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Paramhansa Yogananda with Ramakrishna Ghosh and Meera Ghosh on the day of their wedding

In Memoriam: Meera Ghosh

Ananda members worldwide mourn the passing of Meera Ghosh, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and a dear friend to all who met her. Meera left her body early Monday morning, in Serampore, India.

The family will perform the customary Bengali rituals in India on August 30 from 7:30am to 1:30pm (India time). Please pray for her soul that day.

Meera Ghosh met Paramhansa Yogananda in 1936 when the great master returned to India for a visit from the United States. He chose Meera, who was then but a teenager, to be the bride of his nephew Ramakrishna, the only son of his deceased elder brother Ananta. She always had Yogananda's picture framed and hung in her room and spoke of him with utmost devotion and gratitude.

Meera is responsible for many of the relics Ananda now has on display in our Shrine of the Masters. Meera lived in Serampore all of her life with her daughter Krishna and son Durluv, his wife Bubu and their son Isan. We first met Meera in 1990 when Harekrishna Ghosh and his wife Anjali asked if we would like to meet another of Master's relatives. She became one of sweetest highlights of our pilgrimages to India and will be missed very very much. Vidura was often quoted as saying when asked to describe her: "She is like a gulab jaman, one of the sweetest sweets in India."

"In this ripe age, I now realize that in the year 1936 I witnessed the living manifestation of God in my Guru Swami Yoganandaji. The mantra which he gave me is the most powerful blessing of my life. I wish to breathe my last by chanting this great mantra."
— Meera Ghosh, from My Reminiscences of Paramhansa Yogananda

She will be remembered for her divine loving embrace, infinite consciousness of God, and as a divine friend. On Tuesday evening we led an astral ascension ceremony to honor her life and to send blessings to all her family.

As Manash Mukherjee wrote to us, "Personally, to me, she was my Friend, philosopher and guide...she always knew how to answer my questions about the Path: how a common devotee like me should cope with the various day to day problems and much more." Later, Manash said to Durga, "She was our 'hot line' to the masters. They were with her all the time."

God bless you Meera. We rejoice in your passage into the full expression of God's light. (Incidentally, she and Swami Satchidanandaji both left their bodies the same day in India.)


Meera Ghosh with Linda Gerber, an Ananda member who also passed away last week

Meera with her grandson Isan

Following are excerpts from Meera's book My Reminiscences of Paramhansa Yogananda, available from Ananda:

"One day, in the year 1936, I went to my maternal aunt's house for a casual visit. Fortunately, on that very day Gurudev also visited Nalini Pisima's house. While I stood on the front balcony Gurudev was kind enough to talk to me. He asked, "What is your name? To whom have you come? Do come to our house." At first glance I was spellbound and could not even answer him -- how divine, tranquil and dignified the appearance was. Still today that divine melodious voice rings in my heart. Most impressive were his large, bright expressive divine eyes with plumbless wisdom."

"Once I made my way into Swamiji's (Yogananda's) meditation room to tell him something, only to find him in meditative posture -- being rock steady with eyes closed. I called him twice but received no answer. Being worried, I rushed to my mother-in-law and informed her of my phenomenal experience. She listened and immediately went to that room with me. Both of us bowed down to the sacred feet of the Master. She told me, "Do not get panicked, my daughter. Now Swamiji is in the state of samadhi, a cosmic experience. Please do not disturb him. Body and soul have no physical bondage now and are united with the omnipotent. In this state body retains no sign of earthly life. Both body and mind become united with the cosmic power." After a couple of hours, his body bobbed a bit and Gurudev opened his lotus eyes.

"Whenever I recall that experience I shiver with wonder and joy."

Joy to You!
The Expanding Light Retreat Crystal Clarity Publishers

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