Ramakrishna Paramhansa – The Devotee of Divine Devotion

This is a day of deep reflection for spiritual seekers, as it commemorates the birth of the devotee of divine devotion – Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

Shri Ramakrishna lived utterly immersed in devotion all his life. While serving as the priest at Mother Kali’s temple at Dakshineshwar, he became an ardent lover of devotion. If we could only experience the depth of devotion that he reveled in, we too can become true devotees. By understanding his life, we can understand the essence of true Bhakti (divine devotion).

Hailing from the small village of Kamarpukur in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, Shri Ramakrishna shifted to Kolkata to earn his livelihood as a priest. His elder brother called him to assist him with his work. However, instead of earning a livelihood, Shri Ramakrishna’s contentment lay in being at the feet of Goddess Kali. His profound devotion for the Goddess was not the result of any arduous spiritual practices. He was only six years old when he spontaneously experienced the exalted state of Samadhi. Since then, he was naturally steeped in devotional fervor.

While worshipping the Goddess in the temple, Shri Ramakrishna would contemplate on God in the form of Mother Kali. He had a deep yearning to see God. Every evening, he would weep from his heart, “Mother, even today, you did not grace me with your divine sight.”

Days and months passed, and his devotional yearning kept rising. One fine day, he experienced the divine grace of the Goddess and from then on, his life remained an expression of divine veneration in the state of Samadhi. Shri Ramakrishna effortlessly dedicated his life to propagating the truths of God-realization.

He would connect with seekers of every religious faith who came to Dakshineshwar and converse with them like an innocent child. Through these interactions, he acquainted himself with the Islamic and Christian faiths. Through these faiths, he realized the same ultimate experience that he already reveled in.

Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa would always abide in the heart and was absorbed in the feeling of divine devotion. Wherever he would be, whenever he would listen to a devotional song, he would immediately be absorbed in a divine trance. Even if he was conversing with someone and a passerby greeted him “Jai Mata” or “Jai Shri Ram,” he would immediately get transported into the state of Samadhi. His life was centered in the heart. He was perfectly attuned to the purpose of his life. He worshipped and glorified Mother Kali all his life.

“Give one of your hands in the service of God and go about your duties with the other, knowing that God is holding you. At the end of the day, when you’re done with all your tasks, surrender both your hands to God.” Ramakrishna Paramhansa imparted this sutra of practical devotion to those who were busy in worldly matters and complained of not having enough time for the spiritual pursuit. If one lives by this sutra, then there remains no excuse for them.

Shri Ramakrishna lacked worldly ways. Until the very end of his life, he guided people, at times in a light-hearted manner, or at other times, by imparting intense and serious hints so that they could learn how to dive deep within to awaken devotion and seek the Truth. His life is a message of true devotion and demonstrates how we can become a real devotee.

By learning his child-like ways of addressing Goddess Kali and offering his life in divine veneration, we too have a chance to rise up the ladder of divine love and fill our lives with the beautiful fragrance of true devotion.