Mahendranath Gupta

This is the fifth story in the series on devotees who had a role in the divine play of Sri Ramakrishna. ्मेवयैष वृणु्े ्ेन लभ्ः It is attained by him alone whom It chooses (Kathopanishad. 1.2:23)

- RUCHIRA MITRA

Here was this peace-loving scholar who enjoyed keeping to himself: reading books, writing diary, and teaching in school! But would the world let him live peacefully? No! So he decided to end his life and left home at the dead of night. But God had great plans for him and thwarted his resolution! His wife rightly suspecting his intention, forcibly accompanied him with their small children. And so he was not able to commit suicide immediately.

Finding no other choice, he came to his sister’s home at Baranagar, near Dakshineswar. His nephew Sidhu noticed his mental agony and understood what would assuage his distress. Casually, he took him to Rani Rasmani’s lovely temple garden, as if to stroll in the peaceful surroundings; but his intention was actually to take him to Sri Ramakrishna who lived there. Thus, accompanied by Sidhu, he entered into Sri Ramakrishna’s room and that moment became a defining point in the spiritual history of India.

Later this man confessed: “I was thinking of killing myself, but instead I found my Self. My family troubles led me to God.”

This was Mahendranath Gupta, revered as the saintly Master Mahashay, or M., who reorded Sri Ramakrishna’s everyday life and teachings in his The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

At the time of this first meeting, M., was the erudite headmaster of a renowned school in Calcutta (now Kolkata). But his domestic life was beset with storm and stress. He was unable to bear the pettiness and selfishness of his relatives and had decided to commit suicide.