Talks Excerpt 432. Swamiji says: The Rani Roshmani – of the ‘fisherwoman caste’ – built the Dakshineswar Temple for Mother Kali.
From Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
It was a fisherwoman [See previous Talks Excerpt 431 for fact that Veda Vyasa’s mother was also a fisherwoman], Rani Rashmoni, who built the [Kali] Temple at Dakshineswar and awakened the Highest truth there. She built the Temple for Mother Kali. (You cannot become an ocean of nectar if you do not understand this.)
[Sri Ramakrishna revered the temple’s founder, Rani Rashmoni, stating that she was not an ordinary mortal but rather one of the eight nayikas (divine companions or attendants goddesses) of Mother Kali, who came down to earth specifically to spread Her worship and establish the iconic temple. You will recall the lila that nearly got Master into trouble with the temple authorities. He saw the Rani Roshmani supposedly praying in the temple, but he discerned that her mind wasn’t on God. So he slapped her! When the Holy Ones slap somebody – it’s very prevalent with Lamas in Buddhism – it’s to awaken something spiritual. So not GBV or anything like that.]
The best pandits failed to find a priest [pujari] to officiate at the Temple – Rani Roshmani was of the sudra caste so they could not easily get a Brahmin priest for the Temple.
Rani Roshmani was advised to dedicate the Temple to a Brahmin high priest, then worship could be performed. So that is what she did and people came and worshipped in the Temple. This is how Sri Ramakrishna’s elder brother, Ramkumar Chattopadhyay, became the first Temple priest and he worshipped all the gods and goddesses.
Master [Sri Ramakrishna] gave the spiritual answers out of his own experience, his own heart, so the answers uplifted and benefited all.
Do not suffer from any complex. Do not think that you are high or low [superior or inferior], but rather that you’re simply God’s devotee.
Sri Ramakrishna opened the door to the western world through Swami Vivekananda.
The Upanishads were not previously given to the lower classes [castes] in India. But Swami Vivekananda brought them out and gave them to all the people of India, and the people of the world. [Master had declared that Swami Vivekananda was one of the Sapta Rishis.]
Sri Ramakrishna was sattwic by nature. He was absolutely pure. Thus God manifested Himself, in this Yuga, as Sri Ramakrishna.
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These recordings or the excerpts from them, were made from the early 1970s onward, by Mother Radha, a close devotee of Swamiji’s and edited for uploading here by our gurubhai and her son, Brother Tim. Please be mindful that what Swamiji was saying may have been specific to an individual or a group of people with him, at the time.