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The enclosed incident has been taken from the book: Sri Ramakrishna & His Disciples by Sister Devamata.
The Vaishnavas (a Hindu sect devoted to Sri Krishna) were in the habit of holding Bhajanam (singing of devotional songs); and regarding Sri Ramakrishna as a Paramahamsa (illumined soul) they once asked him to attend one of their meetings.
In the hall where they met there was a high seat, which was regarded as Lord Gouranga’s (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s) seat. It was the custom to begin their singing by invoking Lord Gouranga to come down and occupy his place, otherwise it would not be possible for them to praise the Lord properly, and it was actually believed that he did come down and sit on the seat.
“On that day when Ramakrishna was present, as soon as they began their invocation, he immediately got up, went and sat on the sacred seat. Some people thought it was all right, for he was known to be a very holy man; but others were indignant.
Seeing, however, that he was in Samadhi and also perhaps being afraid of Hriday who was with him and who being a very stalwart man always acted as his body-guard, they did not dare disturb him.
“Among those who objected was a really great sadhu (holy man), Bhagavan Das. He expressed his disapproval very boldly. The meeting nevertheless continued and Ramakrishna remained in Lord Gouranga’s place.
Sometime after, hearing of the many things Bhagavan Das had said against him, Sri Ramakrishna expressed a wish to go to him.
Mathura Babu procured a barge and they set out, but all the time Mathura Babu kept on saying: ‘Why, Baba (father), do you want to go to that man? He must be a very wicked person to talk as he has. Why should we go there?’ But Sri Ramakrishna answered: ‘Let us go.’
When they reached the place, instead of getting down himself, he sent Hriday to see whether the sadhu cared to receive him. When Bhagavan Das heard that he had come, he ran to the barge and prostrated before him, crying: ‘Oh forgive me, forgive me, I did not know who you were.’ Ramakrishna at once comforted him and restored peace to his mind.
Bhagavan Das was a really great sadhu and he had the power now and then of entering into Samadhi. It seems that while he was in that state, it was revealed to him who Ramakrishna was and when he realized what a great mistake he had made, he was inconsolable.
After that he went round telling everyone that Ramakrishna had a right to take the seat, for he was a Divine Manifestation.
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