Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00474)

Damodar K. Mavalankar
April 1883
Adyar, Madras, India

Last night was a memorable one. Narasimhulu 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. 
Suddenly Mme. B. gave a start and exclaimed, "I feel him [Mahatma 
Morya]." She enjoined on us strictly not to leave our places, nor to 
get excited, but remain where we were 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 and we saw him coming from the screen 
door of Mme. B.'s bed-room and approaching her. 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 recognize him 
at once. His usual long white coat, the peculiar Pagri [turban], 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 lamplight, 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?we could 
see distinctly and clearly. 

He held out 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 [apparitional body], 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 toward us, walked a 
few steps, inaudibly and imperceptibly as before, and disappeared! 
Mme. B. then handed the letter to me, as it was intended for me. 
Never shall I forget last night's experience; so clear, so vivid and 
tangible it was! 

Source:  Mavalankar, Damodar K. "Echoes from the Past." Theosophist 
(Adyar), May 1907, 633?4. Reprinted in Damodar and the Pioneers of 
the Theosophical Movement, comp. Sven Eek.  Adyar, Madras: 
Theosophical Publishing House, 1965, 307?9.

Daniel
http://hpb.cc