Girish Chandra Ghosh - Biography - Influence of Sri Ramakrishna

Influence of Sri Ramakrishna

Although a notorious libertine, Girish eventually became one of the close disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century Bengali saint. The story of Girish's relationship with Sri Ramakrishna, and his eventual transformation into a renunciate who was "second to none" is documented in the Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita later translated into English as "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna".

Girish first met Sri Ramakrishna in the ancestral home of his neighbour Kalinath Bose. On 21 September 1884 Sri Ramakrishna went to watch Chaitanya Lila in Star Theatre. It is said that Girish's first meeting with Sri Ramakrishna, was not very cordial. He saw Sri Ramakrishna in divine ecstasy and thought it to be some kind of a trick. But later when Ramakrishna met him the Master told him that the incident was no trick and Girish was extremely surprised to find master reading his thought. Later when the Master went to watch his theatre he and Girish repeatedly went on exchanging salutes and ultimately Girish had to give up. Girish later said about this incident that in Iron Age the best weapon is "pranamastra" or the "'salute weapon" with which god kills His enemies. In his play Nasiram, Girish used much of the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. There are many scenes in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna involving Girish and Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna went to watch several of his plays in Star Theatre. He also blessed Binodini Dasi, one of the lead actresses.

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