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RAMKRISHNA PARAMHANSA.
In these days of sturdy materialism people were agreeably surprised to find a supremely spiritual man who came even to be regarded as an inspired prophet by a considerable section of the community. We are speaking of the late Ram Krishna Paramhansa. Though he deliberately chose a retired and contemplative life, one of his disciples, the late Swami Vivekananda, favoured with only a particle of his piety created a religious revolution in civilised America. Ramkrishna was born at Kamarpore in the district of Hoogly. His father, Khudiram Chatterjee, was a pious man, who subsisted by working as a priest—the profession of his class—and travelled on foot through most of the important places of pilgrimage in India.
He lost his father at a very early age, and had to depend on his brother, Ramkumar, who with his family came down to Calcutta, where the profession of a priest was more lucrative thon in his native village. In spite of his brother's efforts, however, Ram Krishna could not be induced to read or write, for he had no attraction for that learning which can bring petty worldly gains only. About this time that pious lady, Rani Rashmani of Jaunbazar, Calcutta, intended to establish a magnificent temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali at Dakshineswar on the Hoogly. She was willing to engage a genuine and learned Brahmin to officiate as priest in that temple, and with much difficulty persuaded Ramkumar to accept the situation. Ramkrishna remonstrated with his brother for accepting the office of a priest in a temple founded by a Sudra, which he held was derogatory to the dignity of his family, but was convinced by his brother that there was nothing wrong in that. From that time he frequented the temple, and in the absence of his brother performed the worship at the request of the Rani's son-in-law, for though an illiterate man, he was famous for his deep piety. Sometimes in the act of worship he fell down unconscious, deeply engaged in meditation, in which state he remained for hours together. His nature became more and more religious as time went on, and
