Chapter (অধ্যায়): THE ALL-LOVING MOTHERPage: 79 of 89
broad-mindedness on the part of the Mother, for
if the news reached her relations she might have
to face social persecution. Was it not remarkable,
even for herself, that although she belonged to
an orthodox Brahmin family and lacked modern
education, she could allow an European lady to
stay with her? And that too, in the last century at
a time when Hindu society was uncompromising
in its rigidity as regards social rules!
Though she belonged to an old world, as it
were, hers was an extremely modern mind. Seeing
this trait in her, Sister Nivedita very aptly
remarked, Is she the last of an old order or the
beginning of a new? Many a non-Bengali or non-
Indian devotee would go to the Holy Mother, but
so great was the breadth of her innate culture that
everyone would feel quite at home with her. Once
while listening to Easter music at Sister Niveditas
place she became so absorbed that one wondered
how, without knowing any western language, she
could enter so much into the spirit of the resurrection
hymns. Similarly, when the English
marriage ritual was being described to her once,
her face lit up with joy as she heard the marriage
vow, For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in healthtill death us do part,
and she exclaimed, Oh, the dharmi words! the
righteous words!
Her mental penetration was so very keen and