Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836 to 1886) Celebrated mystic; mastered all types of Yoga and also Christian and Islamic practices. Swami Vivekananda took his message of universal religion to the West. Married to Saradadevi. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
In this sacred land of ours, there have been many centres of spiritual power since ancient times. Great and holy men like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Vivekananda could acquire spiritual powers only because they received the blessings of their mothers. They also earned the grace of Mother Kali whom they worshipped as the form of God. Vivekananda earned great name and fame by the grace of Mother Kali. In fact, the people of West Bengal achieved greatness by worshipping God in the form of Devi (mother goddess).
The mother of Ramkrishna Paramahamsa was noble and virtuous. She belonged to a poor family, and had to face great hardships in life. But she earned the grace of God by her sterling virtues and firm faith in God. It is only when one respects one’s mother and wins her love that one can called a human being in the real sense. There is no God greater than one’s mother in this world.
One of the main teachings of the culture is: revere your mother and father as God. A person who is able to win the love of his mother can win everything else. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa earned a great name because he could win the love of his mother. Not only that, he could win the grace of Mother Kali and attain her divine vision. There were many people in Bengal who were the masters of great wealth, high education and great scholarship. But they could not achieve anything worthwhile in life due to their lack of faith and devotion. It was only Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who could lead an ideal life by loving his mother and obeying her commands. He taught others that there was nothing greater and nobler in this world than mother’s love. It is therefore, not good and proper to hurt the feelings of the mother who is embodiment of love. It is only when we develop love towards our mother will our life become happy and prosperous. Hence, first and foremost, we should strive to win the love of our mother. Whatever the mother does is for our own good. We must develop such firm faith. You take the life story of any great person in this world; he owes his greatness to his mother.
The mothers in ancient times imparted sacred teachings to their children. That is why the children in those days, specially in the sacred land of Punjab, engaged themselves in constant contemplation of god. Due to these sacred thoughts of its people, the land of Punjab attained great sacredness. However, it is not the land that is important. What is important is the thoughts and feelings of the people should be focussed on God. (SS June 05, pp.165-167)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to perform several methods/ modes of worship to Mother Kali throughout the day. One day the Divine Mother appeared before him and enquired, ‘Ramakrishna! You are getting mad day by day. You worshipped Me in a particular form. Why you confine Me to this form and that form. In fact, all forms are Mine. Whomsoever you come across, consider them as the embodiment of divinity.
God is pure and attributeless. Such an attributeless and unsullied divinity is present in every human being. All human beings are, in fact, the reflections of such an omnipresent divinity. Hence, every human being has to be considered as the embodiment of divinity and respected. Though God is omnipresent, He assumes a particular form and serves the human beings in many ways. Right from now, realise this truth that all names and forms are His. Anybody you come across, consider him/her as the embodiment of Divinity. When you develop such an attitude, you can see God anywhere and everywhere. (DD on 09.10.05, pp. 4-5)
Ramakrishna used to cry in agony at the loss of another day, without the vision of the Divine Mother. Have that yearning, feel that sense of urgency: Seek to know now, yearn for that ecstasy this moment. Do not postpone or spend time in discussing others. (SSS Vol.12, p.11)
(Ramakrishna in bhava samadhi)
The unparalleled friendship between Krishna and Arjuna attracted Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, very much. He learnt from the sacred texts like Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam how a sadhaka could by the nine forms of devotion (Navavidha Bhakti) experience God. Not only that:he decided to experience by himself the intense yearning developed by Gopis developed by the Gopis towards Krishna and realise how that (Mathura Bhakti) (Bridal Mysticism) would be like.He was very much impressed by the Dasya Bhakti (the form of devotion in which one considers himself a servant of God and serves Him) of Hanuman in the Ramayana and decided to experience that bhava Bhagavad Gita among all other shlokas captivated the attention of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo si me
(Gita 18:65)
(On Me fix thy mind, to Me give thy devotion, to Me offer thy sacrifice, to Me make thy obeisance; thus having thou shall come!) This shloka teaches us the sadhana of Saranagati (total surrender) - (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp. 114-115))