CHINNA KATHA

THE POTENT POWER OF DEVOTION

Once in Calcutta (now Kolkata), in the Kali temple constructed by Queen Rasmani, an idol of Lord Krishna fell down and the foot of the Lord was broken a little.

Since many elders declared that according to the scriptures a broken image should not be worshipped, the Queen made arrangements to get a new one made by sculptors.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa heard of this and he reproached the Queen, saying: "Maharani (Your Highness, the Queen), if your son-in-law breaks his leg, what will you do? What is the correct thing to do? Bandaging the foot and setting it right, or discarding the son-in-law and getting another instead?"

The elders and pundits were dumb-founded; the broken foot of Lord Krishna was set right and the image was installed and worshipped as before.

When devotion is purified and is ascendant, the Lord will be patent even in a broken idol. This too is the dharma (right conduct) declared in the scriptures.

- Baba

Illustrations: Mrs. Vidya, Kuwait