Men of God

BACK WITH MOTHER

On his way back he halted at the native village of Ishwara Puri. Nimai partook of the food prepared by the saint, wept and said that he was blessed. Before leaving, he took a handful of dust from the ground and tied it on the edge of his dhoti. "This dust is sacred," he said, “because Ishwara Puri was born here. This dust is dear to me as all my wealth, as my life itself.” He again wept and fainted. Nadea sent her proudest and haughtiest young scholar as a pilgrim to Gaya; he returned a mad man, his handsome figure was besmeared with dust, his eyes stared in a strange manner shedding incessant tears. To the dismay of his mother and others, the physicians confirmed that they were all symptoms of lunacy. Repeatedly questioned, he said to a friend or two; “Hear my friends, I have seen a sight at Gaya—the most wonderful thing that human eyes ever beheld. Stop, I shall tell you what I saw.” So saying, he quivered and fell into a swoon. Recovering his senses, he cried, "O Krishna, where art Thou?"