“The law of demand and supply reaches into subtler
realms than I had supposed.” Ananta spoke
with a spiritual enthusiasm never before noticeable.
“I understand for the first time your indifference
to the vaults and vulgar accumulations of the world.”
Late as it was, my brother insisted that he receive
DIKSHA {FN11-8} into Kriya yoga. The
“guru” Mukunda had to shoulder the responsibility
of two unsought disciples in one day.
Breakfast the following morning was eaten in a harmony
absent the day before. I smiled at Jitendra.
“You shall not be cheated of the Taj. Let
us view it before starting for Serampore.”
Bidding farewell to Ananta, my friend and I were soon
before the glory of Agra, the Taj Mahal. White
marble dazzling in the sun, it stands a vision of
pure symmetry. The perfect setting is dark cypress,
glossy lawn, and tranquil lagoon. The interior
is exquisite with lacelike carvings inlaid with semiprecious
stones. Delicate wreaths and scrolls emerge intricately
from marbles, brown and violet. Illumination
from the dome falls on the cenotaphs of Emperor Shah-Jahan
and Mumtaz Mahall, queen of his realm and his heart.
Enough of sight-seeing! I was longing for my
guru. Jitendra and I were shortly traveling south
by train toward Bengal.
“Mukunda, I have not seen my family in months.
I have changed my mind; perhaps later I shall visit
your master in Serampore.”
My friend, who may mildly be described as vacillating
in temperament, left me in Calcutta. By local
train I soon reached Serampore, twelve miles to the
north.
A throb of wonderment stole over me as I realized
that twenty-eight days had elapsed since the Benares
meeting with my guru. “You will come to
me in four weeks!” Here I was, heart pounding,
standing within his courtyard on quiet Rai Ghat Lane.
I entered for the first time the hermitage where I
was to spend the best part of the next ten years with
India’s JYANAVATAR, “incarnation of wisdom.”
{FN11-1} See chapter 25.
{FN11-2} The world-famous mausoleum..
{FN11-3} A dhoti-cloth is knotted around the
waist and covers the legs..
{FN11-4} Brindaban, in the Muttra district of United
Provinces, is the Hindu Jerusalem. Here Lord
Krishna displayed his glories for the benefit of mankind..
{FN11-5} Hari; an endearing name by which Lord Krishna
is known to his devotees.
{FN11-6} An Indian sweetmeat..
{FN11-7} A mythological gem with power to grant desires.
{FN11-8} Spiritual initiation; from the Sanskrit root
DIKSH, to dedicate oneself.
YEARS IN MY MASTER’S HERMITAGE
“You have come.” Sri Yukteswar greeted
me from a tiger skin on the floor of a balconied sitting
room. His voice was cold, his manner unemotional.
