Chapter Twelve

The night had given way to dawn. That solitary forest — which till now had lain in darkness and silence — was now flooded with light, and grown joyful with the warbling of birds. In that gladsome dawn, within that gladsome wood, in the "Anandamath," Satyananda the holy one was seated upon a deerskin, performing the morning rites. Beside him sat Jibananda. At this hour came Bhabananda, bringing Mahendra Singh with him.

The Brahmachari, without uttering a word, continued his orisons, and no man durst speak. When the rites were ended, Bhabananda and Jibananda both made obeisance unto him, took the dust of his feet, and seated themselves with humility. Then Satyananda made a sign to Bhabananda, and led him forth without. What discourse passed between them, we know not. Thereafter, when both had returned within the temple, the Brahmachari, with a countenance of pity and a gentle smile, said unto Mahendra: "My son, thy sorrow hath grieved me sore; yet by the mercy of that Friend of the helpless I was able, last night, to save thy wife and child."

So saying, the Brahmachari recounted the manner of Kalyani's deliverance. Then he said: "Come, I will take thee to the place where they are." So saying, the Brahmachari went on before, and Mahendra following after, they entered into the inner part of the shrine.

Entering, Mahendra beheld a chamber exceeding wide and exceeding lofty. In that morning, fresh with the new-risen sun, when the near woodland glittered as though set with diamonds in the sunlight, yet within that vast hall it was well-nigh dark. What lay in that chamber Mahendra at first could not discern; but looking, and looking yet again, he came by degrees to see a great four-armed Image, bearing conch and discus, mace and lotus, with the Kaustubha jewel resplendent upon its breast, and before it the Sudarsana wheel set as though in motion.

Two huge severed-headed shapes, in the likeness of Madhu and Kaitabha, depicted as though steeped in blood, lay before. Upon the left stood Lakshmi, her tresses loose, garlanded with the hundred-petalled lotus, in the posture of one stricken with dread. Upon the right stood Saraswati, encompassed with book and instrument of music, with the Ragas and Raginis embodied about her. Upon the lap of Vishnu was a bewitching figure — fairer than Lakshmi or Saraswati, and richer in majesty than they.

Gandharvas, Kinnaras, gods, Yakshas and Rakshasas were doing her worship.

The Brahmachari, in a voice exceeding grave, exceeding awed, asked of Mahendra: "Seest thou all this?" Mahendra answered: "I see."

Brahmachari. Hast thou seen what sitteth upon the lap of Vishnu?

Mahendra. I have seen. Who is she?

Br. The Mother.

M. The Mother — who is she?

The Brahmachari said: "She of whom we are the children."

M. Who is she?

Br. In time thou shalt know her. Say — Bande Mataram. Now come, thou shalt see further.

Then the Brahmachari led Mahendra into another chamber. There Mahendra beheld a figure of Jagaddhatri, of wondrous perfection, adorned with every ornament. Mahendra asked: "And who is this?"

Br. The Mother — as she was.

M. How meanest thou?

Br. She trampled beneath her feet the wild elephant and the lion and all the beasts of the forest, and in the dwelling-place of wild beasts set up her lotus-throne. She was decked with every ornament, full of smiles, and lovely to behold. She was of the hue of the young sun, mistress of all majesty. Make thy obeisance unto her.

When Mahendra had made his reverent obeisance to the Motherland in the form of Jagaddhatri, the Brahmachari showed him a dark passage and said: "Come by this way." The Brahmachari went on before, and Mahendra followed with some fear. Into an underground chamber, dark and hidden, a faint light came in from some quarter unseen. By that dim light he beheld an image of Kali.

The Brahmachari said: "Behold — what the Mother is become."

Mahendra said in fear: "Kali!"

Br. Kali — wrapped in darkness, black with the blackness of night. Stripped of all that was hers, therefore is she naked. To-day the whole land is one burning-ground — therefore is the Mother garlanded with skulls. Her own Shiva she trampleth beneath her feet — alas, Mother!

From the eyes of the Brahmachari the tears fell in streams. Mahendra asked: "Wherefore doth she bear the shield and scimitar in her hand?"

Br. We are her children — we have but placed weapons in our Mother's hand. Say — Bande Mataram.

Saying "Bande Mataram," Mahendra made obeisance unto Kali. Then the Brahmachari said: "Come by this way." So saying, he began to ascend a second passage. Of a sudden the beams of the morning sun broke upon their eyes. From every side the sweet-throated birds raised their song. They beheld, within a spacious temple builded of marble, an Image of the Ten-armed Goddess, wrought of gold, laughing in radiance beneath the rays of the new-risen sun. The Brahmachari made obeisance and said: —

"This is the Mother as she shall be. The ten arms stretched into the ten quarters — and upon them, in the form of divers weapons, shine divers powers; at her feet are the foes laid low; the lion-hero that taketh refuge at her feet is busied in the smiting of the foe. She of the ten quarters" — and as he so spake, Satyananda fell to weeping with a voice broken by feeling — "she of the ten quarters, bearing many a weapon, smiter of the foe, sporting upon the back of the lion-hero — upon her right Lakshmi, the form of fortune; upon her left the Goddess of Speech, giver of learning and of wisdom; beside her Kartikeya, the form of strength, and Ganesh, the form of fulfilment of all undertaking. Come, let us both make obeisance unto our Mother."

Then the two, with folded palms and faces uplifted, called out together with one voice: —

"Sarva-mangala-mangalye Shive sarvartha-sadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani namo'stu te."

When both, having made their reverent obeisance, had risen up, Mahendra, in a voice broken with feeling, asked: "When shall I behold the true Image of the Mother?"

The Brahmachari said: "When all her sons shall call upon the Mother as Mother, on that day shall she be gracious."

Mahendra asked of a sudden: "Where are my wife and child?"

Br. Come — thou shalt see them.

M. I will see them but once, and bid them farewell.

Br. Wherefore bid them farewell?

M. I shall take upon me this great vow.

Br. Whither wilt thou send them away?

Mahendra pondered awhile, and said: "In mine house there is none; nor have I any place left. In this season of pestilence where shall I find a place?"

Br. By the path whereby thou camest, go forth from the temple. At the temple door thou shalt see thy wife and child. Kalyani is yet fasting. There, where they sit, shalt thou find food provided. Feed her, and do thereafter as it shall please thee; for the present thou shalt see no more of us. If thy mind still remain in this disposition, then, in due season, I will show myself unto thee.

Then on a sudden, by what way none could tell, the Brahmachari was gone. Going forth by the way he had come, Mahendra beheld Kalyani seated with her daughter in the hall of the temple.

Meanwhile Satyananda, descending by another passage, came down into a secret underground chamber. There Jibananda and Bhabananda sat counting coin, and arranging it in heaps. In that chamber were heaped on heaps of gold, of silver, of copper, of diamond, of coral, of pearl. The plunder of the past night these were setting in order. Satyananda, entering into that chamber, said: "Jibananda! Mahendra will come. If he come, there shall be no small gain unto the Children; for thereby the wealth gathered through generations of his house shall be laid in service at the Mother's feet. Yet so long as he be not Mother-devoted in body, mind, and speech, take him not in. When the work of your hands is ended, do ye at several seasons follow after him, and when the time appeareth fitting, bring him into the chapel of Sri Vishnu. And in season or out of season, see that ye guard the lives of him and his. For even as the chastening of the wicked is the children's duty, so likewise is the protection of the good."