The Last Days edit
In the beginning of 1885 he suffered from the clergyman's throat, which gradually developed into throat cancer. Ramakrishna was relocated to Calcutta ( Shyampukur ), and the best physicians of that time, like Dr.Mahendralal Sarkar were engaged. But the illness showed signs of aggravation and he was moved to a large garden house at Cossipore on December 11, 1885.
During his last days, he was looked after by this disciples and sarada devi. Ramakrishna was advised by the doctors to keep the strictest silence; but the advice was to no effect and Ramakrishna incessantly conversed with the visitors[1].
Three of four days before his death, he called Naren and said [2]:
"Today I have given you my all and am now only a poor fakir, possessing nothing. By this power you will do immense good in the world and not until it is accomplished will you return to the absolute."
When Naren, doubted Ramakrishna's spiritual height, Ramakrishna said,[3],
"O my Naren, are you not yet convinced? He who was Rama, He who was Krishna, He himself is now Ramakrishna in this body: not in your Vedantic sense, but actually so."
His condition worsened gradually and he expired on early morning hours of August 16, 1886 at the Cossipore garden house. The final moments before his death were described by Sashi (Swami Ramakrishananda) as follows[2]:
On that last night Ramakrishna was talking with us to the very last… Ramakrishna was talking to him (Naren), telling him what he must do. "Take care of these boys", he repeated again and again… Suddenly at one o'clock he fell towards one side, there was a low sound in his throat… Narendra quickly laid his feet on the quilt and ran downstairs as if he could not bear it. A doctor who was feeling his pulse saw that it had stopped… We all believed that it was only Samadhi. Suddenly, at two minutes past one, a thrill passed through the Master's body, making the hair stand on end… It was Mahasamadhi, for never more did he return to the mortal plane…"
After the death of their master, the monastic disciples formed a fellowship at a half-ruined house at Barangore near Ganga, with the financial assistance of the household disciples. This became the first Math or monastery of the disciples, headed by Narendranath Dutta, as indicated by Ramakrishna. The Ramakrishna Mission was in its nascent stage at this point of time.[4]
Notes edit
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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Rolland, Romain (1929). "The River Re-Enters the Sea". The Life of Ramakrishna. pp. pp.201-214.
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"Cossipore and the Master". The Life of Swami Vivekananda : By His Eastern and Western Disciples. Vol. I. Mayavati: Advaita Ashrama. July 2006. pp. p.183.
…Naren thought, "The Master has said many a time that he is an Incarnation of God. If he now says in the midst of the throes of death, in this terrible moment of human anguish and physical pain, 'I am God Incarnate', then I will believe."
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