Dr. Ghosh and Ma

Picture: Center spire is the top of Ma’s Mahasamadhi Temple.

Do you know how I became a disciple of Ma’s? When I was a little boy, 7 or 8 years old maybe, we lived here in Haridwar, the first Bengali family living here. Now, my mother always told me to bow at the feet of my elders, if I didn’t I was in trouble with her.

Anandamayee Ma came here for two weeks after a disciple gave her some property here, an old temple. Ma, being Bengali, came to my mother’s notice, and my mother was told, “You should go and see her, she is a holy person.” So my mother took me to see her.

When I saw Ma I saw her as only an old woman, but I knew I should touch her feet as my mother taught me to do to my elders. However, the people around Ma said that no one should touch her feet. I was worried that I would be in trouble with my mother for not paying my respects to Ma, so I went around behind her and reached down to touch her feet. I wasn’t thinking of her being anyone special, I was only thinking that I did not want to get in trouble with my mother!

When Ma turned around to see who had touched her feet she saw me and threw me a flower, but the other ladies with her were scolding me saying I was a naughty boy. All I knew was that now I would not be in trouble with my mother. Now, I think it was on that day that I received diksha (initiation) from Ma.

I did not have any strong connection with Ma until I got married. The way I met my wife was that my brother was in the market one day and a gentleman from Nepal heard him speaking and said, “Oh, you are from Bengal!” since both were Bengalese they struck up a conversation. The man had a daughter he wanted to marry to a Bengali, but not to someone from the big city of Calcutta. The families met later and everything was arranged for our marriage.

When we had been married for just three days there was a celebration for Ma’s birthday [I believe in the doctors narrative Ma had left the body by this time]. My Mother was making a mala [a circle of flowers] for Ma’s anniversary and my wife asked my mother if she would show her how to make one as well. My mother had a lot of ego at that time and she told my wife that she did not have time right then, but after the celebrations she would take the time to teach her.

My wife felt very bad about this as her family had left to go back to Nepal and she was feeling very lonely. She went to our room and saw Ma’s picture there. She did not feel any connection with Ma at the time, but she talked to the picture, “Ma, I respect you because you are the Guru of my husband’s family. I want to make a mala for you but I do not know how, will you teach me?”

My wife suddenly knew how to make the mala, she even made hers faster than my mother did! My wife was quite excited by this and wanted to present her mala before my mother presented hers. So we got to the temple a little bit before my mother and she gave her mala to Ma’s Samadhi site. When my mother presented hers she noticed there was already one on the altar and she wondered who could have done this work, as she thought she was the only one who could do it this way.

Afterward my mother commented on the other mala and my wife told her it was hers. When she asked how it could be done, my wife told her the whole story. It was then that my wife told me that I should have a special regard for Ma, our family Guru.

After my son graduated with a master’s degree he had a bad time, he was depressed. It was terrible. I was so worried for him. I went to Ma’s picture and told her that she needed to help him without the need for doctors or hospitals. I demanded this from Ma as a son can demand from a mother; not asking but telling.

Ma told me, “He needs to change his house.” I went to some astrologers and they said the same thing. So, I flew to Bangalore where my son was, it cost me one lakh of rupees to do all of this, and we changed his house. When my son walked into the new house he asked my wife, “Mommy, would you make me some tea.” She had tears streaming down as she made his tea she was so happy. The next day he asked for food, and after that he was all right! Jai Ma.

At one time I knew it was time to take initiation; Swami Baskarananda[1] was the right person to do it. I went to the temple early in the morning with my beads and was chanting so intensely to prepare myself for initiation. I was sitting in front of Ma’s picture and she actually came out of that picture and touched me on the shoulder. She said, “Not too much.” I saw her come out, I felt her hand on my shoulder!

I then went to see Swami Baskarananda. When I stood outside of his closed door he called out my name. I did not usually go to temple, I was so surprised to hear him call my name, then he opened his door and he asked me in; I was so shocked! I wanted to tell him what had happened with Ma and that I had come for initiation. I started to speak and Swamiji held up his hand, saying, “I know, I know.” I started to tell him anyway when he held up his hand again and said Ma was here, she told me everything.”

Ma had given Swamiji everything before she left the body. He knew what I had come for and initiated me without being told anything. Jai Ma!