[Letter from Damodar K. Mavalankar
to Henry S. Olcott] (1)
[Reprinted from The Theosophist
(Adyar, Madras, India), May 1907, pp. 633-634.]
Publication Office of the "Theosophist,"
Adyar, Madras, India,
19th April, 1883.My Dear Colonel,
Last night was a memorable one. As usual, Narasimhalu Chetty and myself were seated on a chair quite close to Mme. Blavatsky’s bed, fanning her and talking together, so as gradually to induce sleep in her. She said, just two hours before she had seen her Revered Guru, who was displeased with the fact that when, some time ago, He came to your Bungalow, about seven or eight of us had rushed forward on Mme.’s balcony to see Him, as He had gone to your bungalow on business and not to show Himself to any one. Then for a few minutes we were talking about some caves and so on. Suddenly Mme. B. gave a start and exclaimed, "I feel Him." She enjoined on us strictly not to leave our places, nor to get excited, but remain where we were, without moving an inch, one way or the other, and be perfectly calm and quiet. Suddenly she asked for our hands and the right hand of each of us was held by her. Hardly two minutes had elapsed since then, and we saw Him coming from the screen-door of Mme. B.’s bed-room and approaching her. The door is perfectly movable and in an open place, as we ourselves moved it immediately afterwards for more air. His manner of walking was so gentle that not a footstep, not the slightest sound, was audible; nor did He appear to move, by His gestures. It was only the change of position that made us see He had come nearer and nearer. He stood exactly opposite Mme. B. - not quite an arm’s length from us. We were on this side of the bed; He on the other. You know I have seen Him often enough to enable me to recognise Him at once. He then bent over the bed, taller than the curtain-rod of which, He was, when standing erect. His usual long white coat, the peculiar Pagri as in the portrait you have, long black hair flowing over the broad shoulders, and long beard - were as usual striking and picturesque. He was standing near a door the shutters of which were open. Through these the lamp-light, and through the windows which were all open, the moonlight, were full upon Him. And we being in the dark, i.e., having no light on our eyes - we being turned against the windows through which the moonlight came - could see distinctly and clearly. He held and put His hands twice over Mme. B.’s head. She then stretched out her hand which passed through His - a fact proving that what we saw was a Mayavi Rupa, although so vivid and clear as to give one the impression of a material physical body. She immediately took the letter from His hands. It crumpled, as it were, and made a sound. He then waved His hands towards us, walked a few steps, inaudibly and imperceptibly as before, and disappeared! Narasimhalu at once recognised Him, so distinctly and close did he see Him. It appears that in 1874 your venerated Guru was in Madras, and both Subbiah and Narasimhalu saw Him, although they knew nothing more. What made an impression then upon their minds was the fact of His sudden disappearance before their very eyes. Narasimhalu swears that He is the same he had seen in 1874. Mme. B. then handed the letter to me, as it was intended for me. It was addressed, To my revered Master. On the envelope were the words, "Through favour of M," meaning of course that your venerated Guru was kind enough to bring it in person. Inside were instructions from my revered Guru how to answer it. Never shall I forget last night’s experience; So clear, vivid and tangible it was!
Ever Yours,
Damodar K. MavalankarNote
(1) The following editorial note introduced the readers of The Theosophist to this letter from Damodar's pen:
"In April, 1883, H.P.B. was at Adyar, and the following letter was written by Damodar to Colonel Olcott, describing a visit paid to her by her Master. At that time, such visits were made fairly frequently, and the dwellers at Head-quarters had the inestimable privilege of thus seeing the Masters from time to time."