Ramakrishna had contracted a strange throat disease which made drinking of normal water during the summers extremely painful for him. He could drink only iced water.
The disciples had arranged for the ice to be available for him.
A month went by but the pain of the throat did not go away. Infact, it became more and more painful and compounded. Now there was pronounced swelling in the throat. A doctor examined him.
He gave Ramakrishna a dose of medicine and advised him not to do yoga.
Every year a fair used to be celebrated in North Calcutta by the people of Vaishnava sect.
Devotional singing was the feature of the fair. Ramakrishna used to attend the fair. That year too he wished to attend the fair. His disciples were apprehensive due his illness. Ramakrishna promised them that he would be careful about the treatment and preventions.
On the day of the fair Ramakrishna and his disciples began preparations in the morning to leave. Some women devotees also arrived.
Ramakrishna got them fed and he himself also took some bites of fruit. Then, a woman arrived who informed that his mother Chandra also wished to accompany. She too was living at Dakshineshwara.
Ramakrishna agreed.
But she changed her mind when it was revealed that the fair would be a crowded affair to be safe for an old woman.
In the fair all the singing and dancing affected Ramakrishna. Overwhelmed by the devotional atmosphere he could not help getting emotionally charged. This aggravated the pain of the throat and his entire body got heated up like a hot plate. He was laid up in bed and a doctor treated him and advised not to talk.
It was easier said than done.
The devotees were flocking to see Ramakrishna and he could not help saying a few words to them.
One day, he bled from mouth. The doctors diagnosed his ailment as throat cancer. His disciples decided to get him treated by Dr. Mahendra Sarkar of Calcutta. For that purpose a garden house was rented at Calcutta and Ramakrishna shifted there.
His wife Sharda Ma also arrived to look after her husband.
Dr. Sarkar did not believe in God or religion. But interaction with Ramakrishna could not cure his atheism. Infact he remarked, “Since Power Supreme has taken incarnation as human being, now the destruction of all the religions is distinct possibility.”
His condition was not improving inspite of the best treatment. Some disciples believed that he was deliberately not getting well on some purpose.
Ramakrishna said, “Dear pupil, do not think that I am going through this pain deliberately. I want to get well but it all depends on Kaali Maa and her wish.”
