Early Life and Spiritual Awakening:
Kamlakant was born around 1770 in the village of Ambika Kalna in Bengal. Following his father's death and financial hardship, his mother moved with him to her ancestral village, Janana. Despite an initial lack of enthusiasm for studies, he displayed extraordinary intelligence, remembering all his lessons for exams without any apparent effort. He had a beautiful singing voice and loved to sing Shyam Sangeet (devotional songs for Mother Kali).
After his sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana), he became more spiritual, spending hours in meditation at the Vishalakshi Temple. His mother, concerned by his growing detachment from worldly life, arranged his marriage. However, the untimely death of his first wife deepened his sense of detachment.
A Transformative Encounter and Initiation:
On the way to Janana village, Kamlakant was confronted by a group of dacoits (bandits). He calmly requested to sing a song for Mother Kali before they harmed him. His heartfelt rendition of Shyam Sangeet deeply moved the dacoits, causing them to fall at his feet and seek his blessings. This incident transformed their lives, turning them into devotees and seekers. This event also marked a new chapter in Kamlakant's life, as his fame as a powerful Tantric practitioner spread.
He later sought guidance from Kenaram Bhattacharya, a Tantric Sadhak, who initiated him and advised that he did not need to abandon his worldly life for spiritual practice.
Divine Experiences and Miracles:
Kamlakant faced severe financial hardship, with his family struggling for food. One day, while he was away, a beautiful young woman, accompanied by two servants carrying baskets of food, visited his home, stating that "Mother" had sent them. Kamlakant realized it was Jagat Janani (the Mother of the Universe) herself. On another occasion, unable to arrange for fish for the Devi's offering, a woman from the Bagdi community visited him, provided two fish, and then mysteriously disappeared. Kamlakant later understood this was also the Mother's doing.
He continued to have divine experiences, including an encounter at the temple with an old woman who enjoyed his singing. It was later revealed that she was the long-deceased mother of Dharma Narayan, signifying another manifestation of the Mother Goddess.
Life as a Guru and Final Moments:
Kamlakant's fame reached Maharaja Tejchandra of Bardhaman, who became his disciple and provided him with a residence and support for his worship. His idol of Shyama (Kali) at Kotalhat became renowned as a powerful deity. A notable miracle occurred when Maharaja Tejchandra, suspecting Kamlakant and his son of consuming alcohol, found a pot of milk in Kamlakant's hand instead of wine. This solidified the Maharaja's faith in his guru's divine powers. Kamlakant also demonstrated his spiritual power by striking a clay idol of Kali with a sword, causing blood to flow from it as if it were alive.
As he grew old, Kamlakant expressed his desire to leave his body in front of the Mother's temple rather than on the banks of the Ganges.
On his final day, as he sang a devotional song, a stream of sacred water erupted from the earth beneath his straw bed. Kamlakant passed away, his eyes forever closed in meditation on the Mother's form.
After my morning meditation, I realized that every woman embodies Ma Kali and every man represents Shiva. It was a profound spiritual awakening.
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