Shravani Purnima

It was 1939. Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was staying with His maternal uncle at Bagbazar, Calcutta. He was a first-year student of science at Vidyasagar College. It was Shravanii Purnima (the full moon day of the lunar month Shravana, that is, mid-July to mid-August). The evening was closing in. Small patches of clouds wandered across the sky playing hide and seek with the moon. The gentle ripples of the Ganges River were dancing with the gentle breeze. The calm waters of the river shone brilliantly with the reflection of the silvery moon.

Kashi Mitra Ghat, a cremation ground, on the bank of the Ganges, Calcutta was desolate in those days. Rarely did anyone visit the area after sunset. The residential area was a little way from there. After burning their dead, people left the place as early as possible. Nobody would dare to stay there after nightfall. It was not a safe place to be. Many robbers and antisocial elements infested that place, the notorious Kalicharan Banerjee not the least of them. He was a terror.

After dark, the area was completely deserted. Such was the bleak atmosphere at Kashi Mitra Ghat where Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, a seventeen-year- old boy, was sitting all alone deeply absorbed within Himself. He was wearing a white dhoti and a shirt. His figure stood out from the shadows, shimmering in the soft transparent whiteness of the night. He attracted the attention of at least one observer. Kalicharan was standing in the shadows watching Him. Certainly, such a handsome young man must have money and other valuables in his possession. Sharp knife in hand, Kalicharan silently advanced toward the youth. He planned to jump him and snatch whatever he had. Kalicharan took every precaution not to make the slightest noise so that his prey might not get alarmed and flee.

But what was that? Someone called him by name. So distinctly, and so mild the voice. Kalicharan was stunned. He could not believe his own ears. He was puzzled; his steel nerves trembled. Who could it be?

"Welcome Kalicharan; do come here. It is for you that I have been waiting for so long."

That enchanting voice once again! Could the youth have seen him through he was creeping stealthily? But he was facing the river, how could He have seen? Did He have eyes in the back of His head? Who is this youth? Kalicharan was very perturbed.

The mysterious but affectionate voice came again: "Kalicharan, don't waste time. I have been waiting for you."

That a human voice could be so sweet and affectionate was beyond his experience. His hard, unfeeling heart that could not be swayed by emotion, gave way to unknown, dormant feelings. As if hypnotized, he stepped forward towards the stranger, the upraised knife automatically turned downwards. As he came near, the young Prabhat Ranjan invited him to sit by His side. Kalicharan obeyed like a sleepwalker. Prabhat Ranjan then started talking to Kalicharan and told the story of his life. Kalicharan began to realize that this stranger was not an ordinary person. His savior had come to lift him up from dark samskaras, accumulated through hundreds of previous lives. So no more wasting time. The notorious robber surrendered himself completely. He took a quick bath in the Ganges and seated himself as directed by his newfound Guru.

Kalicharan got initiated. The dreaded killer of Kashi Mitra Ghat was no more. His old self was thrown away, lost forever. After initiation was over, Kalicharan's eyes were opened to Truth. He prostrated before the unknown young man. He took a vow to devote himself to the service of humankind.

It was past midnight now. How swiftly time had passed! It was time for Prabhat Ranjan to return home.

"Now let me go back, Kalicharan!" Baba said.

Kalicharan certainly knew of the dangers of walking alone in the area. How could he allow his young guru to take the risk? So he said he would accompany Baba to His house.

Baba said, "I don't think there is any need for you too. If, however, you want, you are welcome to come along."

They talked along the way and finally arrived at His maternal uncle's house at Bagbazar. Kalicharan was relieved of his anxiety and began to take leave of Baba. He did not go far when Baba called him back.

"Kalicharan, listen. One very important matter has not yet been settled."

Kalicharan, a bit nervous, came running back. In a very sweet and touching tone, the young guru said:

"I leave no one's desires unfulfilled. If anybody truly wants anything from me, I don't disappoint him. This evening you were stealthily approaching me, with the thought of robbing me of what I had, isn't it so? Why should that desire remain unfulfilled? Here is a rupee. Take it. That is all that I have with me."

With this word, Baba took a rupee coin from His pocket and gave it to Kalicharan. Even the most heart-rendering entreaties of the many innocent people he had robbed and murdered had not been able to arouse his feelings. How strange! These simple words from his guru had melted his heart. Kalicharan's eyes filled with tears. He dropped into pranam at His guru's feet. No, what can he possibly accept from whom he now owes an irredeemable debt? The unsolicited gift of priceless value he had received upon initiation has rendered everything else insignificant. He can not accept this!

"No, Kalicharan, no! It is my sacred obligation, my moral principle. You must accept it." With these words, Baba thrust the coin into his hand and closed the door.

Kalicharan, experiencing a torrent of feelings. So sudden, so unexpected! What a miraculous change in his life in a few hours! The robber Kalicharan was now the sadhaka Kalikananda.