Page 44 - Amrit Varta - Issue Feb. 2023 - English

34 MA ANANDAMAYEE AMRIT VARTA Vol. 27, No.1, February2023

Only after this Gopalji stopped complaining. Ma got a letter written to the
Kashi Ashram, “Was the Jhulan Utsav celebrated properly?” A reply came,
“Everything was done as per the rules.” But then again Gopalji came and showed
His arms. Ma then said, “Ok, This Body is going to Kashi, will enquire after
reaching there.” Gopalji stopped complaining. On reaching Kashi, Ma sepa-
rately enquired in detail with Mamu, Narayan Swamiji and Atul Brahmachari,
and learnt that during Jhulan Utsav, Gopalji had been brought down from the
stool in order to change the tablecloth, though this was not the time for His
displacement.
However, surprisingly when Gopalji is brought down during Holi Utsav, so
much of dry colors are applied on Him, so many devotees touch him, caress
Him, press His chubby cheeks, etc, He never complains about any pain or
otherwise.
After the new Anand Jyoti Mandir was inaugurated Gopalji was shifted to
the new marble Temple and was seated in a sandalwood throne or swing. Once
Ma was in Kashi and was staying in a room adjacent to the new Gopal Mandir.
One day a miserable old lady of Kashi arrived with a small bag of money to have
Ma’s darshan. She said to Ma, “As such I have no one to call my own. I am a
child-widow. I somehow manage my livelihood with the earnings from cooking
in people’s house. A few days ago I fell ill and was lying down almost unconscious.
I saw a healthy chubby black Gopalji near me and was saying, ‘Open your eyes,
open your eyes, Ma has sent me.’ On opening my eyes I saw a blurred image of
Ma and Gopalji was saying, ‘What, should I rub your eyes with my feet or my
hands?’ I asked in fear, ‘What, with your big feet?’ Gopalji replied, ‘No, I will
reduce them.’ I then said, ‘I am unable to fully open my eyes. Anyway I will die
soon.’ Gopalji clarified, ‘You will not die now, the boat is still floating, it hasn’t
reached the shore, you have to stay for some more time.’ As Gopalji shouted
‘See, See’, I somehow opened my eyes wide and saw the small Gopalji elegantly
dancing around the room and with spread hands uttering, ‘What will you give?
What will you give? Give.’ I woke up and wondered as to where I will search for
this Gopalji. Then someone informed that a similar Gopalji is present in Ma
Anandamayee Ashram. Ma, this bag of two hundred rupees is all that I had saved
till now from my earnings for my cremation, I have brought that for Gopalji.”
The next day Ma ordered 10kgs of sweets, fruits, etc and offered bhog to
Gopalji. After the bhog, Ma Herself distributed them to all the devotees present
and also packed and sent to several out station devotees.
* * * * (to be continued)