MORE MIRACLES: CARRYING THE LOAD

It was during a rainy season that the Sevak ( Swami Mahadevananda) came to Jairambati (Mother's village) from the Ashram at Koalpara. The Mother asked him to stay on to help her by fetching things from a grocery shop in another village - Haldipukur - at a distance of two kilometers. (There was no grocery shop in Jairambati). In the afternoon the Sevak went to Haldipukur and purchased atta, ghee, and other provisions and one tin of kerosene oil weighing, in all, about a maund. Noting the weight of the of the items, the shopkeeper suggested that a porter be engaged for carrying the provisions. As Mother had not specifically authorised this expenditure, the sevak put the heavily loaded basket on his own head and started for Jairambati. However, after covering only a short distance he realised that the load was too heavy to be carried in comfort. The muddy surface of the road, drenched by the monsoon rains, had become slippery and full of puddles and he had to keep one arm engaged in holding the umbrella to protect the provisions from the pelting rains. But ignoring the pain and hardship and with firm determination he kept moving forward, for he was carrying things needed by the Mother! In this fashion he negotiated a tricky stretch of water-filled depression on the road which stretched his endurance to the limit, when he suddenly realised that the load was no longer troubling him and seemed to have become lighter. So surprised was he that he actually halted in his tracks and looked for an explanation but could not find any. When he resumed his walk towards Jairambati, he had been fully freed from all discomfort. Thus he entered the Mpther's house at ease, but found he walking about on the front Verandah in extreme agitation. He face was flushed, as if with exertion and the whites of her eyes were showing. She was muttering to herself, "Oh, why did I not tell him to engage a porter!" After the sevak had unloaded the basket on the floor she said to him: " You should have engaged a porter. Does it matter that I did not ask you to do so? One must never undergo such hardship".

Gentle reader, you decide, how the Sevak's load was lightened!.

Next, back to the Master for a story of full protection for a devotee.