Chapter (অধ্যায়): FAITH AND INNOCENCEPage: 33 of 89
appeared before her and suggested a medicine
for her eyes which when tried had an immediate
effect. The goddess appeared similarly to
Shyamasundari Devi and suggested another
medicine for dysentery by taking which the Holy
Mother completely recovered. As the news of her
miraculous cure spread, the Deity began to
receive the worship of people from far and near.
Even now the temple retains this popularity.
After about a year the Holy Mother again fell
ill and suffered this time from an enlargement of
the spleen. Following the ways of the village
people, Shyamasundari took her daughter to a
neighbouring Shiva temple where a quack used
to brand the region of the spleen with a piece of
burning jujube wood. This drastic remedy was
tried. One cannot say whether it had any effect,
but what was noteworthy was that the Holy
Mother withstood the severe treatment with
incredible calm and fortitude, no one even being
required to hold her limbs at that time. Gradually
she recovered.
The Holy Mother went to Dakshineswar for
the third time in January 1877. Perhaps on this
(or may be on one of her other visits to
Dakshineswar), an incident happened which
showed how spiritual innocence is a great power,
and guileless confidence placed even in an evil
character can transform a life. On the journey