Girish had read about Sri Ramakrishna in the Indian Mirror. He also came to know how the famous Keshab Chandra Sen and his followers of the Brahmo Samaj had been influenced by Sri Ramakrishna. He then became curious to know more about this holy man of Dakshineswar. Most probably Girish first met Sri Ramakrishna in 1877 at Dinanath Basu’s house in Calcutta. In his reminiscences Girish recorded his first several meetings with Sri Ramakrishna. He described his first meeting: “It was dusk. Lights were lit and they were placed in front of Sri Ramakrishna. But he began to make repeated inquiries, saying: ‘Is it evening? Is it evening?’ At this I thought to myself: ‘What pretention! It is dusk. Lights are burning in front of him. Yet he cannot tell whether it is evening or not.’ Thinking I had seen enough of him, I came away.”
A few years later Girish saw Sri Ramakrishna for the second time at the home of Balaram Basu. Many people had been invited that day to meet the Master. A dancing girl named Bidhu was seated next to Sri Ramakrishna in order to sing a few devotional songs for him. Girish observed Sri Ramakrishna talking to people and receiving them with the utmost humility, bowing down to the ground. Girish wrote in his reminiscences: “An old friend of mine, pointing at him, said sarcastically: ‘Bidhu must have had a previous intimacy with him. That’s why he is laughing and joking with her.’ But I did not like his insinuations. Just at this time Sisir Kumar Ghosh, the well-known editor of Amrita Bazar Patrika, arrived. He seemed to have very little respect for Sri Ramakrishna. He said: ‘Let us go. Enough of him!’ I wanted to stay and see a little more, but he insisted and made me come with him.”
In August 1884 Girish’s drama on the life of Sri Chaitanya was creating a sensation in Calcutta. Sri Ramakrishna heard about the play and wanted to see it, but some devotees objected because several of the roles were played by women of bad reputation. In those days girls from good families did not become actresses in the theatre. Sri Ramakrishna told the devotees: “I shall look upon them as the Blissful Mother Herself. What if one of them acts the part of Chaitanya? An imitation custard apple reminds one of the real fruit.”
Girish wrote in his memoirs for 21 September 1884: “My play, The Life of Chaitanya, was being enacted in the Star Theatre. I was strolling in the outer compound of the theatre when Mahendra Nath Mukhopadhyay, one of the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna, came and said to me: ‘Sri Ramakrishna has come to see the play. If you will give him a free pass, well and good. Otherwise we will buy a ticket for him.’
“I replied: ‘He will not have to purchase his ticket. But the others will have to.’ Saying this, I proceeded to greet him. I found him alighting from the carriage and entering the compound of the theatre. I wanted to salute him. But before I could do so, he saluted me. I returned his salute. He saluted me again. I bowed my head and he did the same to me. I thought this might continue forever, so I greeted him mentally and led him upstairs and offered him a seat in the box. After arranging with an attendant to fan him, I returned home, feeling indisposed.” This was Girish’s third meeting.
The fourth time that he saw Sri Ramakrishna, Girish felt for the first time the wonderful divine attraction that drew devotees to the Master. In his own words: “I was sitting on the porch of a friend’s house, which was at the crossroads, when I saw Sri Ramakrishna slowly approaching, accompanied by Narayan and a couple of other devotees. No sooner had I turned my eyes towards him than he saluted me. I returned his salute. Then he went on. For no accountable reason my heart felt drawn towards him by an invisible string. As soon as he had gone a short distance, I felt an urge to follow him. I could not keep calm, for the attraction I felt was not of this earth. It was something for which no former experience had ever prepared me. It was something unique, which no words could describe. Just at that moment a person, whose name I do not recall, brought me a message from him and said, ‘Sri Ramakrishna is calling you.’ I went.”
Sri Ramakrishna was on his way to Balaram Basu’s house, and Girish followed him there. His account continues: “After an exchange of a few words with Balaram, Sri Ramakrishna suddenly exclaimed, ‘I am all right. I am all right.’ So saying, he went into a state of consciousness which seemed very strange to me. Then he remarked, ‘No, no, this is not pretense. This is not pretense.’ He remained in this state for a while and then resumed his normal state. I asked him, ‘What is a guru?’ He answered: ‘Do you know what the guru is? He is like a matchmaker. A matchmaker arranges for the union of the bride with the bridegroom. Likewise, a guru prepares for the meeting of the individual soul with his Beloved, the Divine Spirit.’ Then he said: ‘You need not worry. Your guru has already been chosen.’ I asked, ‘What is the mantra?’ He replied, ‘The name of God.’” (Source: They Lived with God)