In the Ashrama at Dakshineswar there is a beautiful
old tree, which has been there as long as I remember, perhaps now
more thatn 40-50 years, which must have witnessed all the historic
events of the ashrama over the years, and yet continues to bloom with
most exquisite and large flowers and radiate its lovely fragrance
all over the Ashrama.
This is called Nag Champa.
Strangely, its flowers, and subsequently its fruit
come out from the main trunk.
While in the Ashrama at Ranchi there are two large
trees called chalta. These are also quite old and have silently
witnessed many historic events in the evolution of Guruji's work
here. They also bear large flowers which emit a beautiful fragrance
and attract bees and wasps.
The fruits of this tree are used by Bengalis and
Biharis for making a chutney.
These fruits keep on falling to the ground from time
to time.
Recently I heard that a devotee was blissfully lying
down under this tree and meditating. One of these fruits fell on his
belly and he woke up with a start, looking all around him who had
done it!!
