Brother Ananta and Sister Nalini

“Ananta cannot live; the sands of his karma for this life have run out.”

“Ananta cannot survive. The time his karma allows him in this life has run out.”

These inexorable words reached my inner consciousness as I sat one morning in deep meditation. Shortly after I had entered the Swami Order, I paid a visit to my birthplace, Gorakhpur, as a guest of my elder brother Ananta. A sudden illness confined him to his bed; I nursed him lovingly.

These uncompromising words reached my inner awareness as I sat in deep meditation one morning. Shortly after joining the Swami Order, I visited my birthplace, Gorakhpur, as a guest of my elder brother Ananta. A sudden illness left him bedridden, and I lovingly nursed him.

The solemn inward pronouncement filled me with grief. I felt that I could not bear to remain longer in Gorakhpur, only to see my brother removed before my helpless gaze. Amidst uncomprehending criticism from my relatives, I left India on the first available boat. It cruised along Burma and the China Sea to Japan. I disembarked at Kobe, where I spent only a few days. My heart was too heavy for sightseeing.

The solemn message within me filled me with grief. I felt I could not bear to stay any longer in Gorakhpur, helplessly watching my brother be taken away. My relatives criticized me without understanding, but I left India on the first available boat. The boat traveled along Burma and through the China Sea to Japan. I got off at Kobe, where I spent only a few days. My heart was too heavy for sightseeing.

On the return trip to India, the boat touched at Shanghai. There Dr. Misra, the ship’s physician, guided me to several curio shops, where I selected various presents for Sri Yukteswar and my family and friends. For Ananta I purchased a large carved bamboo piece. No sooner had the Chinese salesman handed me the bamboo souvenir than I dropped it on the floor, crying out, “I have bought this for my dear dead brother!”

On the return trip to India, the ship stopped at Shanghai. There, Dr. Misra, the ship’s doctor, took me to several curio shops. I chose gifts there for Sri Yukteswar and my family and friends. For Ananta, I bought a large piece of carved bamboo. As soon as the Chinese salesman handed me the bamboo souvenir, I dropped it on the floor and cried out, “I have bought this for my dear dead brother!”

A clear realization had swept over me that his soul was just being freed in the Infinite. The souvenir was sharply and symbolically cracked by its fall; amidst sobs, I wrote on the bamboo surface: “For my beloved Ananta, now gone.”

I suddenly realized clearly that his soul was now being freed in the Infinite. The souvenir had cracked sharply and symbolically when it fell. Through my sobs, I wrote on the bamboo surface: “For my beloved Ananta, now gone.”

My companion, the doctor, was observing these proceedings with a sardonic smile.

The doctor accompanying me was watching what was happening with a mocking smile.

“Save your tears,” he remarked. “Why shed them until you are sure he is dead?”

“Save your tears,” he said. “Why cry before you’re sure he’s dead?”

When our boat reached Calcutta, Dr. Misra again accompanied me. My youngest brother Bishnu was waiting to greet me at the dock.

When our boat reached Calcutta, Dr. Misra came with me again. My youngest brother Bishnu was waiting to greet me at the dock.

“I know Ananta has departed this life,” I said to Bishnu, before he had had time to speak. “Please tell me, and the doctor here, when Ananta died.”

“I know Ananta has died,” I said to Bishnu before he had time to speak. “Please tell me and the doctor here when Ananta died.”

Bishnu named the date, which was the very day that I had bought the souvenirs in Shanghai.

Bishnu gave the date. It was the very day I had bought the souvenirs in Shanghai.

“Look here!” Dr. Misra ejaculated. “Don’t let any word of this get around! The professors will be adding a year’s study of mental telepathy to the medical course, which is already long enough!”

“Listen!” Dr. Misra exclaimed. “Don’t let a word of this get out! The professors will add a year of telepathy studies to the medical course. And the course is already long enough!”

Father embraced me warmly as I entered our Gurpar Road home. “You have come,” he said tenderly. Two large tears dropped from his eyes. Ordinarily undemonstrative, he had never before shown me these signs of affection. Outwardly the grave father, inwardly he possessed the melting heart of a mother. In all his dealings with the family, his dual parental role was distinctly manifest.

Father hugged me warmly as I entered our Gurpar Road home. “You have come,” he said tenderly. Two large tears fell from his eyes. He rarely showed his feelings and had never shown me affection like this before. On the outside, he was a serious father, but inside, he had the tender heart of a mother. In all his dealings with the family, he clearly filled the roles of both father and mother.

Soon after Ananta’s passing, my younger sister Nalini was brought back from death’s door by a divine healing. Before relating the story, I will refer to a few phases of her earlier life.

Soon after Ananta’s death, my younger sister Nalini was saved from the brink of death by divine healing. Before telling that story, I will describe a few periods in her earlier life.

The childhood relationship between Nalini and myself had not been of the happiest nature. I was very thin; she was thinner still. Through an unconscious motive or “complex” which psychiatrists will have no difficulty in identifying, I often used to tease my sister about her cadaverous appearance. Her retorts were equally permeated with the callous frankness of extreme youth. Sometimes Mother intervened, ending the childish quarrels, temporarily, by a gentle box on my ear, as the elder ear.

Nalini and I had not had the happiest relationship as children. I was very thin, and she was even thinner. Some unconscious motive or “complex” often led me to tease my sister about looking like a corpse. Psychiatrists will have no trouble identifying that motive. Her replies were just as full of the cruel honesty of very young children. Sometimes Mother stepped in and briefly ended our childish quarrels with a gentle cuff to my ear, the older one.

Time passed; Nalini was betrothed to a young Calcutta physician, Panchanon Bose. He received a generous dowry from Father, presumably (as I remarked to Sister) to compensate the bridegroom-to-be for his fate in allying himself with a human bean-pole.

Time passed. Nalini became engaged to a young Calcutta physician, Panchanon Bose. He received a generous dowry from Father. Presumably, I remarked to Sister, the dowry compensated the future bridegroom for his fate in marrying a human beanpole.

Elaborate marriage rites were celebrated in due time. On the wedding night, I joined the large and jovial group of relatives in the living room of our Calcutta home. The bridegroom was leaning on an immense gold-brocaded pillow, with Nalini at his side. A gorgeous purple silk sari [^25] could not, alas, wholly hide her angularity. I sheltered myself behind the pillow of my new brother-in-law and grinned at him in friendly fashion. He had never seen Nalini until the day of the nuptial ceremony, when he finally learned what he was getting in the matrimonial lottery.

The elaborate marriage ceremonies took place in due course. On the wedding night, I joined the large, cheerful gathering of relatives in the living room of our Calcutta home. The bridegroom leaned against an enormous gold-brocaded pillow, with Nalini beside him. A gorgeous purple silk sari [^25] could not, alas, entirely hide her angular figure. I took shelter behind my new brother-in-law’s pillow and gave him a friendly grin. He had never seen Nalini before the wedding day. Only then did he finally learn what he was getting in the marriage lottery.

Feeling my sympathy, Dr. Bose pointed unobtrusively to Nalini, and whispered in my ear, “Say, what’s this?”

Sensing my sympathy, Dr. Bose discreetly pointed to Nalini. He whispered in my ear, “Say, what’s this?”

“Why, Doctor,” I replied, “it is a skeleton for your observation!”

“Why, Doctor,” I replied, “it’s a skeleton for you to examine!”

Convulsed with mirth, my brother-in-law and I were hard put to it to maintain the proper decorum before our assembled relatives.

My brother-in-law and I were shaking with laughter. We struggled to behave properly in front of our gathered relatives.

As the years went on, Dr. Bose endeared himself to our family, who called on him whenever illness arose. He and I became fast friends, often joking together, usually with Nalini as our target.

Over the years, Dr. Bose grew dear to our family, and we called on him whenever someone became ill. He and I became close friends and often joked together, usually at Nalini’s expense.

“It is a medical curiosity,” my brother-in-law remarked to me one day. “I have tried everything on your lean sister-cod liver oil, butter, malt, honey, fish, meat, eggs, tonics. Still she fails to bulge even one-hundredth of an inch.” We both chuckled.

“It’s a medical mystery,” my brother-in-law told me one day. “I’ve tried everything on your skinny sister: cod liver oil, butter, malt, honey, fish, meat, eggs, tonics. Still, she hasn’t filled out even one-hundredth of an inch.” We both chuckled.

A few days later I visited the Bose home. My errand there took only a few minutes; I was leaving, unnoticed, I thought, by Nalini. As I reached the front door, I heard her voice, cordial but commanding.

A few days later I visited the Bose home. My errand took only a few minutes. As I was leaving, I thought Nalini hadn't noticed me. When I reached the front door, I heard her voice, friendly but commanding.

“Brother, come here. You are not going to give me the slip this time. I want to talk to you.”

“Brother, come here. You're not going to slip away from me this time. I want to talk to you.”

I mounted the stairs to her room. To my surprise, she was in tears.

I went up the stairs to her room. To my surprise, she was crying.

“Dear brother,” she said, “let us bury the old hatchet. I see that your feet are now firmly set on the spiritual path. I want to become like you in every way.” She added hopefully, “You are now robust in appearance; can you help me? My husband does not come near me, and I love him so dearly! But still more I want to progress in God- realization, even if I must remain thin [^25] and unattractive.”

“Dear brother,” she said, “let’s put our old quarrel behind us. I see you are now firmly on the spiritual path. I want to become like you in every way.” She added hopefully, “You look strong and healthy now. Can you help me? My husband won’t come near me, and I love him so dearly! But even more, I want to grow in God-realization, even if I must remain thin [^25] and unattractive.”

My heart was deeply touched at her plea. Our new friendship steadily progressed; one day she asked to become my disciple.

Her plea deeply moved me. Our new friendship steadily grew. One day, she asked to become my disciple.

“Train me in any way you like. I put my trust in God instead of tonics.” She gathered together an armful of medicines and poured them down the roof drain.

“Train me any way you like. I trust in God instead of tonics.” She gathered an armful of medicines and poured them down the roof drain.

As a test of her faith, I asked her to omit from her diet all fish, meat, and eggs.

To test her faith, I asked her to stop eating all fish, meat, and eggs.

After several months, during which Nalini had strictly followed the various rules I had outlined, and had adhered to her vegetarian diet in spite of numerous difficulties, I paid her a visit.

Several months passed. During that time, Nalini strictly followed the various rules I had laid out. She also stuck to her vegetarian diet despite many difficulties. Then I visited her.

“Sis, you have been conscientiously observing the spiritual injunctions; your reward is near.” I smiled mischievously. “How plump do you want to be-as fat as our aunt who hasn’t seen her feet in years?”

“Sis, you’ve been faithfully following the spiritual teachings. Your reward is near.” I smiled mischievously. “How plump do you want to be? As fat as our aunt who hasn’t seen her feet in years?”

“No! But I long to be as stout as you are.”

“No! But I really want to be as solidly built as you are.”

I replied solemnly. “By the grace of God, as I have spoken truth always, I speak truly now. [^25] Through the divine blessings, your body shall verily change from today; in one month it shall have the same weight as mine.”

I replied solemnly. “By the grace of God, just as I have always spoken the truth, I speak the truth now. [^25] Through divine blessings, your body will surely begin to change today. In one month, you will weigh the same as I do.”

These words from my heart found fulfillment. In thirty days, Nalini’s weight equalled mine. The new roundness gave her beauty; her husband fell deeply in love. Their marriage, begun so inauspiciously, turned out to be ideally happy.

My heartfelt words came true. Within thirty days, Nalini weighed as much as I did. Her fuller figure made her beautiful, and her husband fell deeply in love with her. Their marriage, which had begun so poorly, turned out to be perfectly happy.

On my return from Japan, I learned that during my absence Nalini had been stricken with typhoid fever. I rushed to her home, and was aghast to find her reduced to a mere skeleton. She was in a coma.

When I returned from Japan, I learned that Nalini had fallen ill with typhoid fever while I was away. I rushed to her home and was horrified to find her reduced to skin and bones. She was in a coma.

“Before her mind became confused by illness,” my brother-in-law told me, “she often said: ‘If brother Mukunda were here, I would not be faring thus.’” He added despairingly, “The other doctors and myself see no hope. Blood dysentery has set in, after her long bout with typhoid.”

“Before the illness confused her mind,” my brother-in-law told me, “she often said: ‘If brother Mukunda were here, I would not be doing so badly.’” He added in despair, “The other doctors and I see no hope. After her long bout with typhoid, she has now developed bloody dysentery.”

I began to move heaven and earth with my prayers. Engaging an Anglo- Indian nurse, who gave me full cooperation, I applied to my sister various yoga techniques of healing. The blood dysentery disappeared.

I began praying with all my strength. I hired an Anglo-Indian nurse who cooperated fully with me. With her help, I used various yoga healing techniques on my sister. The bloody dysentery disappeared.

But Dr. Bose shook his head mournfully. “She simply has no more blood left to shed.”

But Dr. Bose shook his head sadly. “She simply has no more blood left to lose.”

“She will recover,” I replied stoutly. “In seven days her fever will be gone.”

“She will recover,” I replied firmly. “In seven days her fever will be gone.”

A week later I was thrilled to see Nalini open her eyes and gaze at me with loving recognition. From that day her recovery was swift. Although she regained her usual weight, she bore one sad scar of her nearly fatal illness: her legs were paralyzed. Indian and English specialists pronounced her a hopeless cripple.

A week later, I was thrilled to see Nalini open her eyes and look at me with loving recognition. From that day on, she recovered quickly. Although she returned to her usual weight, she was left with one sad reminder of her nearly fatal illness. Her legs were paralyzed. Indian and English specialists declared that she would never walk again.

The incessant war for her life which I had waged by prayer had exhausted me. I went to Serampore to ask Sri Yukteswar’s help. His eyes expressed deep sympathy as I told him of Nalini’s plight.

My constant battle to save her life through prayer had exhausted me. I went to Serampore to ask Sri Yukteswar for help. His eyes showed deep sympathy as I told him about Nalini’s desperate condition.

“Your sister’s legs will be normal at the end of one month.” He added, “Let her wear, next to her skin, a band with an unperforated two-carat pearl, held on by a clasp.”

“Your sister’s legs will be normal in one month.” He added, “Let her wear a band against her skin with an undrilled two-carat pearl held in place by a clasp.”

I prostrated myself at his feet with joyful relief.

I lay face down at his feet with joy and relief.

“Sir, you are a master; your word of her recovery is enough. But if you insist I shall immediately get her a pearl.”

“Sir, you are a master. Your assurance that she will recover is enough. But if you insist, I’ll get her a pearl right away.”

My guru nodded. “Yes, do that.” He went on to correctly describe the physical and mental characteristics of Nalini, whom he had never seen.

My guru nodded. “Yes, do that.” He then accurately described Nalini’s physical and mental traits, even though he had never seen her.

“Sir,” I inquired, “is this an astrological analysis? You do not know her birth day or hour.”

“Sir,” I asked, “is this an astrological analysis? You don’t know the day or time she was born.”

Sri Yukteswar smiled. “There is a deeper astrology, not dependent on the testimony of calendars and clocks. Each man is a part of the Creator, or Cosmic Man; he has a heavenly body as well as one of earth. The human eye sees the physical form, but the inward eye penetrates more profoundly, even to the universal pattern of which each man is an integral and individual part.”

Sri Yukteswar smiled. “There is a deeper astrology that does not depend on calendars and clocks. Each person is part of the Creator, or Cosmic Man. Each has a heavenly body as well as an earthly one. The human eye sees the physical form, but the inner eye sees more deeply, into the universal pattern. Each person is an essential and distinct part of that pattern.”

I returned to Calcutta and purchased a pearl for Nalini. A month later, her paralyzed legs were completely healed.

I returned to Calcutta and bought a pearl for Nalini. A month later, her paralyzed legs were completely healed.

Sister asked me to convey her heartfelt gratitude to my guru. He listened to her message in silence. But as I was taking my leave, he made a pregnant comment.

Sister asked me to pass on her heartfelt thanks to my guru. He listened to her message in silence. But as I was leaving, he made a comment full of meaning.

“Your sister has been told by many doctors that she can never bear children. Assure her that in a few years she will give birth to two daughters.”

“Many doctors have told your sister she can never have children. Assure her that in a few years she will give birth to two daughters.”

Some years later, to Nalini’s joy, she bore a girl, followed in a few years by another daughter.

Some years later, to her joy, Nalini gave birth to a girl. A few years later, she had another daughter.

“Your master has blessed our home, our entire family,” my sister said. “The presence of such a man is a sanctification on the whole of India. Dear brother, please tell Sri Yukteswarji that, through you, I humbly count myself as one of his Kriya Yoga disciples.”

“Your master has blessed our home and our entire family,” my sister said. “The presence of such a man makes all of India holy. Dear brother, please tell Sri Yukteswarji that, through you, I humbly consider myself one of his Kriya Yoga disciples.”

25-1: The gracefully draped dress of Indian women.

25-1: The gracefully draped clothing worn by Indian women.

25-2: Because most persons in India are thin, reasonable plumpness is considered very desirable.

25-2: Because most people in India are thin, being moderately plump is considered very desirable.

25-3: The Hindu scriptures declare that those who habitually speak the truth will develop the power of materializing their words. What commands they utter from the heart will come true in life.

25-3: The Hindu scriptures say that people who regularly speak the truth will develop the power to make their words come true. Whatever commands they speak from the heart will come true in life.