Rama Sakti Mission

 – Smt. Shakar Menon (1961)

When I was about fifteen years old, that is, when I was in the School Final Class, I first read the works of Swami Vivekananda. I read the whole work of seven volumes and whenever I read the chapters relating to My Master, discussion between the master and disciples, I used to feel, ‘had I but the good fortune to be living in the world when this God-man was living’ I should have considered my life blessed. I had earnest desire to sit at the feet of a real God-man.

The consummation of my long-cherished desire came true in due course. The Sadguru I had been longing for, came in the form of the Divine Mother, and in Mother, I saw the embodiment of everything. I had longed for. I had my first contact with Mother in the year 1951. In fact, Mother in her ever flowing grace, had already forestalled my thoughts, and had even graced my house, with her divine presence, even before I came to know of it.

This happened in a most unexpected manner. We were then staying at Trivandrum. We had then temporarily given our house at Trichur for occupation to Dr. H. U. Kamath. Mrs. Kamath was a devotee of Mother and she had invited Mother to bless her house with her divine presence. Thus it was, that even before our knowing Mother in person, she had already graced our house with her presence. How happy we were to hear about the news of Mother’s visit to our house from my sister and relatives at Trichur.

I received my initiation at Trichur at the hands of the Divine Mother, on the 2nd December, 1952, and ever since that date, I had always been trying my best to be a satsishya, a worthy disciple of Mother. I had been attending the weekly bhajans and the (nama yagnams) and following the discourses and precious advices given by Mother to the best of my ability. Mother had advised us to make every house a temple, and with this end in view, I had been assembling the members of my family every evening for common prayer and worship. Singing Ram Nam with my children and family assembled around me, I really feel a sense of elation and mental peace.

I had no so-called miracles or uncommon experiences to narrate. But I can truly say that Mother’s unseen hand was always guiding and helping me all through my life. In the year 1955, I fell a victim to a very dangerous disease that threatened my life and I was taken to Madras for operation and treatment. We left for Madras with prayers to Mother for help and guidance in a spirit of absolute surrender. Our prayers were really heard. All through the long crisis from the diagnosis of the disease through the operation and protracted treatment, Mother’s guiding hand was fully discernible. Weak and timid though I was, by nature, I felt as if a new strength and courage was given to me, and even the doctors complimented me for my equanimity and courage at the time of the operation. I lay confined to the hospital for about four months. Though I was ill, I did not feel life a suffering. On the other hand, I was always cheerful and never felt depressed. Hospital life, in fact, was pleasant to me. Every one was kind and considerate, and I had the company of very good friends. Oh! Mother, this was all due to you, and your grace alone!.

SRI HIRANAND KARMAMCHAND,
Editor, “ Hindustan ”(Sindhi Daily), Bombay 1961

As I sit to write this article, Mother Rama Devi’s radiant personality shedding light and lustre, stands before me. She is the perfect embodiment of love and devotion. She has a power which transforms others. There is an intense fervour in her. She speaks with a vigour that shakes you to your depths. Her smile is bewitching. Her intent look thrills you. Her touch electrifies you. Like all the great gurus, she holds the key to “The Luminous World” a world of love and ecstasy, of joy and anand. She unveils the mystery of creation and unfolds the purpose of our life. When her grace descends we are transported to regions celestial. The blaze of her spiritual fire enthralls us. Such is Mother – a glittering star in the vast limitless spiritual firmament.

I first came into contact with her in 1957 when she visited Bombay. My wife and I met her at a disciple’s house in Parel. At that time she was addressing a small gathering and was speaking with great force. I kept gazing at her, and I think she also looked intently on me. As time went on, her speech became more and more vigorous, till suddenly I found she had gone into Samadhi. It was an inspiring sight; an air of peace and serenity surrounded her. She looked majestic and seemed to have passed into a world of peace and bliss – a world which was not visible to our mortal eyes. When she came down to her normal consciousness, after nearly half an hour, she was a picture of joy. She resumed her discourse and spoke with unique spiritual fervour. My only regret was that I could not follow her fully in the language she was speaking. Suddenly I noticed that she started speaking in English, with a vigour all her own. Although her knowledge of English was very limited she could convey profound spiritual truths. I marveled at her magnetic personality. Later when I took leave of her, I could see that she had bound me down to her with a bond of deep love and affection.

I saw her in Samadhi a number of times, but each time she revealed to me a new aspect of her personality. The form of her samadhi also varied according to her mood of the moment. I could see that she was going into samadhi, sometimes while sitting, sometimes while standing, and sometimes even in the ecstasies of song or discourse.

A day before she was scheduled to leave Bombay, I sought a personal interview of her. My wife and two other friends also accompanied me. Even in that personal interview, while speaking of God, she went off in samadhi. When she came back to the plane of consciousness, she said that it was easy for her to slip into samadhi but she had to struggle hard to come down to this earth plane again.

Towards the end of 1958, I along with my wife undertook a journey to Mangalore where Mother resided. Unfortunately when I was scheduled to leave, I fell ill. But I wrote to her that I was leaving Bombay relying on her protection. It was curious that when I got into the plane, all the while I seemed to feel her presence and her protective hand on me. When we met her, after the usual greetings, the first thing she enquired was if I felt her presence during the journey. I could then see how she could project herself into far-off space to look after her devotees.

We felt we had again come to the Mother from whom we had parted for a time. We departed after reverentially offering our pranaams to Mother and Bhagwan.

I felt the effect of the blessings of Mother and Bhagwan that night. I quote from my Diary, dated 25-12-1958 :

“That night I seemed to be floating in a sea of Love and Bliss. It was a lovely experience, the effect of which continued even when I got into the steamer next day. A little after 2am that night as I was lying in my cabin, moon seemed to be inviting me to come out. I moved out. It was ravishing sight. I was lost in reverie. I do not know how long I sat in that mood but when I returned to my cabin, it was early morning. I felt as refreshed as ever. ”

– Ambika Kumari (1961).

What is the culture and value of a man? We should hold that the real culture of a man is his mental purification and the value is the amount of his spirituality. The truth that the culture of man has reached its zenith in Bharat may be a matter of sarcasm to some people. This is the era of many inventions and investigations. By his intelligence man has invented many new things to enrich his earthly pleasures. Through his intelligence the bombs are produced in this world as destructive weapons. Animals face their enemies and fight with their physical organs. But man, the most intellectual being in the world, wants to use bombs and other things for destruction of his fellowmen. We cannot call such a nature as the culture of man. That is the devilish aspect of the mentality of man. A man with pure sattwic nature is really a cultured man.

Bharat is fortunate indeed in having given birth to great saints like Vyasa, Valmiki, and Shankar; great incarnations like Sri Rama and Sri Krishna who were the embodiments of dharma and love; renowned Pativratas like Sita and Savithri. Even in this scientific era the glorious heritage is not lost in Bharat. Even now, in this twentieth century, her spiritual glory shines through enlightened personages.

In the battle of Kurukshetra where the armies of the Kourawas and Pandavas were facing each other Parthasarathy, the great Lord told his friend Arjuna: “Whenever righteousness declines and wickedness raises its head I take birth to re-establish righteousness”. These lustrous words proclaim the glorious truth, that when spirituality declines, incarnations appear. Avathars are great souls who assumed bodies for the working out a purpose – the uplift of humanity.

To enliven the Pativratya and the dharma of grihasthashram an incarnation has happened in the gracious form of Sadguru Sri Rama Devi. She is a lighthouse to those who long for liberation. From her the words of Parthasarathy flew anew. Do your duties, do your dharma. The law of perfect life is dharma which is inseparable from truth. The imperceptible truth reveals itself to the inner vision of the votary of dharma and the mysterious course of dharma becomes visible to the subtle vision of the worshipper of truth.

It is not easy for one to gain superconsciousness -nirvikalpa Samadhi – even in absolute solitude. But remaining in the environments of home, in the midst of her household duties, Mother attained it. After nirvikalpa samadhi one would be unable to come back to one’s physical state and to do one’s duties on earth. But Mother is still amidst us and is working in this world for the spiritual uplift of those groping in the darkness of samsara. She is incarnated divinity; an embodiment of love and dharma. She gives the helping hand across the eddying waters to reach the other shore of samsara. She gives spiritual guidance. She teaches domestic and social duties in the light of spirituality. Her love is to gladden the present and light to illuminate the dark pathways of the future.

What is the culture and value of a man? We should hold that the real culture of a man is his mental purification and the value is the amount of his spirituality. The truth that the culture of man has reached its zenith in Bharat may be a matter of sarcasm to some people. This is the era of many inventions and investigations. By his intelligence man has invented many new things to enrich his earthly pleasures. Through his intelligence the bombs are produced in this world as destructive weapons. Animals face their enemies and fight with their physical organs. But man, the most intellectual being in the world, wants to use bombs and other things for destruction of his fellowmen. We cannot call such a nature as the culture of man. That is the devilish aspect of the mentality of man. A man with pure sattwic nature is really a cultured man.

Bharat is fortunate indeed in having given birth to great saints like Vyasa, Valmiki, and Shankar; great incarnations like Sri Rama and Sri Krishna who were the embodiments of dharma and love; renowned Pativratas like Sita and Savithri. Even in this scientific era the glorious heritage is not lost in Bharat. Even now, in this twentieth century, her spiritual glory shines through enlightened personages.

In the battle of Kurukshetra where the armies of the Kourawas and Pandavas were facing each other Parthasarathy, the great Lord told his friend Arjuna:   “Whenever righteousness declines and wickedness raises its head I take birth to re-establish righteousness”. These lustrous words proclaim the glorious truth, that when spirituality declines, incarnations appear. Avathars are great souls who assumed bodies for the working out a purpose – the uplift of humanity.

To enliven the Pativratya and the dharma of grihasthashram an incarnation has happened in the gracious form of Sadguru Sri Rama Devi. She is a lighthouse to those who long for liberation. From her the words of Parthasarathy flew anew. Do your duties, do your dharma. The law of perfect life is dharma which is inseparable from truth. The imperceptible truth reveals itself to the inner vision of the votary of dharma and the mysterious course of dharma becomes visible to the subtle vision of the worshipper of truth.

It is not easy for one to gain superconsciousness -nirvikalpa Samadhi – even in absolute solitude. But remaining in the environments of home, in the midst of her household duties, Mother attained it. After nirvikalpa samadhi one would be unable to come back to one’s physical state and to do one’s duties on earth. But Mother is still amidst us and is working in this world for the spiritual uplift of those groping in the darkness of samsara. She is incarnated divinity; an embodiment of love and dharma. She gives the helping hand across the eddying waters to reach the other shore of samsara. She gives spiritual guidance. She teaches domestic and social duties in the light of spirituality. Her love is to gladden the present and light to illuminate the dark pathways of the future.

 – Kumari J. M. Kantak (1961)

Madam does God exist? If so where is he?” one of the students asked me this question. From my very childhood I had been convinced that not only God does exist but that He is the inner ruler of the countless universes. But we cannot see Him with this mortal vision, so long as our hearts remain coated with impurity.

On that day also when my student asked me the above question, I was not able to answer for half a minute. I tried to answer in a way, which would appeal to him.  ‘God exists in the heart of all beings, but he is fully manifest in that man who loves the entire creation as himself.’ My answer kept that boy just quiet, as if he agreed to it, and I too was satisfied with that answer.

Such a holy Being in whom God is manifest in all perfection is Sadguru Sri Rama Devi. To get at least a partial glimpse of the divinity embodied in her is to become perfect ourselves. My parents who were the devotees of Mother and were also the members of the bhaktha mandali, Bombay, had gone on pilgrimage to places like Pandharpur, Madras, Trivandrum and Trichur in connection with religious conferences and other celebrations conducted in honour of Mother. They used to tell me interesting incidents of her bestowal of grace, and naturally I had a great longing to have darsan.

The wheel of destiny turned in my favour and in the year 1952, which was the most memorable year in my life, I had the darsan of Mother. When I first saw her, incidents which my parents used to tell us about her, came up instantaneously before my mind’s eye. The divine splendor, the overflowing grace, indicated her immeasurable greatness. I saw an aura of holiness. Whosoever went near was profoundly influenced. When I sat before her, listening to her, I felt irresistible attraction. She appeared as love incarnate, an inseparable mother to me not only in this life but in the past countless births.

I admit I had not done sadhana as directed during her visit to Bombay. I had to undergo sufferings. In fact, life itself became living death. There was none to sympathise. In such a frame of mind, I remembered Mother’s gracious form and her words of wisdom. At once I experienced peace and solace coming to me from an unknown source. Often I felt her guidance and was encouraged. I longed to spend a few days in the holy presence and waited for the approach of the periodical sadhana mandir session eagerly. But Mother is supremely compassionate. She takes a hundred steps towards the child when the child takes only one. An opportunity presented itself when I heard that she had come to Bangalore. I reached Bangalore on the 10th October 1959. There were crowded programmes of bhajans and discourses by Mother. Though she spoke in Canarese, a language alien to me, her power enabled me to grasp the substance. This is an experience which several of her children shared.

One day I was closeted with her for an interview. Even without my telling her, she divined the state of frustration which had overpowered my mind. Looking intently into my eyes, she said: “Obey your parents. They always mean well for you. Respect their decisions. Misery accrues from the violation of their wishes.” I was shocked to hear this utterance. In a matter of vital importance, I had disregarded my mother’s instructions and had acted according to my whims to gratify my own personal wish. I realized my folly and in a mood of utter repentance I prostrated before the all-knowing. Seeing drops of tears in my eyes welling up, the compassionate Mother, in a tone ringing with sympathy and love consoled me. A load was lifted from my mind. A prayer arose from the depth of my heart.