आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन |सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: || 32||
Holy Mother was the embodiment of patience and forbearance. She did not speak to anyone about her suffering. Holy Mother was supposed to receive a monthly pension of seven rupees from the Dakshineswar temple authorities, but Ramlal and the temple cashier Dinu told Trailokya Nath Biswas, the owner, that Holy Mother was being taken care of by the Master's devotees. As a result, Trailokya stopped her monthly pension. However, the Master had left a small amount of money with Balaram. Balaram had invested this money and he gave the interest of five or six rupees to Holy Mother every month.
The Master's monastic disciples were themselves struggling to sur- vive and were not aware of Holy Mother's difficult situation. In addition, her own mother and brothers were extremely poor and could not help her. Holy Mother had rice from the paddy fields, one of which had been bought by Ramakrishna in the name of Raghuvir, the family deity. She husked that paddy to make rice and grew some spinach and vegetables behind her hut. Sometimes she could not even afford to buy salt. Swami Saradananda later remarked: "We never dreamed that Mother did not even have the means to buy salt." Whatever she cooked, she offered to Raghuvir and then ate the prasad. Generally, orthodox Hindu widows eat one vegetarian meal a day and at night have a light meal of what- ever is available, such as sweets, fruits, or milk. Holy Mother had only a few saris, which gradually became worn out. Sometimes she patched the cloth, or else closed a hole by tying a knot in the fabric.
In Kamarpukur Holy Mother's initial problems were financial, but she soon started to face social difficulties as well. As long as Golap-ma stayed with her, no village woman dared say anything about Holy Mother's life- style. But when Golap-ma left for Calcutta, some narrow-minded, conservative village women and men began criticizing Holy Mother. They complained that she did not behave as a brahmin widow should: she did not shave her head, and she wore gold bracelets and a red-bordered sari.
Holy Mother ignored the villagers' criticism and continued to wear her bangles and red-bordered sari. The village women went to Prasannamayi whom everyone respected for her piety and mature judgement, and asked for her opinion of Holy Mother's unorthodox conduct. Prasanna- mayi, who had insight into Ramakrishna and Holy Mother, said: "Do not criticize either of them. They possess a divine nature." This silenced the villagers for a while.
The Master's monastic disciples were themselves struggling to sur- vive and were not aware of Holy Mother's difficult situation. In addition, her own mother and brothers were extremely poor and could not help her. Holy Mother had rice from the paddy fields, one of which had been bought by Ramakrishna in the name of Raghuvir, the family deity. She husked that paddy to make rice and grew some spinach and vegetables behind her hut. Sometimes she could not even afford to buy salt. Swami Saradananda later remarked: "We never dreamed that Mother did not even have the means to buy salt." Whatever she cooked, she offered to Raghuvir and then ate the prasad. Generally, orthodox Hindu widows eat one vegetarian meal a day and at night have a light meal of what- ever is available, such as sweets, fruits, or milk. Holy Mother had only a few saris, which gradually became worn out. Sometimes she patched the cloth, or else closed a hole by tying a knot in the fabric.
In Kamarpukur Holy Mother's initial problems were financial, but she soon started to face social difficulties as well. As long as Golap-ma stayed with her, no village woman dared say anything about Holy Mother's life- style. But when Golap-ma left for Calcutta, some narrow-minded, conservative village women and men began criticizing Holy Mother. They complained that she did not behave as a brahmin widow should: she did not shave her head, and she wore gold bracelets and a red-bordered sari.
Holy Mother ignored the villagers' criticism and continued to wear her bangles and red-bordered sari. The village women went to Prasannamayi whom everyone respected for her piety and mature judgement, and asked for her opinion of Holy Mother's unorthodox conduct. Prasanna- mayi, who had insight into Ramakrishna and Holy Mother, said: "Do not criticize either of them. They possess a divine nature." This silenced the villagers for a while.
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