'By Kali's blessings you will become a great scholar. May she grant all

your wishes!" So saying the sadhu whispered the sacred words into

Ramakrishna's ears and went away.

Ramakrishna bathed in a nearby lake, collected leaves and flowers and

entered the temple. He chanted the words "Jai Mahakali! Jai Jai Kalika Matha!

He devoutly offered the leaves and the flowers at the feet of the deity and

prostrated before her. Then he sat before the image of Kali in padmasana

posture, closed his eyes and began to chant the, mantra.

After all it was a temple in ruins where snakes, birds, bats and various

other creatures abounded. Was it really possible to chant the mantra eleven

crore times? Snakes freely moved on his body. Birds pecked at him and insects

bit him. But Ramakrishna sat motionless! As soon as Ramakrishna completed

the repetition of the mantra eleven crore and eleven times, Mother Kalika

appeared. She had a thousand faces and looked terrifying. She said to him:

"Ramakrishna! I am pleased with your devotion. Open your eyes and ask for

whatever you desire." Ramakrishna slowly opened his eyes and looked at the

figure standing before him. He asked her: "Mother! Who are you?"

"I am Kalika Devi, the goddess to whom you have been praying for eleven

days. I am pleased with your devotion and I have appeared before you." When

the Great mother said these words Ramakrishna closed his eyes and prostrated

at her feet. Then he opened his eyes and gazed.

She was the Goddess of Shakthi (Power) seated on a lion! She had a

thousand fierce faces! A thousand flaming tongues and a thousand pairs of

burning eye!

The goddess was very much surprised. She had expected that the boy

would be terrified when he saw her. But Ramakrishna was intently gazing at her

and the lion!