[Devotees of Holy Trio:20423] Bhavanath Chattopadhyay Master's Photograph which is now worshipped world-wide
NAREN RANA
Bhavanath Chattopadhyay
All followers of Sri Ramakrishna are eternally indebted to Bhavanath because he was responsible for the shrine photograph of the Master that devotees worship today worldwide. In October 1883, Bhavanath brought a photographer from Baranagore, Abinash Chandra Dahn, to Dakshineswar to take a picture of the Master. The most authentic account of the circumstances surrounding this photo came from Swami Nirvanananda, who published the following brief report in Bengali in the Udbodhan [64.12] in 1963:
At Belur one day, Swami Akhandananda asked us in the course of a conversation: ‘Well, do you know anything about the photo of Sri Ramakrishna that is worshipped these days?’ On being told by us that we knew nothing that is really important, he related the following:
‘Bhavanath Chatterjee, the Master’s devotee from Baranagore, wanted to take a photograph of the Master. One day he requested him very strongly to give his consent, and on the afternoon of the next day brought a photographer along with him from Baranagore. He could not make the Master agree. The Master just went away near the Radhakanta temple.
‘In the meantime Narendra arrived on the scene and heard everything. He said, “Wait a bit. I shall put everything straight.” Saying this, he went to the veranda to the north of the Radhakanta temple where Sri Ramakrishna was sitting and started a religious conversation with him. The Master went into samadhi. Narendra went and called others and ordered them to get ready quickly to take the picture.
‘In the state of samadhi the Master’s body was bent on one side and therefore the cameraman went to make him sit erect by gently adjusting his chin. But as soon as he touched his chin, the whole body of the Master came up like a piece of paper - so light it was!
‘Swamiji then told him: “Oh, what are you doing? Be quick. Get the camera ready.” The cameraman took the exposure as hurriedly as possible. The Master was completely unaware of this incident.
‘After some days, when Bhavanath brought the printed copy of the photo, the Master remarked, “This represents a high yogic state. This form will be worshipped in every home as time goes on.'
Jai Sri Ramakrishna
--
Ramakrishna pada sharana sada,
[(You who are) Ever surrendered at the feet of Ramakrishna]
Pada saroja tava pranami sada
[My Salutations to Your lotus feet].
--
SWADHYAYA PRAVACHANABHYAM NA PRAMADITAVYAM
{Be not negligent about the study and exposition of scriptures. - Taittriya Upanishad}
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