TATTVA DARSANA 37 – 3&4 July-December 2020

TATTVA DARSANA 37-3&4 July-December 2020 (Cover)

    SAINTS OF INDIA
SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN

    TATTVA DARSANA

     July-December  2020

     SADHU RANGARAJAN’S SHATAABHISHEKAM

     COMMEMORATION NUMBER

WORLD MOVEMENT FOR RAMNAM

“All I know is Ramnam. For him there is no need for realization, visions, experiences, or anything else. Ramnam is everything. Chant the name all 24 hours! I do as ordained by my Master. That’s enough for this beggar!”

— Yogi Ramsuratkumar

Be missionaries propagating the message of our Master and motivate all to chant the Mantra, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, all the time. All those who participate in the Japa Yagna are requested to send us their japa counts, both of oral chanting and likhit japa, every month regularly, with their full names and addresses.

 

YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION

Sri Bharatamata Mandir, Srinivasanagar, K.R. Puram,

Bangalore 560 036. Phone: 080-25610935; Cell: 9448275935

E-mail: sadhu.rangarajan@gmail.com

Website: sribharatamatamandir.org

 

 

 

 

GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI  

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

Yogi Ramsuratkumar Centenary Volume

India: Rs.500; Outside India: US$25.00

SPARKLES FROM GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI

by Sadhu Prof.V. Rangarajan

(Condensed version of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI)

                     India: Rs.200; Outside India: US$10.00

 

 

 

 

Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers of India under No.RN 42595/84Bangalore No.MAG(3)/NPP/25/2003-4

`

Aum Namo Bhagavate Yogi Ramsuratkumaraya!

 

 

“It is not easy to get a Guru, a Spiritual Master. It may take, sometimes, many births to get a Spiritual Master.”

 

— H.H. YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR

 

We dedicate ourselves to the task

ordained to us by our Holy Master!

 

BHARATAMATA GURUKULA ASHRAM &

YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR INDOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTRE & LIBRARY

(SISTER NIVEDITA ACADEMY)

“Sri Bharati Mandir”, Srinivasanagar, Kithaganur Road

Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036

Phone: +91-80-25610935

Cell: 9448275935

E-mail: sadhu.rangarajan@gmail.com

Website: sribharatamatamandir.org

 

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TATTVA DARSANA QUARTERLY July-December 2020, Vol. 37, No. 3&4 Editor: Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

SAINTS OF INDIA

Compilation of Articles, Editorials and Book Reviews by

SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN

 

Contents                                              Page

Editorial: Sages, Saints, Disciples And Devotees                                         2

Sahasrachandra Darshan of Sadhu Rangarajan                                            6

Salutations to Saints and Seers!                                                                        10

Guiding Lights — Chattambi Swamigal and Sri Narayanaguru                 15

Bhagavan Nityananda                                                                                        17

Kavyakantha” Vasishtha Ganapati– A Shakti Upasaka                               39

Reminiscences Of My Sikshaguru Swami Chinmayananda                       42

Divine Mother Mayee of Kanyakumari                                                          50

The Silent Saint Of Lakshmipuram                                                                57

Sadhu T.L.Vaswani–The Saint of Sind                                                         63

The Holy Mother Sarada Devi —          Smt. Bharati Rangarajan             87

Divinity In The Robe Of Humility                                                                   91

The Himalayas Of Spirituality                                                                          97

A Saint Who Preached Vegetarianism                                                            99

A Sun That Has Seen Thousand Moons                                                      102

A Sannyasi Speaks Out For His Motherland                                              105

Acharya Pranavananda                                                                                   106

Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath                                                                     109

Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Ramnam And Ramajanmabhoomi                    110

News & Notes                                                                                                   126

Cover: Bharata Bhavani—Ratnagarbha

 

Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram, ‘Sri Bharati Mandir’, Srinivasanagar, Kithaganur Road,

Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036.

Phone: 91-80-25610935 Mobile: 94482 75935

E-mail: sadhu.rangarajan@gmail.com;

Website: sribharatamatamandir.org

Editorial

 

SAGES, SAINTS, DISCIPLES AND DEVOTEES

 

Since times immemorial, the Holy Land of Bharatavarsha has seen the advent of great sages, saints and spiritual luminaries in all ages and climes and in all corners of the country from the southern Sethu to Sind in the north. Saint Thyagaraja sang, “Entharo mahaanubhaavulu, anthuriki vandanamuí” –“Great Souls are indeed many, salutations to all of them!” In the early ages, it was the aspiration of every parent or preceptor that his progeny or disciple should excel him in the achievements in life. They proclaimed: “Putraad ichchet paraajayah, shishyaat ichchet paraajayah” – “Aspire for defeat by the son, aspire for defeat by the disciple”. The progeny looked upon the parents as manifestation of God and the disciples looked upon the preceptors as manifestation of God. “Maatru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava, aachaarya devo bhava”—”Mother, father and preceptor are Gods”. They proclaimed, “Gurur Brahmaa, Gurur Vishnu,Gurur devo Maheshwarah“—”Preceptor is none other than the Trinities—Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara!”

 

In the modern period in the spiritual history of our glorious Hindu nation, many great saints, savants and mystics appeared on the spiritual horizon. Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhwa, Chaitanya, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Ramana, Papa Ramdas and Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar are some of the luminaries. Millions of followers got inspired by their thoughts and messages and spiritual institutions sprang up in different parts of the country and even abroad glorifying their names. Devotees and disciples called them Avatars—incarnations of God—and temples and shrines have been built to adore them and worship them. However, intellectual reasoning and ego-centric thoughts have often blurred the vision of many a devotees and disciples and made them sceptic about the cent per cent divinity of the very Mahatmas they adore,  and  refuse to accept each and every thought, word and deed of the Masters as divine. This has resulted in the division of the followers in various groups and institutions, mutual strife, acrimony, jealousy and sometimes even open fight among themselves. However they superstitiously believe that mere chanting of the name of their Master and adoration could bring them material prosperity and spiritual benefits even if they do not accept each and every thought, word and deed of the Master as well as the chosen instruments of the Master to spread His mission as equally Divine.

 

Adi Shankara had four principal disciples. He was imparting Vedanta to all of them. One of the disciples was more inclined to do service to the Master than in studies. One day, when the Master was about to commence the class, that disciple was on a river bank washing the clothes and vessels of the Master and the Master waited for him. One of the other three disciples thought that the Master was wasting his time in trying to impart Vedantic knowledge to the disciple who was more inclined to do service than in learning.  The Master, by his divine power, read this thought in the disciple’s mind and then turned to the one who was busy in service and cast a divine look at him. To the utter shock and surprise of the other disciples, the one who was engaged in service turned to the Master and with humble prostrations, sang a soul-stirring song full of surrender and devotion at the feet of the Master, which turned out to be a unique devotional song with Advaitic import and in a new metre in Sanskrit poetry, Thotaka vritta, after which the disciple came to be known as Thotakaachaarya and the hymn is the famous Thotakaashthakam.

 

Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa established their schools of philosophy, respectively, Advaitam, Vishisthaadvaitam and Dvaitam and their mutts sprang up in different parts of the country. However, in the course of time, the ego and ego-centric thoughts of the pontiffs of these mutts and the urge for domination created mutual strife among the followers of each and every one of these sampradayas. The fight among advaitins made Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, the renowned poet-patriot-philosopher of modern Tamilnadu, jovially remark,”advaitam dwaitam aakiyatu“—“Advaita has become Dwaita”. The Srivaishnava sampradaya founded by Ramanuja split into two mutually opposed groups—Vadakalai and Thenkalai—fighting even on silly issues like the naamam or mark on the forehead of the temple elephant of Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal, whether it should be ‘U’ or ‘Y’, and a case that went up to the Privy Council in British period made the English Judge order—” put ‘U’ for six months and ‘Y’ for another six months of a year”. Quite recently they fought among themselves in the streets of Srirangam temple, on the issue whether the hymns in Sanskrit are to be sung or those in Tamil, when the deity was brought out in a procession,. The Dvaita mutts are also independent entities and some of them are divided over the issue whether a peethadhipati or pontiff of the mutt could cross the ocean and go to a distant country to preach to the followers settled there.

 

Swami Vivekananda, the illustrious disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa considered as avataaravarishtha—the greatest among the Avatars—went to Chicago to address the Parliament of Religions and proclaimed the glory and greatness of Sanatana Dharma—the Spirtual Heritage of Bharatavarsha—and drew the attention of the whole world towards Bharat. It is well known that Sri Ramakrishna, by a simple touch, transformed the life of a sceptic Narendra into a divine life and moulded him into Swami Vivekananda. It is surprising that, though the Swami established the Ramakrishna Mutt and Mission with the blessings of Mother Sarada Devi, some of the followers of Sri Ramakrishna could not accept him as the successor of Ramakrishna and they even refused to permit him to organize a congregation inside the Dakshineswar Temple of Sri Bhavadharini, because, he was not a Brahmin by birth, he was a Kayastha, and he had become an “outcaste” by crossing the ocean and going to a ‘mlechcha‘ country, which according to them, the shastras prohibited. Though the Swami proclaimed at the top of his voice, “I am proud to call myself a Hindu”, some of the monks of the Ramakrishna Order, lured by the advantages provided to the minority communities in the secular, Free India, wanted to declare “Ramakrishnaism” as a minority religion and claim privileges. However, the highest court of the land rejected their claim.

 

This sadhu’s Deeksha Guru, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, lived the life of a mendicant staying on railway platform, under a punnai tree, and sometimes in the temple premises or in the market places, with sky as the roof and mother earth as his comfortable bed, but all the time deeply immersed in God-consciousness. He never aspired for a mutt, mission or ashram, though devotees thronging around the great mystic and saint arranged an abode, sitting on the verandah of which He could give darshan to hundreds of devotees coming to Tiruvannamalai for His darshan. Later, He permitted some of His devotees to set up an Ashram where thousands of devotees gather comfortably and have His darshan. He emphatically declared that He did not want to give initiation to anybody, but made an exception by giving Deeksha to this sadhu to make this Sishya an instrument to spread the work of His Master, Papa Ramdas and Mataji Krishnabai of Anandashram—spreading the Ramanama Taraka Mantra, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, all over the country and abroad for world peace. Though the Master had a few spells of illness due to age, He never wanted his disciple to be by His side to take care of Him and asked the disciple to concentrate on the work assigned to him. However, when a group of highly educated and dedicated sister devotees set up a home, Sudama House, in Tiruvannamalai, and offered to take care of Him, He accepted their imploration and decided to live in their abode. Some of the rich and influential devotees who were engaged in the construction of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram did not like the idea of Master staying in Sudama House, and they severely criticised Him. These devotees could not see the divinity of the Sudama sisters offering their whole life and giving up their lucrative careers in the service of Bhagavan. It was at this juncture that Bhagavan summoned His disciple and commanded him to write an editorial in TATTVA DARSANA, quarterly edited and published by the disciple and which was considered to be Bhagavan’s mouth-piece, introducing Ma Devaki, the principal devotee among the Sudama sisters, as His “Eternal Slave”. That editorial drew severe criticism from the group of devotees who were opposed to Master staying in the Sudama House, and who were trustees of the Ashram trust. Bhagavan’s defence of the editorial prompted them to resign from the trust and Bhagavan was constrained to ask His disciple to stop all his work inside and outside the country and stay by His side till arrangements were made to take care of the Ashram construction work.

 

There is a saying in English, “Nearer to the temple, father from God”. There is also another saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt”. The great devotional poet, Kabirdas, in one of his couplets, says, “Ati parichay se hot hai aruchi anaadar bhai, malayaa giri ki bheelani chandan det jaraai”—“If you are too close to someone or something, you develop disinterestedness and disrespect; the tribal woman in the Malaya Mountain burns sandalwood for her oven.” Sandalwood is so plenty in the mountain that the lady loses sight of its value. No wonder, many of those who had developed close contacts with my Master started judging His thoughts, words and deeds in accordance to their own intellectual understanding and ego and ego-centric thoughts, and therefore they could not accept all of them as divine. On Thursday, August 26, 1993, Sadhu was in the presence of Bhagavan with Ma Devaki by His side. The topic of His criticism by some of the devotees came up. Bhagavan said, “This Beggar has got many weaknesses. Those who are close to this Beggar for a long time come to know about that. They first consider this Beggar as Guru and when they know that this Beggar has many weaknesses, they lose interest in Him.” He smiled, and then took out a copy of TATTVA DARSANA. He referred to a quotation of Papa Ramdas titled “The Immortal Guru” published in it, saying that Guru is within. Bhagavan’s statement not only proclaimed His utter humility and spirit of self-effacement, but also exposed the hypocritical devotion of some of the so called devotees who could not see Bhagavan within themselves.

 

Today, Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar is spiritually present in the hearth and home of many of His genuine devotees inside the country and abroad who intensely feel the working of His Grace and Blessings transforming their lives when they chant His Divine Name, “Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Jaya Guru Raayaa” and the mantra that He wanted to spread all over the world—”Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram“. Many of these devotees from the Northern Indian States and from the distant lands like U.S.A., U.K., Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Indian Ocean islands like Mauritius and Reunion, are actively participating in the World Ramnam Movement launched by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association with the blessings of Bhagavan and some of them had rare opportunities to be in the physical presence of Bhagavan. Before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan and His illustrious Gurubhai, Swami Satchidananda, this sadhu  had discussed with them a proposal to have an International Ramnam Convention and they had blessed the idea, but it could not be achieved when they were physically present in our midst. However, the coming up of Sri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya  have raised our hopes that such an International Convention will materialize sooner or later when devotees will be able to travel from distant parts of the country and abroad to attend it. We pray to the devotees of Bhagavan, now in mutually exclusive groups, to unite under one banner to fulfil the dream of the great disciples of Papa Ramdas—Mataji Krishnabai, Swami Satchidananda and Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Bhagavan had assured time and again in the presence of His close devotees that wherever this sadhu is, He will be with the sadhu in executing the work of His Father. This sadhu is eighty years old now. Before Bhagavan calls this sadhu to His abode, this sadhu hopes to fulfil His dream.

Vande Mataram! Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar,

Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Jaya Guru Raaya!

 

SAHASRA CHANDRA DARSHAN OF

SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN

 

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan has completed 80 years of age on Thursday, October 22, 2020, according to Gregorian calendar, but as per the Hindu Panchang his birthday fell on Ardra Nakshatra on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Swami Yogananda of Shankara Ashram at Chatsworth, in Natal, South Africa, celebrated with special havan and prayers for the sadhu on the birthday according to English calendar and sent a video of it. Many devotees from inside and outside the country sent messages on facebook, e-mail and whatsapp. Sadhu’s kith and kin and devotees at home are observing the day according to Hindu Panchang. On this occasion this sadhu recalls what his spiritual brother, Poojya Tapasi Baba avadhoot said about the Sahasra Chandra Darshan on his birthday when he completed 80 years on October 31, 2000. This is his centenary year and though he is not physically present to bless this sadhu. He will be showering his blessings from his heavenly abode. Baba wrote:

 

“In fact, for a dedicated sincere seeker, every day that he lives is due to His grace but having seen 1000 moons in one’s life surely confers the same honour on him as on Bharata, Hanuman and Kabir and then in Kabir’s language to quote, “Mai to raamjee kee kutaree jit khainchat tit jaaoo” (I am Rama’s dog; wherever dragged, I go there) — so he truly, factually becomes indeed!

 

Whatever traditional Pundits of indigenous almanacs might have to stubbornly say, in my way of having learnt things of science and arithmetic, two things are crucial in the context of what we are on; these are:

 

1. Moon’s revolutionary cycle is 28 days.
2. There are 365 days in a year. Therefore, in eighty years, there shall be 29200 days. Divided by 28, we have 1042.85; thus logically we have seen 1043 moons in a life span of eight years, That’s wonderful and luckies for me if I live till 31-10-2000 AD, because I would have seen 1000 moons in my life-time and would have earned to be called Lord’s doggie please!!!”

— Tapasi Baba”

 

 

SATABHISHEKAM OF SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN

IN SRI BHARATAMATAMANDIR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasyema saradassatam, Jeevema saradassatham!—

Let us see hundred autumns, let us live for hundred autumas!

 

Shataabhishekam of Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, disciple of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, was held in Sri Bharatamata Mandir, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore , on Thursday, November 5, 2020, in the presence of devotees and relations. Sri Srinivasamurthy and Sri Ananthapadmanabhan, assisted by Sadhu’s sambanadhi,  Sri Varadan,  performed Ganapathi Homa, Navagraha Homa, Mruthyunjaya Homa, Ayushya Homa, etc., and Archana and Arati to Sri Bharatamata. Devotees and relations took the blessings of Sadhu and Smt. Bharati Rangarajan.

 

 

Devotees in South Africa observed the 80^th birthday of Sadhu on Thursday, October 22, 2020, with havan and pooja performed by Swami Yogananda of Sankara Mission, Chatsworth, Natal. Devotees from various parts of the country and abroad sent their messages to Sadhu and Smt. Bharati. Many devotees watched the programmes on video.

SALUTATIONS TO SAINTS AND SEERS!

 

Enataro mahaanubhaavu-

landuniki vandanamu

 

—Great souls are many. Salutations to them all! These words of the great minstrel of God, Saint Tyagaraja, rings in the ears when we think of the saints and sages of Bharatavarsha, from Vedic period to modern times, who have sanctified this holy land. She is rightly called Ratnagarbha for only she has carried in Her womb such innumerable gems that have been constantly shed ding light on the meaning and purpose of life so that humanity can march towards its destiny.

 

Every devout Hindu chants the Praatasmaran or the Bhaarata bhakti stotra every morning, recalling to his mind the glorious names of this array of saints and sages and other mahaapurushas of the holy land. What is the purpose? They are the ideals that we have to follow in our day-to-day life. Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavat Geeta:

 

Yadyataacharati shreshthah

tadttadevetaro jannah;

sa yat pramaanam kurute

lokastadanuvartate

 

—Whatsoever a great man doeth, the other men also do; the standard hesetteth up, by that the people go.

 

Life dedicated to great ideals and a mission is not the exclusive privilege of a handful of a handful of god-men who come into this world from time to time. In our utter ignorance, we merely idolize these great souls, worship and adore them, but never realize that they lived such exemplary lives to show us the way. We call them avataaras and think that we, ordinary mortals, can never reach their heights. We forget the fact that they too came into this world as ordinary mortals like us, but by their self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to their ideals, rose to such heights of spiritual life that they have come to be called as avataaras. In the Raamaayana Bhagavan Sri Rama himself declares:

 

Devaa maanusha roopena

charantyete maheetale

 

—Gods walk on this earth in the human form. He asked us to consider him a man, born as son of Dasharatha. He too had the quota of sufferings, pangs, pains and agonies as well as the brighter dises of life just as we all have in our lives. But he lived the life of a Maryaadaa purushottama­­—the ideal man.

 

A renowned English poet, Longfellow, said:

 

“Lives of great men all remnd us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.”

 

So it is for us to follow the footsteps of the great.

 

A glimpse of an inspiring life can teach us more than a score of articles on philosophy and religion. The great saint, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, said that an ounce of practice was much more valuable than an ocean of knowledge. Coming face to face with philosophy in practice is much more worthier than going through hundreds of treatises on philosophical doctrines.

 

Like the eternal flow of Ganga, the life of the ancient land of Bharat is glorified by the advent of great sages and seers, saints and god men right from the days of the Vedas to the modern times. This sacred land, BHARAT — “The land that revels in the light of spiritual wisdom” — is the manifestation of the Divine Mother.

 

Ratnaakaraa dhauta padaam

Himaalaya kireetineem

Brahma raaja rishi ratnaadyaam

Vande bhaarata maataram!

 

“I bow to the Divine Mother Bharat whose feet are washed by the great oceans, who wears the Himalayas as Her crown and whose neck is adorned with the necklace of pearls like Brahmarishis and Rajarishis.”

 

The Vedic seers envisaged the role of this nation as the preceptor of the world. They called out to the mankind to learn the meaning and purpose of life from the great masters of this land. Beginning with Sriman Narayana and Dakshinamoorti, with preceptors like Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva in the middle, we have a great and glorious guruparampara — lineage of spiritual masters.

 

Like the rain waters that come down from the sky, take to different forms of rivers each one having its own course and ultimately merge in the same ocean, all these great aachaaryas have drawn their inspiration and gained spiritual insight from the Vision of Truth in their intuitive consciousness, though they have followed and also pronounced for the posterity different paths of god-realization in order to lead all to the ultimate goal — Sat-Chit-Aananda — Existence-Consciousness-Bliss  —  the Para Brahman.

 

Even in this modern age of scientific and political revolutions and renaissance and reformation, Bharatvarsha’s stream of spiritual heritage has flowed uninterrupted, producing new visionaries, mystics and mahatmas. New India witnessed the advent of modern seers like Dayananda, Bankim, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Aurobindo and Ramana. The age-old paths of Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Raja yoga and Karma yoga found new exponents like Sivananda, Ramdas, Omkar, Sadhu Vaswani and Yogi Ramsuratkumar, sanctifying by their divine advent the sacred land.

 

In about ten millenniums of the history of Bharatavarsha from Vedic times, a galaxy of brilliant stars that have arisen on the spiritual horizon have shed eternal light on each and every aspect of the individual, family, social and national life of the Hindus to elevate them from the mundane, materialistic existence to divine life. Even insignificant incidents in the lives of great saints and sages of Bharat teach us profuound lessons for the generations to come.

 

In our Hindu tradition, a child undergoes the period of education under the guidance of a saintly preceptor. When Lord Rama was taken to the forest by Rishi Vishwamitra to annihilate the Raakshasas who used to obstruct his Yajnas. the Rishi wakes up the child on one morning with the message:

 

Kausayaa suprajaa raamaa, poorvaa sandhyaa pravartate,

uttishtha narashaardoola kartavyam deivam aanhikam

 

—”O beloved son of Kausalya, get up, the sun is rising in the east; you have to perform your prayerful rituals  to God!”

 

Even if God descends on the earth, he has to set an example to mankind by performing like an ordinary man all his duties and actions promptly and perfectly. When Lord Krishna was a student in the Gurukula of Rishi Saandeepani, he had to render all types of services to the Master and the wife of the preceptor, like cutting firewood in the forest and bringing head loads of it to Master’s abode. Satyakaama Jaabaali, who later became a great Upanishadic seer, used to tend the cattle of his Master, taking them every day to the grazing ground, when he was a student in the Master’s ashram.

 

Every householder in the Hindu way of life learns his lessons in the ideal family life from the lives of great preceptors. Even today, in every Hindu marriage, there is a ritual called Arundhati darshan—looking at the star Arundhati in the night—for Vashishtha and Arundhati have been considered to be the primordial ideal couple guiding generations from the Vedic period. The great Tamil saint, Tiruvalluvar and Vasuki are also cited as ideal couple. Immediately after the marriage, Tiruvalluvar instructed his wife Vasuki to keep a pitcher of water and a needle by his side whenever he sat for his meals. Vasuki did so for many years, but she never found the saint using them. However, she never questioned him why and what for, but simply obeyed him. After many years, one day Tiruvalluvar told Vasuki, “You have implicitly obeyed my instructions for years, as a true devout wife, never questioning the husband. Now I will reveal to you the significance of this. Food is Goddess Annalakshmi and we should never waste even an iota of food. I wanted you to keep this needle and water by my side so that I can use them to pick up and clean the grains of cooked food if by chance you dropped one or two on the ground while serving on the plantain leaf. But you have been so devout and careful in serving food that not a single grain has ever fallen outside the leaf and therefore I had no occasion to use the needle and water.” What a great ideal the lives of these ideal couple teach humanity!

 

When Rishi Yajnavalkya was entering into the third stage of life, Vaanaprastha Aashrama, he asked his wife, Maitreyi, whether she would like to continue in worldly life, enjoying the riches at home. She asked him in turn whether the riches will bring her eternal bliss. He replied in the negative. Then she declared that she needed none of them and that she will also accompany him into the forest to lead a spiritual life for self-realization. When Mother Sarada Devi, the life partner of Sri Ramakrishna, came to Dakshineswar to join him, she found Sri Ramakrishna in a highly advanced state of spiritual life. However, Sri Ramakrishna accepted her and told her that if she wanted him to come down to a mundane material life of a householder, he was prepared to live as a householder. Sarada promptly replied that she would never want him to come down to a worldly life, but she only wanted to serve him all the time. Sri Ramakrishna then and there accepted her as the embodiment of the Divine Mother.

 

Even sadhus and sannyasins set an example to the posterity by their conduct in life. Devotees used to pour into Rishikesh to have darshan of Swami Sivananda. There were many other saints and mahatmas there and some of the devotees of Sivananda were too fanatic to recognize other sadhus and prostrate to them. Bhagavan Sivananda wanted to teach them subtly a lesson in life. One day he took them all to River Ganges for sacred bath. While returning, he found a donkey carrying some bundles of cloth on its back and accompanied by a dhobi, coming in front of him. He stood aside for the donkey to pass by him and when it approached him, he fell prostrate before it. The devotees with him were shell shocked to see the saint prostrating to the donkey. He then explained to them that the donkey was carrying on its back the ochre clothes of the sadhus, washed by the dhobi in the river, and hence he prostrated to it. To give respect and regard to every mahatma was the lesson that he taught his devotees by his action.

 

Even if we roll the entire earth into a paper, convert all the oceans into ink and use the mighty Himalayas as a pen, they won’t be sufficient to record all the incidents that have occurred in the lives of the great sages and saints through ages. The sky is replete with millions of stars, but a few would be sufficient to guide us when we are on the sail on the vast ocean of life in the dark night of ignorance, to reach the shores at day break!

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, October 2003, Vol. 20, No. 4]

“Force, Life and bright-eyed Hope

Be the gifts of the Mother to Her chosen.”

—Mahakavi C. Subramania Bharat

 

GUIDING LIGHTS

Chattambi Swamigal

and Sri Narayanaguru

 

   

 

The beacon lights that guided the revolutionary social reform movements in Kerala in the 18^th Century were Sri Chattambi Swamigal and his illustrious disciple, Sri Narayana Guru. At a time when the very foundations of the Hindu society were being threatened by the cancerous forces like caste distinctions, untouchability and the ego-centric attitude of the so called Brahmin community in Kerala, these spiritual giants appeared on the scene and with their deep foresight and undaunted courage, brought about radical reforms in the society.

 

Once Sri Chattambi Swamigal was staying in a renowned house in Quilon. Many ardent devotees thronged around him to have his darshan. One day, the Swami expressed his desire to visit the Shastankottai temple. In those days where there were hardly any transport system, the Swami and his devotes had to traverse all the distance by walk. The Swami was a fast walker. Sometimes he used to go ahead of others and wait for them on the roadside. Thus when they were on their long walk, one of his followers all of a sudden, made a hue and cry. The Swami asked for the reason. “A Pulaya (Harijan)is coming straight towards us”, said the disciple.

“What of that?” asked the Swami.

“I just wanted him to get away from us.”

On hearing these words, the Swamiji’s face turned red with rage.

“What? Even educated people like you are mad! Fie upon you! This is your wonderful advaita! Is there any difference between you and him according to your philosophy? When your advaita says that there is no duality at all – no distinction between man and man – wherefrom this stupid idea got into your brain? Throw it into the sea. I will not approve of this!”

 

The forceful admonition of the preceptor brought the erring disciples including the Brahmins to their senses. Then he turned to the poor Harijan and asked him to come near him. The stranger stood terribly scared. The Swami then walked up to him, caught hold of his hand and conducted him on his way. Thus the great Acharya sowed the seeds of tremendous social reforms which in later days took greater dimensions in Kerala.

 

Sri Narayana Guru, the illustrious disciple of Sri Chattambi Swamigal, was also an ardent social reformer and a unique preceptor. He wanted our countrymen to accept all that is noble from others to make Bharat glorious. He showed the way through his life and message to solve all the burning problems of the nation. Poet Rabindranath Tagore hailed him as one who excelled Sukha Brahmam in self-control, Kapila in wisdom and Buddha in compassion.

 

Once a person belonging to the upper caste asked Sri Narayana Guru: “On what authority do you who belong to the Ezhava caste construct and consecrate a temple for Lord Shiva?” The Guru calmly replied, combining humour and wisdom in his statement, “But I am constructing a temple for an Ezhava Shiva!”

 

The Guru fought against many customs and practices which denigrated the women and fought for their equal rights with men in education and social positions. He pioneered a movement to train dedicated teachers who would teach religion along with scientific knowledge in schools and colleges. He adored the country stretching from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas as manifestation of Maha Shakti. No wonder, Mahatma Gandhi and Tagore came to him to seek his blessings.

 

Like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Narayana Guru also did not take part directly in the political struggle for freedom, but inspired thousands of people to offer their everything at the altar of the Motherland. The famous Vaikkam Satyagraha to fight for the rights of Harijans to enter into temples was organized by his disciples with his blessings.

 

Today, if all our religious and spiritual leaders, including the most revered Shankaracharyas, and other social and national leaders follow the footsteps of these great guiding lights – Sri Chattambi Swamigal and Sri Narayana Guru – many of the ills afflicting the nation will vanish.

 

[Tattva Darsana, Vol 5, No 3. Aug-Oct 1988]

BHAGAVAN NITYANANDA

 

“The Avadhuta has death at his command. He has no sense of the body. He is beyond the fourth state, Turiya. He is conscient in the illumination of the fourth state. He is not thought–aware. He is a Raja Yogi, not Hatha Yogi. Living in the country, he delights in all. There is no separate awareness. He moves about. He has no hunger; he eats plenty of what he gets, but does not ask for if he has none. To him are same, he who gives poison and he who gives milk; he who slaps and he who loves him. To the Avadhuta, the universe is the father, universe is the mother, the world the relation. The universe becomes himself, and himself in the universe and All is in himself”, says Bhagavan Nityananda in his Chidakasha Geeta.

 

No one could be a better example than himself expressing fully in his life all these attributes of an Avadhuta. Swami Chinmayananda has this to say about Bhagavan Nityananda: “It is not easy to write in a few words the glory of such a great yogi as Swami Nityanand. I have not yet, in my life, met any other yogi so sensitive, ever remaining at such a high pitch of inspiration and inner tranquility. Even though such a full grown Siddha, yet by the time I met him in Ganeshpuri, he had already bundled up all Siddhies and had left them behind him. We had such a full rapport between each other; and I cannot say that he had not helped me to scale some rare peaks which, as a Vedantin, I had never visited, or even thought of mounting enroute.” He has also remarked about Bhagavan: “To repeat the actual experiences of his devotees, the strange methods of the Yogi evolved, the seemingly mad acts he did, would read a saga of a hundred Christs living together, each exhibiting his wondrous powers in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor.”

 

Sri M.P. Pandit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry says: “A massive Impersonality like Swami Nityananda is hardly an occasion for an introduction. Like the Atman, Self, that he lived out so palpably, his is an eternal Presence that cannot be measured in terms of space and time. He escapes definition. He is not philosopher, though every word that fell from his lips contains the seed of perennial philosophy. He is no founder of a sect but a universal Teacher. He gathered no followers, in fact, he made himself inaccessible to them, but they flocked to him, even as they still do, in endless numbers. He was aloof from every form and name and yet was full of compassion. He scorned pomp and show and befriended the needy in ways known and unknown. All in all, Swami Nityananda is a baffling phenomenon.”

 

Birth and Childhood 

 

There is a saying that no one should probe into the roots of a river and a rishi. No one knows about the parentage of Bhagavan Nityananda. Once he told an enquiring questioner: “People go and bathe in the Ganga to purify themselves. They feel happy when they bathe in the Ganga, the holy river. They don’t bother to find out the origin of the river and even if they know about it, it is of no special significance to them.” He used to dismiss such enquiries by asking, “You want me to tell you about myself? How is that possible when I realize that I am in everything and there is nothing around me in which I don’t find my own self?”

 

It is believed that the descent of this Divine occurred in November or early December 1897, in Badagare village, a few miles away from Kanhangad on the Malabar coast. There are different versions about his foster parents finding this divine child. One is that he was found out by a Harijan woman while returning from deep inside a forest where she had gone to collect firewood. Her attention was drawn to a thick bush by the cawings of a number of crows howering around. She found there a dark, beautiful baby, wrapped carefully in a white cloth. Taking the child into her hands, she hastened to the village where she handed it over to a Nair woman, Unni Amma, who gave her in return a quantity of rice. Another version is that the baby was found by Unni Amma herself when she went to a river for her usual morning bath. She saw the baby floating on a bunch of leaves of a branch of a tree, which was drifted towards her by the current of the river. She took the child into her arms with wonder and awe and adopted it. Yet another version says that Unni Amma alias Uma Amma, wife of Chathu Nair, an agricultural labourer, and mother of five children, had one night a dream vision of Shiva and Vishnu taking bath together in the Korapur river which was flowing near her hut and was in spate at that time. They summoned her to come to the temple of Siva, Vishnu and Ayyappa, built by Iswara Iyer of Kothamangalam, near Quailandy in North Kerala and maintained by the Nair couple. Iswara Iyer, a lawyer and landlord, was very devout by nature and the Nair couple worked in his household. The next morning, when Unni Amma was on her way to Iyer’s house, she found the divine child on the river bank, guarded by a hooded King Cobra. Her husband, who followed her, soon caught up with her and he also witnessed the wonderful sight. Leaving his wife on the spot, he rushed to Iyer’s house to fetch his master. Iyer came and saw the divine child and told Unni Amma that it was not an ordinary baby and she must take care of him. The serpent then glided away and the devout woman took the child to her home. Iyer named the child Raman.

 

When Raman was three years old, Chathu Nair passed away. Unni Amma had a difficult time looking after six children, but the munificence of Iyer was a great help to her. Raman was afflicted by rickets and his crying throughout the night disturbed the sleep of the powerful and rich neighbours. They asked Unni Amma to cast away the child. With tears in her eyes, Unni Amma went to the Ayyappa temple to pray to the Lord to relieve her child of his ailment. While returning from the temple, she came across a toddy tapper, who noticing the ailing child, handed over to her a crow which he was carrying in his hand. He asked her to cook the meat of the crow in ghee and feed the child. The panacea prescribed by the stranger worked at once and the child was relieved of his ailment.

 

When Raman was six years old, Unni Amma also departed from the world. The orphaned child came under the guardianship of Iswara Iyer. Thereafter, Iyer’s house in Pandalayani became Raman’s home too.

 

Under the Guardianship of Iyer

 

Right from the beginning, Iswara Iyer was fascinated by the divine attributes of the child. He never took him to be an orphan, but loved him as his own son. The physical cleanliness, total truthfulness, fearlessness, love and compassion to all beings, and other such qualitites of head and heart manifested by the boy were pointers to the hidden divinity in him. It so happened that one day a Namboodiri astrologer visited Iyer’s house. Studying the boy Raman very carefully, he said to Iyer that the boy was none other than Lord Shiva Himself. Iyer felt very proud of the privilege he had to live with such a divine child. Though he wanted to put the boy into a school and educate him, the boy rejected formal education and bookish learning, as in the case of many such great souls. Though the boy remained unlettered, Iyer was many a times baffled to see him quoting profusely from scriptures and explaining subtle philosophical points. However, like other ordinary children of his age, Raman also exhibited his childish pranks very often. Quite mischievously he will dive into the temple tank and vanish for a long time, making people around him panicky. Sometimes he will go into the bottom of the tank to retrieve even very small ornaments accidentally dropped into it by women and children taking bath. He would restore the things to the owners and thus endear everyone.

 

One day, some snake charmers, intending to extract money from Iyer, secretly let loose into his house some reptiles. Raman, who found out this game, removed all the snakes overnight, catching them one by one and letting them out into a distant forest. In the morning the snake charmers appeared before Iyer and told him that they suspected presence of poisonous snakes in his house and offered to remove them. They started playing on their peculiar flutes, but to their utter dismay, they drew a blank. Raman then came there and started dancing, telling them that the reptiles are already gone into the forest. The bewildered snake charmers made a hasty retreat. Iswara Iyer who came to know of the whole thing praised Raman for his courage and wisdom.

 

Raman attained the age of 10. It was at that time that Iswara Iyer wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi. He wanted to take Raman with him. The latter gladly agreed. Visiting many places on the way, they reached Kashi and from there went to Prayag. Taking holy dip in the Triveni and performing shraddha to forefathers at Gaya, Iyer returned with Raman to Kashi and completed his pilgrimage. Raman spent long hours at Harishchandra Ghat sitting in trance. It was at this juncture that he made an appeal to Iswara Iyer to leave him there and return home as he wanted to proceed alone to the Himalayas for his tapas. Iyer was astounded by this request of the young boy and tried to dissuade him from the endeavour. Ultimately, the will of Raman prevailed and Iyer had to leave him reluctantly after getting a promise from Raman that he would come to Iyer anytime the latter needed his presence.

 

Life of a Wanderer

 

Raman visited Saranath and Bodh Gaya and then proceeded to the Himalayas. He went to Kedarnath, Badrinath and Amarnath. He spent a long time sitting in caves deep in the Himalayas doing his tapas. Years rolled on and the young boy grew into a youth.

 

At Pandalayini, Iswara Iyer realized that the end of his life was not far and he wanted to get his daughter married before closing his eyes. Preparations were made to solemnize the marriage of the girl at Guruvayoor temple on an auspicious day. Iyer had at no time forgotten his beloved Raman. On the day prior to the departure of the marriage party to Guruvayoor, Iyer intensely yearned for the presence of Raman in the marriage celebrations. Late in the night, Iyer heard a knock on his doors and, wondering who could be the visitor at such odd hour, he opened the doors to find for his pleasant surprise, youthful Raman standing in front of him with a gentle smile. Did not Adi Shankaracharya keep up his word given to his mother that he would appear before her when she wanted him?

 

The marriage went off well at Guruvayoor. After the couple and bridegroom’s party left for Calicut, Iyer returned with Raman to Pandalayini. Iyer was aware that his last day was nearing. He decided to divide his property among his children, of course, with one share to his Raman. But Raman pleaded with Iyer not to give him any property for he did not want to get entangled in the snares of worldly life. Iyer could see a renunciate in young Raman. In the next few weeks, Iyer’s condition became worse. However, he had the satisfaction that Raman was present by his side. Knowing fully well the divine propensities of Raman, he appealed to him to enable him to have the darshan of Sun God whom he had been worshipping for several years. Raman fulfilled the last wish of his foster father and guardian by giving him a divine vision of Lord Suryanarayana. Having got his prayer fulfilled, the blissful Iyer declared that Raman was his “Nityananda” and he called Raman by the name “Nityananda”, the name which came to stay forever.

 

Iyer left the world with a sense of fulfillment and joy. His mortal remains were cremated on the banks of Bharatapuzha. Raman collected the ashes and left for Kashi. He immersed the ashes in Ganga and also managed to feed a number of people on the occasion. Then he once again resumed his wandering life. He spent some time at Tilabhandeswara. It is said, he used to wear only saffron cloth at that time and his food consisted of milk and fruits only. He also visited a cave at Vandekashi and did penance for forty one days at Kalabhairava temple. Years rolled on when he was wandering all over the country, wearing just a loin cloth. He even visited Indonesia, Malaya and Burma. While wandering in Burma, he is said to have washed the public latrines, swept roads and attended to other such jobs of sanitation. Did not Sri Ramakrishna wash the toilet with his hair? However, the divinity in Raman could not be concealed for a long time and very devout souls easily identified him and gathered around him for obtaining his grace.

 

While in South India, Nityananda visited the sacred hill, Palani. He was climbing up the hill when the temple priest was coming down after closing the temple. However, he went up and stood before the temple and the doors opened automatically. The temple bells also started ringing attracting the priest and a huge crowd to the place to see the miracle. They all fell prostrate at the feet of the holy man. People showered coins on him. He collected all the money and handed it over to the authorities of the Ganji Math for feeding the poor and the sadhus visiting the hill temple. The practice of feeding the sannyasins still continues in the Math.

 

When Nityananda was in Kanyakumari, he worked as a labourer loading gunny bags in a ship. While he was inside the ship, the vessel set sail for Lanka. The authorities noticed his presence only when it was in the mid sea. When the vessel reached Lanka, he was taken into custody by the authorities. Finding him to be able-bodied, they decided to conscript him. The army doctor examined the youth and found to his alarm that there was no heart beat in him. The matter was reported to the officers. Realising that he was no ordinary man, they let the youth go. Nityananda wandered in the island for some time. People were wonderstruck by seeing many miracles performed by him and by his acts like talking to snakes and wild animals. Later he returned to the mainland. On the day when Swami Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi, on July 4, 1902, Nityananda was in Madras.

 

Miracles on the Malabar Coast

 

One fine morning, a group of agricultural labourers in Quailandy, on their way to their work spot, were trying to cross a railway track. One of them had an epileptic attack and fell on the track. Suddenly a lean dark young man appeared on the scene and dropped some ashes into the patient’s mouth. The patient recovered immediately. The astonished workers and other people who had gathered there soon discovered that the miracle maker was none other than their own Raman who could not be seen for many years. They were overjoyed to see him again in their midst.

 

Nityananda often used to sit on the railway track surrounded by people who sought his grace. A Permanent Way Inspector of the Railways, ‘Tiger’ Narayanan Nayar, who took Nityananda to be an ordinary mad man, got annoyed by his presence on the railway track. He abused and threatened Nityananda a few times but the latter was unconcerned. Once, when the Madras Mangalore Mail was coming on the track, Nityananda was sitting there. Narayanan Nair got so wild that he asked the Anglo Indian driver of the train to go ahead even at the risk of killing the mad man. But a miracle happened. When the train came near him, it halted with a screech. The Way Inspector and the driver were astounded. They realized the greatness of the “mad man”, fell prostrate at his feet and apologized to him. ‘Tiger’ Narayanan Nair later became an ardent devotee of Nityananda and built an ashram for him at Kothamangalam.

 

Many were the miracles performed by Nityananda during his stay in Quailandy and in the course of his wanderings on the Malabar coast. One day, when he was resting under a peepul tree, some urchins threw stones at him and they found that the stones got converted into sugar candy. At another time, Nityananda snatched a begging bowl from the hands of a beggar who came to him, picked up some grains of unhusked rice from it and scattered them around. The astonished beggar found all the grains turning into gold coins which he and others around him collected. News about the swami spread fast and people started thronging around him. Raghavan, a chronic asthma patient, came to him and was cured of his illness after he took some gruel prepared according to the swami’s direction. He had also the incredible experience of seeing the swami reclining one night on a single rope swinging between two windows facing each other in a small room.

 

One day, Nityananda was travelling in a train and the ticket examiner found him ticketless. He was forced to get down when the train halted at the next station, Cannanore. Later, when the driver started the train, he found the engine not moving. The confused driver, the guard and the ticket examiner were approached by some passengers who knew Nityananda and saw him being pushed out of the train. They told the crew that it was because of their act that the train did not move. The driver, the guard and the ticket examiner then approached the saint, apologized to him and implored him to resume the journey in the train. The saint got into the engine and the train started moving. Not only that, the swami also produced varieties of train tickets to various destinations from out of his loin cloth giving a shock treatment to the railway authorities.

 

At Kumbla, a pregnant woman approached the swami with all devotion. Even before she could talk to him, the swami sprang on her, laid his hands on her breast and pinched both her nipples causing bleeding injury. The woman howled in pain and people around became so furious that some were about to assault the “mad man”. Then they heard the Swami say with least concern that the woman had given birth to four children, all of whom had died immediately after sucking the mother’s breast after child-birth. The astounded lady confirmed the statement. The child that was born to her after this incident not only survived, but grew into a man who became an ardent devotee of Nityananda in later days.

 

At Manjeswaram, a devotee, A.K. Rao, was celebrating the marriage of his niece. He invited the swami for the function. A renowned magician, Appayya Alwa, had also come there. The latter wanted to denounce the swami as a hoax in front of all. He took a big tobacco leaf and thrust it into the mouth of the swami. The swami swallowed the whole thing and nothing happened to him. But Alwa developed bloating of stomach and he was rushed to the Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, where he died.

 

One day, when Nityananda was in Mangalore, he sat in Padmasana posture and went into a trance. Even after many hours, he did not come back to normal consciousness and soon the body became stiff and cold. The devotees around were grief-stricken thinking that the swami had attained to Mahasamadhi. Some even started preparing for the last rites. On the third day, to the pleasant surprise of all, they found some movement in the body of the swami and he soon came to normal consciousness. To the devotees who shed tears of joy, he said: “This one went for a good purpose. This one could meet many great souls. They insisted that this one should go back immediately.” He uttered the names of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Rama Tirtha with particular emphasis. This incident occurred sometime in 1922-23. Such events are not uncommon in the lives of great saints. Shirdi Sai Baba’s devotees had also a similar experience.

 

As an Avadhuta, when Bhagavan Nityananda was wandering in Mangalore, he used to go into trance very often. During such divine experiences, he would cry out: “Uncle Arjuna, come here. Listen to what Grandfather Krishna has to say.” Then there will be an outpouring of nectarine words of divine wisdom in chaste Kanarese, delineating on the various aspects of Yoga-Vedanta and other allied spiritual topics. Two lady devotees, Tulsi Amma and Janni Bai, took down with meticulous care all that the Bhagavan spoke on such occasions. Later they were compiled together and, with the approval of Bhagavan, was published, in 1929, under the title Chidakasha Geeta, a rare masterpiece in the field of philosophical literature. It is said, that Bhagavan wanted Swami Chinmayananda to do the English translation of this work, but the Swamiji found every word uttered by Bhagavan too pregnant with several meanings and pleaded his inability to do justice to the original. Then Bhagavan entrusted the job to his devotee, Sri P. Ramanathan Pai, who took it to Sri M.P. Pandit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. It is said, immediately after Sri Pandit undertook the work, he had a strange vision of a spirit and when he reported this to the Mother of Pondicherry, she asked him whether he had taken up the work of some great Mahatma. When he told her about the work of translating Nityananda’s Chidakasha Geeta, she confirmed that it was Bhagavan Nityananda who had come to bless him. Swami Chinamayananda also tells in the Introduction to the English translation, Voice of the Self, “I can perfectly remember some of the portions of the translation where Sri Pandit has moved away from the original versions and in all those places, I know that he had his pen forcefully snatched away from him by the ever living presence of Swami Nityananda.”

 

A spate of miraculous events attracted hundreds of people in the Malabar to Gurudev Nityananda. Those who tried to play mischief with him had also their quota of experiences. Once a young man went to Nityananda with a bandage on his leg and reported that he had a sore on his leg which he wanted to be cured by the saint. Nityananda told him that the sore would not heal. When the young man untied the bandage, he found to his dismay and shock a real sore on his leg. In Mulki, the grandson of a devotee, Venkat Rao, had an attack of dysentery and the child’s condition became critical. The devotee called the name of Nityananda and prayed fervently. The very next morning, he found the saint standing in front of his doors. The child was cured. The happy devotee arranged a feast to celebrate the visit of the mahatma. Unexpectedly big crowd of visitors gathered in his place to have darshan of the saint. The devotee found that the food prepared by him would not at all be sufficient to feed them. Swami Nityananda understood the predicament of his devotee. He went into the kitchen, took a ladle and stirred the food kept in the vessels. Then he asked the devotee to start feeding the guests. To the utter surprise of the devotee, there remained some food in the vessel even after the last man was fed.

 

When Gurudev Nityananda was in Bantwal, a torrential rain poured down. The villagers, taking the swami to be an ordinary beggar, refused to give him shelter. The saint walked away drenched in the rain. Soon River Netravati rose in flood threatening the village. The villagers, realizing their folly, rushed to Nityananda and begged his pardon. The saint advised them to propitiate the river goddess. The prayers of the villagers were answered and the river subsided.

 

In South Kanara, a boatman refused to take the swami across a river in his boat. He was shocked when he saw the saint coolly walking over the water and crossing the stream. A shopkeeper allowed Nityananda to take all the money from his coffers to be distributed to the poor and the needy. Soon he found himself in penury. Knowing his condition, the swami gave him a ten rupee note taken out of his loin cloth and asked him to keep it in his cash box. The shopkeeper later rose to become a renowned industrialist in South Kanara.

 

At Udipi, some orthodox temple priests did not like the presence of the swami inside the temple premises. They encouraged urchins to throw stones at him to chase him away. The stones that were hurled at him turned into sweetmeats, but the priests found stones scattered around the idol of Lord Krishna in the sanctum sanctorum.

 

A son of a rich Zamindar was attracted to Nityananda and started frequenting him. The Zamindar felt perturbed in seeing his son running after a “mad man”. He engaged two Muslim ruffians to do away with the mad man. The ruffians confronted Swami Nityananda in a lane.  One held the swami by his hand while the other raised a dagger to stab him. But the hand of the would-be assassin failed to come down and he writhed in pain and agony. The compassionate saint immediately brought down the hand and relieved him of the pain. However, a big crowd, which witnessed this miracle, overpowered the ruffians and handed them over to the police. The swami pleaded with the police to forgive and release them. He even went on a fast in front of the police station to get them released.

 

Nityananda’s love for the poor and dumb creatures was remarkable. He once asked a devotee to release a bird held captive in a cage in his house. Devotees once saw a king cobra, suffering from pain and unable to move, gliding towards him with much difficulty. He took it upon his lap, spoke to it and gently passed his hand over its back. The snake recovered from its illness and went back into its hole. In later days, when the saint was in Ganeshpuri, he had also built a Samadhi for a temple bull just like Ramana Maharshi who built samadhi’s for his pet animals.

 

At Padubadra in South Kanara, the saint was sitting one day in trance. A sadist tied a cloth, soaked in kerosene, to the hands of the saint and set fire to it, but it was he who got the burns and not the saint. Similarly, a rich man who found the swami walking unconcerned in front of his horse carriage lashed at him with his whip, but found the lashes falling on his own back. He fell prostrate at the feet of the holy man and apologized.

 

Building Ashrams in Kanhangad

 

By 1925, Swami Nityananda started spending most of his time in Kanhangad. Three miles east of Kanhangad, deep inside a forest, the saint settled down in sylvan surrounds and started doing intense tapas. The place now is well-known by the name Guruvanam. He made a cave there. There is a perennial spring inside the cave and it is known as “Papanasini Ganga”. In 1958, Guruvanam was bought by Gurudev Nityananda from the Raja of Nileswar. Gurudev’s disciple, Swami Janananda converted the entire area into a spiritual paradise which attracts today thousands of devotees of Bhagavan from all over the world.

 

From Guruvanam, Gurudev shifted to an old fort in Kanhangad. The fort was built by a local chieftan Kanhan after whom the place was named Kanhangad. Later the Kanarase Chief, Raja of Ekkeri, conquered Kanhangad and built a new fort. This fort fell into ruins during the British rule. Gurudev chose this place to build up a magnificent cave ashram complex. The lean, dark mendicant in loin cloth took up the work of renovating the fort and clearing the jungle. He engaged labourers to help him. The news that he was taking out bundles of currency from out of his loin cloth to pay them became the talk of that place. Soon the authorities started investigation. When the officials approached him, he took them to a pond nearby and in their presence dived into it. He then brought a pot full of currencies and coins. “There is a big crocodile in the pond. It has got all the money…” – This was the sarcastic explanation that he gave them. Soon a sub-inspector arrived on the scene and took the strange Sadhu to the police station for interrogation. The unperturbed Sadhu asked the Sub-Inspector to search inside his loins to find the currency. The police official who felt insulted, got angry and put him inside the lock up, but he found the Swami outside in no time. Unable to understand the miracle, he reported the matter to the District Collector, E.M. Gawne, I.C.S.  The Collector himself came on his horseback, followed by his ferocious hound. The hound, as soon as it came near the saint, lay prostrate at his feet. The Englishman was able to discern the divinity in the strange person in loin cloth. When he asked the saint why he was doing all these things, the saint coolly replied in chaste English: “Not for this one; if you want, you may have it all.” The Collector took no time to realize the total selflessness and detachment of the saintly person and instructed his officials not to disturb him. While returning, the Collector was taken by surprise to find a name board in English – “Gawne Road” – which had miraculously appeared on the road leading to the fort. Later when Mr. Gawne became the Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras, he instructed the district authorities not only to allow the saint to live in peace, but also to extend all help to him. The caves that Nityananda built in Kanhangad fort are today the living symbols of the sadhana that the great Mahatma performed there. These silent splendours proclaim the glory and greatness of the godman.

 

The people in Kanhangad found the Divine Master helping them in strange ways. Pokan, a fisherman devotee on the Kanhangad coast, and his son sailed into the sea for a catch, but were caught in a storm. When their boat was capsizing, they prayed to Bhagawan Nityananda. They lost their consciousness, but they were miraculously saved by another boatman and brought to the shore. When they recovered and opened their eyes, they found that their boat had also safely drifted to the shore with a large catch of big fish in it.

 

Papa Ramdas, founder of Anandashram, Kanhangad, has recorded in his immortal work In the Vision of God, the visit of Gurudev to the Anandashram founded by Papa at Kanhangad on May 15, 1931: “Swami Nityanand, a great yogi, was residing in Hosdrug. He made several improvements in the old, neglected Hosdrug fort. He was attracting people from all parts of the South Kanara District, and even from far off places. His darshan was rightly considered by devotees to be of immense spiritual benefit. Ramdas had the opportunity of meeting him once, when he was dwelling in the Panch-Pandav caves. He had no cloth on his body except a kaupin. He was dark in complexion, but possessed a tall, fully-developed, well-proportioned body. One of his characteristic features was that his face was always suffused with most bewitching smiles. As he was seen always sunk in divine bliss, his devotees gave him the name Nityanand – meaning everlasting bliss. One day, towards the end of the second year of the ashram, one of the ashramites, Krishnappa, brought him to us. We gave him due honour and made him drink the cool water of a tender coconut. He did not speak a word. After remaining with us for about ten minutes, he went away.”

 

Grace Abounding in Ganeshpuri

 

By 1931 the construction work in Kanhangad was almost over and the swami started moving out. He proceeded northward and reached Bombay. However, many devotees have expressed surprise over the fact that he was seen at many places at one and the same time. Once he got himself buried in the sand at Bombay beach, with a faithful devotee, Achuta, standing guard at the place. After several hours when the saint did not come out the sands, the devotee was worried. However, after sometime, the saint came out of the sand covered pit and reported to the baffled devotee about his visit to Delhi.

 

Nityananda reached Kurla on the outskirts of Bombay and in 1934 moved to Akroli near Vajreswari, fifty miles away from Bombay. It was a dense forest infested by poisonous snakes and wild animals. By then a large number of devotees had started following the mahatma wherever he went. He soon built a dharmasala there and renovated a hotspring called Ramkund. The adivasis in the area began to experience a new kind of life with the grace and munificence of the saint. From Vajreswari, Gurudev shifted to Ganeshpuri, a mile and a half away, in 1936. This place is near the famous Bhimeswara Mahadeva Temple. In ancient times sages like Vasishta did tapas there. Vasishta installed a Ganesh idol there and hence the place came to be known as Ganeshpuri. Vajreswari also acquired its name because Vasishta had invoked Adi Shakti who appeared there as Vajreswari. This place was inhabited by Lord Rama during his wanderings in the forest. The great saints, Matsyendranath and Goraknath had done tapas there to please Vajreswari. Gurudev Nityananda built a Nath mandir at Vajreswari. A school, a dispensary and a maternity hospital also came up there. At Ganeshpuri, Gurudev constructed Vaikunta Ashram near the Bhimeswara Temple. He also got three hot spring tanks dug in front of the temple. He used to say that great siddhas came to the springs to take bath in the brahma muhurta (early dawn). A devotee, Muktabai, once found the shining ones taking bath in the tank and then vanishing into the temple. The three springs were known as Kodi Teerthas. Gurudev used to ask all the devotees coming to see him to take bath in the hot springs. Many devotees with incurable diseases and in critical conditions found themselves completely relieved of their ailments after a bath in the kundhas. In 1938, a three roomed Ashram, Vaikunthdam Ashram, came up there.

 

Innumerable are the experiences of devotees who visited the great mahatma in Ganeshpuri. People from nooks and corners of the world and from various walks of life were attracted to the sacred centre and there was a constant flow of pilgrims arriving there to have just a darshan of the saint. Though his name and fame spread far and wide, Bhagavan Nityananda lived a very simple life, wearing just a loin cloth and possessing nothing. He used to get up at 3 O’ clock in the morning, go to the hot springs for bath and then visit the Bhimeswara Temple. Then he would spend long hours doing Omkar Japa, sitting in the Kailash Ashram. He was popularly known by the name “Baba”. Baba’s japa and tapa were not for his own spiritual evolution, but for others. He himself had vouchsafed that he was a born siddha. One day, in February 1944, the Swami was sitting in his Ashram with four devotees around him. The sun was about to set and the Baba was absorbed in silence, closing his eyes. One of the devotees whispered into the ears of another asking what the Baba was doing and the other replied that he was probably meditating. Swami overheard the conversation and remarked: “All that was over in mother’s womb”. On another occasion, a devotee brought the Prasad of Satyanarayan pooja to be given to Baba. Swami asked him, “Whose Prasad for whom? Is anything known about ‘this place’ (i.e. himself)?”

 

Swamiji always aspired to confer spiritual benefits on his devotees, but most of the people thronging around him came more for mundane benefits than spiritual. He lamented, “All people come to me for grace of the Guru. They want the glittering external and not the shining internal. Much is to be offered, but there is nobody to receive.” Did not Saint Ramalinga Adigalar of Tamilnadu lament: “Kadai viritten, Kolvaar illai”, meaning, “I have opened my shop, but there are no customers!” Yet, in mysterious ways, Bhagavan Nityananda helped the devotees coming to him.

 

Bhagavan had entrusted the responsibility of looking after the Ashram at Kanhangad to Swami Janananda. One day the Swami came to Ganeshpuri to place before Bhagavan some financial problems confronted by the Ashram. Without telling a word, Bhagavan got into a taxi cab that came there and left the place. The next morning he returned by the same cab and none knew where he had been. Bhagavan told Janananda to return to Kanhangad and meet a certain devotee. On return to Kanhangad, Janananda met the devotee. The devotee told him that Bhagavan had made a surprise visit to him and had given him some money to be handed over to the Swami. How Bhagavan appeared there and how he vanished to be back in Ganeshpuri the next day is a miracle.

 

Some yogis belonging to the Nath Panth called on Bhagavan. They were seated in the midst of other devotees and felt ignored by Bhagavan. One of them wanted to show their powers and threw a strident up and made it hang in the mid-air. Gurudev just raised his right foot and moved it. The next moment the strident fell on the ground. The Yogis who realized the greatness of Bhagavan apologized to him and sought his permission to stay with him for three days.

 

A priest in the Bhadra Kali temple, built by Bhagavan, complained to him that the idol of Kali was not beautiful enough. Gurudev asked him to cover the face of the idol with a piece of white cloth and remove it the next day. The priest did so. The face of the idol had turned overnight into a resplendent one full of grace and beauty.

 

A devotee, Sitaram Shenoy, had a heart attack. Against medical advice he was rushed to Ganeshpuri. Gurudev revived him by splashing some water on his face. After some years, he had another heart attack and he collapsed. His wife rushed the body in a car to Ganeshpuri hoping to bring him back to life once again by the grace of Bhagavan. But this time Bhagavan asked her to take the body back and arrange for the last rites. Later a devotee asked him why he did not revive the man a second time, Master replied: “If that be so, no one would go to Chandanwadi (a crematorium in Bombay). Everyone would come only to Ganeshpuri.” The great Masters know what is to be done by them, to whom, at which time, and under what conditions. No one can understand the way in which they work. A deaf and dumb child was brought to Bhagavan and he asked the child to be given hot water bath in the holy springs for 14 days. After that the child regained the power of speech and hearing.

 

A devotee in Madras, Sadanand, who was a Government officer, happened to misappropriate and squander away Government money. He became worried, apprehending arrest. His wife, who was also a devotee of Bhagavan, advised him to seek Bhagavan’s help. The moment the devotee appeared before Bhagavan, Bhagavan started shouting at him: “Get away from here. You have come after squandering Government money.” The Bhagavan severely admonished him. The devotee repented for his crime. He stayed on for three days begging for the pardon of Bhagavan. On the third day, Bhagavan called him and gave him a packet asking him to return home and give it to his wife, and not to open it before reaching home. When the wife opened the packet, she found the exact amount that was squandered by her husband.

 

In 1960, Sri Boman Baharam, a rich Parsi devotee and owner of “Eve’s Weekly”, suffered a massive heart attack. Contrary to the medical advice given to him, he obeyed Bhagavan’s orders to take bath in the hot springs and to go on a long pilgrimage to Palani. The devotee, accompanied by his accountant, Sri Narayana Iyer, reached Palani. While climbing up the hill, he started panting and could not proceed after fifteen steps. When he stood there helplessly, a professional bard, looking like a baul, with a big bun on his head and a stringed musical instrument in his hand, appeared there. He conducted Baharam and Iyer through a short cut to the top of the hill, all the time singing a Tiruppugazh song. On reaching there, he vanished. Baharam, on return to Ganeshpuri, reported the incident to Bhagavan and Bhagavan started singing the very song that the bard had sung.

 

A devotee, Mani Iyer, started a café  at Ganeshpuri. He charged the customers a very low price as advised by Bhagavan. Soon he ran into debts. When he approached Gurudev, the Master took an empty oval tin and inverted it over a towel.  Currencies fell on it and the money was given to Iyer to clear the debts. However, it was later found that one particular due was yet to be cleared – an amount of Rs. 550/- to a dalda shop. The nephew of the hotel owner borrowed some money and went to the shop to clear it. But the shop owner told him that the amount was already paid by a person, dark in complexion, who had come to the shop for the purpose. Did not Rama and Lakshmana pay off the debts of Bhadrachala Ramdas to Nawab Danisha?

 

A devotee, Sri Gopinath Pai of Madras, narrated the following incident to this writer. His father, Ramanatha Pai of Mangalore, arranged a big puja at the Nandi temple in Vashi. He wanted Bhagavan to attend that. Bhagavan also told him that he would be there. Devotees were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Bhagavan. They had prepared prasad – sweetened dal, jiggery water, etc. – as instructed by Bhagavan, ready for distribution as soon as he arrived. Just at that time a big stud bull appeared on the scene and scared many devotees who took to their heels. Some tried to drive away the beast using big sticks, but the devotee, Sri Pai, prevented them from doing so. He allowed the beast to partake the Prasad kept in big vessels and the animal left after having its fill. Sri Pai then returned to Ganeshpuri and asked the Master why he didn’t turn up. The Master asked with a hilarious laughter: “Did I not come there and eat up all the prasad?”

 

Hilda Charlton, a renowned American spiritualist, records some interesting incidents regarding Bhagavan in her articles in “The New Sun”, a New York monthly magazine of the seventies. A child was drowned and the grief-stricken parents brought the dead body to the Master. The Master asked them to leave the body in a room, go and take rest. After sometime, the parents slept off in an adjacent room. The Master suddenly came to them and woke them up telling: “Come and get your child; he has slept long enough.” The child too rose up as if from a sleep.

 

A woman devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba had a knock at her doors one day and she opened them to find a man exactly looking like Sai Baba. He wanted some water to drink and he was entertained by the lady with food and drink. He thanked her and walked away, leaving the devotee to wonder who he might be. Sai Baba had attained Mahasamadhi thirty five years before. After sometime, she came to know of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and called on him. Bhagavan recalled how he was fed by her when he visited her house. She then asked him why he came in the form of Shirdi Sai Baba. Bhagavan replied, “You had never seen and heard of this one. This one came in the form you knew and loved.”

 

A devotee came to Nityananda and expressed his desire to visit Badrinath in the Himalayas. The Bhagavan told him that the Ganga, the Himalayas and Shiva were all right in Ganeshpuri. But the devotee undertook the pilgrimage. While in Badri, he met a beggar sitting on wayside and singing a song. He demanded five rupees from the devotee and the amount was given to him. When the devotee returned to Ganeshpuri, he found Bhagavan singing the same song that the beggar had sung. Bhagavan also returned the five rupee note that the devotee had given him.

 

Mahatma Gandhi wanted to see Bhagavan. Accompanied by Mahabala Swami, a devotee of Bhagavan, the Mahatma came to see Gurudev at Ganeshpuri. Gurudev made a sign to Gandhiji to sit on a bench in front of him. He offered milk and fruit to Gandhiji. With great respect, Gandhiji told Gurudev the purpose of his visit. “When will India attain Independence? I would like to know that”, said Gandhi. Gurudev replied: “You cannot achieve freedom by drinking milk or by eating bananas. Nor can India be free by chanting Ramnam. By chanting Ramnam you will attain Ram. India can be free only by the use of ‘Rama Bana’ (Sri Rama’s powerful missile)”. Gandhiji understood the message. He told Mahabala Swami: “Your Swamiji is indeed, a very extraordinary man!” It was after this visit that Mahatma Gandhi made the historic announcement, “Quit India”, in August 1942, which turned the entire country into a battlefield.

 

Sri Sri Prakasha, the then Governor of Bombay, wanted to have darshan of Gurudev Nityananda and he arrived unannounced at Kailash Ashram in Ganeshpuri, accompanied by his ADC who was a great devotee of Bhagavan. But the Bhagavan was in no mood even to show his face to the distinguished visitor and he was lying on his side showing his back to the audience. Sri Sri Prakasa waited for half-an-hour, but Bhagavan did not turn to look at him. Sri Sri Prakasa got terribly annoyed and told his ADC that his Master was a hoax and a hypocrite of a sannyasi and he will report to the Government about him. He left the place in an angry mood. The ADC was also upset by the happenings and he approached another prominent devotee, Dr. N.T. Nayar, to beg of Swamiji to grant darshan to the Governor. Even before Dr. Nayar opened the topic to Gurudev, the latter told him about the visit of the Governor and the angry mood in which he returned, having failed to get his darshan. He asked Dr. Nair to tell the Governor to come again at 9.00 AM the next morning. He further explained that a person holding such a high office should not have come there unannounced. The Bhagavan said, “Is this one living in a dense forest or cave? Is this not an Ashram? We should take note of his position and honour him. We have to make this place worthy of his visit.” When Sri Sri Prakasa heard about this he relented and called on the Gurudev on the very next morning. He was received with due honours and he spent a good time with Bhagavan. Later he recorded in his memoirs that the “darshan” was the most unforgettable event in his life. Sri Sri Prakasha has also written an illuminating and thought-provoking foreword to the English version of “Chidakasa Gita” – The Voice of the Self”.

 

Mahasamadhi and His message

 

From 1936 to 1956, Bhagavan Nityananda was living in his old Ashram – Vaikuntha Ashram. But in 1956 he shifted to Kailash Ashram where better amenities were provided to the increasing number of devotees. In Kailash Ashram, Gurudev would be in “Sadashivapada” and this method of darshan went on for five years. On occasions like Gurupoornima, Gurudev will be in a spacious hall to give darshan to thousands of devotees. Each one of the devotees got prasad from him.

 

On July 25, 1961, Gurudev shifted to Bangaorewala Nilayam, built by the industrialist Sri Lakshmansa Khoday of Bangalore. On Thursday, July 27, 1961, Gurupoornima was celebrated there and thousands of devotees from far off places had come for darshan of Gurudev. From 5.00 AM to 10.00 PM devotees were pouring in to have his blessings. That day, the devotees of Gurudev from the distant Kerala had the rarest opportunity of holding a “Guru Paduka Pooja” in his presence. It was also on this day that the foundation for “Sri Nityananda Arogya Ashram”, a full-fledged hospital, was laid there. Speaking on the occasion, Gurudev said, the main objective of the Arogya Ashram would be the maintenance of the physical body as a fit instrument for dharma. He quoted the scriptural injunction – Sarreeram aadyam khalu dharma saadhanam – and said, a healthy body must also have a pure mind in it. He also stressed the need to do japa saadhana as a means to keep the mind pure. He pointed out that the vibrations created by japa cleansed both the body and the mind. He also said that continuous japa would result in Naadopasana and such a state will help in achieving Brahmananda. Through that, one can reach the goal of Self-realization. According to Bhagavan Nityananda, there is no incarnation greater than man, for man alone can come face to face with his own Self. A human birth is a rare and precious thing and having obtained it, one must lead it to the ultimate goal – the source where it all began.

 

In the course of his Gurupoornima speech, Gurudev, who was in a reclining posture, all of a sudden sat up and made an unequivocal declaration that he was Nitya Tatva – the Eternal Entity – and those who surrendered to him would be taken care of. He proclaimed: “Devotees who take refuge here will be taken care for ever. Here is the Engine-Driver who is going to pull the carriages tied to the engine. There is not the least doubt about it. One has only to connect his bogie to the engine and the rest will be automatically done by the Driver himself. Of course, the existence of sandy soil on which the bogie is occasionally standing, may slow down the speed, but you should put the hard stone of Vairagya below the rails so that the carriage can be moved ahead on the path. Occasionally there is a steep ascent on the track and the onward movement will naturally become slow, even showing a tendency to descend down. But there is nothing to despair. Ultimately the expert Engine-Driver will surely pull up the attached bogie and take it to the Great Destination.”

 

The devotees who had gathered there on the auspicious occasion would have hardly imagined that it would be the last speech of Bhagavan Nityananda – his final unwritten will and testament.

 

On August 7, 1961, devotees around him heard Bhagavan uttering these words: “If anyone wants to see the Sun, let them do so now. It may be that they will not be able to do so tomorrow.” It was a forewarning of his impending Mahasamadhi. Many years before, he had once told a devotee of Kanhangad, Chandan, that the day he asks him about ‘Kasturi’, he must know that the Bhagavan’s sojourn in his physical body was coming to an end. Chandan was present for the Gurupoornima celebrations. On August 7, Bhagavan asked him: “Have you brought ‘Kasturi’ (a kind of fragrant musk oil)?” Chandan broke down as soon as he heard Gurudev asking this. Lakshmansa Khoday, seeing the emaciated condition of Gurudev, asked him why he could not use his own divine powers to cure himself. Bhagavan replied: “This body is mere dust and mud. That (Divine Power) is not to be used for this. That is only for devotees.” Did not Sri Ramakrishna give a similar reply to his disciples who prayed to him to seek the Divine Mother’s grace for his own health?

 

On August 8, 1961, some devotees around the Master discussed the possibility of his moving to Kanhangad. Hearing that the Master proclaimed: “It has been decided by the Council of Sages (Rishi Mandala) that this one (Bhagavan) should attain Samadhi here (at Ganeshpuri).” On the day previous to the Mahasamadhi, Bhagavan called Sri Babubhai Mehta, an ardent devotee, and handed over to him a cloth bundle consisting of cash, gold and valuables. He asked Mehta to take care of the Kanhangad Ashram. It was this devotee who later built the two temples of Bhagavan at Kanhangad.

 

On Tuesday, August 8, 1961, at 10.43 AM, Bhagavan Nityananda attained Mahasamadhi in the presence of many devotees and disciples like Swami Muktananda, in the upper hall of Sri Khoday’s building. According to Swami Muktananda, “His body assumed the same Shambavi mudra in which he used to look at us during the early days. It was a thrill to see him like that. He cast a look, full of compassion, at the loving devotees all around, and then his eyes turned upwards. The Sushumna nerve throbbed in the middle of his eyebrows. A melodious sound of AUM was heard and his life breath was merged in Cosmos.”

 

The news of the Mahasamadhi of the saint spread like a wildfire and devotees in thousands rushed to Ganeshpuri from all directions. There was an ocean of humanity to pay the last respects to the great mahatma. The body was kept for three days for enabling lakhs of devotees to pay their tearful homage. To the surprise of all, there was not even a slight deterioration in the condition of the body. Gurudev’s face was lit with a Divine Smile all the time and many felt that he was still alive.

 

The last rites were performed on August 10, 1961. Amidst chanting of AUM by devotees, during the brahma muhurta, the body was given a holy bath by his close devotees like Janananda Swami, Muktananda Swami, Mahabala Swami and Kuttiram Swami. At 7.30 AM it was placed in a decorated chariot and taken around the township. After going round the Kailash Ashram, the procession reached Vaikunth Ashram. Swami Janananda performed the final rites and the body, seated in Padmasana posture, was placed in the Samadhi pit. Soon the pit was filled by the devotees with floral offerings, tributes, sandalwood, camphor, gold and jewels and the body disappeared into it forever.

 

“It is not true that Sadguru Nityananda Bhagavan has left us. He is still as powerfully present in Ganeshpuri to bless the devotees as before. Sadgurus such as he was, are immortal and are always prepared to confer spiritual bliss and enlightenment on their devotees”, says Swami Chinmayananda.

 

This writer was exposed to the life and teachings of Bhagavan Nityananda by this sadhu’s deeksha guru, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar Godchild Tiruvannamalai. In October 1988, a devotee from Bombay called on the Yogi. The latter spoke to him about Bhagavan Nityananda and the Chidakasha Geeta. Soon we launched a search for a copy of the book and got a copy of the English version, Voice of the Self. Copies of the book were also made available to the Yogi by the generous publisher who wanted to gift them to the Yogi. But the ‘Divine Beggar’ refused to accept the copies free of cost and insisted on the publisher accepting a token payment. For the Yogi, the work of Bhagavan Nityananda was too precious to be accepted free. When this Sadhu called on him again, he had also taken a copy of the book with him. The Master made this sadhu and others who had accompanied him to read pages after pages from the book. Suddenly he asked this writer’s son, R. Vivekanandan, to open any page in the book and then asked this sadhu to read out any para from that page. That para happened to be the following: “He who deliberates upon the Truth is Sannyasi, Yogi. Even if he be a cobbler, pariah, he is so only in outer action. Pariah-hood is not after death. He who has pride and jealousy, who debates and argues, who criticizes others, he is the pariah. To cobble does not mean to stitch cloth. It really means to stitch by placing the chitta in the buddhi.”

Aum Namo Bhagavate Nityanandaya!

 

“He whose mind is merged in Samadhi is not deluded by the entire jugglery. He has fear of nothing. To the Siddha Purusha there is no fear in the world. At the very sight of him, the tiger, the serpent, calm down. All creatures become calm. Even an unfriendly man becomes quiet for the time being. The moment they see a sadhu or a holy person they stand still. For what reason? Because of the doubt, there is no darkness at that time, it is this Sattva, happy Guna that appeals to them at the moment.”–Bhagavan Nityananda

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, Eighth Annual Number 1992]

“KAVYAKANTHA” VASISHTHA GANAPATI

— A Shakti Upasaka

 

Narasimha Shastri was not only a great scholar in the Vedas, but a staunch patriot who derived inspiration from the First War of Indian Independence of 1857. His wife, Narasambal was equally pious and devoted to her husband. No wonder they begot an ideal son, Ganapati, on November 17, 1878. The parents considered the child as the gift of Lord Suryanarayana of Arasavalli to whom they prayed for progeny. At the time of the birth of the child, the father was in Benares, performing tapas in the Dundi Ganapati temple. There he had a wonderful vision in which a child emerged from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, came and sat on his lap. He immediately realized by intuition that he had been blessed with a child at home at that very moment. He rushed back to his village. The child was named Surya Ganapati. Later, it was shortened to Ganapati and the prefix Vasishtha was added to indicate the Gotra. In later days, when Ganapati was lovingly called ‘Nayana‘ by his disciples, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi also started calling him by that name and it came to stay                    

                                 

Spiritual Quest

 

Vasishtha Ganapati had taken initiation from his father at a very young age and started spiritual practices like japa and meditation. Dhruva and Vishvamitra were his ideals and he wanted to achieve the highest state of tapas. Study of the scriptures like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Purana, and the Itihasa, and the example set by his own father inspired the young aspirant. He had a firm conviction that everything could be achieved through Tapas. With his father’s permission, he went on a pilgrimage when he was hardly eighteen years old. He wandered from place to place. Sitting on the banks of sacred rivers like the Godavari, Ganga and Yamuna, he performed the Shiva panchaakshari mantra japa and consequently attained brilliant mastery over the scriptures. Reaching Bhuvaneshwar, he performed Tapas day and night, sitting in the sacred shrine of Mother Bhuvaneshwari. In the nights, he used to chant Lalithasahasranaama nine times  and thus spent nine weeks. Pleased with his penance, the Divine Mother appeared in his vision one night and offered him a cup of honey to drink. When he opened his eyes, he found drops of honey sticking to his lips. Since then, he started bursting into spontaneous spiritual verses.

 

Birth of “Uma Sahasram”

 

On the advice of Bhagavan Ramana, Ganapati started his penance sitting in the Mango Tree Cave. Being a devout woshipper of Shakti, Ganapati Muni wanted to thank the Divine Mother who gave him such a great preceptor. He decided  to write a thousand verses in praise of Mother Uma in three weeks time. He also vowed that if he failed to complete the poem in the stipulated time. He would destroy all that he would have written till then. He got the blessings of Bhagavan Ramana and started the work on November 26, 1907. The Maharshi used to frequent the Mango Tree Cave to provide spiritual inspiration to the disciple. Fifteen days had gone. Suddenly, a boil appeared on the right thumb of Ganapati, making it painful for him to write. But Ganapati did not give up his determination. By the nineteenth day, about seven hundred verses had been completed

 

In the meantime, a miracle happened. A doctor, by name Punyakoti, in Madras received a message in his dream to rush to Arunachala Hill to treat a saintly person. Accordingly he reached there and on enquiries came, came to know about the ailing Vasishtha Ganapati. He called on the Muni and a small operation was performed on his thumb. The next day was the last of the stipulated period and Ganapati’s disciples were anxiously waiting for the completion of the poem. Ganapati decided to complete the remaining verses before twelve in the night. After supper, Ganapati and his disciples assembled with writing materials in the Mango Tree Cave. Bhagavan Ramana also arrived there and facing Ganapati, sat in deep meditation. Ganapati started dictating the verses to five of his disciples in five different metres respectively at one and the same time. Verses came out of his mouth in rapid speed and the disciples went on quickly recording them. After he finished the last verse, with tears trickling down his cheeks, heaving a deep sigh of relief and his heart throbbing with the ecstasy of fulfilling a great task, Ganapati prostrated at the feet of the Bhagavan. Bhagavan opened his eyes and with a beaming face asked Ganapati, “Have you written down all that I have said?” Everyone assembled there was taken by surprise. But Vasishtha Ganapati knew well that it was Bhagavan’s grace that poured out in the form of those verses through him spontaneously and in quick succession in order to see that the work was completed well in time. Expressing his deep debt of gratitude to the Bhagavan, the Muni burst into a verse in praise of him. It is to be noted that though Vasishtha Ganapati Muni had, afterwards, revised the Uma Sahasram eight times, the last hundreds of verses, which were the direct outpouring of  Bhagavan’s grace, remained untouched. This marvelous work of Vasishtha Ganapati Muni later received a lucid commentary in Sanskrit by his illustrious disciple, T.V Kapali Shastri.

 

Last Days

 

On July 25, 1936, Nayana who was weak and bedridden, seemed to be very enthusiastic and participated in the Homa conducted by his disciples. At 2.30 in the afternoon, his son, Mahadevan, felt that the last moment of Nayana’s life was fast approaching. He asked Nayana what he should do. Nayana opened his eyes and replied: “I have already asked you to continue your japa“. When Nayana’s glorious life came to an end, he was 82 years old.

 

In the evening, on the same day, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi  received  a telegraphic message informing him about Nayana’s death. Bhagavan remained silent for sometime. After the usual veda parayana the Bhagavan read out the telegram to those present by his side. “Nayana has departed. Has he really gone? Where has he gone?”, asked  Bhagavan Ramana in poignant words, meaning the Muni was immortal. In a voice that was calm and tranquil, the Bhagavan added, “Can we see another one like Nayana?”

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, Vol 7 No. 1 & 2 Feb-July 1990]

 

“Love of God is possible even before we have seen Him. Saints who have seen Him tell us there is a God and He is all love and mercy, and if we rely on Him, we will be happy and peaceful. We must put faith in the words of the saints who speak to us from their own experience. So, God can be reached only by faith — faith in the words of saints. Through intellect we cannot know Him. We realise Him only when intellect ceases to function and becomes perfectly still.” — Swami Ramdas

 

REMINISCENCES OF MY SIKSHAGURU SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

 

Agnaanatimiraandasya

gnaanaanjana shalaakayaa

Chakshurunmeelitam yena

tasmai shree guruve namah!

“Salutations to the Guru who with the collyrium stick of knowledge has opened the eyes of one blinded by the disease of ignorance.”

 

Bliss is it to be brought under the tutelage of a self-realised spiritual giant when one is just a youth imbued with a spirit of inquiry and an impulse for dynamic action. This sadhu had the rare privilege to come under the spell of my Sikshaaguru, Paramapoojaneeya Swami Chinmayanandaji Maharaj, when this sadhu was at the prime of youth. And today, when the great Master has attained Mahasamadhi, not a drop of tear trickled down the eyes of this humble disciple, for the Master has taught him not to feel sad or mourn the departure of a spiritual preceptor who leaves the world, but try to translate into one’s own life all the ideals that one’s master taught and make the Master live through the ideals in action.

 

In the later half of the nineteen fiftees, this sadhu who was then a young college student at Ernakulam, was inspired very much by the works of Karl Marx, Engels, Tolstoy and Pushkin on the one hand and by the writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinobha and Kumarappa on the other. There was a total confusion in his mind as to what constituted the right path for an idealist’s life. His orthodox father was deeply immersed in the parayana of the Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama or at time in pouring out in melodious voice, the soul-stirring kritis of Saint Tyagaraja, but this sadhu, carried away by his rationalistic ideas, considered him to be too much of a reactionary. It was at such a juncture that, one evening, this sadhu noticed his father coming home unusually late in the evening after his usual stroll to the temple. This sadhu found out that his father was attending to a Gita discourse in English by a very powerful orator sannyasi who was then in the town. He also came to know that the Swami was none other than a member of the Poothampilli family whose house was not far away from his own. This sannyasi, Swami Chinmayananda, had spent several years in the Himalayas sitting at the feet of Swami Sivananda and later at the feet of Tapovan Maharaj, mastering all scriptures and doing intense spiritual sadhana and just recently he had burst forth like a bombshell on the cities of India, giving his discourses in English on the Bhagavad Gita and attracting big crowds. Hearing the glory of the Swami from the proud neighbours in his home town, this sadhu, a youth in his teens, decided to meet him. He listened to one of the talks of the Swami and was fascinated by his oratorical skill and sense of humour, but was still skeptical about what he said. He approached the Swami and blurted out: “Swamiji, I am not convinced about the existence of God or the need for religion”. Pat came the reply: “I want a young man like you. What is the use of my lecturing to those who are already convinced?” That day, that moment, brought this young man under the spell of the great Master .

 

This sadhu’s father looked at him with disbelief when he told his dad that he had joined the Mission of the Swami and he was inviting the Swami to our abode to start a Chinmaya Study Group. But it happened and one fine morning before his departure from the town, the Swami accompanied by some ardent devotees including Smt. Janaki N. Menon, the Secretary of the local Mission branch, drove to our house. As soon as his arrival was announced, my orthodox father rushed out with a copper plate in hand, followed by my mother with a pot full of water and a pitcher of milk. They received the Swami with due honours and did pada pooja to him. After a grand satsang marked by an inspiring talk of the Swami, when he left the place, the most orthodox Brahmins in the neighbourhood surrounded my father and asked him in a hushed up voice: “Hey, what have you done? He is a nair, and that too younger to you in age. You have done the paada pooja!”  My orthodox father coolly replied: “I know, he was Poothampilli Balakrishnan in his poorvashrama. But he is now Swami Chinmayananda, a sannyasi who is beyond all varnas.” It was a startling revelation to this sadhu that the staunch orthodoxy of a brahmin was not opposed to the extreme rationalism of a young man and they could go together to make life meaningful and purposeful. Chinmaya Mission taught this Sadhu in his youth to stand erect with raised read full of rationalistic ideals and at the same time bow his read in reverence to the glowing wisdom and scientific genius of the rishis of the ancient Bharatavarsha. He learnt from the Master that religion was not a blind alley leading to superstition and ignorance, but a dynamic way of life to make mankind seek the goal of its existence.

After the college days of this sadhu, our family shifted to Tamilnadu and we settled down at Trichy. This sadhu took to a journalistic career for some time and then joined Government service as an auditor. But life with accounts and audit all the time proved to be too boring, monotonous and uninspiring, and this sadhu was often getting frustrated. It was at such a time that the call came from the great Master. At the Sandeepani Sadhanalaya of Swami Chinmayananda, on the auspicious day of Krishnashtami in 1964, great spiritual luminaries including Swamiji, Guruji Golwalkar whose life of sacrifice and dedication to the Motherland has been a source of inspiration to millions of youth in our country, and some other saints met together and founded the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Responding to the call of my Master, Swami Chinmayananda, this sadhu threw away his government job and came out as a full-time worker of the Parishad.

Viswamakshilamuddhwartumami nirmita vayam

Bhaaratam samuddhwartumami preshita vayam!

“We have been created by the God for lifting up the whole world; we have been sent here to raise this glorious land of Bharatvarsha!” – these lines became a constant refrain on the onward march of this sadhu.

 

Soon this sadhu became the Secretary, not only of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, but also of Chinmaya Mission in Trichy. Almost every month he used to get a letter from his Master whever He was. Some of the letters showered praise and gave encouragement, some others warned him not to be extrovert. But the Swami was a very kind and generous guardian to this young man who had left his hearth and home to work for the Hindu cause. The aged and orthodox father was worried about the future of his son and he called on the Master when the latter had come to Srirangam for a grand Geeta Gnana Yagna organized under the Secretary-ship of this young disciple. The Swami consoled the father and assured him that his son was on the right path.

 

Six years after leaving Kerala, this sadhu had the opportunity to visit again his place of birth when the kind Swami nominated him to the Advisory Council of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust and invited him to attend a meeting at Tripunithura Palace, Cochin. This visit was memorable, for this sadhu had the rare opportunity to accompany the Swamy to Kalady, the birth-place of Adi Shankaracharya. Sitting at the feet of the great Master surrounded by other devotees, this humble sadhu’s mind flew into the distant past and he imagined the scene of the Great Preceptor of Advaita surrounded by disciples like Padmapada, Sureshwara, Totaka and Hastamalaka. What a soul-elevating experience we had on that day!

 

The Master was concerned not merely with the spiritual well-being of the world. He was equally concerned about the material needs and comforts. When he came to know that this sadhu was being looked after by a few devoteed colleagues in the R.S.S. ever since he left his hearth and home to work for the Hindu cause, the Master immediately ordered that the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya would send every month a cheque for this sadhu’s maintenance and he should not depend on any individual for his needs. Not knowing what was in the mind of the Master, this sadhu asked him what work he should do for the Master. The Swamy gave a very hot and emphatic reply: “Go and stand in the hot sun. I am not worried what work you would do or do not. I want to see that your basic needs are met. That’s all. You yourself decide your work.” Such was the confidence of the Master in his disciple. The cheques used to come very promptly by the first of every month.

 

But, then, things took a sudden turn. There started a nationwide agitation to ban cow slaughter. Swamiji also threw his whole-hearted support to the noble cause. Sant Prabhudutt Brahmachari visited Srirangam and a rousing reception was given to him. Soon this sadhu and some other workers dedicated to this cause landed themselves in the police lock up. And then the elections came and this sadhu found himself to be a candidate of the then Bharatiya Jan Sangh from Trichy constituency to the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly. The entry into the election arena was not for winning position, but to introduce a staunch nationalist party in Tamilnadu politics and also to initiate a process to create a Hindu vote bank, a cause which was very dear to the Swami. Soon after the elections, this sadhu quit politics and was in Delhi, Patna and later in Nagpur, working again for the Hindu cause. It was at this time that the proximity of Guruji Golwalkar and the saintly leader’s fatherly affection, his exemplary life of self-sacrifice and total dedication to the service of the Motherland, created a deep and tremendous impact on the mind of this sadhu. However, the illness of his aged father brought this sadhu back to Tamilnadu, and after the departure of the father from this mortal world, this sadhu also settled down in grihasta life. The Master showered his unstinted grace and blessings on the family which dedicated itself to the cause of the Motherland.

Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission was founded and it started its activities in Tamilnadu. This sadhu plunged into the work heart and soul. Soon this organization merged in Vishwa Hindu Parishad. This humble worker and Smt. Bharathi Rangarajan were invited by the Promethean Karma Yogi who created men out of dust, Sri Eknath Ranade, the founder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra, to join in blessings of the Swami and he replied: “Go ahead. Wherever you are, remember always that you are doing only my work.” And in 1976-77, the developments that took place due to the National Emergency, forced us to leave the Kendra. By then, Sister Nivedita Academy was founded by this sadhu to uphold the ideals of Aggressive Hinduism propounded by the illustrious, revolutionary disciple of Swami Vivekananda, and also to spread the Hindu thought and culture in India and abroad. And in order to equip himself for this new and onerous task, this sadhu wanted to enter into the portals of a college, as a day scholar, to pursue his post-graduate studies in philosophy. Swami Chinmayananda came to know of the intentions of this sadhu and spontaneously offered his financial support for the effort. The help was continued when this sadhu took up research work.

 

Then came a sudden turn in this sadhu’s life. A serious infection in his lungs caused anxiety in the minds of his collegues and they frantically arranged for his treatment. But this sadhu resigned himself to the Grace and Mercy of the Divine Mother Mayee of Kanyakumari who had entered his life during one of his visits to Kanyakumari for the Kendra’s work. Swami Chinmayananda had come then to Madras and this sadhu met him. He had heard about this sadhu’s illness and his refusal to undergo treatment. He asked this sadhu the reason. For a minute, this sadhu was silent and with a fearful heart he told the Swami: “Maharaj, by your grace I will be alright.”  The Swami burst out in anger: “My grace is not for fools. Go to the doctor and take treatment.” Then, with some hesitation this sadhu revealed the real reason. “Oh! That old lady of Kanyakumari who eats raw fish is taking care of you now! OK!” The matter ended there.

 

With the grace and blessings of the Mother, not only this sadhu regained perfect health, but also launched soon a new quarterly, TATTVA DARSANA, as the official organ of Sister Nivedita Academy. He sought the blessings of the Master. Swami Chinmayananda promptly gave a message in which he said: “Sri V. Rangarajan is fully capable of delivering the goods through the journal, TATTVA DARSANA, which is the urgent need of the times. It is my firm understanding that he has the spiritual preparation, in both study and practice, and by a conspiracy of destiny, he had a gruesome total training in all areas of journalism. When such a well-equipped person, having the necessary intense consciousness of our culture, starts a journal, it cannot but assert the goal. Even though the market is saturated with trash, I am confident that the TATTVA DARSANA will have all success, and I am looking forward to seeing its glorious trail of service to the Hindu Nation.”

 

With the inaugural issue of TATTVA DARSANA, this sadhu called on the great Mahatma of Arunachaleswara, Paramapoojya Yogi Ramsuratkumar, about whom he came to know through Mayi. The boundless love and blessings of the Divine Beggar of Tiruvannamalai subdued the mind of this sadhu and destroyed the logical inquisitiveness in spiritual matters and made him surrender blindly his heart at the feet of the Godchild of Tiruvannamalai. The loving grace of the Godchil and that of Mother Mayi and the blessings of his siksha guru enabled this sadhu to take to wings and fly to distant lands – to South Africa, Mauritius and Reunion – carrying the spiritual message of Mother India to Her children abroad, in 1985-86. On his return, soon after this sadhu landed in India, he received a congratulatory letter from his sikshaguru, Swami Chinmayananda:

 

“Blessed Self,

Hari Om! Hari Om! Hari Om!

Salutations!!!

I had many glowing tributes paid to you received by me in many letters from Reunion and Mauritius. I had a very clear picture of what you are accomplishing.

We need such champions of Hinduism, who scream into the ears of the sleeping Hindus, reviving and revitalizing them, in the hearty consciousness of their proud past. This alone can make them live dynamically and carve out of themselves a brilliant future which they so eminently deserve.

With Prem and Om,

Thy own self,

Sd/- Chinmayananda”

 

Yes, this humble instrument moulded by Swami Chinmayananda, perfected by Guruji Golwalkar and given finishing touches by Sri Eknath Ranade was at least placed at the service of my Deeksha Guru, Paramapoojya Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the Great Jadabharata of Modern India. Guess who would have been the happiest to see this hardcore, rationalist young man of the nineteen fifties turning into a humble sadhu spreading the Divine Name of Rama with all devotion and faith and under the benign guidance of a Godmad divine beggar!

 

Swami Chinmayananda was not one who would tolerate any nonsense in the name of religion and spirituality. At a time when the so-called Swamis and Godmen, umpteen in number inside the country and abroad, indulge in cheap magic and miracle performances, soothsaying and astro-palmistry, predicting the future of politicians, businessmen, filmstars and bureaucrats of all sorts and invoking the gods to serve the sensual and materialistic people, and thereby seeking publicity blitzkriegs to amass quick fortunes and build up air-conditioned ashrams, here was a great Himalayas of Spiritual Wisdom, who rose up in the spiritual horizon of India as a blazing sun and set on flames heaps of ignorance and superstition that had surrounded the Bharatiya society, and illuminated the sky with the dazzling spiritual light of the glorious Bharatavarsha of the Vedic seers and Vedanta Acharyas! Following the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Rama Tirtha, this Stormy Petral of Spiritual India, Swami Chinmayananda, trotted the globe and brought the entire world under his spell. The East and the West joined hands to sit at his feet and learn the meaning and purpose of human life. His practical and scientific interpretation of the Hindu scriptures and his awe-inspiring orations mercilessly attacking the stupid intellectual pride and selfish materialistic pursuits of the so-called educated elite, attracted the attention of men and women of all tastes and temperaments. And he was a Pied Piper of Bharatavarsha who attracted in thousands, even the youth in jeans dancing in the ball rooms of post star hotels to follow him into the halls of Vedanta and realize the hollowness of their aristoling, man-making and nation-building values of life propounded by the sages and saints of India. His Vedantic appeal through the discourses on the Gita, the Upanishads and the prakarana granthas had its irresistible impact on the most rationalistic brains, while his expositions on the Narada Bhakti Sutra, Bhajagovindam, etc. drove even an intellectual to the portals of Bhakti sadhana.

 

This sadhu’s heart was filled with rapture when he heard of a recent remark of my Deeksha Guru, Poojyapada Yogi Ramsuratkumar. When a devotee was referring to the care and concern that Swami Chinmayananda bestowed on this sadhu in his early period of spiritual sadhana and service to the cause of the country and our religion, Yogi Ramsuratkumar remarked: “We must thank Swami Chinmayananda!”

The more this sadhu thinks of his siksha guru, Swami Chinmayananda, the intense is the feeling that He was always very close to this sadhu. However, the truth is that the Swami was like an eagle flying carefree high up in the sky, but at the same time having its eye on one of its young ones somewhere in a small nest on the top of a tree, down below in a dense forest on the earth. He belonged to the whole world, yet He made everyone feel that He was near to him or her. Here was a Chinmayananda! When will come another one! Nay, He is, He is ever with us, Eternally and Immortally!

Chinmayananda guru jayati shikshaagururme

Deekshaguruscha Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumarah!

“Victory to my shikshaguru, Chinmayananda and also to my Deeksha guru, Yogi Ramsuratkumar!”

 

Vanda Mataram!

Sadhu Rangarajan

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, August –October 1993, Vol.10, No.3]

The Liberated Souls

 

“This way of divine works is a far better release and a more perfect way and solution than the physical renunciation of life and works, A physical abstention is not entirely possible and is not in the measure of its possibility indispensable to the spirit’s freedom, it is besides a dangerous example, for it exerts a misleading influence on ordinary men. The best, the greatest set the standard which the rest of humanity strive to follow. Then, since action is the nature of the embodied spirit, since works are the will of the eternal Worker, the great spirits, the master-minds should set this example. World-workers should they be, doing all works of the world without reservation,–God-workers free, glad and desireless, liberated souls and natures.

—Sri Aurobindo

 

DIVINE MOTHER MAYEE

OF    KANYAKUMARI

 

A Swamiji, Arumugam, in a village near Kanyakumari, wanted to set up a small shrine for Lord Ganesha. He was in the lookout for an idol for the shrine. He came to Kanyakumari, went to the temple and offering prayers, went to see Mother Mayee who was then sitting on the sea-shore surrounded by her dogs. Some forty or fifty dogs are always around her as her faithful guards. It is said, in the early days, some robbers tried to deprive her of her simple possessions. What possession she must have had? Only a few rags of clothes and few vessels. But they tried to steal even that. All of a sudden a group of hounds sprang on the thieves and chased them. Since then these dogs are always with her. There are big ones and small puppies too, the family ever growing. It is wonderful sight to see the Mother caressing the puppies and taking care of the dogs. While feeding them, she makes no distinction between the dogs and her devotees. She will feed them and with the same hand distribute prasad to the devotees. The dogs remain always calm and cool, sharing the prasad that she gives, with devotees coming there. When Sri Arumugaswami came there, she was with her dogs. As soon as she saw him, she smiled and asked him to wait. Then she removed all her clothes, walked to the sea and plunged into it. Mother has no body consciousness at all and she goes stark naked to the sea for her bath. From the sea she returned with a beautiful idol of Lord Ganesha. How did she materialize it? It is a mystery. The idol is still preserved by the Swami.

 

At the Holy Feet of the Mother

 

I have been going to Kanyakumari for the last fifteen or sixteen years. Right from the inception of The Vivekananda Kendra by the dedicated founder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Sri Eknath Ranade, I have been very close to the Kendra. I was in charge of editing their publications and I had the opportunity to visit Kanyakumari very often. One of my colleagues, Brother Gopalakrishnan, who was earlier in the Chinmaya Mission and then in the Kendra, had left everything and settled down at the feet of the Divine Mother Mayee, devoting his whole life in sadhana. He used to tell me about the greatness of the Mother sitting on the sea-shore. But I never got interested in coming closer to her. I thought, “Let her sit there. Why should I go and disturb her?” In one of my visits, when I called on him, he said, I would see the Mother before I returned, It was a forenoon and actually I was to leave Kanyakumari in few hours. I did not believe that I would see her before I leave. I told him, I would see her in my next visit. But when I came to the Kendra office to collect my ticket, I was told, there was no train service that afternoon and I had to cancel the journey. I went to my room and tried to relax for sometime. I was on my cot, with my eyes closed and about to fall asleep. All of a sudden I heard a call, “Come, come out”. I got startled, got up from the bed and even without closing my room, started walking towards the sea-shore, impelled by some mysterious force. I found that the mother waiting there for me. She was as usual surrounded by her dogs. It was afternoon. The blazing sun was up above and no one else, except Sri Rajendran, Mayee’s devoted and faithful attendant was there on the sea shore. Sri Rajendran was a mason. He came to Kanyakumari about twelve years back and he met the Mother. Right at the moment he saw her, he was attracted by her divinity, he gave up his job and since then he is very loyally and devotedly serving the Mother as her foremost discipline. Now he, his wife and children live with the Mother, and he has only one work from morning till late in the night—attending to the needs of the Mother, cooking food for her washing her clothes and dishes and helping her to answer the calls of nature. Round the clock he is by her side, attending on her with utmost piety and devotion. So he was there with the Mother. Most involuntarily I fell prostate at her feet. Something pulled me nearer to her. She touched my head and at once I plunged into a trance. When I opened my eyes, it was about 7.30 in the night. Instead of the hot sun, a chill wind was blowing. The entire area was dark. The Mother was there still in front of me. It was a very thrilling experience. And I stayed there with her for three days.

 

After coming back to my home at Madras, for the next ten or fifteen days I could not think of anything other than the Mother. My mind was wholly absorbed in her. I talked to people about the Mother and Mother alone. I could not attend to my duties and give lectures in the college. Even my people at home thought that there was something wrong with me. I was in such a mood. On the fifteenth day, I was impelled by some force to leave again for Kanyakumari. At once I got a bus and the next morning I reached there. I spent some time with the Mother. It was at that time she revealed many things about her. That day, when I was sitting in front of her, a wonderful incident took place. A lady had come to her and falling prostate at her feet, was weeping and wailing. She was telling something to the Mother. I and my friend, Gopal, was there sitting at a distance, watching the woman and the Mother. All of a sudden I noticed Mother pointing her finger at me and directing the lady to me. The lady walked towards me, and I was wondering why Mother was sending her to me. She came near me and with tears rolling down her eyes told me, “Swami, I want your help”. I gently asked her, “Who are you mother, and what can I do for you?” She the replied, “I am from Trivandrum. I live in Jagati. My husband, Krishna Pillai, is a grocer. My third son, who is about 20 years old, left the house some two years back. We do not know his whereabouts, and we are searching for him. I have been coming to the Mother for the last few years. She is my last resort when I am in distress. She has today pointed out that you can help us”.

 

I was in a fix. How can I help her? The boy is missing from Trivandrum, a far away place from Madras where I live. Who knows where he has gone – to Madras or to any other place in the country? Even if he had come to Madras, which is a big city, it is difficult to find him. However, I had to console her. I told her, “Look here, I have got ample faith in the Divine Power of the Mother. Because she has directed you to me, she herself will show a way out. Please give me your address. By the grace of the Mother, some day I will find out your son and contact you. Believe in her.” She gave her address and that day itself I returned to Madras. It was all the play of the Mother.

On one Friday morning, I had finished my poojas and was taking classes for the students of our Sister Nivedita Academy. When the classes were about to be over, a young man walked into my room. In my house, I have only a small room full of books and all people coming there for attending lectures or for any other purpose usually sit on the floor. The boy walked to and sat silently. As soon as I saw his face, I remembered the mother whom I had seen at Kanyakumari – that lady from Trivandrum. I immediately sent away the students and asked the boy alone to sit down. Without talking to him, I asked my wife to bring food for both of us. The boy was surprised. He said, “Swami, you didn’t even ask me who I am!” I know who you are. First let us have our lunch and the we will talk”. The boy could not believe this. He said “Swami, you have mistaken me for someone else, I do not know you at all”. I then asked him, “Are you not the son of Radha Amma of Jagati?” The boy got a shock. “Yes! How do you know that, Swamiji? he asked. I pointed out the portrait of Mother Mayee by my side and asked him whether he knew her. He looked at the portrait and said, “Yes, my mother is her devotee and goes to her often.” I then told him that it was the Divine Mother who brought him there to my presence. He was in Madras, searching for some job. He somehow got my visiting card and finding the name of Sister Nivedita Academy in it, thought of seeking a job in the institute and came there. The boy spent a few days with me. He was suffering from jaundice. I sent a message to his house. His brother came and took him back to his home. What a great miracle it was!

 

Mother – The Divine Healer

 

About four years back, I had a lung infection. I used to cough heavily in the early mornings and late in the night hours and I was writhing in pain and agony. I thought it was my parabda karma. One of my devotees took me to a physician, Dr. Jyoti. He examined me for two or three days, but did not reveal to me what exactly was my ailment. Some tests were also conducted. Everyday I was taken to him and he started giving me a course of injections. I heard him whispering something to my devotee and about my ailment. I straightaway asked him whether it was a cancerous infection. I told him, “Doctor, I know that there is no curse for the dreaded disease, Cancer. Tell me how long I will live so that I can at least finish my work in this world before I depart”. But he replied, “No, no, you will be all right. You just undergo the treatment”. I was not satisfied; I straightaway went to Mother Mayee at Kanyakumari.

 

I sat in front of the Mother, in her small hut on the sea shore, in a very disturbed mind. Mother knew what was wrong with me. She then took me to the sea-shore and pointed out a big rubbish heap. I came to know from her devotee, Gopi, that it was the place where Mother was performing her daily homa. A yajna performed with rubbish heap on the sea-shore! I was little bit amazed. But then I went to the sea and took bath. It was an amavasya day and I performed tarpana. Then I came to the place of Yajna and did agni avahana by lighting fire to the heap. By then Mother Mayee had finished her bath and she came with a handful of seaweeds, shells, etc., which she offered as ‘Havis’ or sacred oblation to the fire, She indicated to me that I must perform the yajna everyday.

After returning home, I performed the homa continuously for 108 days. The ‘Samit’ or the stick I offered to fire is known as Gudicchi in Sanskrit and Seenthalkodi in Tamil (Menuispermum cordifolium, a variety of medicinal creepers) and the mantra chanted was the Tryambaka Mantra – Om Tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam, urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.  Chanting the mantra, I used to put 108 pieces of the creeper with ghee and fruits as ‘Havis’. After 108 days, I found that there was a tremendous improvement in my health. But yet there was a little problem and my friends and devotees were exerting pressure that I should undergo medical check up. They informed Swami Golokananda of Ramakrishna Mission, Trivandrum, who has been my well-wisher. He invited me to Trivandrum and I reached there with my wife and children. Once I was in his presence, he told me, “You are under arrest. You must stay here, undergo medical check up and then only I will allow you to go”. I was a little disturbed by this loving command. He arranged the taking X-ray and other tests in the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital. But before the results could come I told the Swamiji, “Swamiji, I have brought my wife and children here to take them to Mother Mayee of Kanyakumari. I will visit Kanyakumari and after seeing Mayee, I will send back my wife and children to Madras and then I will return here for my stay and treatment.” He gave me permission and I went to Kanyakumari. But in Kanyakumari, things took a different turn. When I sought Mother’s permission to return to Trivandrum, she refused. I was asked to go back to Madras. Therefore I returned to Madras and I wrote a nice letter to the Swamiji explaining to him my predicament. But in Madras, my devotees and friends did not leave me. One of my friends, Dr. Arunagirinathan, arranged for my medical check up and treatment. He was so kind and good that he himself purchased the medicines for me. Because of his loving compulsion I agreed. But once when he was about to give me an injection, the needle broke. I understood the indication and decided to stop taking any medical treatment. Gradually, my entire ill- health vanished.

 

Devotees From South Africa

 

Another significant event occurred and that concerns two devotees from South Africa. It was all the Grace of the Divine Mother than Poojya Swami Sahajanandaji sent Sri & Smt. T. M. Moodley to Madras to meet me. On the day of their arrival, I had just finished the pooja of the Mother and was sitting on the floor with a small mat spread in front of me. The devout couple walked in. I could not entertain them properly. They sat on the mat, cross-legged, and spoke about the purpose of their visit. They also spoke about their intention to visit Rishikesh and I gave them some directions. They went to Rishikesh and by the time they returned to Madras, in one of my meditations the Mother revealed to me who they were. I do not want to explain all those things, for they were very mysterious. She also wanted me to bring them to her. But I did not tell them anything when they returned. When they were about to go to Kanyakumari, they came and told me, “We will be very happy if you also can accompany us”. I knew that it was Mother’s will. I had the blessed opportunity to accompany them to Rameswaram where we performed tarpana on the sea-shore for their departed son, Yugendra. That evening, when I was sitting in my room reading some book, Sir & Smt. Moodley entered the room with a plate on which there were some betel leaves, fruits and a hundred rupee note. They offered it to me as dakshina and prostrated to me. I was simply baffled. What is this that Mayee is making them do! In all my life, I have never been a priest to anybody. But then I closed my eyes and accepted the dakshina. The next morning I reached Kanyakumari. I took the couple to Mother Mayee, She already knew who they were and hence I simply introduced them telling, “Yugendra’s parents”. She nodded her head and showed her hands and then revealed a message to Smt. Moodley. She is here, she knows what message she got. She got a very touching message to console her. Mother blessed these couple. Before returning, I handed over to the Mother, the dakshina of hundred rupees given by them to me. After visiting some other pilgrim centers, we returned to Madras.

After some days, I once again went to Kanyakumari, this time with the project to start Tattva Darsana. I was accompanied by my friend, Sri Subramaniam, and his family. We visited Madurai Meenakshi temple where I sat on meditation for some time. While coming out of the temple, I told him that I got a revelation that we were going to meet somebody in Kanyakumari who will be of great help of our project. My friend asked me who that man was. I replied, “I don’t know. Only after reaching there we will know. But Mother has revealed that we will get his help.” Reaching Kanyakumari, we stayed in the Vivekanandapuram for three days. We went to the Mother and were with her all the time. We totally forgot about the revelation at Madurai. On the third day, when we were about to leave, I sought the permission of the Mother to leave Kanyakumari. But she refused. I told my friend that unless Mother permits, I could not leave the place and I asked him to go ahead with his tour programme. But he was not willing to leave me alone there and go ahead. He decided to wait till Mother gave me also permission to leave. The next morning when we went to her again to seek her permission, we found a tall and hefty gentleman, dark in complexion, sitting by the side of the Mother. To our utter surprise he hold us that he was waiting for me the last fifteen days. We decided to go to Kanyakumari only a week back, but how was he waiting for my arrival for more that two weeks? It was all the play of the Mother. I came to know that he was Sri Rajamanikkam, Managing Director of a big firm, Agsar Chemicals, in Tuticorin, and President of Mayamma Samaj. He is a dedicated philanthropist and an ardent devotee of the Mother. He substantially helped the cause of the magazine, Tattva Darsana. We took leave of the Mother and returned to Madras. Soon I received a call from the Mother again. Mother never keeps any money with her. But this time when I went to her, she made Sri Rajendran hand over to me a hundred rupee note. I immediately remembered the dakshina that I offered to her when I went with Sri & Smt. Moodley. Even today I am preserving that hundred rupee note as a very precious possession in my shrine. Because of her grace, I have not so far found any difficulty in making both ends meet. Whatever work I undertake, the problems that arise are easily solved.

 

[Excerpts from a talk given at the Divine Life Society, Reservoir Hills, Durban, South Africa, on December 8, 1985.]

 

                               

                                IS MY MOTHER KALI REALLY BLACK?

 

Is my Mother Kali really black?
People say Kali is black,
But my heart doesn’t agree.
If She’s black,
How can she light up the world?
Sometimes my Mother is white,
Sometimes yellow, blue, and red.
I cannot fathom Her.
My whole life has passed trying.

She is Matter,
Then Spirit,
Then complete Void.
– Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (1769-1821)

THE SILENT SAINT OF LAKSHMIPURAM

 

Saantaa mahaanto nivasanti santo

Vasantavalloka hitam charantah

Teernaah swayam bheema bhavaarnavam janaan

Ahetunaanyaan api taarayantah

 

— “There are good souls, calm and magnanimous, who do good as does the spring (i.e., unasked, out of their heart’s bounty, as the spring infuses new life into animate and inanimate nature, unobserved and unsought), and who, having themselves crossed this dreadful ocean of birth and death, help others also to cross the same, without any motive whatsoever.”

 

The above words of Adi Shankaracharya in Viveka Choodaamani will aptly apply to the great Saint f Lakshmipuram, near Mandaikkadu in Kannyakumari district, who lived the life of a Sthitapragna as described in the second chapter of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. The great Siddha Purusha attained Mahasamadhi on the very verandah of a closed telephone shed on the side of the Lakshmipuram-Mandaikkadu Road, which had been the place of his stay for more than three decades, on May 7, 1994.

 

No one knew who he was and wherefrom he came. Some called the avadhoota sannyasi Sri Gnaanananda Swami while others called him simply Mouna Guru. Some say, on the basis of some tattoo on his forehead and facial features, that he belonged to Maharashtra. Swami Ambikananda of Sarada Math at Nagercoil says that he seems to hail from Andra Pradesh and have been a Professor in some college before taking to sannyas and the sadhana of silence. What is his age? Swami Ambikananda says, around 70. Some others feel, he must be much more aged. Well, what is there in the name and what in the age of a jnaani who is ever eternal and the One in many names and forms? The only thing known about him is that he was living in the area covered by Lakshmipuram, Kulachal and Mandaikkadu in Kanyakumari district for the last half a century. Before the construction of the Lakshmipuram Arts College, in the years 1950-60, the place where the college is located now, was a forest area and there, on a cremation ground, below a cassia tree, lived this great saint in his unkempt hair and grey beard. Whether it was cold winter or rainy season, this saint was seen by the people in the neighbourhood to take his bath every morning in a nearby stream. Sometimes he used to stay in a garden in Kulachal Shastangarai area. When the construction of the college began, he shifted to a verandah of a closed shop near Udayarvilai junction and spent the nights in the Mayanakkuzhi cremation ground. Now this place houses the Police Quarters. About thirtythree years ago, he shifted to the verandah of a closed telephone shed facing the Lakshmipuram-Mandaikkadu Road. The three sides of the verandah were covered with jute curtains which were the only protection from sun and rain. That verandah became his kingdom for three decades and a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of his devotees.

 

The Durbar of the Avadhoota

 

Yoga karmasu Kausalam – “Dexterity and skill in action is Yoga”, says the Bhagavad Gita. The Swami was a supreme example of this truth. He used to do everything in a very neat and clean manner, imposing strict discipline on his devotees too. That stretch of the public road in front of his abode used to be cleanly swept and washed with buckets full of waters by the hands of the mahatma himself, everyday. The verandah of the telephone shed was also kept very neat and clean. In one corner, there would be small palm leaf mats to seat the devotees and in another, a few bottles, tins, plastic buckets and bundles of jute thread which were the only possessions of the Swami, all arranged in a perfect order. He would have his daily bath in a nearby stream, dipping his body upto neck in the waters and splashing water on his face with the hands. While taking water from a tap, he would wash the tap before filling up water into his vessel. He would perform his daily pooja in his own unique way by lighting pieces of camphor arranged in an order on the verandah. On another side, there would be lighted incense sticks. He would sit intently looking at the lighted camphor. Sometimes this pooja would be held thrice a day. After the pooja, there would be distribution of prasad – the food packets received by the Swami – to the devotees who would come in an order and receive them like soldiers receiving their pay packets from a commandent.

 

The Swami was fond of bhajans and when someone chanted, Sitaram, Sitaram or Jai Hanuman, Jai Hanuman, he would himself become a Hanuman and jump in ecstasy. He would know in advance, the impending visit of a devotee and arrange sear for him or her.

 

Swamiji used to take bhiksha only from selected devotees. A contractor, Chellayya, whose house the Swami visited every afternoon for meals, used to feed him for five years. One day, when it was heavily raining, the Swami came to his house. That day, the family forgot to preserve food for him and the Swami stopped visiting the house from then.

 

Another devotee, Bhagavati Amma, whose house was also frequented by the Swami for bhiksha, was in indigent condition. Yet, she used to reserve one sixth of the food in her house for him, everyday. By the grace of the Swami, the family is in prosperous condition today.

 

Yet another devotee, Bhaskar, a hotel owner, used to offer food to the Swami for the last 33 years. It all started when he went to supply food to the students of the Arts College and he met the Swami and offered food to him. From that day his business started flourishing.

 

A cloth merchant, Muthukumara Pillai of Travancore, used to offer bhiksha everyday to a Muslim mystic who attained Samadhi in Thycaud Mosque at Trivandrum. Before leaving the body, the mystic directed Pillai to search and find out the Mouna Swami of Lakshmipuram and serve him for the rest of his life. Pillai did so till the end of his life.

 

The Swami’s eating habits were very strange. At times he would go without food for days together. At other times, he would devour at one stretch twenty chapattis or ten vadas. In his last days, the Swami did not take any food for 16 months.

 

The ways in which he showered his grace on the devotees were also peculiar. Sometimes he would make them sit before him for hours together. A poor woman devotee once missed her last bus to return home late in the night. But the Swami saw to it that she was given a lift in the car of a rich devotee who too was detained by him for the purpose. Such was his compassion. Bhagavati Amma who came to offer bhiksha to him was sitting before him immersed in anxious thoughts regarding the marriage of her daughter. The Swami read her thoughts and indicated to her by signs the place from which she could find a groom for her daughter. The marriage took place on a grand scale by the grace and blessings of the Swami.

 

Once, his devotee-disciple, Krishna Pillai, was sleeping by his side on the verandah of the telephone shed. The Swami woke him up at midnight and made him rush to his house which was getting flooded. The disciple could rescue his family members in time.

 

The grace and blessings of the mahatma extended beyond the barriers of caste, creed and community. A Muslim woman who came to him with incurable breathing problem got instant relief by his grace and she turned into his devotee.

 

Spreading the Silent Splendour

 

The Swami had visited Potrayadi and Maruthuvazhmalai, places blessed by the presence of two other saints like him who were his contemporaries. Some devotees of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Godchild Tiruvannamalai sat in his presence and started singing “Yogi Ramsuratkumar Yogi Ramsuratkumar Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jaya Guru Raya!” The Swami immediately took a palm leaf fan in his hand and started fanning, raising the other hand and showing the chinmudra in the manner the Yogi does.

 

Mother Mayamma of Kanyakumari visited Lakshmipuram once, accompanied by Sri Omprakash Yogini of Ramji Ashram and the late Sri A.R.P.N. Rajamanickam, Founder of the Mayamma Samaj. The Mother was seated in Her car and She did not get out. The Swami also did not get down from the verandah, but both sat looking at each other, engaged in a conversation in the language of silence, for about forty minutes.

 

This writer, accompanied by Sri Rajamanickam, visited Lakshmipuram on Sunday, 25^th November, 1990, while on a tour of the southern districts of Tamilnadu for the Ramnam Prachar. He called on the great saint and spent an hour in his presence. When this sadhu wanted to present copies of his book, Glimpses of A Great Yogi, and the journal, TATTVA DARSANA, to the Swami, he snatched this sadhu’s bag from his hand, opened it himself, searched for the two books inside the bag and took them out. He held the books in his hand for some minutes intently looking into the photos of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, then glanced through the pages and after blessing this sadhu, put them back into the bag which he returned to the Sadhu. The very touch of the Swami’s feet passed powerful spiritual vibrations. Swami Mathurananda of Vellimalai and Sri Omprakash Yogini also have felt the powerful spiritual vibrations.

 

This great silent preceptor converted two practicing lawyers, Krishna Pillai and Vijayakumar, into his disciples who gave up their profession, kith and kin, and shared his verandah, wearing just two pieces of rags, and serving him all the time for the last few years. Krishna Pillai was allowed to see his daughter get married before he could permanently settle down by the side of the Swami. When Krishna Pillai wanted to go to Badrinath and sought his Master’s permission, the Swami indicated to him that the very place where he was standing was Badri. The lawyer turned mendicant took refuge at the Swami’s feet for ever. The Swami made him observe a fast for 56 days. From the 33^rd day, only half a cup of water was given to the disciple to drink, everyday. The fast ended on a Vijayadasami Day when the Master made him take a dip in shallow water and perform pooja. Then the Swami himself fed him.

 

On the occasion of the second visit to Lakshmipuram, this writer requested Krishna Pillai to record his experiences with the Swami for TATTVA DARSANA so that people in the country and outside could know of him even when he was in his physical body. The lawyer-disciple, in all humility, pleaded his inability to sit and write, for the Swami would never allow him to do so. But he agreed to narrate his experiences to someone who could write an article. The process was started and some devotees, at the behest of this Sadhu, set out to collect materials about the Swami from all those who came into his contact. But before the work could be completed, the Swami let his physical frame. However, a small booklet in Tamil, Maha Maunam, compiled by Visiri Shankar, has been published by Ramji Ashram as a humble offering to the sacred memory of the Saint.

 

The other prominent devotee-disciples of the Swami include Muni Sivan Pillai, Amaravilai Vijayan and Neyyattinkarai Appusamy, all good souls who had the rare opportunity to sit at his feet and serve him. Sivan Pillai was in municipal service. Even when he was in service, he used to come to the Master everyday before going to his office. After retirement, he dedicated himself to the service of his Master.

 

The Mahasamadhi

 

Great siddha purushas leave their physical body according to their volition and when they feel that the purpose of their sojourn in the physical body is over. The Mouna Swami also planned his exit from his physical body. The news that the Swami was on a long fast for 11 months appeared in the weekly supplement of a Tamil daily, Dinamalar, published from Kanyakumari, on February 20, 1994. This writer again called on the Swami on April 17, 1994. The figure that was once tall and hefty, reminding one of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri, had now become very lean. The Swamy was lying on a bed, his body being so weak that he needed his devotees’ help to sit and turn to the sides. However, the glow in his eyes were as powerful as they were before. His glance showered the bliss that the devotees in his presence yearned for. Just two months earlier, on Friday, December 3, 1993, at 9.30 PM, the Swami suddenly got up and walked towards the house of Sri Purushothaman Thambi, a retired judge. Some devotees accompanied him. The judge was not at home, but his sister, Srikumari Thangachi, received the Swami with due respect. The Swami came round the house, wanted the back door to be opened and loitered in the compound for some time. Then he lay down in many places inside the house and finally came and lay down on the verandah of the house. Though the disciples tried to persuade him to return to his roadside verandah, the Swami refused. Meanwhile, the judge who received message about the Swami’s visit to his house, rushed back to offer his worship at the Swami’s feet. While in the presence of the Swami, something within the judge told him that the Swami was there to search a place for his samadhi mandir  and the judge decided then and there to donate his land for the purpose. The Swami returned to the telephone shed verandah after three days.

 

The days ran fast. On Saturday, May 7, 1994, the Swami was on his verandah, lying in a posture like Lord Narayana in the Milky Ocean, surrounded by his devotees who were all chanting Lalitha Sahasranama. He had placed his head on the lap of a devotee, Prof. Vijayamohan. It was past midday. His face was shining as bright as the sun. At 3.30 PM, the Swami stopped his breath. The Infinite merged again into the Infinite from which It arose.

 

The body of the Swami was interred at the place which he himself had chosen. The verandah of the closed telephone shed is today a sacred shrine continuing to inspire and guide thousands of devotees.

Om Tat Sat!

 

[TATTVA DARSANA MAY-JULY 1994, VOL. 11, NO. 2]

SADHU T.L. VASWANI

The saint of Sind

 

Natvaham kaamaye raajyam

              na sukham naapunarbhavam

kaamaye dukha taptaanaam

              praaninaam aarti naashanam

— “I do not aspire for kingdom or pleasures or even liberation from the cycle of birth and death; all that I aspire for is the relief of all living beings from the pangs of pain and suffering!” – Thus spake the great Rantideva in the remote past of the glorious history of this sacred land of Bharatavarsha. In our own times, there lived and moved in our midst such a great soul in whose words and deeds the above sentiment found once again its grand expression. He was none other than Sadhu T.L. Vaswani, the Divine Child of Sind  – the land of the great rishis who sung the Vedic hymns at the dawn of the history of civilization of the world. “I do not aspire to a life of mukti”, said the modern Saint. “I fain would be born again and again, to be of service to those in need”.

 

The Irish Poet, Dr. Cousins, hailed Sadhu Vaswani as “India’s modern Mystic”, a “Fore-runner of the New Age” and a “Thinker and Revealer of the deep truths of the Spirit”. Miss Martha Roof, a great American lady called him “the ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson’ of your country”. The great French Savant, Mon. Paul Richard, declared: “I have been blessed, for amidst the deserts of Sind, I have found a true prophet, a messenger of the New Spirit, a sage, a seer, a rishi of New India, a leader to the Great Future, Sadhu Vaswani.”

 

Birth and Boyhood

 

Sadhu Vaswani, popularly known as Dada Vaswani, was born on the auspicious Kartik Ekadasi day on 25^th November, 1879, in Hyderabad-Sind, the land nourished by the sacred River Sindhu which has gone into Pakistan after the vivisection of Mother Bharat. Called affectionately by his parents as “Thanwar”, meaning “firm” or “balanced”, he was the second child of a devout couple Lilaram and Varan Devi. Though his ancestors were very wealthy, Diwan Lilaram was a small zamindar owning an unproductive farm, and hence lived in poverty. However, he was a man of learning, faith and tapasya, a worshipper of Kali. He would stand everyday on one leg and recite the Chandi, glorifying the Divine Mother, whose darshan he was blessed with. Varan Devi was a devotee of Guru Nanak. On her lips and in her heart was the holy name “Wah guru”. She made her chliren memorize Sri Jap Saheb and Sri Sukhmani Saheb, the sacred scriptures of the Sikh. Thanwar inherited from her intense devotion to Guru Nanak. Thanwar’s elder brother was Pahilajrai, younger sister Papur, also called Kiki, and younger brothers, Mangharam and Awat.

 

Even as a child, Thanwar manifested the potentialities of a great saint. Once, when the child sat with Ouka, a scavenger, and played with his children, Varan Devi pushed the child under a tap to give him a bath for he had come in contact with an “untouchable”. But Thanwar asked his mother, “Why mother? Is not Ouka my brother?” While taking food, if he ever heard the cry of a beggar, he would immediately rush out with his dish and share his food with the beggar. He would sometimes refuse to have blankets on cold nights, thinking of the plight of the homeless people lying on the roadside, shivering in cold. He used to tell in his later days, “The shirt and the cap and all that I have is a loan given to me to be passed on to those whose need is greater than mine.” In 1945, when he visited a beggar’s home at Calcutta, a beggar asked for his shirt and slipper and he at once parted with them with a joy of renunciation. He often repeated two lines:

“Did I meet him on the road:

Did I leave him with the load?”

He said, on the road of life, we should not leave one whom we meet with a load, without sharing his burden. He also declared that if he had million tongues, all of them will chant one word: “Give, give, give!”

 

Sadhu Vaswani’s clarion call is, “All life is sacred. All life has its claims on every one of us.” He had his self-initiation into the cult of non-violence at the young age of six years. When he was going to the school, he was disturbed by the sight of a butcher’s shop where he found poor dumb creatures killed, their skin peeled off, and their flesh hung for sale. This horrible sight shocked him to such an extent that he pleaded with his mother never to serve him any non-vegetarian food. But the mother who was concerned about his health prepared once a dish which appeared vegetarian but contained meat. When Vaswani came to know the truth, he burst into sobs and tears, suffering such pain and agony that his mother was moved to tears and she made a solemn promise that she would never again serve him any non-vegetarian food. On another occasion, his father Lilaram took him to a Kali temple where goats were sacrificed and the meat distributed as prasad. When Vaswani refused to partake the prasad, his  father went into a rage, slapped him and shouted at him to leave the temple, telling that he was unworthy to be there. Vaswani bore that insult and left with a sigh of relief to walk on the path of Mahavira and Buddha. In later days, he moved a little girl to tears by handing over to her a knife and asking her to take as much flesh as she needed from his body when she argued that vegetarian diet was tasteless and insipid. No wonder, the modern Shibi converted the girl into a staunch vegetarian who promised: “I would rather starve than eat the flesh of a living creature.”

 

Sindhi families used to drink liquor on auspicious days like Shiavaratri. But Vaswani detested drinking liquor and meat-eating. He considered them to be immoral acts. Following the footsteps of the great Vedic seers, Vaswani used to pray every morning to the Sun God:

“May the force of the Sun protect my life,

And keep my heart pure and devoid of strife!”

 

The role of school in moulding the destiny of a child is tremendous. Life in school did create a deep impact on the mind of Tanwar and gave him a clear direction to his future life of service and sacrifice. One day, while sitting in the class, a passing thought brought a flicker of smile on his lips. But the class teacher got irritated and slapped the boy for no offence done by him. This incident created such a deep impress on his mind that, in later days, when he started the Mira School, he had made it a strict rule that no staff should handle the children harshly and they must be treated with love and sympathy.

 

One day, while going to the school, Tanwar saw some beggars on the roadside asking for alms. He decided to organize his class-mates into a “Band of Service” to help the poor and downtrodden. The members of the group used to bring food from their homes and, under the leadership of Tanwar, serve the beggars on roadside. Hiranand, the Head Master of the Union Academy where Tanwar was studying, organized a “Band of Hope” to educate people against the evils of drinking and gambling. Young Tanwar was in the forefront of the group which used to march through streets and bazaar to do propaganda. His father Lilaram did not like his son going about like this in procession and one day he locked him up in a room to prevent him from joining a rally at the end of which Tanwar was expected to recite a poem. However, when Lilaram left the place for some work outside, the compassionate mother, Varan Devi, released the boy enabling him to join the rally in time.

When Tanwar was eleven years old, he had to face a severe blow in life. His beloved father, Lilaram, passed away on the auspicious Deepavali day in 1890. Before his death, Lilaram prophesied to young Tanwar: “As for you, my child, the very winds and waves will bear the fragrance of your name to lands and shores distant and near. For you, my son, will be a saint.”

When Vaswani was in the matriculation class, he came in contact with the fiery patriot and nationalist of Bengal, Brahmabandhav Upadhyaya. Born in a Bengali Brahmin family, Bhavani Charan Bannerji, who came to be renowned in his later days as Brahmabandhav Upadhyaya, was a product of the spiritual renaissance in Bengal ushered in by Raja Ram Mohan Roay, Sri Ramakrishna, Keshub Chandra Sen and Swami Vivekananda. As the Hindu way of life allowed ample freedom to a Hindu to choose any pathway to God-realisation, he chose Jesus as his “Ishta Devata”. Though disowned by fanatic Christians, he lived as a Sannyasi true to his convictions, promoting adoration of the Motherland and her hoary culture and heritage in his Saraswati Ayatan. His fiery articles in “Sandhya” awakened the youth of Bengal to revolutionary activities. When the British government tried to incarcerate him, he threw his body as a worn-out chappal at their face as he had vowed. He was an associate of patriots like Sister Nivedita and Bhupendra Nath Dutta, younger brother of Swami Vivekananda. The tremendous influence of these great men on the thoughts and ideals of Sadhu Vaswani is clearly evident in Sadhu Vaswani’s address as President of the 3^rd Annual Session of the All India Arya Swarajya Sabha held at Cawnpur in 1925, which has come out in the form of his most inspiring work, The Temple of Freedom, dedicated by him to the nation’s youth.

 

College Days

 

While Vaswani was in the matriculation class, Pahilajral got an appointment as a teacher in Karachi. Vaswani went to Karachi with his brother and joined the N.J.V. High School. He topped the list of successful candidates in Sind and won the Macleod Scholarship. Young Vaswani had an intense longing to become a fakir and lead a spiritual life. But, when he opened his heart to his beloved mother, she burst into tears which moved Vaswani’s heart. He gave her a solemn promise that he would not take to renunciation as long as she was alive. In the year 1896, he joined the D.J. Sind College, Karachi, to pursue his studies.

 

The qualities of head and heart of Vaswani attracted the attention of the fellow-students and staff of the college. One day, an essay submitted by him in the English class was so excellent in style and diction that the Principal, Hasketh, suspected it to be plagiarized from the writings of Dr. Annie Besant. Vaswani pleaded in all humility that he had not copied from anywhere and asked the Principal to give him any other topic on which he would write in the very presence of the Principal. The request was granted. Principal Hasketh found the composition as superb as the previous one. He prophesied in the class that Vaswani’s name would outshine that of Dr. Annie Besant.

 

Vaswani used to conduct a spiritual study class in the college, reading out passages from the Bhagavad Gita and Sukhmani Sahib and unfolding the teachings of Lord Krishna and the Great Masters. Some of his collegians, who wanted to test the moral and spiritual strength of the young preacher, subjected him to a severe test. Under the pretext of taking him out for a walk, they led him to the house of a prostitute and left him alone in her presence. The damsel cast her seductive look on the charming young man with a fine physique. While passion was raging in her heart, childlike innocence and simplicity was writ large on the face of the young man. The purity of heart of the youth who was withdrawn and absorbed in himself, conquered and subjugated the lust of the woman of ill-repute. She was impelled to join him in singing a prayer song. Soon Vaswani’s friends returned to see how their young preacher fared in the presence of the prostitute. What they saw convinced them that Vaswani was no ordinary youth to be measured by their standards. After this incident, they developed deep faith in him.

 

In the B.A. Degree examination in 1900, Vaswani topped the list of successful students in English and won the Ellis Scholarship. He became a Dakshin Fellow and received a monthly honorarium. The Fellows taught in the college for a few hours while they pursued their post-graduate studies. Vaswani continued his Gita and Sukhmani classes also which were well attended by many students.

 

Professor of Philosophy

 

After passing his M.A. Degree examination, Vaswani joined his alma mater, the Union Academy, as a teacher. Soon he got an offer of Professorship of History and Philosophy in Metropolitan College, Calcutta. Though Varan Devi was intent on getting her son married, Pahilajrai persuaded her to allow him first to go and accept his job in Calcutta. Reaching Calcutta, Vaswani felt relieved from the pestering of his mother about his marriage. Vaswani’s searching heart started probing into the heart of Bengal, which had produced a galaxy of spiritual stalwarts like Sri Ramakrishna, to find out a proper guru to guide him in his spiritual path. At last he found his Master at 9, Chidamodi Lane. He was Sri Promotholal Sen, a nephew of Keshub Chandra Sen, educated at Manchester College, U.K. The guru, known as Naluda, conferred a pet name on his disciple – “Boka” – meaning “Ignoramus”. Vaswani, admired and revered by his own students as a learned and enlightened Professor, was only delighted to be addressed as “Boka” by his own Master. Professor Vaswani sincerely and earnestly practiced what his guru taught him. The gurudev also in turn took deep interest in his chela.

 

Professor Vaswani’s deep spiritual unfoldment was clearly manifest in his simple and profound life as a teacher. His students saw in him a divine personage in the flowering. Once the Professor was accompanying a batch of students on a picnic. While returning by crossing the River Ganges, their boat was caught in a fiery storm in the mid-river. The panic stricken students looked up to Professor Vaswani who was calm, unperturbed. He advised the students to sing together the mahamantra:

“Hare Rama, Hare Rama,

Rama Rama Hare Hare,

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!”

 

And the miracle occurred. All of them were safely conducted to the shore by an unseen divine hand.

In Calcutta, Professor Vaswani came into contact with poet Rabindra Nath Tagore who sprang a surprise on the former by calling on him at his residence. When Vaswani told the great poet that he himself would have come to him if he had sent a word, the poet replied with a smile: “I waited in the hope that you would pay me a visit. But I could not wait longer and so I came away.” The two great sons of Mother Bharat had a heart to heart talk. When Tagore started Shantiniketan, he wanted Professor Vaswani to become the head of the institution. But destiny had willed some other work for Vaswani.

 

Professor Vaswani’s borhter, Pahilajrai wanted the former to be close to Hyderabad so that he could frequently meet him. A vacancy arose for the post of Professor of Philosophy in D.J. Sind College, Karachi, and respecting the wishes of his brother, Vaswani applied for the post and got it. While teaching in the college, Prof Vaswani used to conduct the Gita and Sukhmani classes as usual for devout students who looked upon him as a modern rishi. Some students wanted to be close to him and this led to the birth of an ashrama where the professor could stay with them, guiding them in their spiritual sadhana. Though the ashrama, unlike the ancient gurukulas, was situated in rented rooms in crowded quarters, certainly it had a “rishi” at the hub of its activities. The great task of moulding the future savants of the Motherland and humanity started in the ashrama.

 

In the World Congress of Religions

 

In 1910, Professor Vaswani was invited to attend the Welt Congress – the World Congress of Religions – at Berlin in Germany. Vaswani, in his humility, felt that it was too much an honour to him and wrote a letter to the conveners politely declining the invitation. But his guru, Sri Promotholal Sen, who was also an invitee to the Congress, commanded his disciple to accept the invitation and join him and two other invitees, Sri Heramp Chandra Moitre, Principal of the City College, Calcutta, and Professor Teja Singh, a profound scholar in Sikhism. Vaswani implicitly obeyed the command of his Master and went to Hyderabad to take the blessings of his mother and bid good-bye to near and dear ones, before proceeding to Bombay to join his guru on the voyage. Guru Naluda and chela Boka saided from Bombay aboard the ship bound for Germany in July 1910. Throughout the voyage, Vaswani remined absorbed in deep contemplation of the Infinite. At Aden, he was delighted to see a Sikh Gurudwara. While sitting on the deck of the ship during nights, Vaswani’s mind would merge in the sublimity of the ocean and the roaring waves of the sea seemed to educe the message from the bottom of his heart: “India – the Inida of the Rishis – is my dream by day, my vision by night. I go to the World Congress of Religions in the spirit of a jignasu. A jignasu seeks the Truth. As a Truth-seeker I go; and I feel that Truth is infinite. No one view may express the unutterable Fullness of Truth.”

 

On the day of the conference, addressing the delegates from far and wide, Professor Vaswani began his speech with the electrifying words, “Sisters and Brothers”, – the same words uttered by Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893, throwing the entire audience into a hysteric rapture and drawing thunderous applause from them. The spirit of Swami Vivekananda spoke once again to humanity through Vaswani: “India’s life through centuries has been one long quest for the living Infinite Ideal. Her mind eager for a vision of the world-whole, has faced the problem of reality in the faith that the organism of the experience is spiritual. Her ruling passion has been the Adhyatma Vidya: the science of the Self.”

 

Before leaving Berlin, Professor Vaswani called on the renowned orientalist, Professor Winternitz, at the Academy of Science and Seminary of Oriental Languages. From Germany, Professor Vaswani travelled to France and then to England. In England, speaking on “What Europe Needs”, at Rosylin in Stopford Brook’s Chapel, Vaswani emphatically declared: “What Europe needs is the message that humanity is one and that spiritual ideals are not illusions but the secret of the renewal and advance of civilization.” He said that Europe must obey the law of simple life and called upon the people to think of Tolstoy whom he called the “Rishi of Russia”. Summing up his impressions of the European visit, a note in Vaswani’s “Diary” says: “Wherever I spoke, I humbly set forth my belief in India’s mission to the modern West. I repeatedly said that Europe was declining. I realized more than ever before why Schopenhauer had turned to Hindu thought as the solace of his life, the solace of his death. Wherever I went, India was with me. Not the India of the modern politician, the noisy India of the clamorous crowds of cities – but the India of her Rishis and Saints, the India that communed with the Eternal, and in her forest – schools built up a civilization which made her a preceptor of the nations in the long ago.” His work in Europe over, when he was prepared to return to India, he found that he had not enough money to purchase a ticket. But he had full faith in the Providence. Help came through the Maharani of Cooch Bihar who was at that time in England and who had heard about Vaswani’s wonderful work. One afternoon, she invited him for tea and requested him to permit her to purchase the ticket for his return journey.

 

Offering Unto the Waves

 

Great men think alike and sometimes strange and similar incidents occur in their lives. In 1904, when Swami Rama Tirtha was returning to India after his triumphant visit to America, devotees in the United States presented to him in love and reverence a box full of typed copies of his speeches delivered in the U.S. and clippings from various journals which had reported his speeches and eulogized him as a spiritual giant from India. The great patriot-saint who had no attachment to anything in the world, carried the box to the deck of his ship and unhesitatingly dumped all the contents into the sea with the cry, “Jai Gange!” He explained his action saying that Rama did not need the credentials of America. A similar thing happened in the case of our hero, Sadhu Vaswani. While on his return voyage, one night he was pacing restlessly up and down the deck of the steamer. A “voice from within” was crying out to him: “What is this that I am carrying to India? A bag of vanity! I aspire to be a servant of India’s sages and saints. I aspire to live a life of new awakening, of self-effacement and self-realisation. And yet…” The next moment he went into his cabin, brought out a bag full of press-clippings giving the newspaper accounts of his grand visit to Europe and dumped them all into the sea.

 

In 1912, Professor Vaswani was offered the post of the Principal of Dyal Sing College, Lahore. At the age of 33, he became perhaps the youngest Principal in India of an A-grade college. As a Principal, he set very high standards of duty and discipline, but at the same time, was personification of humility and service. He not only gave his cooks, peons, gardeners and watchmen a weekly holiday, but also used to invite them for week-end lunch with him for which he himself prepared the food. His mother and sister came to stay with him. One day, his mother wanted him to send a servant to tighten the tape of her cot. Vaswani, who was about to go to his office, immediately set himself to do that job. His mother asked him why he was doing it himself. Vaswani asked her in reply with a gentle smile, “Mother, am I not your servant too?”

 

Principal Vaswani used to go out for long walks. On some such occasions he would get so much absorbed in himself that, like a semi-intoxicated man, he would forget where his home was and would seek the help of someone to return.

 

In 1915, when Brojendra Nath Seal, the renowned patriot-thinker and Principal of Victoria College, Cooch Behar, became the Vice-Chancellor of the Mysore University, Professor Vaswani was chosen to succeed him as the Principal. Again, when Edmund Cahler of the Mahendra College, Patiala, retired, the Maharaja of Patiala invited Vaswani to take over as the Principal of that college. Yet another invitation came later from Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya who founded the Benaras Hindu University, but Vaswani did not want to leave Patiala and therefore declined the offer.

 

Life of Renunciation

 

In 1918, a turning point came in the life of Principal Vaswani. His beloved mother, Varan Devi, fell a victim to the dreaded disease of Plague which broke out in Hyderabad. On the third day of the sacred month of Vaishaka, she departed from the world. Before leaving her mortal coil, she blessed her son and said: “I die happy, my son, in the thought that you are a saint! I now realize that you have done well in not putting on yourself the shackles of marriage. You little know how happy and comfortable you have kept me. May you, my son, be abundantly blessed!” On the very day of her passing away, Vaswani took to the vow of renunciation and sent in his resignation of his job. It was a shock to his admirers and the Maharaja of Patiala who tried to persuade him not to give up his lucrative career. But Vaswani replied to them: “The purpose of life is to dedicate it to Love Divine, to serve and to be poured out as sacrifice!”

 

Principal Vaswani became Sadhu Vaswani. Clad in simple home-spun khadi clothes, the new Apostle of God and Servant of the Motherland started his mission of spreading the message of service and sacrifice. In 1914, Sri Tikamdas started a newspaper under the inspiration and guidance of Sadhu Vaswani who gave it the name, “New Times”. It was the first English daily started in Sind by a Sindhi young man and Vaswani shared the rare gifts of his new life with others by writing articles for the paper. In 1920, when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Satyagraha Movement, spontaneous help and support came from Vaswani through his writings in the “New Times”. Sadhu Vaswani emerged as a powerful spokesman of the Gandhian movement. Mahatma Gandhi met Sadhu Vaswani on several occasions and they addressed many public meetings together. Gandhiji’s admiration of Sadhu Vaswani was to such an extent that the lead article on the front page of the very first issue of the new series, Vol. III, of the “Young India” was written by Vaswaniji. Vaswani also wrote several books including India Arises, Awake! Young Inida, India’s Adventure, India in Chains, The Secret of Asia, My Motherland, Builders of Tomorrow and Apostles of Freedom, all of them exhorting the youth to sacrifice their lives at the altar of the Motherland. M/s Ganesh & Co of Madras used to bring out the works of Vaswaniji that inspired the youth of the whole country. He not only preached, but practiced what he spoke. He offered satyagraha and courted arrest in 1939 and was sent to the Karachi District Jail for a few days. But even in the jail, he continued his services to the prisoners who included criminals, murderers and thieves in all of whom he saw only the Divine. He used to conduct daily prayers for them.

 

When Vaswani was staying in Sukkur, a quiet little town well-known because of its islet, “Sadhu Bela” – the abode of Sadhus – many people including the sick and the needy came to him for his blessing and counsels. His fame spread and people came to him with confidence that he would not send them back empty-handed. Sadhu Vaswani, on the other hand, lived true to the life of a sadhu in self-imposed poverty and developed the spirit of humility by begging his food. However, those whose doors he knocked at for alms, felt blessed in getting an opportunity to serve such a saintly guest.

 

One day Sadhu Vaswani found a group of urchins stoning an old fakir on the roadside. He rushed to the children and, through loving counsel, persuaded them to stop their cruel prank. Then he approached the injured fakir and started nursing his wounds. But the words of the fakir astounded him. “These stones are a gift for me from the Beloved”, said the fakir. Vaswani marveled at the words of wisdom that flowed from the mouth of the saint. Yet another time, a village singer in soiled clothes, holding an ektara (a single-stringed instrument) in his hand, entertained Vaswani with a soul-stirring devotional song:

“What is thy task?

This alone

To remember Ram!”

The eyes of the singer as well as that of the listener were moist with tears when he finished the song. After the singer left, Vaswani reflected on spiritual life and identified five distinguishing marks which he termed as five ratnas: Simplicity, Remembrance, Humility, Feeling unity with the poor and broken ones and Resignation to the Will Divine.

 

Shakti Ashram

 

Sadhu Vaswani had immense love for the student community. He had faith in them who were the builders of tomorrow. He sincerely felt that it was his duty to give a proper lead to the youth of the nation. In 1925, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Gurukul, Kangri, Sadhu Vaswani spoke of his dream of setting up an Ashram for the youth, where they would spend their summer vacations every year in nation-building thoughts and sadhana of service in calm, quite and serene surroundings. Dr. Keshav Dev Shastri, moved by Vaswani’s words, offered his beautiful bungalow to Vaswaniji to set up the Ashram. Thus the “Shakti Ashram” came into existence at Rajpur, a small resort town in the lap of the Himalayas in U.P. The seeds of the All India Youth Movement were also sown. Morning and evening worships, Gita classes, classes on World Movements, Indian Culture and India Ideals, question and answer sessions, week-end picnics to nature spots and such other activities elevated the minds of the ashramites to a higher plane of thinking and made the Ashram a beacon to the whole of India. Mahatma Gandhi visited the Ashram and planted a tree named after Dr. Shastri. Vaswani unfurled the “Youth Flag” on the tree. Among the other prominent visitors to the Ashram were Acharya J.B. Kripalani and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru, as a youth, visited the Ashram. Asking the question, “Is there a God?”, he entered into a discussion with Sadhu Vaswani who affirmed that God existed. Nehru, ten years younger to the Sadhu, argued for the non-existence. The point of controversy could not be settled as Nehru had to leave before the end of discussions.

Sadhu Vaswani rushed to Hyderabad when he came to know about the illness of his elder brother, Pahilajrai. On the auspicious Ramanavami Day, on 17^th April, 1929, Pahilajrai left this world. Destiny made Sadhu Vaswani stay in Hyderabad in one of the houses of Kaka Manghanmal, who and his two daughters Parpati and Shanti, were drawn to the saintly personality to such an extent that they later donated their huge house to the saint for this noble work. It was Kakaji’s daughters who started calling Sadhu Vaswani as “Dada”, meaning “elder brother”, by which name he became popular among his devotees. A Punjabi disciple, Dhanraj, started an English fortnightly journal, “Dawn”. Sadhu Vaswani wielded his powerful pen and wrote inspiring articles and poems in “Dawn”, dispelling the darkness and gloom from the hearts of people. Besides spending his time in prayer and meditation, Vaswani also addressed several meetings organized by various institutions in Hyderabad.

 

Sadhu Vaswani spent the summer season in Shakti Ashram at Rajpur and returned to Hyderabad after three months. He had a clear conception of his message and mission. His words were emphatic and unambiguous: “The Hindu society has suffered much. Its one great sin has been the sin of softness. Some call the Hindu cowards. Some call them political fools. I call them tender-minded. Whoever will make men of the modern Hindus will be the savior of modern India. The world’s call has come to India. Europe and America need the inspiration of Hindu humanism. The West needs the message of the Rishis.” It was with this end in view that Sadhu Vaswani opened “Bharat Yuvak Sangha” in different parts of the country and organized “Youth Conferences:. He wanted to create apostles of the religion of patriotism out of the youth, to spread the religion of the Mother. He pointed out: “The Rishis were seers and patriots who gave a noble message of Shakti and national vitality.” Speaking on “Hindu Rejuvenation”, Sadhu Vaswani proclaimed: “One of the most wonderful things to my mind in the world’s history is the persistence of the Hindu faith through all the terrible ordeals it had to face in the centuries of India’s subjugation by races and dynasties that confessed the name of ‘Muslim’, but understood not the spirit of Islam nor the teachings of its Prophet. A new revival of the ancient faith began with Rishi Dayananda’s battle cry, ‘Back to Vedas’. The problem of Hindu organization is before the country today. The problem, I submit, is not merely communal. It is national. Aye, more. It is, in a sense, a world problem.” He pointed out, “The Rama-ideal has been neglected by the nation” and “the Hindus have been ‘plastic’, – when what is needed is courage, masterful will.” He cried out, “Be one, ye that rejoice in the name of Hindu!” and said, “India needs a network of akharas to revive kasrat, Indian club, dand, breathing exercises, wrestling … It is often complained that Hindus are divided. Play will unite them.” To the young India, his clarion call was “Be Simple; Be Manly; Be Hard!”

 

Simple living and high thinking marked the life of Dada Vaswani. While living in Hari Mandir, he used to sleep on a mattress spread on a side of the hall and in day time, used to sit on it and do his work using a small desk for his writing. A French man who came to know about Vaswani through the writings of the French savant, Paul Richard, came to see him. He was surprised to see Vaswani seated on the mattress, with his books spread around. When he asked Vaswani where his furniture was, Vaswani asked him the same question in reply. The French man said that his furniture was in France and he was in India only as a traveler and hence he had brought none here. With a smile Dada Vaswani said that he too was just a traveler here, carrying no luggage with him. “Take no luggage with thee, O traveler to the temple of the Beloved! Tread thou the path, empty-handed! And when thou will reach the temple, thou will know that the empty alone are filled!”

During his stay in Jamshedpur, Vaswani made an appeal for funds for famine relief work. Amidst rich contributors, a poor old woman came forward to donate two copper coins. Some people laughed at her. But Dada Vaswani gratefully accepted her contribution and said: “These two copper coins are of value in the sight of Him who sees beyond appearances. He gazes into the heart! We applaud outer acts: God sees the inner motives!”

 

Birth of the Mira Movement

 

Sadhu Vaswani believed that the future of India was in the reawakening of the glorious womanhood of the nation. “A new civilization must be built, of this new civilization woman would be the high priestess.” He reminded repeatedly, “the woman-soul has the Shakti to rebuild the shattered world in the strength of her intuitions, her purity, her simplicity, her spiritual aspirations, her sympathy and silent sacrifice. The woman-soul shall lead us upward, on!”

 

Sakhi Satsang, open to ladies and girls only, came into existence on the Janmashtami day in 1931, in the hall offerd to Dada Vaswani by Shanti, daughter of Kaka Manghanmal. Panpati Kundanmal became the Secretary of the Satsang. In due course, when borthers were admitted into Satsand, Sri Gangaram Sajandas became the Secretary. Vaswani also started a monthly magazine, “Sant Mala”, to throw light on the life and teachings of great saints. A Sakhi Conference meant for women only was held at Hyderabad in 1931. Sakhi Stores was started to propagate swadeshi cloth and goods. The profits were spent in the service of the poor.

 

Sitting in the midst of his devotees, one day, Vaswani expressed the view that the most urgent need of the Sindhi community was a school for girls, inspired by new ideals of education. He reached his pocket and found two paise coins. With this as the capital he announced the starting of the school. Parpati shouldered the responsibility of collecting funds. Rao Bahadur Fatechand Lakhani, a retired Executive Engineer, became the Honorary Secretary of the school appropriately named as Mira School. Kumari Mumal Thadani, B.A., became the Honorary Head Mistress. Vaswani wanted the Mira School to emerge as an ideal institution. He gave the school a four-fold motto – Simplicity and Service, Purity and Prayer – in order that the teachers and the taught may strive for the best and attain to the Light. He said, “New India is to be built not on imitation of the West, but on the message of seers. Calling the Mira School a “child of my tears”, Vaswani said that we have forgotten today our Vedas and Upanishads, Ramayana and Gita, our seers and saints. Many crammed books, but none had insight into the values of life. He wanted India’s children to have an education which will enable them to grow in reverence for humanity, for all life, and felt the little Mira School was a humble attempt to give that type of character-building and home-building education. “An infinite power lies hidden in the heart of every child. Educate! Educate! The little ones will lead us out of chaos into light.” Such was the faith of Vaswani in the child. Dr. Maria Montessori met Sadhu Vaswani at Karachi and was moved by his Mira Movement, which, she said, “is doing marvelous work to bring great understanding between the East and the West.” The Mira School had several unique features. In the “Sanctuary” hour occurring at the beginning of each school day, the children were imparted the wisdom of great rishis from the reading of scriptures, songs and speeches. A hall in the school-building, “Hall of the Heroes”, was dedicated to saints and heroes of humanity. Students were inspired with love for the Motherland. A weekly journal, “Mira”, was also started. The success in the field of new education induced Vaswani to start Shakti High School for boys.

 

Vaswani received an invitation from Bharat Yuvak Sangh of Lahore to give a series of lectures interpreting his message to the youth of India. Accepting the invitation, Vaswani left Hyderabad on a tour of North India on 5^th November, 1933. Talking to newspaper men at Lahore station, Vaswani said, “Youth will rebuild India but only when they develop constructive qualities of character… I would have every student to be a sepahi of India guarding her great ideals and filled with faith in her future and her world mission.” Vaswani visited Multan where he was presented a purse, probably for the first time in a public function.

 

After returning to Hyderabad, on December 23, 1933, the auspicious day of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, the Seva Ashrama, meant for service of sisters, was started in Rijhumal Cottage. The second Sakhi Conference was organized in April 1934. In one of the significant revolutions, the Conference appointed a Committee to prepare a “Sakhi Calender” mentioning the days sacred to heroes and heroines of humanity, and giving quotations for everyday’s guidance in the year.

 

Messenger of the Rishis

 

In 1934, the Bombay Humanitarian League celebrated its Silver Jubilee. Vaswani was invited to preside over the All India Humanitarian Conference. Vaswani left Hyderabad for Bombay on 17^th September, 1934. In the Conference held in Madhav Bagh in front of the famous Laxmi Temple on October 21, 1934, there were delegates from all over India and Burma, notable among them being Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. The Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and Raja Jai Prithvi Bahadur Sing of Nepal had sent their messages.

 

Vaswani also addressed the Guru Nanak Birthday Celebrations in Bombay. His talk on “Guru Nanak – The Master and His Message”, infused new life in the Sikh community of Bombay. He also spoke on “India’s Quest Through the Ages” at the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society.

In Hyderabad, the Bira Building donated by Parpat and shanty was renovated and rename “Nam Nagar”. An Ashram sprang up there with a few female devotees. Vaswani was the heart and soul of Nam Nagar. On 1^st December 1937, the Mira Hostel of St. Mira’s High School was opened. A library of devotional and patriotic literature, facilities to teach cooking, nursing, first-aid, arts and crafts, and also for girl’s physical culture were special features of the hostel.

 

An International Inter-Religious Retreat and Conference was held at Colombo from May 11 to 13, 1939. In spite of his deteriorating health, Vaswani accepted the invitation to attend the conference and left for Colombo with four of his devotees. In Ceylon, Vaswani visited several institutions and addressed many meetings. At Nuwara Eliya Hills, he conducted Gita classes in English, twice a week. People of all faiths – Christians, Parsees, Hindus and Singhalis – attended his gatherings. At Anuradhapura, he gave a talk in the Vivekananda Hall on “The Message of the Rishis”. While returning, he stopped at Rameswaram and visited the famous temple there. Reaching Madras, he gave a talk in the Ranade Hall on “The Challenge of the Modern”. The elite of Madras heard his talks. He spoke at the Gokhulam Harijan Colony on the Harijan Movement. The renowned social worker of Madras, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, received him. Leaving Madras, via Bombay, he reached back at Hyderabad on 16^th September 1939.

 

The Mira School had acquired from the Government a huge plot close to Nam Nagar. On the auspicious day of Basant Panchami, on 19^th February 1942, Vaswani laid the foundation there for a new building. In 1943, on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Vaswani organized a Rath Yatra in Hyderabad. The annual function of the Mira School on 19^th November 1943 was presided over by Dr. Arundale, the then President of Theosophical Society. Paying glowing tributes to Sadhu Vaswani Dr. Arundale said: “You have in your midst a great man. We sometimes think that there are few great men in the world. Probably there are more than we imagine. Certainly Sadhuji is one of India’s great men and the school is a splendid monument to him.”

 

An All India Gita Jayanti Conference was organized at Calcutta. Dr. Shyam Prasad Mukherji, the renowned Hindu nationalist leader of Bengal, was invited to preside over the function on the first day, 25^th November 1944. On his suggestion, the organizers invited Sadhu Vaswani to preside over the function on the second day, 26^th November. Due to his deep regard and respect for Dr. Mukherjee, Vaswani accepted the invitation and visited Calcutta. In his soul-stirring message, he propounded the message of the Gita concerning the ideal of heroism in Hindu history. He suggested that a statue of Arjuna, the Hero, with the flame of Freedom in his hand be erected at the entrance of Calcutta, just like the statue of Liberty erected at the entrance of New York. “The statue of Arjuna will be symbolical of the Heroic Spirit which India must develop, more and more, to become once again a Nation of the strong, a Nation of the Free!”, he said.

 

On 26^th January 1945, Vaswani lectured at Nava Vidhan Brahmo Samaj. He also visited the samadhis of his guru Promotholal Sen, Sri Keshub Chandra Sen and some of his associates. Vaswani addressed a special meeting of students at Sivanath Memorial Hall, on “Indian Ideals in Education”. He spoke on Sri Ramakrishna in the Ramakrishna Math. He visited the Satya Ashrama which worked under the guidance and inspiration of Sadhu Tara Charan. Sadhu Tara Charan conferred the title of “Satya Acharya” on Sadhu Vaswani. Vaswani visited Benaras and addressed the birthday celebrations of Sadhu Tara Charan. He also met Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at the Benaras Hindu University. He paid visits to the famous Kashi Viswanath Mandir and to Saranath. He went round different institutions in Saranath including the Chinese Buddhist Temple, the Mulagandhakuti Library and the Maha Bodhi High School.

The Mira Education Board acquired in Hirabad 54,000 sq. feet of land and Gangaram Sajandas was instructed by Vaswani to undertake the construction work of a school building. The building was ready in 1945. This year, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan paid a visit to Sind and presided over the annual functions of St. Mira’s High School. Throwing light upon the ideals of Mira School, Vaswani spoke on unfolding a new renaissance of culture in India which had seven notes – manual work, knowledge, simplicity, purity, courage, service and concentration. Dr. Radhakrishnan in  his speech pointed out, “All these seven notes are incarnated in the life-work of Sadhu Vaswani”.

 

The Saint uprooted from Sind

 

The Independence of India on August 15, 1947, was the most cherished dream of innumerable patriots and nationalists, but when it came, it came with a heavy blow in the form of vivisection of the sacred Motherland. Right from the Muslim period in Indian History, the converts to Islam have been consistently sermonized by mullas and moulavis that Islam can never tolerate or co-exist with the religion of Kafirs and it is the religious duty of the Muslim to see that no religion other than that of the Prophet existed on the earth. Great men like Kabir, who experienced through their spiritual sadhana the Universal Spirit that pervaded all beings and imbibed the spirit of oneness of humanity and unity of all religious paths proclaimed by the Vedic seers, were dubbed as heretics and thrown out of the Islamic religious fold. They had more Hindu followers than Muslims. The sufis had no place at all in the orthodox Islamic society and they were considered perverts and dropouts from Islam. Great leaders like Vaswani and Mahatma Gandhi who preached the unity of religions and brotherhood of humanity found the acceptance of their preachings only by the Hindus in whose veins flowed the blood of the rishis of the yore who proclaimed the ideal of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam – the whole world is one family! “Iswara Allah Tere Naam” was sung only by Hindus and very few Muslims and Christians accepted it. Even the immortal song of Bankim Chandra, “Vande Mataram”, eulogizing Mother India as the Divine Mother, was vehemently opposed by the Muslims. On the other hand, the fanatic Muslim leaders, always dreaming of bringing the country back under the sword of Islam, roused communal passion among the members of their community and nurtured the feelings of hatred and enmity towards the majority community of the Hindus. The cunning Britishers also did not want to leave India strong and powerful. They never wanted to see the emergence of a united and powerful Hindu Nation in Bharatavarsha in which the Hinduised Muslims, Christians and other religionists would become part and parcel of a patriotic society. Therefore they set one community against the other and ultimately partitioned the country before quitting.

 

Freedom brought in its wake the greatest holocaust of the times. Communal passion sprung up like a wild fire. Millions of Hindus were mercilessly massacred in Pakistan. The land of Sind where reverberated the voice of the Vedic rishis, saw the gruesome sight of Hindu families uprooted, women raped and children put to sword. Naturally there was reaction in Hindu India. While the national leaders like Mahatmas Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel were straining every nerve to give all protection and care to the Muslim minorities in India who were accepted as brothers by the majority of Hindus, the Muslim leaders like Jinnah in Pakistan were bent upon wiping out even the trace of Hindu existence in Pakistan. Though Sadhu Vaswani, who was asked to give a message on August 15, 1947, said: “Celebrate ye the Independence Day with enthusiasm. But permit me to remain in my room and offer my prayer: ‘O Master of Mercy! Be kind to the Hindus and Muslims alike and let them be happy!’”, the Muslim community in Pakistan looked upon him only as a leader of the Kafirs. Though Vaswani visited the camps of Muslim refugees from Punjab settled in Hyderabad-Sind, gave them food and clothing and the love of his heart, the Muslims created havoc by plundering the few Hindus that remained in Hyderabad. Several girls of the Mira School had already migrated to India with their parents. The Mira campus wore a desolate look. Soon enough girls of Muslim families, who had come to settle down in Hyderabad, were admitted to St. Mira’s High School. Muslim teachers also filled the place of Hindu teachers. However, Vaswani found that the atmosphere in Sind was not congenial to the safety and security of Hindus and advised his devotees to leave for India, though he himself decided to stay on.

 

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. The situation in the Indian continent was growing darker and darker. Several Sindhi devotees settled in India grew anxious about the safety of Dada Vaswani and pressed for his migration to India. Dadaji did not want to leave the land of his birth. However, destiny willed otherwise. In September 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah died. That very evening Vaswaniji paid his tribute to him in the usual fellowship meeting held in Mira campus. As usual, kanah Prasad was distributed at the close of the meeting. Some crooked Muslims who did not want the continued stay of Vaswani in Sindh spread the rumour that Hindus rejoiced at Jinnah’s death by distributing “Halwa”. Kanah Prasad, which is customarily distributed in the fellowship meetings, was turned into “Halwa”.

 

The Muslim masses were stirred and their anger was turned against Vaswani and the Mira institution. They threatened to kill Dada Vaswani, but he remained unperturbed and fearless. However, when Motilal Gidwani, father of Lachmi, a teacher in the Mira School, whose whole family was devoted to Vaswani and his institution, was murdered by the Muslims, that murder in cold blood made Vaswani decide to leave Pakistan with the remaining devotees. Referring to the “Night of Decision”, he wrote that when his heart asked whether he should go, he heard a voice say: “Go! They call you – the rishis of your spiritual home! Pakistan has come to part you from your beloved Sind. Go, and drink of the morning dew in other lands, and rejoice in the sun which shines across the seas, and serve them who suffer and moan in Hindustan! Farewell, child of the Desert! Farewell!” And he saw the gods going out of the soil of Sind and gods of the cult of destruction and ruin coming in, razing the temples and mandirs and uprooting samadhis of saints and holy men. On November 10, Vaswani bid an eternal adieu to the beloved land of his birth, the land of his forefathers, the land of his tapas and the land where he yearned to see the realization of his dreams of building a new nation.

 

Poona – The New Abode of Sadhana

 

On 13^th February 1949, Vaswani left Bombay for Poona. Sindhi devotees and admirers gave him a rousing reception at Poona. Vaswaniji re-started the Welfare Department in Poona to help the needy Sindhi families. Several individuals and organization in Poona joined together to organize a function in the Gokhale Hall to honour Sadhu Vaswani. Mr Yardi, Collector of Poona, presided. Acharya Karve, the doyan of the movement for women’s education in Maharashtra, was the moving spirit behind the meeting. He greeted Vaswaniji as the “Saint of Sind” and said it was their good fortune that such a saintly personality like Vaswani made Poona his home here-after. Vaswani, in his reply, bowed to the memory of great leaders like Lokamanya Tilak, Gokhale and Shivaji and remembered the saints like Ramdas, Eknath, Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar and called himself a servant of the sages and saints.

 

By the time of the 70^th birthday of Sadhu Vaswani, almost all the activities that he was conducting in Hyderabad were restarted at Poona. The Daya Dispensary of Hyderabad was rechristened as Radhakrishan Daya Dispensary of Poona. The Mira School was also restarted at Poona and the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Sri B.G. Kher, lent the use of the Council Hall for conducting the school. Later it was shifted to Jeejeebhoy Castle from where the Deccan College had moved to its own campus. People came to Sadhu Vaswani in large numbers seeking his spiritual guidance. One day, when a devotee asked to write the Name of Ram in pages after pages of notebooks. “The awakening of spiritual life starts with this movement of the Word, the Nama, in the hearts of men”, he said. “I know only one thing – Nama,” he emphatically declared.

 

The All India Humanitarian League celebrated the All India Animal Welfare Week in Bombay from September 29 to October 5, 1952. Vaswani accepted an invitation to participate in the functions. During this visit, a small beginning of the Satsang in Bombay was made. On Depavali day, addressing a gathering, Vaswani paid glowing tributes to Lord Sri Rama, pointing out that Rama was not merely the Beloved of Aryavarta, but dear even to the people of Russia, Sweden, Germany and Italy. On the second day of Deepavali, Vaswani left Bombay for Pune.

 

Elaborate arrangements were made to celebrate the 73^rd birthday of Vaswani on November 25, 1952, in Poona. The first Mira Camp to bring together ex-students and ex-teachers of the Mira Schools was held at Mira Campus in November. In the variety entertainments programme, when songs of poet-saints of Sind were sung, both the audience and Dada Vaswani were moved to tears. From then on, Mira camps became a regular feature. On his 73^rd birthday, a huge gathering of Vaswani’s admirers collected to felicitate him. Vaswaniji made a touching speech, ending with a note: “It is the evening of my life. My boat is launched. I hear the birds singing from the other shore.”

 

With the growing work of the Brotherhood Association under which Vaswani had canalized all his activities, devotees like Gangaram and Jashan felt the need of a building. Smt. Ramibai Bhagwansing, Managing Trustee of the Basantsing Amil Dharmada Trust, contributed Rs. 1,50,000/- An equal amount came as birthday gift in 1958 from numerous disciples and admirers. Among the dignitonies who called on Vaswani were saints like Meher Baba, Swami Ramdas of Kanhangad, and Dilip Kumar Roy.

St. Mira’s English Medium School was started in 1958.  Brother Jashan started the monthly journal, “East and West Series” to spread the message of Vaswani far and wide.

 

In 1959, Janmashtami was celebrated on a grand scale in Mira Hall. Vaswani spoke of Lord Krishna as “Dada Shyam”, the elder brother of us all. The next day early morning, after getting up from sleep, when Vaswani was going out of his room, his foot slipped and he fell down unconscious. He suffered a crack in the femur bone. For full six weeks, he was confined to bed. However, his lips always muttered Shukur – “Gratitude to Thee, O Lord!”

 

Acharya Karve had become the Chairman of the Mira Education Board. On the occasion of the Acharya’s 103^rd birthday celebrations at Sr. Mira’s High School, Vaswani greeted him warmly and accorded him a rich welcome.

 

In the month of November 1961, the birthdays of Guru Nanak and Sadhu Vaswani were celebrated as usual. November 17 was a significant day in the history of Mira School, for it was on this day three great men – Dada Vaswani, Acharya Karve and Dr. Radhakrishnan who came to perform the opening vceremony of the new building of St. Mira’s High School – met in the campus. A purse of Rs. 1,10,000 was presented to Vaswani who gave it to the Brotherhood Association. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh paid glowing tributes to Sadhu Vaswani in a telegraphic message.

 

St. Mira’s College for Girls was started in 1962, with Prof. K.N. Vaswani as the first Principal. Sadhu Vaswani was carried from his bed to the Mira Hall to greet the new born college. Prof. K.N. Vaswani worked as Principal for seven weeks only as he had to return to Delhi. Brother Jashan took charge as Principal. On 22^nd February 1963, on the auspicious day of Mahasivaratri, Prof. D.V. Potdar, Vice-Chancellor, Poona University, laid the foundation stone of St. Mira’s English Medium School.

 

The Journey to Eternity

 

On the Guru Poornima day in 1964, when devotees had gathered to greet Vaswani at Mira Nagar, he received the news of the death of his nephew Dr. Hari Krishin in an accident. While offering tributes to the youngest flower of his family, Vaswani spoke of the ephemeral nature of human existence. He referred to the passing away of Pandit Nehru, two months prior. He recalled the words of an Indian Poet: “Rama is gone and Gandhi, too! Is this world a dreamland?”

 

The beginning of the year 1966 was marked with the sudden demise of India’s Prime Minister, Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, on January 11, in the distant Tashkant in Russia. The very next day Kaka Gadgil passed away. Vaswani remarked: “Life is like a bubble floating on a stream. Today we are here: Who knows where tomorrows’ sun will find us?” On January 15, Vaswani, while taking his morning cup of tea with a few brothers, expressed his desire that all his clothes be distributed to the poor. “I need only two pairs of clothes”, he said. None took the hint that Vaswani was getting ready for his long journey to Eternity. He had started that day in the usual way and was quite normal. He conducted his usual satsang in the Mira compound. But in the evening he felt uneasy. He wanted Brother Jashan to be by his side in the night. Because of the fracture in the leg, Vaswani could not turn sides while lying on bed and he would every now and then ask to be turned to other side. At 2.00 AM on January 16, when brother Jashan went to Vaswani’s bedside and gently asked if he would like to be turned, there was no reply. Dr. Narain Hathiramani was immediately sent for. Some other doctors also arrived for his help. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and departed from the world of mortals at 8.30 AM. The Poona station of AIR broadcast the news after an hour and was picked up by Delhi and the news spread all over the country. Messages and telegrams poured in from all over India in hundreds.

 

The last journey of the great Saint of Sind took place on January 17, 1966. His body was taken out of the Mira Hall and carried in a truck decorated with pictures of Lord Krishna, Jesus, Guru Nanak and Buddha. The funeral procession went through the main roads in the city. About 40,000 people had joined the procession by the time it returned to Mira Campus in the afternoon. Vaswani’s body was placed on logs of sandalwood and at 5.30 PM brother Jashan set fire to the funeral pyre. There was a programme of  nama sankirtan till midnight.

 

On the Mira Campus, at the spot at which Vaswani’s mortal remains were cremated, stands his sacred Samadhi – a simple and profound structure in white marble. The citizens of Poona have honoured him by erecting on January 17, 1969, a 10 foot bronze statue of Sadhu Vaswani in the centre of the road named after him near St. Mira’s English Medium School and the place is now known as Sadhu Vaswani Chowk. With the right hand index finger raised above, the statue appears to be giving a message to the people, which is also inscribed on its pedestal: “Children of the earth, ye all are one!”

 

The great Saint of Modern India was honoured by the Government of India by issuing a special commemorative stamp on his 90^th birthday on November 25, 1969. The “Nuri Granth”, Sadhu Vaswani’s poetical compositions in Sindhi language, compiled and printed in a voluminous book of 1600 pages brought out on the occasion of his 91^st birthday on November 25, 1970, is the scripture that blesses hundreds of homes of Sadhu Vaswani’s disciples and devotees in India and abroad. Sadhu Vaswani dreamt of setting up a Gita University to spread the message of the Bhagavad Gita on which he himself wrote 32 books. The greatest tribute that we can pay to him is to fulfil his dream. Let us cherish in our bosom his soul-stirring message:

 

“India has survived the many shocks and changes of time, because I believe India is meant to be the standard-bearer of a great message. I believe that India is meant, under the grace of God, to be an interpreter to the nations of a religion of reconciliation, a religion of harmony.

“But India may not enter upon her world – mission if you and I will not strive to verify, in everyday life, the vision of harmony and love.”

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, February–July 1991. Vol 8, No1&2]

RICHNESS AND GOD-REALIZATION

The person who accumulates wealth and lives in the midst of it is far from God. A man who is content with what he gets daily, and thinks of God, lives in eternity, but the other who rolls in riches lives in time. Richness is no criterion for God-realization. –Swami Ramdas

 

 

THE HOLY MOTHER SARADA DEVI

Smt. Bharati Rangarajan

 

The Ideal of Motherhood

 

When we think of the ideals of Indian womanhood there passes in front of our mental vision, a colourful pageant of Vedic women like Maitreyi and Gargi, and epic heroines like Sita, Savitri and Damayanti. They are perhaps the supreme manifestations of the Hindu concept of womanhood. Our country did produce in every age such shining examples who still inspire not only women but the entire society. In the modern times the one who stands in the forefront of the galaxy of such ideal women is Mother Sarada Devi. She is the supreme personification of Motherhood which is the basic concept of Indian Womanhood. Sister Nivedita, who came from Ireland to become the illustrious disciple of Swami Vivekananda, remarked about Saradamani, “To me it has always appeared that She is Sri Ramakrishna’s final word as to the ideal of Indian Womanhood”. In the Holy Mother’s life we see a harmonious blending of the human and the divine. Her divinity found expression in her actions which were devoid of imperfections, and human feelings shone in pure and unsullied colours in her relationship with her husband, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, her relatives and disciples. The motherly love and affection that she showed to each and every one was the prominent trait of her character.

 

A Mother from Childhood

 

The motherly instinct in her did find expression right from her childhood. Born on December 22, 1853, in Jayrambati Village, Bankura District of West Bengal, she was the per daughter of Rama Chandra Mukhopadhyaya and Shyamasindari Devi, a very pious and orthodox Brahmin couple. Though the means of his livelihood, through priestly duties, was very scanty, Rama Chandra had a very large heart to help people in distress who approached him. These qualities of kindness and generosity were reflected in Saradamani’s character too. Being the eldest, she had to take care of six younger brothers and sisters. Even as a small child she was more interested in seeing religious dramas and listening to puranic discourses than in the common games of the children of her age group.  Her innocence, simplicity and love for fellow children were compelling and often she was the mediator among the quarrelling little ones. Like her mother, she too showed ken interest in worshipping the images of Lakshmi and Kali and in sitting in meditation for hours together. She helped her parents in household duties too.

 

Mother to Her Husband

 

Even in her married life, Sarada Devi was only a mother to her husband, Sri Ramakrishna. She was married to the 23 year old youth when she was just five. Sri Ramakrishna was so much absorbed in deep meditation throughout day and night that he was indifferent even to the basic requirements of the body like food, sleep, etc. His mother, Chandramani, that marriage might change him totally. Quite surprisingly, Sri Ramakrishna himself suggested the bride to be chosen. Sarada had her first real contact with her husband only at the age of eight when she came to him at Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna did not fail in his duty as a husband to receive her with due affection and regard, but Saradamani had the least intention to drag her saintly husband back from his spiritual plane to a worldly life. She deemed it as a great privilege to serve him and to mould her own life in a way suited to his ideals. Sri Ramakrishna taught her all the spiritual discipline which she followed till the end of her life.  She used to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning and spend some time in meditation and prayer. As a part of her daily routine, she cooked food for her Master, his disciples and other devotees. The joy of serving her divine husband made her forget all physical strain. Though she lived with him in Dakshineswar itself, she had the privilege of entering into his room only once or twice in a month. One day she heard her mother complain that her daughter would never become a mother as she was married to an ‘insane’ person. When Sri Ramakrishna came to know about this from Sarada, he said, “Why should you worry about children? I shall leave for you many children, all pure as gold, the like of whom women do not obtain through the austerities and prayers of millions of lives.”

 

Mother of Disciples

 

Sarada rightly asserted the motherly privileges with regard to Sri Ramakrishna’s disciples and devotees. The nectar of motherly love gushed out of her heart when anyone addressed her as mother. However bad his character might be in his past life, he was assured of security and salvation. Whenever she gave initiation to a disciple, he was overwhelmed with a feeling of high reverence for her, but when she would start feeding him with sweets, he would see his own mother in her. He would feel quite at home. At Jayrambati, she not only used to prepare meals for the devotees, but even washed their plates and cleansed the spot after they took the food. Sometimes she used to give her own clothes and blankets to her young disciples for their use.

 

Motherhood that Crosses Barriers

 

Her motherly affection crossed the barriers of caste, creed and geographical boundaries. Devotees from East, West, North and South thronged around her and though she never knew their languages she conversed with them in the language of love. When Swami Vivekananda was accompanied by his foreign disciple, Miss Margaret Noble, who later became well known as Sister Nivedita, the Holy Mother received her with all affection and kindness and accommodated her in her own room. Sarada Devi, who came from an orthodox Brahmin family and had the least education in the modern sense, had the divine power to charm the European lady even without the knowledge of her language and customs. It was really with great wonder that Sister Nivedita queried about her, “Is she the last of an Old Order or the beginning of a New?” Sarada Devi’s love to one and all was equal in all measures. Once a coolie woman spent a night at Jayrambati, and due to illness she happened to vomit. The Holy Mother attended on her and even cleansed the vomiting. At another time, a Mohammedan labourer had to take meals in her house. When her niece, Nalini, hesitated to serve him, the Mother herself served food to him and cleansed the spot where he had taken meals. On another occasion, a woman who felt guilty of moral turpitude came to see her at Calcutta. She hesitated to enter the Mother’s room. The Holy Mother, who knew everything, took the lady by her hand into her room and consoled her by telling, “What if you have done anything wrong? When you are repentant your guilt has been washed away.” No doubt, there was a remarkable metamorphosis in the woman’s life thereafter.

 

Mother of All

 

No other mother has so many children as the Holy Mother has and true to the prophetic words of Sri Ramakrishna, she became a mother to hundreds of spiritual children in every nook and corner of the world even before she attained Mahasamadhi on July 21, 1920. Still echoing in the hearts of lakhs of her children in East and West are the sublime words: “I am the mother of the wicked, as I am the mother of the virtuous. Whenever you are in distress, just say to yourself, ‘I have a mother’.”

 

[In Commemoration of 150^th Birth day of the Holy Mother.

TATTVA DARSANA, January 2004,  Vol.21, No.1]

 

 

THE MOTHER

“If my child gets covered with mud or dust, is it not my duty to cleanse him and take him on my lap?”

—The Holy Mother Sarada Devi

 

WOMEN OF INDIA

“Now the ideal of woman in India is the mother: the mother first and mother last. The word woman calls up to the mind of the Hindu, motherhood; and God is called Mother. As children, every day, when we are boys, we have to go early in the morning with a little cup of water and place it before the mother, and mother dips her toe into it and we drink.

 

In the west the woman is wife. The idea of womanhood is concentrated there as the wife. To the ordinary man in India, the whole force of womanhood is concentrated in motherhood. In the wesgtern home the wife rules. In an Indian home the mother rules. If a mother comes into a western home, she has to be subordinate to the wife; to the wife belongs the home.. A mother always lives in our homes: the wife must be subordinate to her. See all the difference of ideas.”

—Swami Vivekananda

 

DIVINITY IN THE ROBE OF HUMILITY

 

Anandashram — The Abode Of The Humble

 

‘Nearer to the temple, farther from God’ is a popular saying. Two decades of stay in Kerala since birth did not give this writer an opportunity to visit Anandashram, Kanhangad, when Papa Ramdas was alive. But in the fag end of the nineteen sixties, this sadhu came to know of Papa through some devotees of Anandashram who were holding regular satsang in Chennai. In the beginning of the eighties, the coming into contact with my Master, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, made this sadhu know more about Papa Ramdas, my Master’s master, and Poojya Mataji Krishnabai, the successor of Papa. However, it was in the distant South Africa, while editing the Yoga Lessons for Children, a prestigious publication of the Divine Life Society of South Africa, on the eve of the Centenary of Swami Sivananda, in 1985, that this sadhu was made aware in detail about Papa and Mataji. Swami Sahajananda, the Head of the Divine Life Society of South Africa, made a special request to this sadhu to visit Anandashram and have darshan of Poojya Mataji soon after his return to Bharat.

 

So, in 1986, this sadhu, accompanied by two young devotees from South Africa, visited the Anandashram to have the darshan of Poojya Mataji. The moment we arrived in the ashram premises, an elderly, frail sadhu received us and arranged for our accommodation. He was so humble and simple in his appearance that this sadhu thought that he must be just one among the many inmates of the ashram. But when he came to know that the swami whom he had met was none other than Swami Satchidananda, the right hand man of Poojya Mataji, looking after the administration of the ashram, this sadhu’s admiration for him knew no bounds. Mataji Herself was found to be a personification of motherly love and affection and she treated us as though we were children returning home after a long stay outside. The first lesson in spiritual life — to be humble and simple is the pathway to Bliss — was taught to us by the example that Mataji and Swamiji set before us.

 

Concern For A Driver

 

The very next year, another visit was made by this sadhu to Anandashram. This time the sadhu was accompanying a group of devotees from South Africa on a ‘Discover India Tour’ by air flights. We landed at Mangalore airport and drove to Anandashram in a taxi. Poojya Swami Satchidananda extended to us the usual hospitality of the ashram by arranging a cottage for our stay and personally looking into our needs. With an umbrella in his hand, he used to walk into our quarters many times to see that we were alright. He also arranged for the  darshan of Mataji and for getting her blessings. It was in this visit that the swamiji gave this sadhu very valuable information about the stay of my Master, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, in Anandashram, and his initiation by Papa Ramdas in 1952, which has been incorporated in this sadhu’s ‘Glimpses Of A Great Yogi’. The swami also presented a set of books by Papa Ramdas and a dowsing pendulum to this sadhu.

 

A significant incident took place at the time of our leaving the ashram. We were expecting the taxi driver, who had brought us from Mangalore, to come in the night on the last day of our stay there, to pick us up for an early morning flight out of Mangalore. As he did not turn up till late in the night, we approached Swami Satchidanandaji to help us out. Even in the late hours, Swamiji took the trouble of finding out a taxi nearer to the ashram and fixed it up for us. But the driver from Mangalore arrived past midnight and we were constrained to cancel the taxi fixed by the swami. Swamiji was worried about the driver of the local taxi who would be unnecessarily disturbed in the early morning hours and insisted that we should

 

contact him and duly inform him on our way and we did that.

 

Support To Papa-Mataji’s Cause

 

On the auspicious day of Swami Ramdas’s Jayanti, April 26, 1988, this sadhu was initiated into the Ramnam Taraka Mantra, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram,  by my Master, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, at the Banyan Tree Cave, where Papa Ramdas sat and meditated and which is now known as Papa Ramdas Cave, on the top of Arunachala Mountain at Tiruvannamalai. The command of my Master to this sadhu was to perform the japa sadhana all the time and dedicate all actions unto Him. The very next year, when Poojya Mataji Krishnabai attained to Mahasamadhi, my Master  gave a command to this sadhu to devote his energies and time to propagate in every nook and corner the 15,500 crore Nama Japa Yagna for World Peace, started by Poojya Mataji. Consequently the World Ramnam Movement was launched by the dynamic youth of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, a wing of Sister Nivedita Academy, with its headquarters at Chennai. Later visits of this sadhu to Anandashram were marked by a sense of belonging that he was doing the work of Papa Mataji and that the ashram was his home. The Master also commanded that every time this sadhu visited the ashram, he should stay there for at least three days. Every time this sadhu visited the ashram in the company of devotees, Poojya Swami Satchidanandaji and other inmates in the ashram treated him with all respect and care due to a disciple of  Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Poojya Swamiji offered generously gifts of malas, books, cassettes etc., for the Ramnam prachar work of the sadhu inside the country and abroad. Yogi Ramsuratkumar Himself considers the work of the World Ramnam Movement as a cause very dear to Papa and Mataji. With the grace and blessings of Poojya Swamiji and my Master, the work has spread very fast, especially after the World Hindu Conference at Durban in 1995 and the subsequent several  visits of this sadhu to South Africa. With the blessings of these Masters this sadhu is scheduled to visit Mauritius again in February 1999, for a Sri Ram Nam Maha Yagna to be held in Mauritius from Yugadi, March 18, 1999,  to Ramnavami, March 25, 1999.

 

Consoling Quick Wit of the Swami

 

Saturday, 20th November 1993, turned out to be a significant day in the life of this sadhu. That day when this sadhu called on my Master, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, at Tiruvannamalai, the Master commanded him to send back those who had accompanied him from Chennai and stay with Him for a night at ‘Sudama’, the abode of Ma Devaki. In the night He sprang a surprise by making a significant announcement: “Rangaraja, Papa Ramdas initiated this beggar and after initiation, Papa wanted this beggar to leave the Ashram. he did not want this beggar to stay there. He wanted this beggar to go out and do sadhana. It was given to Swami Satchidananda to serve the Master and Mataji. Similarly this beggar has initiated Rangaraja. This beggar also wants that Rangaraja should go out and do the work of Mataji Krishnabai by spreading the Ramnam Japa Yagna. He does not expect Rangarajan to be by his side.”

 

It took a few seconds to recover from the shock that His words gave, but this sadhu assured Him that he will obey Master’s words and that he was sure that the Master was always with him. “This beggar is always with Rangaraja”, he assured in return. Then He commanded this sadhu to perform a great task — introducing to the world Ma Devaki as His “Eternal Slave” by writing a fitting editorial in TATTVA DARSANA Quarterly edited by this sadhu. It was promptly done in the very next issue of the journal, which happened to be the 76th Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti Issue. The Master Himself distributed the copies of the issue to hundreds of devotees and even made them read it again and again in the daily congregations. A grand Akhand Ramnam Japa Yagna was organized by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association in the Oya Madam at Tiruvannamalai and the Master and Ma Devaki stayed with the sadhu for two days on January 1 and 2, 1994, where also the copies of the issue were distributed and the editorial read again and again.

 

This sadhu was summoned to the presence of the Master again in the very next month, for some urgent work. The Master told this sadhu that Poojya Swami Satchidanandaji of Anandashram was scheduled to call on Him at Tiruvannamalai on February 25, 1994, and to lay the foundation stone for the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram on the next day. As the Swami was to come by a car from Chennai, the Master wanted that this sadhu should accompany the Swami to Tiruvannamalai. Accordingly this sadhu returned to Chennai and came to Tiruvannamalai again with the Swamiji and his party. On February 26, 1994, after the auspices event of the foundation stone laying of the Ashram, when we were all seated in ‘Sudama’ in the presence of my Master and Poojya Swamiji, Yogi Ramsuratkumar pointed to this sadhu and told Poojya Swamiji that he never gave initiation to anyone, but He gave initiation in the Ramnam Taraka Mantra to Rangaraja. “When Rangaraja asked this beggar what he should do from then, this beggar told him to spread Mataji’s work. Rangaraja has taken it seriously and has put his heart and soul into the work.” Yogiji then asked this sadhu to speak a few words about his work. It was at that time that this sadhu jovially told Swami Satchidananda that, just as Papa did not want Yogiji in the Ashram after initiation and sent Him out, giving the opportunity to Swamiji to serve Papa amd Mataji, Yogiji has also driven out this sadhu after initiation, giving the opportunity to Ma Devaki to serve Him. However, the consolation is that this sadhu could meet my Master several times after initiation whereas Yogiji could not meet His Master after He left the Ashram. The quick witted swamiji, speaking with a gentle smile,  immediately consoled this sadhu: “Papa had given External Affairs to Yogiji and Home to me. Similarly Yogjji has given the foreign portfolio to you and home to Devaki.” When this sadhu added that Yogiji has assured him that He will be by his side all the time, Yogiji remarked, “Though this beggar left Papa in 1952, he used to feel the presence of Papa all the time.” Swami Satchidanandaji gave a tail-piece to the discussion: “Father and son are one!”

 

Prostrations At The Feet Of The Great Masters

 

Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada says in Viveka Choodaamani:

Durlabham trayametat devaanugraha hetukam

            Manushyatwam mumukshutwam mahaapurusha samshrayah

— “There are three things which are rare indeed and are due to the grace of God — namely a human birth, the longing for Liberation, and the protecting care of a perfected sage.” Sthitaprajnas or the Self-Realized Masters who always remain in the highest realms of intuitive consciousness and come out into the world to serve the suffering humanity are rare indeed. Even a few moments in their presence elevate the human mind from mundane worldly moorings to a realm of higher life. When two such great Mahatmas meet and give darshan to the devotees jointly, what an immense bliss it must be to the spiritually hungry aspirants. That was what had happened when Poojya Swami Satchidanandaji met Yogi Ramsuratkumar at Tiruvannamalai  four decades after my Master had left the Anandashram in 1952. It was not a mere emotional rejoining of two old friends or Gurubhais, but a meeting of two sparks which had started off from one and the same flame and grown in stature to big columns of fire. Both manifested the grace abounding of Papa Mataji and those who sat in their presence on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram felt that a new dimension of Papa Mataji’s work had begun. The most striking experience of the devotees was the humility and compassion manifested by both the Masters vying with each other. While Yogiji was holding on to the hands of the Swamiji for hours together, like a child holding its father’s hand, Swamiji also manifested that innocent indulgence of a child held by its mother.

 

The ways of the Divine are mysterious. For fulfilling the teleology of the evolutionary process, which works from the lowest amoeba to the highest human being, it sends down Messiahs who act as Pole Stars. Those who look up do catch a glimpse of them and get their guidance. May the grace of the Masters be ever upon us! On behalf of my Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, at whose instance this humble tribute is penned down, and on behalf of this sadhu himself, we offer Shatashatah pranaams to Poojya Swami Satchidanandaji Maharaj on the occasion of his completion of fifty glorious years of  seva of Beloved Papa through Anandashram.

 

[TATTVA DARSANA,  Vol. 16, No. 1,  Feb-Apr 99]

 

 

 

Mataji Krishnabai and Papa Ramdas

 

A candle burns and spends its substance away in giving more and more light. The flo wer goes on giving out its sweet fragrance until it fades away and dies. The fire emits heat to the fullest capacity until its last embers turn into ashes. So a soul garbed in the robes of Divine joy gives himself away in all his varied actions through the mind and body for the weal of the world until the body drops off. Hence self-sacrifice, i.e. the elimination of the self in all that he does, far from being a painful experience, assumes the form of a spontaneous flow of delight.

— Swami Ramdas

 

 

EDITORIALS:

THE HIMALAYAS OF SPIRITUALITY

 

Gurur brahmaa gurur vishnuh

            Gurur devo maheshwarah

Gurussaakshaat parabrahma

            Tasmai sree gurave namah

 

–  Guru is the Supreme Creator! He is the Sustainer and the Great Lord in whom everything dissolves! He is the Ultimate Reality! To that Preceptor, I pay my obeisance!

This has been the chosen prayer of the Hindu race from time immemorial. Beginning from the ages of Vyasa, Valmiki, Vasishtha and Vishwamitra to the present day, Mother Bharat has produced gems of preceptors and therefore She is rightly known as Brahmaraajarishi ratnaadyaa – one who adorns a garland of pearls of Brahma Rishis and Raja Rishis.

 

To whichever religious denomination a Hindu may belong, Acharya to him is Divinity embodied. And to a true Hindu, not only the Acharya of his own sampradaya or sect, but all the Acharyas of all sampradayas  are various manifestations of the Supreme Being. And, all the true Acharyas of the hindu society have stressed the uity of godhead and the validity of various means of god-realization propounded by different preceptors at different times, according to the needs and conditions of the society. They have all pointed out that harmony and peace, not conflict and competition are the key-note of spiritual life.

 

In the modern times, there moved in the midst of spiritual seekers of the land, a great mahapurusha who sought to re-establish the unity of religions as well as integration of various means of god-realisation. He was none other than Swami Sivananda Saraswati, the Himalayan Saint, whom the whole world gratefully remembers in his centenary year.

Swami Sivananda did not want to establish his own sect or sampradaya. He did not preach any new religion. Through his sadhana and preachings, he rejuvenated and revitalized the eternal religion of the Hindus, based on eternal values and not merely on external, ritualistic practices and ways of worship. These values being universal, the propagation of them not only vitalized the religions that have sprung up in Bharatavarsha, but also those in other parts of the world. In short, the path shown y Bhagavan Sivananda was the path of Divine Life nourishing and nurturing the religious and spiritual endeavours of the entire humanity. No wonder, the Divine Life Society established by him has today spread its wings all over the world and people of all countries and clime are drawn towards it.

 

Starting his career as a medical practitioner in Malaya, young Kuppuswami, whose sole aim in life was removal of pain and suffering of all ailing beings realized that his mission would find its fulfillment only in renunciation and surrender to the Divine Will. He gave up his lucrative career and retired to the Himalayas, setting up his humble abode in Rishikesh. Soon, the thirsty spiritual aspirants in India and abroad discovered the Divine Light emanating from the Swarg Ashram in the Himalayas and started making pilgrimages to the sacred presence of the Modern Rishi. The compassionate and kind heart of the Himalayan Sage opened up to everyone and the seeds of the divine Life Movement were sown in the Himalayas. While the Sivananda Ashram, with its various service wings, became a comforting resort to all afflicted souls, the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy produced spiritual literature sufficient to inundate the whole country and overflow abroad. Today the service institutions and publication centres of the Divine Life Society in various parts of the world are rendering incomparable services to the humanity. More than three hundred works written by Swami Sivananda summarises the entire spiritual literature produced by all the great Acharyas in the past and encompasses all aspects of life. His method of Integral Yoga, synthasising Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, Raja and Hatha Yogas and his devotional outpourings crossing the barriers of language and creed have become universal possessions of the whole mankind.

 

TATTVA DARSANA feels proudly privileged to join the millions of devotees of this great master in paying our humble homage to him in his centenary year. What we have tried to give in the following pages are a few drops from the ocean of wisdom of Swami Sivananda to wet the parched throats of spiritual aspirants and to give them a taste of his spiritual attainments, and to present a glimpse of this Great Himalayas of Spirituality. Those who are gifted are bound to delve deep into his life and literature and, drawing inspiration therefrom, transform their own lives into humble offerings to the Divine. May Sri Gurudev’s Grace bring peace and harmony into this world!

 

Dakshinaamoorty samaarabhya

            Shankaraacharya madhyamah

Asmadaachaarya paryantam

            Vande Guruparamparaam!

 

– Our salutations and prostrations unto all Acharyas beginning with Dakshinaamoorty, the Preceptor of Preceptors, with Shankaracharya in the medieval period, and upto our Great Acharya!

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, August –October 1986, Vol. 3, No.3]

 

GRACE

 

“There are two powers that alone can effect in their conjunction the great and difficult thing which is the aim of our endeavour, a fixed and unfailing aspiration that calls from below and a supreme Grace from above that answers.

But the supreme Grace will act only in the conditions of the Light and the Truth; it will not act in conditions laid upon it by the Falsehood and Ignorance. For if it were to yield to the demands of the Falsehood, it would defeat its own purpose.

There are the conditions of the Light and Truth, the sole conditions under which the highest Force will descend; and it is only the very highest supramental Force descending from above and opening from below that can victoriously handle the physical Nature and annihilate its difficulties…”

—Sri Aurobindo

 

A SAINT WHO PREACHED VEGETARIANISM

 

In the process of evolution, man rises above the animal. In the case of an animal, food is just a necessity for its survival. It is not bothered about the purity or impurity of the food that it consumes. By instinct, it chooses the food that helps its survival. However, man does not eat just for physical survival. He has a mind which is attracted to sensual pleasures and he therefore eats to satisfy his palate. He has an intellect and an intelligent man chooses that kind of food which would suit to his intellectual and intuitive development. Man has also spiritual cravings and the man aspiring for a higher life chooses such type of food which will help him in his spiritual development also. Our ancestors have classified food into three types — Tamasic, Rajasic and Satvic. A man who wants to live just like an animal will choose just Tamasic food which includes non-vegetarian food that satisfies his inherited animal tendencies and also satisfies his palate. But a man who wants to live a higher emotional existence like a warrior, prefers Rajasic food that is spicy and hot like foods prepared with chilly, pepper, etc. However, a man who craves for a higher spiritual life prefers Satvic food consisting of honey, milk, fruits, etc.

In the process of evolution from animal to man, the human species have passed through the stages of cannibals and raw meat eaters. Today man is a civilized being. When man advances in civilization, he learns to live in harmony and peace with nature. Live and let live becomes his philosophy. When he moves forward, he realizes that in god’s creation, every living being has a right to survive unless and until it is a threat to the existence of other beings. He realizes that all life is the manifestation of one Supreme Consciousness — “Every Jiva is Shiva” — as Sri Ramakrishna said. However, the law of nature is that one form of life becomes food for another form of life. Thus the vegetable kingdom becomes food for animal and man. Our ancient Rishis realized this truth and learnt to live in harmony with nature. Without destroying the vegetable kingdom, enjoying the fruits supplied by them, they maintained their existence. The highly evolved Rishis never even plucked the fruits, but waited for them to fall off naturally after ripening. The violence to the lower vegetable kingdom was the barest minimum needed for the survival of the higher species. Killing of animals for food was abandoned by them in the process of evolution to a higher spiritual life. On the other hand, even the cow that gave milk, which is next to the mother’s breast milk for the survival of a human child, was adored as ‘Gomata‘. That is why the Hindus considered a beef eater as ‘mleccha‘ — outcaste — and kept him at a distance.

Today, we live in a scientific and rational age. Today vegetarianism is fast spreading all over the world, especially in those countries which have been for ages the land of meat eaters and beef eaters. The reason is that the modern scientists in Europe and America have discovered that meat is not the natural food of man and it is on the other hand the source of many diseases, like the mad cow disease, heart disease, cancer, liver and kidney failure etc. Man like his immediate ancestor, the ape, is a herbivorous being; not carnivorous like lower beasts. The moment an animal or bird is killed, the food becomes a dead carcass and the process of putrefaction starts. The one who eats such food inherits the tamasic qualities of animals because of the acidity of the dead carcass. His stomach becomes a grave yard for animals and birds killed by him. In the case of vegetable food, the energy is directly received from the solar rays transformed into chlorophyll by the leaves of the plant kingdom and supplied to fruits, roots, nuts, etc. which retain the energy for a longer period. The plant kingdom is not wantonly destroyed while taking the fruits and the process of growth of the species is not stopped. If one analyses these factors, one would definitely prefer to live as a vegetarian throughout life and would strive to rise higher in the process of evolution by living in harmony with entire nature.

Paramasant Baba Jay Gurudev was a great saint of modern India who was revered and respected not only by Hindus, but even by Muslim devotees. He proclaimed that human body is temple of God and it should not be converted into a grave yard by dumping non-vegetarian food into the stomach. The Hindu scriptures declare, Shareeram aadyam khalu dharma saadhanam–‘Body is the instrument for divine life’–and Poojya Baba Jay Gurudev preached absolute vegetarianism. His message and mission was once again to make Bharatavarsha, the land of saints, into the preceptor of the world by elevating the way of life of the people of this country from mundane and materialistic existence to a spiritual life. It is heartening to know that JAY GURUDEV SHAKAHAARI PARIVARTAN, a monthly magazine espousing the noble cause upheld by the Sant, and published from Aurangabad, is bringing out a SHRADDHAANJALI VISHESHAANK–a special issue in memory of the revered saint. We take this opportunity to pay our humble tribute to the great saint through the special issue.

VANDE MATARAM! BHARAT MATA KI JAI! GO MATA KI JAI!PARAMA POOJYA JAY GURUDEV MAHARAJ KI JAI!

A SUN THAT HAS SEEN

THOUSAND MOONS

 

“Pashyema sharadassatam, jeevema sharadassatam, nandaama sharadassatam, modaama sharadassatam, bhavaama sharadassatam, shrinavaama sharadassatam, prabravaama sharadassatam, ajeetaasyaama sharadassatam jyok cha sooryam drishe!”

 

— “Let us see Him (the effulgent Sun — Savita) for hundred autumns, live for hundred autumns, be happy for hundred autumns, enjoy for hundred autumns, exist gloriously for hundred autumns, hear good things for hundred autumns, speak sweetly for hundred autumns and live unconquered (by vices) for hundred autumns; thus we aspire to see and experience the Sun!”

 

The above is the daily prayer of a Hindu who offers the oblations to the Sun God every afternoon throughout his life. Achieving the four-fold goal of life —Dharma, Artha, Kaama and  moksha, and seeking the fulfilment of life through all stages — Brahmacharya, Gaarhastya, Vaanaprastha and Sannyaasa to attain the final identification of the individual soul with the Supreme Reality is the meaning and purpose of human existence. Any one who achieves this is a Yogi, a Siddha, a Mahapurusha an Avadhoota.

 

Poojya Tapasi Baba Avadhoot,  who was known as Dr.R.K. Mishra in his poorva aashram, is indeed such a great Mahatma who has achieved the great feat in this lifetime. He does not rest content with his own salvation. Like a beacon, he is a blazing light for thousands of others who also seek guidance on the spiritual path. As he often claims himself to be, he is a scientist, and we say, a scientist of the highest order — who imparts the knowledge of the spirit not through blind and superstitious rites and rituals, but through the scientific, rational and right understanding of our ancient sources of wisdom presented by the great sages and seers of Bharatavarsha.

 

Though the association of Poojya Tapasi Baba with this sadhu and his humble work through Sister Nivedita Academy, an International Institute of Hindu Thought and Culture, and TATTVA DARSANA, a Quarterly journal published from Chennai, started only five years ago, like a powerful magnet that attracts iron filings, Baba has been able to conquer the hearts of all those who have been involved in our work and to motivate us to set up the Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram and Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Research Centre & Library, which has now come up at Bangalore. To cite an example of Baba’s unique capacity of transforming ordinary people into

 

men and women of highest realization, like a philosopher’s stone turning ordinary metal into gold,  we would point out to Mother Ines Lawler, a white lady from South Africa who  came in his contact hardly five years ago and who has not so far met him personally, but today pours down under his inspiration and guidance Upanishadic wisdom through her writings titled, “My Guru and Me” in TATTVA DARSANA.

 

A worshipper of the adorable and effulgent SAVITA all these years, Tapasi Baba has himself transformed into a Blazing Sun that has seen a Thousand Moons! When he completes 80 years on October 31, 2000 AD, we join hundreds of his devotees in India and abroad to pray to the Effulgent Sun to make him live for another hundred years to guide the humanity seeking light and wisdom!

[TATTVA DARSANA, October 2000, Vol.17, No.4]

 

TAPASI BABA ATTAINS MAHASAMADHI

 

Poojyapada Tapasi Baba Avadhoot of Pune attained Mahasamadhi at 11-15 AM on Thursday, April 22, 2004. He was 84.

 

Poojya Baba was a great worshipper of Sage Parasuram whose Jayanti falls on Akshaya Triteeya and perhaps it was His will that the Baba should shed his mortal coil on this auspicious day.

 

Poojya Tapasi Baba, who was Dr. R.K. Misra in  poorvaashram, was a scientist with a Ph. D. Degree in Agricultural Science. For a time, he was Professor of Agriculture (Agronomy) in a Degree College and also the Principal of the College. He was also a Senior Specialist in the Indian National Commission on Agriculture (1970-76), on deputation from India Meteorological Department, Government of India. He sought premature retirement from Government service and went into seclusion towards the Himalayas, in pursuance of his objective of deep contemplation and self-realization. Trained in hatha yoga most scrupulously by his preceptor, Sri Vaman Dattatrey Gulavani, Sri Tapasi Baba lived a secluded life in Pune. He lived what he preached. While soaked in the universal spiritual outlook of the Upanishadic seers, he was nonetheless a patriot who considered Mother India as the spiritual guru of the world. A keen observer of events that happened inside the country and abroad, his views were forthright and guidance marked by deep foresight.

 

Poojya Baba was so constant a friend, philosopher and guide to Sadhu Rangarajan and Patron of TATTVA DARSANA and Sister Nivedita Academy that, during the last few years, no day passed without an epistle from Baba and almost every morning he used to make a phone call from Pune to Chennai or Bangalore wherever the sadhu was, discussing personally not only spiritual matters but also important developments in the national and international scene. His dictum was, “One letter a day will keep Sadhu under Tapasi’s sway!” Every issue of TATTVA DARSANA was embellished with his thought-provoking writings.

 

When the current issue of TATTVA DARSANA was getting ready, we received message from Poojya Baba about the passing away of his dedicated disciple, Mrs. Ines Lawler of Capetown, whom he had never met personally, and our Shraddhanjali to her appears in this very issue with the message of the Baba about her. While this issue was in the press, we received the message of the Mahasamadhi of Poojya Baba. He was staying with his daughter and son-in-law and leaves behind two sons and two daughters, in-laws and grandchildren.

 

Babaji has left a volume of correspondence which would be a rich source of his series of contributions to TATTVA DARSANA  for many more issues. We offer our humble homage to the great saint who would continue to be a constant companian and guide to us in this life. Poojya Tapasi Baba Amar rahe!

 

[TATTVA DARSANA, April 2004, Vol.21, No.2]

 

 

A SANNYASI SPEAKS OUT

FOR HIS MOTHERLAND

 

Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj

(World President, Divine Life Society, Rishikesh)

 

 

 

[In India, we have undertaken a massive work to bring in unity and understanding among all Hindu organizations and movements and the enlightened swamijis, sadhus and mahatmas of various sampradayas are all realizing the need for this unity and integration of the entire Hindu society. We have been repeatedly appealing to the sadhus and mahatmas in India to come out of the closed shells of their ashrams, mutts, missions and sampradayas and to give effective leadership to the whole society so that the sanctity, security and integration of our holy motherland is protected.

 

In the April 2004 issue of “The Divine Life” published by the World Headquarters of Divine Life Society at Rishikesh, Poojya Swami Chidananda, the World President of the organization and one of the greatest sannyasins living in our midst today, has written a very inspiring and thought-provoking article calling for patriotism, devotion to Motherland and self-sacrifice on the part of the people for the cause of the country. We reproduce the article with the hope that it will receive the due attention of the entire nation.—Editor]

 

….Before closing, I will set at rest a query as to why a monastic and a Sannyasin should bother about these matters pertaining to the country? My answer to their unspoken query is twofold. Firstly, I am not a Sannyasin. Because, in our shastras there is acceptance of a fifth state transcending the four orders of an individual’s life. This is known as “Ati-Varnashrama”. Secondly, even if you regard me as a Sannyasin, nevertheless I am also a son of India, a son of Bharata-Mata who is my Motherland.

 

Jai Hind! Vande Mataram!

 

A Worshipper at the altar of the Great Mother,

Swami Chidananda.

BOOK REVIEWS

 

ACHARYA PRANAVANANDA

PROPHET OF A NEW HINDU AGE by Ninian Smart and Swami Purnananda; Published by George Allen and Unwin (Publishers) Ltd., 40; Museum Street, London, WCIA ILU, U.K.; Year 1985; Pages—xl + 171; Price: Pounds 5.95.

 

Bengal in the end of 19^th Century and early part of the 20th Century saw a new awakening, which gradually became the nucleus of Indian Renaissance and National Awakening which ultimately resulted in the freedom of the Motherland from British Yoke. None will dispute that the mantra of ‘VANDE MATARAM propounded by Bankirn Chandra Chatterji and the song of Vande Mataram incorporated by him in his epoch-making novel, ‘Ananda Math’, created a tremendous impact on the  thoughts and actions of almost all the leaders of the Hindu religions and national movements.  Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sister Nivedita and Mahakavi Bharati are the glaring examples of the stalwarts of the period, who tried to translate the ideal of spiritual nationalism into a practical reality.

 

Acharya Pranavananda was one among the lesser known leaders of the Hindu nationalist movement, whose contribution to the religio-politcal awakening of the country was in no way lesser than that of many of his well known contemporaries. The book under review tries to present the glorious life of the Acharya in the shining background of the national and religious awakening of the period. Binod, as Acharya Pranavanandawas known in his boyhood days had definitely been influenced by the current of nationalist  and religious awakening which passed through the works of Bankiin  and Vivekananda. The very fact that he was in close contact with the revolutionaries of Bengal of his time and he even extended  his help to them though he didn’t participate directly in their violent activities, points out how much he was involved in the current. Unfortunately, the book under review does not delineate the early influences excepting a passing reference to Swami Vivekananda and other leaders of his times, and there is no mention of Bankim who moulded  the thoughts of Bengalis of the time and whose message has been the bed-rock of the Acharya’s mission.

 

Besides the introduction, the book contains 9 chapters on the life and achievements of the Acharya with a bibliography at the end. The first two chapters present the childhood and school days of the Acharya and his early struggles in a spiritual and patriotic life. Though at the age of 18, he joined the Anuseelan Samiti, a secret revolutionary organization, his later thinking that Indian freedom could not be won by shooting policemen and British officials, took him away from the charm of individual terrorist acts. His coming under the influence of Baba Gambiranathji of Gorakhpur led him into a spiritually-oriented life. His severe penance and austerities and his sadhanas on the bank of Ganges in the holy city of Benares moulded him into a young sadhu. The third and fourth chapters narrate his emergence as a recluse and his setting up of his ashram at Bajitpur. The great 1919 cyclone in Bengal was a turning point in his life and he set up relief centres for the service of the poor and downtrodden. His remarkable skill in organizing the volunteers and inspiring them to dedicated action sowed the seed of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh. We find the indirect influence of the Ananda Math of Bankim Chandra and the ideal of ‘Bhavani Mandir’ propounded by Sri Aurobindo in the creation of the Sangh, though it has not been mentioned in the book under review. The chapters 5 and 6 beautifully describe the emergence of the Sangh, its spreading its wings and its more service-oriented than spiritual programme of activities. His remarkable contribution in eradicating the social evils and exploitation rampant in the holy places like Prayag and Gaya are very well narrated.

Acharya Pranavananda also came under the influence of the movement in Bengal of celebrating Durga Puja as a national festival to create a political awakening among the people.

 

In the 7th chapter the authors present a fascinating account of the Acharya’s work for the Hindu Unity as well as his conception of the ‘Dharma State’. The setting up of the Hindu Samaj Samanvaya Movement and the Hindu Milan Mandirs for a self-conscious Hindu Solidarity, for the eradication of untouchability and other caste distinctions and, for bringing the aboriginals into the main stream of Hindu national life with a specific view to set up Dharma Rashtra are narrated in this chapter. The idea of setting up a Hindu Rashtra was shared by other contemporary leaders and organizations of his time, especially by Veer Savarkar of the Hindu Maha Sabha and Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It would have been better if the Acharya’s ideals of the Hindu Rashtra were presented in comparison to that of these two great leaders. Failure to mention the identical thoughts of the contemporary leaders and the identical programmes of sister movements makes it appear that the Acharya’s ideas and programme were unique. The life of a great leader must be studied in a wider background of his times and the contemporary influences.

 

The chapters 8 and 9 present the dimension of the Acharya’s faith and the last days and retrospect.

 

Extracts from the epistles Of the Acharya show him out as a born leader, an undaunted optimist and a true Karma Yogi. The  Acharya’s deep foresight in discerning the future developments in East Bengal and his endeavours to organize the Hindu Sociey in that part of the country to face the inevitable is remarkable. The fact that the Acharya did not see eye to eye with Mahatma Gandhi, especially with the Muslim-appeasing attitude of the Congress Movement in the later days, is well implied in his endeavours to set up a Dharma Rashtra on the basis of ancient Hindu political ideals. The authors are right when they say that the Acharya’s vision of the future India has proved to be more true than that of Mahatma Gandhi, in so far as the go by given to the impractical ideals of non-violence in politics, especially in the administration of the state and also in view of the growing Hindu awakening in the country as a whole today. But it is ludicrous to suggest  that there is a resemblance of the dynastic rule of a Dharma Rashtra in the dynastic succession in the Nehru family ruling the country.

 

The book as a whole is very inspiring, educative and illuminating. It throws sufficient light on the strivings of a benign soul to re-establish the Hindu Nation and to raise it to the pinnacle of its glory. It is a must for any student of the modern history of our country, especially for those doing research on the social, religious and nationalist movements of the 19th and 20^th century India.

 

We hope a future edition of the book will include more of the expanding activities of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh in India and abroad.

—Bhavanidasan

SRI SRI SITARAMDAS OMKARNATH

The Divine Life of Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath by C. Varadarajan; Publisher: Kinker Rameshananda, Akhil Bharat Jai Guru Sampradaya, Mahamilan Math, 7/7, P.W.D. Road, Calcutta 700 035; First Edition: Gum Purnima, 1997; Pages viii + 88, Price: Rs.60.00, US$5.00.

Mother Bharat is the only country in the world, where every inch of the land is marked by the advent of one Mahatma or other in some period of history. The modern period produced in Bengal spiritual stalwarts like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. In that order of saints came yet another great soul, Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath. Born on 17th February 1892, in a small village called Keota in Hooghly District, the child Prabhodh Chandra, like Gadadhar who became Sri Ramakrishna, had little of the so called formal education. Entering into Grihasta life, he lead the life of perfect householder, at the same time raising himself to a higher saintly life, proving that great spirits who are endowed with tremendous will power and determination can reach the supreme heights of spiritual life even while discharging normal duties of a householder. As he himself says in his Moods of Maniac, “With all your studies of Shastras, you cannot believe that a man can attain supreme knowledge while he lives as a family man. You believe that a family man cannot win peace and bliss; but he can. Peace can be yours, if you conform to the ideals of a family life, as set forth in the Shastras.”

The master who assumed the name ‘Omkamath’ preached the path of Nama Sankirtan. “Whatever is attained in Satya Yuga by meditation, in Treta by sacrifices, in Dwapara by worship, in the Kali Yuga it can be attained by singing the Name alone”, he asserted. A huge heap of cotton, straw or wool could be reduced to ashes by a small match stick. Centuries of darkness vanishes from a cave when a match stick is struck. Similarly, according to him, all sins are burnt away by chanting the Lord’s Name.

Like Sri Ramakrishna, he also practised in his life sarva dharma samanvaya. Among the many saints of modem times who have paid rich tributes to him are Swami Chidananda of Rishikesh, Anandamoyee Maa, Mahesh Yogi. Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Acharya Sushil Kumar Jain and Dalai Lama. His life is a guide to lay men and women who want to tread the spiritual path.

YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR, RAMNAM AND RAMAJANMABHOOMI

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

Prediction of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar

Wednesday, August 5, 2020, will be recorded in the history of Modern Bharatavarsha as a golden day when the awakened Hindu society launches the reconstruction of the most ancient Rama Temple at Ayodhya, with the Prime Minister of the country, Sri Narendra Modi, performing the bhoomi poojan for the re-establishment of the Mandir. This sadhu remembers the day, thirty-six years ago, when his Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, predicted that Ram temple would be rebuilt. Divine Mother Mayee of Kanyakumari directed this Sadhu to Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar who initiated this humble worker for the Hindu cause into His disciple and called him a Sadhu. The day this humble worker landed in Tiruvannamalai in search of his Master was 1st of September 1984. Searching for his Master, he approached his friend, Rajendran, who was Karyavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Tiruvannamalai for help. The friend at first could not recognize whom this sadhu was referring to as Yogi Ramsuratkumar and said that there were many North Indian Sannyasins in that place and he did not know whom I was referring. Then this sadhu explained to him that the Mahatma would be holding a palm-leaf fan and a coconut bowl in His hand as this sadhu has seen in his photo. The friend immediately jumped up and said, it was the ‘Visiri Swami’ and he was staying in His abode near the temple cart. He took me to the abode of Bhagavan. Bhagavan came out of His abode and received both of us with a keen look. The friend introduced himself as Rajendran, Karyavah of RSS, and introduced this sadhu as ‘Prof. Rangarajan from Madras’. After looking at us for a few minutes without uttering anything, the Mahatma told my friend: “This Beggar has to discuss many things with the professor. You can leave him here and go. Though this sadhu and his friend were surprised by the reply, the friend immediately took leave of us and the Mahatma conducted this sadhu into His abode.

We have given a vivid description of what transpired for the next two and a half hours between the Master and the disciple in our magnum opus, GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI. This sadhu gave a detailed report to the Mahatma about his past life, getting inspired by Sri Guruji Golwalkar, Sarsanghchalak of RSS, when the sadhu was just ten years old, and joining the RSS movement; later, when he was just a student in the college at Ernakulam, getting inspired by Swami Chinmayananda who along with Sri Guruji Golwalkar founded the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and this sadhu becoming a full time worker of RSS taking up the responsibility as organizer of the Parishad and also becoming Secretary of Chinmaya Mission in Trichy, organizing the Gita Gnana Yagna of the Swamiji in Srirangam; becoming an Editor of  Hindusthan Samachar News Agency started by the RSS; joining Eknath Ranade, the former General Secretary of RSS, who took up the mission of setting up Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari and serving as Assistant Editor of ‘Yuva Bharati’ , ‘Brahmavadin’ and ‘Vivekananda Kendra Patrika’  the publications of Vivekananda Kendra. When this sadhu spoke about the dream of the great Hindu leaders to see the restoration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and the struggle of thousands of Hindus for achieving that, the Master’s eyes emitted a powerful glow and He uttered, “Rangaraja, the Mandir will come up there.” Though at that time, this sadhu took it as a casual remark, time has made him realize that it was a farsighted prediction of the great Master. When this sadhu expressed his desire to write Bhagavan’s biography, he simply smiled, got up and collected some books already published—”YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR, Godchild, Tiruvannamalai” by Truman Caylor Wadlington, and some poetic works in Tamil by Ki. Va, Jagannathan – and handed them over to this sadhu putting His signatures on the first pages of the books as Yogi Ramsuratkumar and also as Rangarajan telling this surprised sadhu that both are same. Before leaving Him, when this sadhu expressed his desire to get initiation from Him, He simply smiled and said, “Why? You have already got it from a great man. Continue your practices. My Father blesses you!”

 

Bhagavan’s Emissary to South Africa

 

The next visit of this sadhu to the abode of the Master was on 12^th January 1985 when the whole world was celebrating the birth day of Swami Vivekananda and the Government of India had declared the day as the National Youth Day. A devout couple from South Africa, Smt and Sri T.M. Moodley, had accompanied this sadhu to Bhagavan’s abode. We found Bhagavan in an ecstatic mood saying, “Ah! Rajiv Gandhi has declared Swami Vivekananda’s birthday as National Youth Day!” In the course of their conversation with the Master, the couple told Him that there were millions of Hindus in South Africa who needed His guidance. Bhagavan laughed aloud and told them, “Mount Arunachala cannot move from here to South Africa. Therefore this Beggar cannot move from here. You take Rangaraja. He is a Professor”. This sadhu took it as a joke. However, he was amazed when he got, within a few months, an invitation from Swami Sahajananda of Divine Life Society of South Africa, inviting him to visit the country to edit “YOGA LESSONS FOR CHILDREN” based on the writings of Bhagavan Sivananda, which the society wanted to bring out as a prestigious publication on the occasion of the Centenary of Swami Sivananda. With the blessings of Mother Mayi of Kanyakumari, Bhagavan  Yogi Ramsuratkumar and this sadhu’s Shilshaguru, Poojya Swami Chinmayananda who commanded this sadhu to go abroad and “roar into the ears of the sleeping Hindus”, this sadhu left the shores of India for a four month long tour of South Africa, Mauritius and Reunion.  After his return from abroad, sadhu wrote the biography of Yogi Ramsuratkumar and the book titled GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI received a Benediction from Swami Chidananda, President of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, and it was released by Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar on His Jayanti on December1, 1987. Bhagavan wanted just one copy, but one hundred copies were placed at His feet and He arranged for the distribution of the book to all His devotees.

 

Initiation of Shishya by Bhagavan

 

Sri Sundaram Swami, who was living in the Banyan Tree Cave, popularly known as Papa Ramdas Cave, was a close friend and colleague of this sadhu when both of us were workers of RSS in Tamilnadu. Though Sri Sundaram had renounced his worldly life and was living as a recluse in the Baniyan Tree cave, during the period of Emergency declared by Smt. Indira Gandhi, he was incarcerated for his past association with the RSS. After the Emergency, he continued his sadhanas in the cave. He organised the Jayanti of Papa Ramdas, Guru of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, in the Papa Ramdas Cave on April 26, 1988. He invited this sadhu to preside over the celebrations and this sadhu accompanied by his son, Vivekanandan, and Sri Shekar, a former soldier of INA founded by Netaji Subhas, reached Tiruvannamalai, a day in advance. Before climbing up the Arunachala Hill, sadhu met Bhagavan and took His blessings. When sadhu told Him that he would come and meet Bhagavan again after the function, Bhagavan smiled and said, “Why? We have already spent good time today.”   The sadhu replied that he will just say “Namaste” before leaving Tiruvannamalai. This sadhu did not even dream that the most significant turning point in his life was going to take place on the next day. On the auspicious occasion of Papa Ramdas Jayanti, Bhagavan accompanied by two devotees, walked into the Banyan Tree Cave Ashram. It was the sudden and most unexpected appearance of Yogi Ramsuratkumar there. He announced the purpose of His sudden visit as to spend some time with the ‘Professor’. Little did this ‘Professor’ imagine that there was something most unexpected to happen in his life in the next few hours. The Master coolly told the organizers that there were many others who could speak and He virtually dragged this sadhu from the meeting place into the cave. And then happened the greatest ‘nuclear explosion’, in the life of this sadhu. The Master initiated him into the sacred mantra – Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram — which He himself received from Papa Ramdas who had sat and meditated in the very cave where we were sitting. What else other than the punya accumulated in the past births could bring in such a great fortune! Mahapurusha samsraya is not merely sitting in the presence of a great preceptor. To transform oneself into a humble and effective instrument for the Master’s work is the summum bonum of this contact. This humble servant got the blessings of the Master for that transformation that day when He declared His disciple as a ‘Sadhu’ and an instrument for His Father’s work. Though He converted this proud professor into a humble Sadhu, He insisted that nothing should be given up even from the name and therefore He called his disciple as ‘Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan’, the name that has stuck forever. The preceptor, unlike other Acharyas who give a new Sannyasa name to a disciple, retained the name given by this Sadhu’s parents and repeatedly emphasized, “Renunciation is not giving up anything, nor is it taking up anything…. Till yesterday, you were doing things as you wished, but from now onwards, this Beggar is going to do my Father’s work through you.”

 

Birth of World Ramnam Movement

 

The first massive gathering of the devotees of H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, addressed by this Sadhu was hardly a fortnight later. It was a two-day national seminar on “Destiny of Human Race and the Mission of His Holiness Yogi Ramsuratkumar” organized by ardent devotees like Sri A.R.P.N. Rajamanickam, Industrialist, and Dr. K. Venkatasubramanian, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University, and held at the Kamban Kalai Arangam, Pondicherry, on May 7 and 8, 1988. Devotees of Bhagavan gave this Sadhu a cordial welcome when he reached the Kalai Arangam, the venue of the Seminar. Pandita Indrani, a devotee from Trinidad, also joined the Sadhu. Eminent writers and scholars addressed the seminar. Sri Ramani Guruji released the Fourth Annual Number of TATTVA DARSANA dedicated to Yogi Ramsuratkumar on May 8, 1988, and Sri Rajamanickam received the first copy. Dr. Balachandran and Sri Shankararajulu, former Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University, referred to the work of Sadhuji, “GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI”, and the special issue of TATTVA DARSANA. The mission of the Sadhu in spreading the message of the Master throughout the country and abroad now started. Bhagavan used to say: “It is not easy to get a Guru, a spiritual master. It may take sometimes many births to get a spiritual master.” But the Master Himself comes into the life of the disciple when the appointed hour comes, or, in other words, when the instrument is ready for His work. Bhagavan was preparing this sadhu for His work and the charging of spiritual energy continued uninterruptedly. This sadhu felt a deep ecstatic experience and was reminded of the experience that Vivekananda as Narendra received from his Master, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

 

 Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti Celebrations under the auspices of Sister Nivedita Academy at Triplicane, Chennai, on Thursday, December 1, 1988, turned out to be a grand and colourful function by the grace of the Divine Master. A significant development on the occasion of the Jayanti Celebrations was the decision to launch YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION, a movement of the youth as a wing of SISTER NIVEDITA ACADEMY as instructed by the Master. When Vivek and Suresh, who were Engineering students, had visited the abode of my Master to appraise him about the preparations for the Yogi Jayanti, they made a fervent prayer to Him to allow them to start a youth organization named after Him. Yogiji was at first amused at their request and asked them jovially: “Why do you want a youth organization named after this Beggar? Why not have an organization named after Kamaraj or Karunanidhi or any big political leader?” The youth calmly replied to Him that they wanted to do some social and spiritual service in His name. Yogi pondered over their request for some time and then told Vivek: “Well, you can start the youth organization, but it must function as a wing of Sister Nivedita Academy right under the guidance of your father.” He also delineated the prime work that the youth must undertake—spreading of Ramnam Japa Yagna  to fulfil the dream of Mataji Krishnabai to complete 15,500 crores of Japa for world peace. At the time of the Jayanti Celebration, the proposal was given due consideration and it was decided to have the inauguration of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association in a special grand function. The inauguration of YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION took place in a grand function at Vemuru Ranganathan Chettiar Hall, Triplicane, on December 8, 1988. Sri Lee Lozowick, Spiritual Head of HOHM Community, Arizona, was the guest of honour. Prominent devotees of Master, like AR.PN. Rajamanickam and Prof. A.N. Balasubramaniam attended the function. The function, presided over by this Sadhu, started with the songs of Periaswami Thooran on Master, rendered by Sri Thooran’s daughter, Smt. Saradamani Chinnasami, and Sri Jagannathan.

 

In fact, the work of spreading Ramnam started immediately after the initiation of this sadhu by his Master and in June 1988. In a small congregation of villagers in Thangadu in Nilgiris, for observing a fire walking ceremony,  this sadhu had appealed to them to chant the Ramnam Taraka Mantra and send the Japa counts to this sadhu. The devotees there under the leadership of Sri Mohan, had taken up the sadhana regularly and systematically. Devotees in other parts of Tamilnadu and outside were also encouraged to take up Japa Sadhana regularly and quite a few families organized home satsangs to chant Ramnam in congregations under the auspices of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association which had already come into existence. However, the idea of starting a World Ramnam Movement under the auspices of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association lodged in the bosom of this sadhu after his meeting with the Master prior to his visit to Nilgiris for the fire walking ceremony. The villagers in Thangadu, who came to know about the proposal, made an appeal that the movement must make its beginning in the Nilgiri Hills like Mother Ganga making Her descent from Gangotri and prayed that the fire walking ceremony of the tribal brethren must be made an occasion to make the beginning. This sadhu conceded to their request and asked Mohan to accompany him on his visit to Kanhangad to get the formal consent of Poojya Swami Satchidananda to announce the starting of the movement.

 

Bhagavan Foresees the Advent of Ramarajya in 21^st Century

 

After the Mahasamadhi of Mataji Krishnabai on February 12, 1989, when Sadhu visited Master’s abode on March 5, 1989, Bhagavan pointed out the great mission in the sadhu’s life to which his whole lifetime was to be dedicated. Mataji had started the massive japa yajna of chanting 15500 crores of the Ramnam Taraka, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram for World Peace, of which 1757 crores had been completed before Her departure from the physical body. Master suggested to the sadhu to take up the task of spreading Her mission of the nama japa yajna all over the country and abroad, for the completion of the astronomical target fixed by Her.  Bhagavan asked Sadhu about the date on which he gave initiation to this sadhu in the Banyan Tree Cave and also questioned whether this was the second such experience that this sadhu received from Him. This sadhu could only manifest tears of joy in reply. This sadhu recalled that, after giving initiation to him in the Banyan Tree Cave, Bhagavan called in Vivek and told him that he could take his father back home and He would call him when He needed him for His work. Intuitively this sadhu realized that Bhagavan was going to make him an instrument for a great work.  The seed of the idea of launching a World Ramnam Movement to spread the mission of Mataji was sown in the bosom of this sadhu when this sadhu met his Master on March 6, 1989. However, he advised this sadhu to call on Poojya Swami Satchidananda, successor of Mataji in the Anandashram, and His suggestion to this sadhu to go to Anandashram and seek the blessings of His Gurubhai, Swami Satchidananda, was also for that purpose. Swami Satchidananda blessed the starting of the World Movement for Ramnam.

 

Poojyapada Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s grace and blessings made the visit of this sadhu to Mumbai, from 1^st to 7^th April 1989, to start the World Ramnam Movement there, a grand success. As the Ramnam Movement started growing in leaps and bounds, the need to produce enough information material, note books to write likhit japa, and pictures of Lord Ram and Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar was felt. Tulasi malas were obtained from Anandashram, Kanhangad, for distribution to devotees doing regular Ramnam Japa. Pamphlets in English and Tamil explaining the importance of Ramnam and about the World Ramnam Movement were printed. On May 20, 1989, Prof. Devaki of Sarada College, Salem, (now Ma. Devaki of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram) called on this sadhu. Pamphlets, Malas and some negatives of Bhagavan’s photo were handed over to her to enable her to carry on the campaign. Sri Hemadri Rao, a devotee who had taken initiation from the sadhu on Buddha Poornima Day, also came to make offerings on the occasion of the anniversary of his initiation. The very next day, this sadhu wrote letters to Poojya Swami Satchidananda of Anandashram and Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Sadhu gave the latest developments about the Ramnam movement to Bhagavan.

On July 10, 1989, in the early morning, this sadhu, accompanied by Vivekanandan, Nivedita and devotees from the Nilgiris, started for Tiruvannamalai to meet Bhagavan. We reached his abode in the afternoon and spent two hours from 1-00 PM to 3-00 PM with Bhagavan. This sadhu introduced the devotees from Nilgiris. He was happy to know about their work. He then made us chant two new mantra gathas–“Jayatu jayatu, jayatu jayatu. RamsuratkumaraYogi, Ramsuratkumara Yogi” and “Rama rama, rama rama, rama rama, rama rama; Rama rama, rama rama, rama rama, rama ram.” He asked Nivedita to practise this regularly. This sadhu reported to Him about the progress of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association activities. He was very happy to receive the report. This sadhu read out a letter from Poojya Swami Satchidananda and Yogi was very happy that Nivedita got swamiji’s blessings for “eternal happiness”. He permitted this sadhu to send the accumulated likhit japa sheets and note books to Omprakash Yogini of Ramji Ashram, Kumarakoil. He told the devotees from the Nilgiris, “Rangaraja has taken up the Ramnam campaign on a very big scale. Before December 1999, at least ¼ th of the target of Mataji Krishnabai must be completed. By the twenty-first century, we will see Ramarajya here.” When we promised Bhagavan that we all will strive to fulfil His command, He raised His hands and blessed us. We all chanted Ramnam. Bhagavan spoke on the efficacy of Ramnam chanting. He spoke about the effect of Ramnam on Bharata who stayed in Nandigram and, after fourteen years, got darshan of Ram, on Sita who was constantly chanting Rama’s name sitting in Ashoka Vana, on Samartha Ramdas and on Papa Ramdas who chanted the name constantly.

 

Pooja of Ram Shilas for Ayodhya Ram Temple

 

 The two-room rented apartment of Sadhu Rangarajan in an old building in the busiest part of Triplicane in Chennai became the beehive of intense Ramnam movement activities and a place of visit to many of ardent devotees of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsratkumar from far and near. The stream of frequent visitors also drew the attention of the people in the neighbourhood who also got attracted to the Ramnam Japa Yagna and activities of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association. October 30, 1989, the day on which this sadhu’s talk on “Spiritual Basis of Patriotism” was broadcast by All India Radio, Chennai, was also important as Ram Shilas to be taken to Ayodhya for construction of the magnificent Ram temple at Ayodhya, were brought to the humble abode of the sadhu and devotees gathered to offer pooja to the Shilas. Ramnam Japa counts coming from various parts of the country and abroad were growing in leaps and bounds and the monthly counts increased to more than one crore. Reports of the Ramnam counts were sent every month to Poojya Swami Satchidananda of Anandashram, Kanhangad, to be included in the Japa Counts of the “Nama Japa Yagna for World Peace” initiated by Poojya Mataji Krishnabai.   Preparations began for a Ramnam Nam Saptaha culminating in the Jayanti of Yogi Ramsuratkumar.

 

Incredible are the ways in which Bhagavan plays His leelas! On October 26, 1990, in the morning, this sadhu who was on tour of Bhagavan’s home state U.P., on Ramnam  Prachar, accompanied by Sri R.K. Lal, President of Swami Rama Tirtha Pratishthan, boarded a bus to Prayag. It was at that time the entire U.P. was caught in the grip of a crisis caused by unprecedented violence unleashed by the State Government under the Chief Ministership of Mulayam Singh Yadav against Sadhus, sants and devotees of Ram from various parts of the country who were arriving for Kar Seva on the occasion of Panchkoshi Prikrama in Ayodhya.  It was only a couple of days earlier that the Ram Janmabhoomi Rath of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sri L.K. Advani, which was entering U.P. after covering various other States in the country, was stopped and Advani taken into custody by the U.P. Police. In various parts of the State, sadhus, sants and Ram bhaktas proceeding to Ayodhya by trains, buses and other vehicles were detained by the police. When the bus in which this sadhu was travelling to Prayag reached Rae Bareily, suddenly a group of police men stopped the bus for search, and seeing this sadhu in ochre robe, decided to take him into custody as there was an order of the Government that any sadhu or sannyasi entering the State must be detained. Sri R.K Lal, who had been a Government Officer in UP, protested and informed the police officer that this sadhu was from Tamilnadu and had come for the Jayanti of Swami Rama Tirtha on the invitation of the Swami Rama Tirtha Pratishthan . When police insisted to take this sadhu into custody, the co-passengers in the bus came for the sadhu’s support and they, along with Lal, threatened to court arrest if the sadhu was arrested. The police officer was helpless and he warned that the sadhu would be detained the moment the bus reached Prayag. As soon as the bus entered Prayag, right in front of the bungalow of Sri T.S. Sinha, Retired Deputy Collector, which was on the right hand side of the national highway, it was stopped. We alighted from the bus and entered into the bungalow. Sri Sinha happened to be the father-in-law of Sri Lal’s son, Virendra, and he received us with all cordiality. Sinha asked the policeman to leave this sadhu under his care and the policeman obliged and left. Later Sinha fell prostrate at the feet of the sadhu and all the members of the family including Sinha’s sons and son-in-law also followed. He jovially said that he did not want the police to detain the sadhu, but he was going to detain him in his bungalow as his distinguished guest till the crisis outside cooled down and situation became calm. This sadhu told him about the Ramnam Japa Yagna work that his Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, had entrusted to him. Sinha assured the sadhu that he will fully cooperate with the sadhu in spreading Ramnam, but he wanted the sadhu to hold the Ramnam Satsang within the four walls of his bungalow, with his kith and kin and other Ram devotees attending it, till situation outside came to normalcy. The campaign for the World Ramnam Movement began right in Sri Sinha’s house and for the next few years, Sri Sinha became the Convener of the movement in U.P. and accompanied Sadhu to various parts of the State in spreading the movement.

 

Developments in Kar Seva Movement at Ayodhya

 

On October 30, 1990, the day of Kar Seva by Ram Bhaktas in Ayodhya Ram Mandir, lakhs of devotees had gathered in spite of the cancellation of train services and stopping of all types of transport to the temple city. At the time of Kar Seva in the Mandir in the morning, this sadhu was sitting in the Pratishthan and doing Ramnam Japa along with other devotes. In the afternoon, we received the news of brutal lathi charge and police firing on unarmed Kar Sevaks inside the Ayodya temple and in the surroundings, injury to Sri Ashok Singhal, World President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, merciless killing of Ram Bhakatas and many of the bodies of Kar Sevaks dumped into the Sarayu River. The whole nation was rudely shaken by the reports and newspapers all over the world reported the massacre of Hindus in Ayodhya. News Channels carried the video clippings of brutal police action and Jain Studios produced a detailed documentary available even now in YouTube. There were chaos and commotion everywhere in U.P. and, on the next day, there was an attempt by fanatic Muslims around the Pratishthan to attack the inmates in the Pratishthan. The Hindu neighbours came out with guns, swords and lathis in their hands to give protection to the Pratishthan. This sadhu had to cancel his return ticket to Chennai in view of the cancellation of train services.

 

On November 1, a special Ramnam satsang with chanting of Hanuman Chalisa was held in the Pratishthan premises to pay homage to the martyrs of Ramjanmabhoomi Agitation. Special satsangs were held in the houses of devotees. This sadhu distributed the pictures of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar and arranged for regular chanting of Ramnam. A fresh train ticket was purchased for return journey to Chennai and devotees saw off the sadhu at Lucknow Railway station on Tuesday, November 6. We found devotees of Ramnam among the co-passengers and distributed books and literature on Bhagavan to them. Reached Chennai on Thursday, and on the very next day, November 9, wrote a detailed letter to Bhagavan narrating all that had happened in the trip to North India.

 

Bhagavan Approves of ‘Tattva Darsana’ Editorial on Ramajanmabhoomi

 

 Sri AR.PN. Rajamanicka Nadar, after the grand congregation of Bhagaan’s devotees in Pondicherry where he introduced the Sadhu as Bhagaan’s initiated disciple and got the special issue of TATTVA DARSANA released, arranged a tour of the Sadhu in the southern districts of Tamilnadu to spread the message of Bhagavan. Sri Nadar arranged posters printed with Bhagaan’s photo and Sadhu’s tour programme displayed in important towns and cities where rousing receptions were given to Sadhu. Sri Nadar himself accompanied the Sadhu in a weeklong tour and also made a music party also accompany so that Bhajan’s on Bhagavan were conducted wherever Sadhu gave talks.  Sadhu visited the houses of Bhagavan’s devotees where he was received with padapooja and due honours. Sri Nadar extended his wholehearted patronage and support to Sadhu’s services to Bhagavan through SISTER NIVEDITA ACADEMY, YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION and TATTVA DARSANA.

 

Sri Nadar was a staunch supporter of the Congress Party and he once even printed a big advertisement in a leading daily seeking support to the party in elections. He put a portrait of Bhagavan in the advertisement which also carried the names of other saints and sadhus including that of this sadhu invoking their blessings for success of the party. When this Sadhu brought this to the notice of Bhagavan, He simply smiled and remarked, “Rangaraja, we can’t control these people. Just ignore them.” Sri Rajamanickam was aware that Bhagavan was a great admirer of Gandhi, Nehru and great leaders of the Congress Movement which fought for India’s Independence, and therefore he thought that there was nothing wrong in invoking Bhagavan’s blessings for the party’s success in general elections.

 

However, Sri Rajamanickam did not approve of an editorial in TATTVA DARSANA strongly supporting the Ramajanma Bhoomi Movement and criticizing the so called secular politicians who objected to the movement in order to appease the Muslim community and garner the support of Muslim vote bank. When Sri Rajamanickam expressed his disapproval of the editorial and advised the Sadhu that TATTA DARSANA which was meant to spread the cause of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar should not discuss the burning political issues, Sadhu had to bluntly tell him that the speeches and writings of this sadhu which sprang from the bosom of his heart were inspired by his Guru’s will and no one could interfere in the editorial freedom of the journal. Not only that the patronage and advertisement support to the journal was immediately stopped by Sri Rajamanickam, he even persuaded a prominent educationist and close devotee of Bhagavan, Dr. Venkatasubramaniam, to speak to Bhagavan about starting another journal to replace TATTA DARSANA as His mouthpiece. When the educationist devotee met Bhagavan at Tiruvannamalai and spoke about the editorial in TATTVA DARSANA, Bhagavan asked His assistant to bring the copy of the particular issue, gave it to the devotee and made him read the editorial titled “Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra” for Him. When the devotee finished reading, Bhagavan asked him, “Is there Sadhu Rangarajan’s signature at the end of the editorial?” When the devotee said, “Yes”, Bhagavan asked for his pen and Bhagavan put His signature below that of Rangaraja and said, “Sadhu Rangarajan is my principal disciple and whatever he speaks and writes is my view.” The educationist who was totally shocked and embarrassed returned to Chennai, met the Sadhu, and narrating whatever had happened, profusely apologized for misunderstanding the Sadhu. Sadhu told him that it was all the game of the Divine Master. Sri Nadar also repented for his action.

 

Bhagavan – A Worshipper of Bharatamata

 

Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar was literally a worshipper of Bharatabhoomi. He used to sing a song in Hindi melodiously in His sweet voice, beginning with the words ‘Bharath Bhoomi Bhavani’ and  explain the meaning very sweetly, very kindly: “Such sons are produced by you Oh Mother Bharat! These sons conquer the whole world, do ‘viswajit yagna’ — they give up everything, take the mud-pot in hand, and wander like sannyasins. These are Maanis – They keep their self-respect. They are Daanis — they give away everything and walk with the mud-pot. They are the Gnanis of great wisdom! You have given birth to such people — Oh, Mother India!’” To Him, the Ram Nam, Krishna Nam and Shiva Nam are not just names of deities of worship, but the most sacred possessions of Bharatavarsha. On July 29, 1988, Gurupoornima Day’ when this sadhu was in His presence. There were many devotees who had gathered for his darshan. Bhagavan sang a song in Hindi:

 

Yug yug se aarjit raashtra dhan hai Ram naam, Ram naam;

Yug yug se poojita desha dhan hai Krishna naam, Krishna naam;

Yug yug se sevit jaati dhan hai Shiva naam, Shiva naam;

Yug yug se poojita raashtra dhan hai

Ram-Krishna-Shiva naam, Ram-Krishna-Shiva naam!

 

–“The national wealth acquired in ages is ‘Ramanam’; the country’s wealth worshipped through ages is ‘Krishna-nam’; the wealth adored by the community through ages is ‘Shiva-nam’; the wealth worshipped by the nation through ages is ‘Rama-Krishna-Shiva-nam’. ”

 

Bhagavan asked the Sadhu to speak on any topic for fifteen minutes. Sadhu immediately chose the topic , the glory of Bharatavarsha, and delivered a short speech. TheYogi was in an inspired mood. He started singing songs on Bharatamata. Suddenly he asked me, “Who wrote the Sangh prayer—the one they sing in Sanskrit”. He was referring to the Prarthana” of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh, a voluntary organization of the Hindu nationalists. The sadhu replied: “I don’t remember the name of the author, Maharaj. But the Prarthana is there from the days of Dr. Hedgewar, the founder of the Sangh”. I remembered later that the prayer was written by Sri N.N. Bhide at the very inception of the Sangh, under the guidance of the founder. Yogi asked which of the lines was most inspiring. This sadhu replied that all the lines were equally inspiring. The Bhagavan said: “I like that line very much—’Thwadeeyaaya kaaryaaya baddhaakateeyam, Subhaamashisham dehi tat poortaye’—”We are determined to do your work, give us Your blessings for the fulfillment of that”. He added, that should be the spirit of every patriotic son of the Motherland.

 

India has to Play its Part

 

Bhagavan firmly believed in the fulfilment of the vision of his Master, Sri Aurobindo on the re-emergence of Akhanda Bharat as Hindu Rashtra. Bhagavan said, “This beggar believes in the vision of his spiritual teacher, Sri Aurobindo, who had a dream and vision of a universal unity and peace on Earth and furthermore, of a race of spiritual supermen. Sri Aurobindo told at the time of Indian Independence that the partition of India itself was wholly wrong. But our leaders at that time did not listen to it. Sri Aurobindo has even predicted that India will be united again. The integration of India is unavoidable. That will happen soon. Then India will lead the entire world. The spirituality of the Hindus will be spread throughout the world. The prediction will come true very soon. India has now to play its part in the World. Europe played its part—material part. Now India has to play its part, by taking mankind in the spiritual path, to God. In the 21^st century, Indians will learn languages of many other nations, go there with the philosophy of Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi and shape the people of the world. We do not want to rob, we want to raise them along a spiritual line.”

 

Call of Seers and Saints 

 

Seers, saints and spiritual leaders of the Hindu society have all given a call to all Rama Bhaktas to light lamps in their houses, temples and spiritual centres, chant Ramnam when the Bhoomi Pooja of Rammandir takes place on August 5, 2020. We recall our editorial in TATTVA DARSANA, November 1988-January 1999, where we had given a clarion call: “Bring all spiritual leaders under one umbrella to provide succour and inspiration to people. Bring all people under the benign patronage and protection of selfless and self –abnegating spiritual leaders. This is the right royal way to establish Rama Rajya once again in this sacred land –Rama Rajya which all our modern saints and sages have been dreaming. This is the Message and Mission of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the illustrious God-Child of Tiruvannamalai, who claims three great spiritual giants –Sri Aurobindo, Maharshi Ramana and Swami Ramdas –as His three Fathers and who calls Himself a “Beggar” with no special message of His own to deliver, but striving to spread the Message which has already been given by great saints like Swami Vivekanda, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Rama Tirtha and many others –the Message of Spiritual Nationalism — the Message of Akhanda Bharat – the Message of Ramachandra Mahaprabhu: Jananee Janmabhoomischa Swargaadapi gareeyasi –‘ Mother and Motherland are  More sacred than the Heaven.’ As true sons of this glorious land inheritors of a sacred heritage, let us rededicate ourselves to these lofty goals and surrender at the feet of the Holy Sage, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, who stands as a living symbol of the universal spiritual brotherhood and the nationalism that elevates us to aspire for the higher ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the World Family — and to become humble instruments of the Almighty! Hearken to the call of the Yogi!”

 

Besides lighting the lamps on the occasion of Ramajanmabhoomi Mandir Shila Nyas and chanting the tarakamantra, Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, we must all take a pledge that we will continue the Japa Sadhana regularly in our hearth and homes every day for achieving the goal of Akhanda Bharat. Mataji Krishnabhai started the Nama Japa Yagna to make people all over the world chant 15,500 crores for world peace. Before Her Mahasamadhi on 12^th February, 1989, about 1757 crores were completed in about ten years. Now already two rounds of 15,500 crore japa chanting has been completed and in the third round about 200 crores have been done. We appeal to all Ramnam devotees to send their Nama Chanting counts for the Mahayagna. As Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar has pointed out, whether Ramnam, Shivanam or Krishnanaam, all are the Rashtra Dhan—the wealth of this nation. Please send your japa counts and every month we are forwarding to Anandashram the counts that we receive in crores from devotees all over the world.

Jai Sri Ram! Vande Mataram!

 

 

DIVINE NAME

 

“This beggar learnt at the feet of Swami Ramdas the Divine Name of Rama, and beg, beg all of you not to forget the Divine Name, Rama. Whatever you do, wherever you are, be like Anjaneya Maruti thinking of Rama and do your actions in this world. At every stage we face problems – today one problem, tomorrow another, the day after tomorrow yet another. And on account of acing these problems, often we get dejected, disappointed and psychologically sick, if we don’t remember the name of the Divine. So this Beggar will beg all of you not to forget the Divine Name, Rama. There are people who like to remember the name of Siva. It is equally good. There are people who like to remember the name of Ganapati, equally good. Whatever name, you choose; whatever form, you choose; but give to this Beggar what he wants – never forget the Name.

 

Live in the world and the problems will be there. If we are remembering the Divine name, we are psychologically sound. May be, we may feel a little, some of the problems. Even then the intensity with which we feel it if we don’t have faith in God is much more than a man of faith – a man who remembers the name of Rama. So this beggar is always begging –  begging for food, begging for clothes, begging that you should compose songs on this Beggar, build a house for me, a cottage for me, this thing, that thing – so many things. But this Beggar will beg of you this also, and you are always giving what this Beggar has begged. So this Beggar begs, please don’t forget the name of God. This Divine name has been always of great help to all in the world. You read Kabir, Tulsi, Sur, Appar Swamy, Manickavasaga Swamy – how they emphasised Namah Sivaya. Don’t forget it- this is your heart- this is your soul. Whether it be Om Namah sivaya or Om Namo Narayanaya,  whether Rama, Siva or Krishna, whatever name you choose, whatever form you choose doesn’t matter.”—Yogi Ramsuratkumar

 

 

NEWS & NOTES

 

RSS Service Activities in Sri Bharatamata Mandir

 

The nationwide lockdown to fight the Corona virus was announced by Government of India on March 24, 2020, and since then the daily satrsang and cogregation of devotees in Sri Bharatamata Mandir at Kithaganur, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore, was suspended. The Mandir was turned into a centre for the service activities of the Seva Vibhag of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for storing provisions like rice, wheat flour, atta, oil, salt, dal, milk, onion etc., for free distribution to the poor and downtrodden people in the villages around Kithaganur and to the stranded labourers in Krishnarajapuram. Kits containing the above materials were distributed to more than 1500 families by batches of Swayamsevaks who visited the Mandir every day,  packed the goods for distribution and took them to the destinations in car, autoriskha and two-wheelers with passes.

 

 

 

Akshaya Triteeya 2020 in Sri Bharatamata Mandir

 

Ever since the setting up of Sri Bharatamata Mandir at Krishnarajapuram in Bangalore in 2004, the auspicious Akshaya Triteeya day has been observed with special abhisheka, alankara and aradhana of Sri Bharatabhavani consecrated in the Mandir. Mothers and sisters used to set up ovens in front of the Mandir and prepare Pongala or sweet rice as offering to the Divine Mother. However, this year, on Akshaya Triteeya which fell on Sunday, April 26, 2020, there was  no public celebration in the Mandir and an appeal was made to devotees to celebrate the auspicious day within the four walls of their own homes, by setting up a small shrine with the picture of Sri Bharatamata, offering archana and arati to the Mother and singing the immortal national song, Vande Mataram, in the morning hours while the abhisheka, alankara, pooja, arati and the routine aupasana homa took place in the Mandir.

 

Virtual Talk on Yogi Ramsuratkumar

 

On Sunday, May 17, 2020, Sadhu Rangarajan gave a virtual talk through Zoom, on his experiences with BANhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, in response to a request from Yogi Ramsuratkumar Satsang Samity, Mambalam, Chennai. The programme was cocordinated by Sow Sunanda of Tokyo and was listened to by devotees all over the world. Sadhu narrated his experiences with Bhagavan right from the time of his first meeting with Him on September 1, 1984, and later, after receiving Deeksha from Bhagavan at Banyan Tree Cave in Tiruvannamalai on Swami Ramdas Jayanti Day, April 26, 1988, when the Bhagavan entrusted His disciple with the Mission of His Master, Papa Ramdas and Mataji Krishnabai to spread Ramnam all over the world. Sadhu narrated how Bhagavan directed and guided each and every action of the Sadhu in the two decades till Bhagavan’s Mahasamadhi and how Bhagavan, true to His promise that He will ever be with the disciple, still works through the disciple. The programme which lasted for more than hour was later put on Youtube for the benefit of other devotees of Bhagavan who could not attend the Zoom talk.

 

Teddy Kommal of South Africa Passes Away

Sri Teddy Kommal, a patron of Sister Nivedita Academy and Sri Bharatamata Mandir, who was actively associated with the Satya Sai Movement in South Africa and dedicated worker for Hindu cause passed away at Pretoria, on Monday, July 13, 2020, after a brief illness. Swargiya Sri Teddy Kommal started his career as a teacher and rose to become a principal. He served the South African Police and became a Colonel. But his greatest contrbition was as a dedicated devotee of Satya Sai Baba and an ardent worker of Hindu cause. Ever since the World Hindu Conference, whenever this Sadhu visited South Africa, in the last three decades, he never failed to host this sadhu in his abode. He and his family has been part and parcel of this sadhu’s family. His wife, Smt. Sherita Kommal, was instrumental in starting the work of Sister Nivedita Academy in South Africa and his sons, Terrence and Trishen, have been, right from their childhood, involved in all our activities in the distant land. We pray to my Master, Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, whom Sri Teddy had the opportunity to meet and receive profuse blessings, to give him eternal peace in His abode.

 

Virtual Talk on Ramayana Masa

 

Samanvaya, organization of Malayali’s in Bangalore, organized a virtual gathering of devotees through Google on Thursday, July 16, 2020, to mark the inauguration of Ramayana Masa, the month of Karkidakam according to Malayalam almanac, when in every house of the Malayali Hindus in Kerala and outside, they read the Adhyatma Ramayana of Thunjaththu Ezhuththachchan and adore and worship Lord Rama. Sadhu Rangarajan gave a talk on the glory and greatness of Ramayana and the potency of Ramanama Taraka Mantra, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

 

Justice T.S. Arunachalam Passes Away

 

Justice T.S. Arunachalam, Managin Trustee and Spiritual Head of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram in Tiruvannamalai attained to the sacred feet of Bhagavan on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, after a brief illness. He was Acting Chief Justice before his retirement from judicial service when he dedicated himself at the feet of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Bhagavan entrusted the responsibility of His Ashram to him. Even when he was in service, he used to participate in the activities of Sister Nivedita Academy and Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association which organized Swami Vivekananda Jayanti and Yogi Ramsuratkumar  Jayanti every year in Madras. We pray for the eternal rest of the devout soul in the abode of Bhagavan.

 

Varalakshmi Pooja in Sri Bharatamata Mandir

 

Varalakshmi Pooja was observed in Sri Bharatamata Mandir, Kithaganur, Bangalore, on Friday, July 31, 2020, with special alankara, havan and pooja to the Divine Mother. Devotees in India and abroad had the darshan of the Mother through whatsapp and prayed for Her blessings.

Independence Day Celebrations

 

Indian Independence Day was celebrated in Sri Bharatamata Mandir with hoisting of national flag on the top of the Mandir and special havan and poojas to the Mother on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Earlier, at 12 o’clock in the midnight of August 14-15, a congregation of more than one hundred men and women, wearing masks and observing social distancing in view of the Corona epidemic, organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was held in the Burrerahalli grounds in Krishnarajapuram and Sadhu Rangarajan addressed the gathering after hoisting the national flag and offering worship to Sri Bharatamata. Flag hoisting function was held in the Srinivasanagar layout also on August 15 and Sadhu offered worship to Sri Bharatamata and addressed the gathering on the occasion.

 

Sri Rama Pattabhisheka Function

 

Sri Rama Pattabhisheka function was celebrated by the Malayalis in Ramamoorthy Nagar with a virtual programme by Google conferencing on the conclusion of Ramayana Masa on Sunday, August 16, 2020. Sadhu addressed the function. Again in the evening, Samanvaya of Bangalore organized another concluding talk by Sadhu to mark the  conclusion of Ramayana Masa celebrations.

 

Sri Rama Gopalan Passes Away

 

Sri Rama Gopalan, leader of the Hindu Munnani in Tamilnadu, a dedicated worker of the Hindu cause, passed away at Chennai on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at the age of 94.

On the occasion of India attaining Independence on August 15, 1947, he was shocked by the sight of partition of his Motherland and decided to dedicate his life for the cause of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in rebuilding the Akhand Bharat once again. He rose to the position of Pranth Pracharak in Tamilandu, in his four decades of service to the Sangh, and later founded the Hindu Munnani to create awakening among the Tamils to fight against conversions by Christians and Muslims and the divisive politics of the Dravidian parties. He even survived a violent attack by Muslim fanatics on his head with a sickle. Right from the nineteen sixtys when Sadhu Rangarajan migrated to Tamilandu from Kerala, he was associated with Sri Rama Gopalan, travelling with him in different parts of Tamilnadu in organising the Viswa Hindu Parishad and later in organizing the Desiya Chintanai Kazhagam, a forum to promote nationalist thinking. Sri Gopalji, as he was affectionately addressed, supported the Sadhu in organising Sister Nivedita Academy in Madras, celebrating the Centenary of Vande Mataram song and he released Sadhu’s prestigious publication, VANDE MATARAM, to which Acharya J.B. Kripalani had written a foreword. Sadhu had the opportunity to join hands with him in organbising a massive Ramnam congregation at the seashore of Rameswaram on Sunday, March 19, 1995, in which more than one lakh devotees gathered. Sri Rama Gopalan was rightly called a “Veera Thuravi”—A Valiant Sannyasi—by millions of followers and he lived like the sannyasins of “Ananda Math” of Bankim Chandra Chatterji, dedicated to the emancipation of the Motherland. May he be a source of inspiration to millions of the coming generations of Hindus.

 

Bharatamata Poojan of Samanvaya Ulsoor Baag

 

Samanvaya Ulsoor Baag organised a virtual Google meeting on Worship of Sri Bharatamata on Sunday, October 4, 2020, and Sadhu Rangarajan addressed the devotees on the Bharatamata Upasana. He spokes about the message of Sri Aurobindo on Akhanda Bharata and Bhavani Mandir and the writings of savants like Kavyakantha Vasishtha Ganapati Muni, Satyadev Maharaj and Motilal Roy on the adoration and worship of Bharatamata as the Supreme Goddess and preceptor of the world—Loka Guru,

 

 

 

SISTER NIVEDITA ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS

 

Vande Mataram (English) -Enlarged Third Edition

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan                  India:  Rs.50 ; Outside India: US$3.00

Glimpses Of A Great Yogi (English) –Yogi Ramsuratkumar Centenary Volume by Sadhu Prof. V.Rangarajan   India: Rs.500; Outside India: US$25.00

Sparkles from Glimpses of A Great Yogi

by Sadhu Prof.. V. Rangarajan               India: Rs.200; Outside India: US$10.00

Glimpses of A Great Yogi (Telugu)                                                                 Rs.15

Rationale Of Hindu Festivals (English) by Skandanarayanan                                 Rs.10

Tiruvannamalaiyil Oar Kuzhandai (Tamil)

by T.P.M. Gnanaprakasam                                                                                 Rs.12

Did Swami Vivekananda Give Up Hinduism? (English)

by  A ‘Hindu’  (Prof. G.C. Asnani)                                                                   Rs.45

The Origin Of The Word Hindu (English)

by Premnath Magazine                                                                                         Rs.30

Poems Of A Broken Heart (English) by Lee Lozowick   Part I                Rs.20                         —Do –                                                   Part II       Rs.50

Arunai Yogi Gurunaama Mahimai (Tamil) by “Adiyaarkadiyan”             Rs.25

Gurunaathan Paadangalil Kadambamaalai  (Tamil)

by “Adiyaarkadiyan”            Rs.10

Science of Self-culture (English) by Tapasi Baba Avadoot

(Dr.R.K. Misra, MSc. Ph.D.)                    India:  Rs.40; Outside India: US$2.50

Ramnam (English) by Tapasi Baba Avadhoot                               India:   Rs.10

Outside India: US$1.00

Vijnana Bharati– Complete Works of  Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan,  

Volume I–Hinduism from Vedas to Modern Time , Part 1             India:  Rs.50; Outside India:  US$2.00

Views & Visions 2002 by Tapasi Baba Avadhoot, G.C. Asnani

and Sadhu Rangarajan                                                                       Rs.20

Saga of Patriotism—Revolutionaries in India’s Freedom Struggle

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan & R. Vivekanandan

(Second Enlarged Edition)                      India:  Rs.125 ; Outside  India:US$7.00

Swami Vivekananda—Prophet of Patriotism

Ed.  Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan                India: Rs.25; Outside India:  US$1.00

-Do- Deluxe Edition                   India: Rs.60; Outside India:  US$ 3.00

Hindu Rashtra—Vedic Ideals in Modern Awakening

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan                 India: Rs.60; Outside India:   US$ 3.00

Philosophy of Mahakavi Bharati

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan                  India: Rs. 300; Outside India:  US$ 15

Divine Mother Mayamma of Kanyakumari (English)

by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan

(Second Enlarged Edition)                           India: Rs.30; Outside India:  US$ 2

 

 

Navaratri Celebrations 2020 in Sri Bharatamata Mandir

 

Navaratri Celebrations commenced in Sri Bharatamata Mandir on Saturday, October 17, 2020, with special abhisheka, alankara of Mother as Maha Kali, homa and pooja of the Divine Mother in the morning. The Navaratri Golu, exhibition of dolls, was also set up. Mothers cane in the evening on all the days of Navaratri and Vijayadashami to chant Lalitha Sahasranama and conduct bhajans. On Wednesday, October 21, after abhisheka, the alankara of Mother as Maha Lakshmi, pooja and homa were done. On Saturday, October 24, the alankara of the Mother as Maha Saraswati, ayudha pooja and havan were performed. On October 25, Sunday, the Swayamsevaks of RSS observed Vijayadashami Celebrtion in the Mandir. Pooja and havan were held as usual.

 

TATTVA DARSANA issues and articles and works of Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan could be freely accessed from our website, sribharatamtamandir.org     

 

Tamil Translation of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI is accessible on

yogiramsuratkumarblog.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/ ஒரு மகா யோகியின் தரிசனங்கள்-5/           –EDITOR

 

Edited, printed and published by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, Founder Trustee, Sister Nivedita Academy, Sri Bharati Mandir, Srinivasanagar Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036.