In 1881 Hriday was dismissed from service in the Kali temple,
for an
act of indiscretion, and was ordered by the authorities never again to
enter
the garden. In a way the hand of the Divine Mother may be seen even in
this. Having taken care of Sri Ramakrishna during the stormy days of
his
spiritual discipline, Hriday had come naturally to consider himself the
sole
guardian of his uncle. None could approach the Master without his
knowledge.
And he would be extremely jealous if Sri Ramakrishna paid attention
to anyone else. Hriday's removal made it possible for the real devotees
of
the Master to approach him freely and live with him in the temple
garden.
During the week-ends the householders, enjoying a respite from their
office duties, visited the Master. The meetings on Sunday afternoons
were
of the nature of little festivals. Refreshments were often served.
Professional
musicians now and then sang devotional songs. The Master and the
devotees
sang and danced, Sri Ramakrishna frequently going into ecstatic moods.
The happy memory of such a Sunday would linger long in the minds of
the devotees. Those whom the Master wanted for special instruction he
would ask to visit him on Tuesdays and Saturdays. These days were
particularly
auspicious for the worship of Kali.
The young disciples destined to be monks, Sri Ramakrishna invited on
week-days, when the householders were not present. The training of the
householders and of the future monks had to proceed along entirely
different
lines. Since M. generally visited the Master on week-ends, the Gospel
of Sri Ramakrishna does not contain much mention of the
future monastic
disciples.
Finally, there was a handful of fortunate disciples, householders as
well
as youngsters, who were privileged to spend nights with the Master in
his
room. They would see him get up early in the morning and walk up and
down the room, singing in his sweet voice and tenderly communing with
the Mother.