MAYA – 16
Gopal-Ma’s Passing
After losing her mother, Holy Mother returned to Calcutta in April 1906 and lived in the same rented house at 2/1 Baghbazar Street. Among the women devotees of Ramakrishna, Yogin-ma, Golap-ma, and Gopal-ma were Holy Mother’s trusted companions. Towards the end of her life, Gopal-ma was staying with Nivedita in her school, and Holy Mother regularly went to see her. One day Gopal-ma said to her: “Gopala, you have come. Look, you have sat on my lap all these days; now you take me on your lap.” The Mother took Gopal-ma’s head on her lap and caressed her affectionately.26 [26 Swami Chetanananda, They Lived with God (Vedanta Society: St. Louis, 2006), 374] Shortly before Gopal-ma’s death, Holy Mother went to her bedside. The saintly lady said feebly: “Is it you, Gopala, who have come?” and stretched out her hand. Holy Mother did not understand what she meant, but an attendant explained to her that Gopal-ma was looking upon her as Gopala and wanted to take the dust of her feet. Holy Mother was hesitant, but the attendant took the dust of the Mother’s feet with the corner of her cloth and put it on Gopal-ma’s head. Holy Mother returned to her residence with a heavy heart.
The end came at dawn on 8 July 1906. Gopal-ma was carried to the Ganges, where she breathed her last, touching the holy water. A monk bent over her and whispered in her ear the words that a Hindu loves to hear at the last hour: “Om Ganga Narayana! Om Ganga Narayana Brahma!”27 [27 Swami Chetanananda, They Lived with God (Vedanta Society: St. Louis, 2006), 374]
Laughter and tears are part of human life. All human beings encounter happiness and misery. Holy Mother experienced the pain of separation from her dearest ones—her husband, father, uncle, mother, brother Abhay, disciple Yogananda, companion Gopal-ma, and others. But she continued her journey to fulfill her mission, holding her Yogamaya, Radhu, in her arms.
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