sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alasinga Perumal, My Master (book), Prakashananda, Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Smaranananda

1 TheVedanta Kesari ‘May you all be illumined!’ 2019

1 The Kesari The Vedanta

A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly 1 `15 January of the Order since 1914 2019 2 PRIVATE LIMITED Regd. Off. & Fact. : Phone : 04172 - 244820, 651507, Plot No.88 & 89, Phase - II, Tele Fax : 04172 - 244820 (Manufacturers of Active Pharmaceutical Sipcot Industrial Complex, E-mail : [email protected] Ingredients and Intermediates) Ranipet - 632 403, . Web Site : www.svisslabss.net

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Aurangabad

COVER STORY Editor: Swami Mahamedhananda The slightly edited drawing of Maniam Selvan presents the unique scene Published by Swami Vimurtananda, Sri , - 600 004 and of Sri Ramakrishna showering his blessings like a Kalpataru on 1 Jan 1886 at the Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Garden House. For a description of the incident see ‘ on Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. the New Year’, page 17 of this issue. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] For PDF download link, refer to page no. 06 in this issue 3 106th The Year of Publication

A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly of The

JANUARY Vol. 106, No. 1 2019 CONTENTS ISSN 0042-2983

11 17

Reminiscences of Sargachhi Meditation on the New Year Swami Suhitananda Swami Chetanananda

T o p ic a l 49 FEATURES 24 M u sin gs 7 Dakshinamurti Stotra 8 Yugavani Two Versions of Sw. Vivekananda’s A Message to Garcia 9 Editorial First Chicago Speech 22 Pariprasna William Page 27 Vivekananda Way Ramakrishna-Vivekananda in What is Religion? 44 Book Reviews ‘The Land of Five Rivers’ 46 The : An Exploration Swami Atmashraddhananda 49 Topical Musings 51 The Order on the March 48 32

The Braahmanas Some Thoughts on Spiritual Life Lakshmi Devnath Swami Satyapriyananda

as d e V e h 46 32 40 40 T

COVER STORY Editor: Swami Mahamedhananda The slightly edited drawing of Maniam Selvan presents the unique scene Published by Swami Vimurtananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai - 600 004 and of Sri Ramakrishna showering his blessings like a Kalpataru on 1 Jan 1886 at the Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Cossipore Garden House. For a description of the incident see ‘Meditation on Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. the New Year’, page 17 of this issue. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] TheVedanta Kesari Sri Ramakrishna Math, , Chennai 600 004 h(044) 2462 1110 e-mail: [email protected] Website : www.chennaimath.org

Dear Readers, The Vedanta Kesari is one of the oldest cultural and spiritual magazines in the country. Started under the guidance and support of , the first issue of the magazine, then called Brahmavadin, came out on 14 Sept 1895. Brahmavadin was run by one of Swamiji’s ardent followers Sri . After his death in 1909 the magazine publication became irregular, and stopped in 1914 whereupon the Ramakrishna Order revived it as The Vedanta Kesari. Swami Vivekananda’s concern for the magazine is seen in his letters to Alasinga Perumal where he writes: ‘Now I am January 2019 bent upon starting the journal.’ ‘Herewith I send a hundred 4 dollars…. Hope this will go just a little in starting your paper.’ ‘I am determined to see the paper succeed.’ ‘The Song of the Sannyasin is my first contribution for your journal.’ ‘I learnt from your letter the bad financial state that Brahmavadin is in.’ ‘It must be supported by the if they have any sense of virtue or gratitude left in them.’ ‘I pledge myself to maintain the paper anyhow.’ ‘The Brahmavadin is a jewel—it must not perish. Of course, such a paper The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta has to be kept up by private help always, and we will do it.’ For the last 104 years, without missing a single issue, the magazine has been carrying the invigorating message of Vedanta with articles on , culture, philosophy, youth, personality development, science, holistic living, family and corporate values. Over the years, production and PERMANENT FUND publication costs have gone up manifold. A non-commercial magazine like this can To become self-supporting continue its good work only with the generous To establish the magazine on firm financial financial support and active assistance of well- footing please contribute to the Permanent wishers. Hence, we appeal to our readers and Fund. admirers of Swamiji to support us by donating Names of the donors will appear in the to the following schemes: magazine. SPONSOR A PAGE GIFT TO LIBRARIES To enhance production quality To reach wider readership

Once a year, please sponsor at least one page Please gift a copy of The Vedanta Kesari to in one issue of The Vedanta Kesari. school, college, university, public libraries & In a year (12 issues including a Special Issue) study circles. we need 600 pages to be sponsored. If you This will take ’s timeless spiritual and sponsor more pages, it will help us cultural heritage, and the message of Vedanta- reach the target faster and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda to a wider section enhance overall quality. of youth. You can select any library in India, The sponsor's name will or let The Vedanta Kesari choose one. appear in the margin of the Name of sponsors and libraries enrolled will page. be published in The Vedanta Kesari. Sponsorship Gift Subscription for 3 libraries per page: ` 1000/- for 1 year: ` 500/- January 2019 SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Free Digital Edition 5 Rates Inclusive of Postage & a Special Issue Annual 3 yrs 5 yrs India ` 175 ` 500 ` 900 https://vedantaebooks.org Download the Vedanta Kesari App ` 1200 ` 3500 * / free on your Android/Apple device Other Countries ` 2700 ` 8000 * * 5 yrs subscription only in India. The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta

Contact details for Contributors: [email protected] Subscribers: [email protected]

 You can subscribe to The Vedanta Kesari from any month.  On your address slip, the number on the left of the first line is your subscription number. Always mention this in your correspondence.  If you do not receive your copy by the 15th of a month, please intimate us. Complaints reaching us before this or after one month (two months for overseas subscriptions) of posting of the journal are not entertained.  Only one complaint copy will be sent in a year.  Subscribers facing irregular postal delivery can choose Registered Parcel by paying additional `36/- per issue or opt for digital copy (pdf). Download PDF for this month issue: https://goo.gl/PWQV9U

PAYMENT DETAILS 1. You can send donations either by Cheque/DD/MO or Bank Transfer or Online Payment. 2. Cheque / DD / MO in favour of: ‘Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai’ Postal Address: Sri Ramakrishna Math, # 31, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. 3. Bank Transfer in India: Name of the Bank : United Bank of India Bank Code No. : 600027009 Name of the Branch : R.K. Math Road, Chennai - 4 IFSC : UTBI0SRM842 Name of the Account : Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai {here ‘0’ is zero} Account Number : 1511010100001 Swift Code : UTBIINBBMBS of UBI 4. Donate Online: https://donations.chennaimath.org 5. After any donation please e-mail transaction details to : [email protected] a) In the e-mail / covering letter mention purpose of payment: VK Subscription / VK Permanent Fund / VK Sponsor a Page / VK Gift to Libraries. b) Kindly mention your postal address and contact number. c) Please give your PAN Number for donations `10,000 and above. d) All donations are exempt from Income Tax under section 80G of the [Indian] I.T.Act, 1961. January 2019 PATRONS: Pragati Offset, Hyderabad ` 25,000.00

6 PERMANENT FUND DONORS Sri. Sethu Madhavan K, Chennai ` 5000.00 Sri. Chandrachoodan Kathiresan, ` 1000.00 Sri. Ganesh P, Mumbai ` 2000.00 Madurai Sri Pannala Sriramachandra ` 1000.00 Sri. Mohanarengan S, Dindigul, ` 1000.00 Murty, Hyderabad T.N.

reaching 1946 libraries.... The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta LIBRARY SCHEME

SL.NO. NAMES OF SPONSORS AWARDEE INSTITUTIONS 1. Dr. R. Subramaniya Bharathiyar, ChennaiRamakrishna Vivekananda Ashrama, Bangalore 2. -do- Vivekahamsa, Bangalore 3. -do- Sri Ramakrishna Seva Trust, Bangalore 4. -do- Mata Brhamamayi Srimata Sharada Ashrama, Bangalore 5. -do- Swami Vivekananda Educational Society, Bangalore 6. -do- Mata Vivekamayi Sri Bhavatarini Ashrama, Bangalore 7. -do- Sri Sharada Ashrama, Mallathahalli, Bangalore 8. -do- Sharada Sevashrama, III Stage, Bangalore 9. -do- Sharadeshwari Ashrama, 3rd Stage, Bangalore 10. -do- Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashrama, Chikkaballapura, 11. -do- Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Hebbal, Mysuru, Karnataka 12. -do- Ramakrishna Ashrama, Kollegal, Karnataka 13. -do- Sri Vivekananda Sevashrama, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 14. -do- Swami Vivekananda Charitable Trust, H.R.B.R. Layout, Bangalore To be continued . . . वि�픂 दर㔪ण饃श㔯माननगरीतुल्य निजान्तरतं पश㔯ꅍनत्मन मायया बहिरिवो饍땂तं यथा निद्रया । यस्स啍षत्啁셁ते प्रबोधसमये स्वत्मनमेवाद्वयं तस्륈 �रगु셁मूर्ते नम इदं �रदक्णामूर्ते ।। १ ।। 1. Obeisance to him, Árì Dakäiëàmùrti1, who is the Guru2, who at the time of spiritual awakening3 has verily realised his own Self, the one without a second,4 having understood that the world is within oneself, as in dream, but projected by màyà as though it is outside, even as a city reflected in a mirror5.6 1 Dakäiëàmùrti is one of the aspects of Lord Áiva. He is usually pictured as sitting in the posture, under a banyan tree, facing the south (dakäiëa = south) and exhibiting the cinmudrà, the sign of knowledge, with his fingers. Being the personification of spiritual wisdom, he is the ideal . He is also shown as surrounded by disciples, January 2019 much older in age. Though he is sitting silently, the spiritual power that radiates out of him 7 automatically dispels all the doubts that arise Dakäiëàmùrti Stotra in their minds. The additional verses given at the end of this hymn describe this. 2 The guru (spiritual preceptor) is one who has realised the Truth himself, and is able to teach about it to others, showing the way. According to religious tradition, God is the primary Guru (Àdiguru) who transmits spiritual truths through a succession of human to mankind. It is His power that is actually coursing through the human gurus. Hence, the human guru is often PAGE SPONSOR : SRIMAT SWAMI GAUTAMANANDA JI, SRI RAMAKRISHNA MATH, CHENNAI MATH, RAMAKRISHNA SRI JI, GAUTAMANANDA SWAMI SRIMAT : SPONSOR PAGE identified with God Himself, at least by his disciples. Kesari The Vedanta 3 Awakening comes as a result of listening to the mahàvàkyas (the ‘great sentences’ like tat tvam asi or ‘Thou art That’) from a competent guru after preparing oneself for the same. 4 According to Advaita Vedànta, it is Àtman alone that exists and nothing else. The entire world of duality is nothing but an appearance, an illusion. 5 The example of reflection in the mirror is limited to explaining the existence of the whole world within the Self. It should not be construed that like the real city outside, which is reflected in the mirror, there is a ‘real’ world ‘outside’ of which the ‘inside’ is only a reflection! 6 The various objects seen in the dream including oneself are all creations of the mind and are within it. Likewise, it is màyà that creates this world of duality and all experiences associated with it. On waking, the dream world, which was very much real during the dream experience, disappears. Similarly, this world experience of the waking state also disappears when the spiritual awakening comes.

Dakshinamurti Stotra with Manasollasa. Translated and Annotated by Swami Harshananda Yugavani

Incarnation

here is only One without a second. The Vedas speak of It as ‘ TSatchidananda Brahma’, the as ‘Om Satchidananda Krishna’, and the as ‘Om Satchidananda .’ From that one Om have sprung ‘Om Shiva’, ‘Om ’, and ‘Om Krishna’. The Incarnation (Avatara) is the play of the Absolute as man. Do you know how the Absolute plays as man? It is like the rushing down of water from a big roof through a pipe; the power of Satchidananda—nay, Satchidananda Itself—descends through the conduit of a human form as water descends through the pipe. God’s play on earth as an Incarnation is the manifestation of the glory of the Chit Shakti, the Divine Power. alone is real and the world illusory—that is reasoning. And everything but Brahman is like a dream. But this is an extremely difficult path….That is why God incarnates Himself as man and teaches people the path of devotion. He exhorts people to cultivate self-surrender to God. Following the path of devotion, one realizes everything January 2019 through His grace – both Knowledge and Supreme Wisdom. However great and infinite God may be, His Essence can and does manifest itself 8 through man by His mere will. God’s Incarnation as a man cannot be explained by analogy. One must feel it for oneself and realize it by direct perception. An analogy can give us only a little glimpse. By touching the horns, legs, or tail of a cow, we in fact touch the cow herself; but for us the essential thing about a cow is her milk, which comes through the udder. The Divine Incarnation is like the udder. God incarnates Himself as man from time to time in order to teach people devotion and divine love. God, incarnating Himself as man, behaves exactly like a man. That is why it is

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta difficult to recognize an Incarnation.… He has the same hunger, thirst, disease, grief, and sometimes even fear. Rama was stricken with grief for Sita. Krishna carried on His head the shoes and wooden stool of His father Nanda. Not all, by any means, can recognize an Incarnation of God…. Only twelve sages, Bharadvaja and the others, recognized Rama as an Incarnation of God. By meditating on an incarnation of God one meditates on God Himself. The body is a mere covering. It is like a lantern with a light burning inside, or like a glass case in which one sees precious things. Compiled from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Editorial

Solitude

Can we realise God while leading a day events, our ideal or goal of life remains householder’s life? This is one of the questions obscure and far away. To remedy this, we need that devotees often asked Sri Ramakrishna, and to ask ourselves, What do I really want? What every time he affirmed that it was possible. To do I truly value? Am I progressing towards achieve this, one of the practices he strongly my goal? To ask these wake-up questions in recommended was to go into solitude now and an effective manner, we need to stand back a then. little from the mundane world. This conscious, But why are we talking of solitude at the purposeful withdrawing, at least for some time, beginning of a new year when the common and from the never-ending chain of life experiences popular custom is to get together with friends and entering into the depths of the inner and family and have parties or go on outings? stillness of the soul is called solitude. Well, anyone serious about progressing in As evident, this withdrawing has two spiritual life and leading a meaningful, peaceful dimensions. One is withdrawing into the inner life would do well to add periodic solitudes realms or depths of our personality, and the into their To Do list for this year. other is the physical withdrawal to a silent January 2019 Our everyday life is a continuous struggle place where no one can disturb us. While 9 to maintain mental and physical balance, and withdrawing into the inner stillness of the soul to have a harmonious relationship with things is the ideal, and sincere sadhakas are seeking and people around us. The balance is disturbed just that through practices like meditation, by the onrush of sensate impressions from bhajans, and leela chintan, the solitude that Sri the world outside and from the samskaras Ramakrishna recommends begins with physical bubbling up within our mind. Living in our withdrawal. Explaining this he says, ‘How can modern society is like travelling on a crowded the worldly man be cured of his serious disease PAGE SPONSOR : SWAMI BANESHANANDA, , SOCIETY, VEDANTA BANESHANANDA, SWAMI : SPONSOR PAGE train or bus; ‘we are in each other’s way and we unless he goes into solitude? A worldly man Kesari The Vedanta stumble over one another.’ Rubbing shoulders is suffering from delirious fever, as it were. with all kinds of fellow passengers we literally Suppose there are pickled tamarind and jars of pick up their dirt and sweat, and also willy- water in the room of such a patient. Now, how nilly their attitudes and passions. When we live can you expect him to get rid of the disease? and function for long in this state of confusion … To a man, a woman is the pickled tamarind, and strife, we unknowingly get used to it; we [and vice versa] and his desire for enjoyment, begin to sympathise and adjust with the duties, the jars of water. There is neither end nor limit obligations, and etiquettes of mundane life to this desire for worldly enjoyment. And the just as the fisherwoman, in Sri Ramakrishna’s things are in the patient’s very room. Can you parable, accepts and enjoys the stench of her expect the patient to get rid of the delirious fish-basket deeming it a normal, desirable state fever in this fashion? He must be removed for of affairs. We imperceptibly compromise and a few days to another place where there are slip from our spiritual ideal. neither pickled tamarind nor water-jars. Then While we thus sleepwalk through life, he will be cured. After that if he returns to his engrossed in meeting the demands of day-to- old room he will have nothing to fear.’ How should we enter into solitude and practices in isolation focussing all the energies how long should we be in it? Sri Ramakrishna of his mind to discover the next level of again answers, ‘When you practice discipline excellence. Zakir Hussain, the renowned in solitude, keep yourself entirely away from tabla player, is said to have undergone this your family. You must not allow your wife, son, austerity at the age of 17; of this experience daughter, mother, father, sister, brother, friends, he later said, ‘I saw things in the music that I or relatives near you. While thus practicing had never seen before, new combinations, new discipline in solitude, you should think: “I have patterns.’ no one else in the world. God is my all.” You Indeed, as modern neuroplasticity assures must also pray to Him, with tears in your eyes, us, we can through focussed, sustained efforts for knowledge and devotion. redesign our brain activity, and create new ‘If you ask me how long you should live patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions. in solitude away from your family, I should But to go into such long solitudes without say that it would be good for you if you proper preparation is an invitation for mental could spend even one day in such a manner. imbalance. Therefore, along with solitude, Sri Three days at a time are still better. One may Ramakrishna recommends some other forms live in solitude for twelve days, a month, of sadhana: 1) Repeat god’s name and sing His three months, or a year, according to one’s glories; 2) Keep holy company; 3) Now and convenience and ability. One hasn’t much to then visit God’s devotees and holy men. These fear if one leads the life of a householder after practices prepare the mind for intense sadhana

January 2019 attaining knowledge and devotion.’ in solitude. In fact, keeping this advice in mind, Withdrawing into solitude to commune some of our centres regularly conduct Japa 10 with God is also very much necessary for Yajna camps wherein initiated devotees gather monastics. It is well known that Swami for a 5-day camp in the ashrama determined Vivekananda and his brother disciples spent to perform one lakh japa interspersed with many months in solitude performing intense bhajans, reading from The Gospel of Sri spiritual practices. Once, after returning from Ramakrishna, and discourses by sannyasis. All his first visit to the West, Swamiji went into a the days, they maintain silence and are cut off short solitude in the forest near Almora. He told from social media and friends. They practice

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Mrs. Sara Bull, ‘I am going away into the forests communing with Sri Ramakrishna and in the to be alone; and when I come back, I shall bring process also identify the obstructions to their peace.’ He spent ten hours every day in the spiritual growth – subtle samskaras, habits of silence of the forest for a few days. thought and action. In Sufi Islam there is a practice of solitude From such solitude, we should come called Chilla wherein the sadhaka withdraws out empowered as ideal men and women and from ordinary social interaction and sits in a re-engage with the world at a deeper level, circle for 40 days and nights without food, and discovering the divine behind the mundane, practices intense meditation and prayers. and seamlessly integrating inner and outer life. too, after his baptism, went into the wilderness In this new year, let us determine to and fasted for 40 days and nights. physically reject the allurements of the sensate Interestingly, this practice of intense world, reside more within the inner chamber solitude is also used by some Hindustani of our heart, learn to converse with the Lord, musicians. They practice Chilla Katna, a 40- and then share the ensuing peace, joy, and day self-imposed retreat where the musician knowledge with those around us. Reminiscences Reminiscences of Sargachhi SWAMI SUHITANANDA

Conversations with Swami Premeshananda (1884-1967) a disciple of Holy Mother Sri .

(Continued from November 2018 issue. . .) 34

6.9.60 The misdeeds we hear about happened Maharaj: In my pre-monastic days I saw because of the inability to identify subtle desires people drinking alcohol and engaging in revelry lurking within the mind. Not harmonising in the name of practising spiritual disciplines. knowledge, work, devotion, and yoga is the Seeing such practices, I have become a cynic. reason for this unfortunate situation. Consuming betel leaves, bidis, tobacco, tea, and In training sannyasins, it will be good if taking interest in football matches – all these there is a deep study of scriptures in which all appear to be types of bondage. It is better not to the four are explained in detail. After that pick up these habits. Why even consider them there should be scope for practising those yogas at all? Are our minds so empty? Don’t they during the following four years. If this is done,

have anything else to hold on to? I very much novices will come out as excellent sannyasins January 2019 like that verse `Vmo `Vmo {ZíMa{V after ten years (the period of training in the _ZíM#mb_pñWa_²&& ‘Through whatever reason, the Ramakrishna Order before a novice is given the 11 restless and unsteady mind wanders away …’ vows of ). Those who are not sincere (6:26) That is why I say that nothing is achieved will run away, unable to endure the rigours of if you wait for an environment conducive the two-year study period (the intense training to sadhana. A person who cribs about the that brahmacharis of the Order receive at Belur difficulties on his path, is actually deliberately Math, the headquarters of the Order). blocking the path to success. 7.9.60 PAGE SPONSOR : SRI GORAPADA BERA, PASCHIM MEDINIPUR PASCHIM BERA, GORAPADA SRI : SPONSOR PAGE Question: Is it okay to tell some little lies Maharaj: Kishori-bhajana (worship of Kesari The Vedanta in order to make work go more smoothly? young girls) used to be very much in vogue Maharaj: We are sannyasins. Why should among the Vaishnavas. A man practicing we resort to telling lies? Take up some small austerities at Vrindavan had a disciple. He work, regard it as your sadhana, and with a noticed that every day this disciple was worshipful attitude execute it like a beautiful detaining the maid who supplied milk and piece of art. ñdën_ß`ñ` Y_©ñ` Ìm`Vo _hVmo ^`mV²… chitchatting with her. The guru then told the ‘Even a little of this saves one from milkmaid, ‘Look, you stop coming here for a great danger.’ – (Gita 2:40). Take care not to harm few days; send the milk through somebody anyone even in the least. And try your utmost to else.’ Not seeing the milkmaid, the disciple come out from that lie as soon as possible. became restless. The guru then told him, ‘You You see, people will say many things, meditate upon this milkmaid.’ The disciple, but they have no value. Accept only those who was a sincere spiritual seeker, became which tally with the scriptures and are rational. aware of the condition of his mind. As his Keep the rest filed in your mind, and at your mind gradually became steady, he forgot his convenience check to see if they are true. attraction for the milkmaid. Vaishnava dharma became so degraded A person embodying the rajas of sattva in the name of love that you cannot even makes a plan and an estimate before initiating speak about it. One such practice was kishori- a work. He charts out what has to be done, who bhajana. This has been mentioned even in will do the work, what are the advantages, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in reference whether there is a proper environment or not, to Vaishnavcharan. In the name of kishori- whether it will be possible to carry on the work bhajana, people had become so degraded that even in his absence, etc. they used to claim that it was practiced even A person embodying the rajas of tamas by . As proof of this, gets entangled in a lot of tasks. He cannot keep they quote Sarvabhauma, who said, ‘May his cool and cannot give proper attention to Saati become a widow today!’ The quotation anything. If questioned, he will say ‘It is Sri is related to an incident that occurred when Ramakrishna’s work, He will set right all things.’ Sarvabhauma invited Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Can you show me a young man who for lunch. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a robust normally doesn’t like to work, but when man. After setting out the dishes in a pleasing assigned a job suitable to his temperament manner for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, when does it with redoubled enthusiasm? A person Sarvabhauma was about to call him to sit for endowed with tamoguna has to be kept under lunch, his son-in-law made a taunting remark watch, and if necessary even disciplined a little. about the luxurious spread. Greatly distressed, He may have to be physically shown how to Sarvabhauma cried out, ‘May (my daughter) work. The teacher must cover up the faults of

January 2019 Saati become a widow today!’ (i.e., ‘May my such a person so that he will understand that son-in-law die today!’) The wicked Vaishnavas the teacher is his well-wisher. In his younger 12 interpreted this to mean that if Sarvabhauma’s days Gopal was with me. I would ask him to daughter became widowed, Chaitanyadeva assist me in cooking. Within a few days, after would practise kishori-bhajana with her. Do you keeping the water on the stove, I would go out see how far foolishness can go! to attend some other work, instructing him to 8.9.60 add rice into the water when it boiled. A month Question: Can there be a state where later, I found that he had become a better cook even without doing any work we can have than me! Achintya used to avoid me. One day

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta knowledge, devotion and yoga? I called him and explained to him the necessity Answer: But that state too involves work. of service. Soon he became extraordinarily If you mingle with people in the practical field, enthusiastic about work. then you can test yourself through work. In Sometimes sadhus fall from their ideal; the preliminary stage, work according to your this is quite natural. Maintain the same respect natural inclination, and strive to do that work towards them. Downfall occurs because they from higher awareness. You should convert that avoid work and lack self-analysis. After a work into worship. But it won’t do to simply setback, they engage in worship and spiritual reduce your work. The obsession for work practice with redoubled enthusiasm. Therefore, has to be reduced. As the passions decline, the we should not show disrespect to anyone. yearning for work will decrease automatically. Some sadhus become popular. Many The Bhagavad Gita mentions three gunas people visit them. Other sadhus then feel –sattva, rajas and tamas. Do you know their jealous. Such mental disturbances happen when functions? Sattva is attached to happiness and they desert God and pay more attention to the beautiful things. There is nothing forbidden for world. tamas. Rajas is attracted to action. There are more (To be continued. . .) varieties: the rajas of sattva and the rajas of tamas. Sri Ramakrishna Math (A Branch of Ramakrishna Math & , ) Puranattukara P.O., Thrissur-680 551, Kerala. Phone Office: 0487-2307719; 082817 82193; 095261 72929 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Web.: www.rkmthrissur.org

Appeal for Financial Help for Constructing ‘Publication & Research Centre’ at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Thrissur, Kerala. Namaste. ‘Sri Ramakrishna Math’ situated at Puranattukara near Thrissur city in Kerala is a branch of ‘Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission’. Established as early as 1927 with a Gurukulam (hostel) for educating the poor Harijan children of the locality, this branch of the Ramakrishna Movement has since been tirelessly serving the society in a number of areas including value , healthcare, propagation of Dharma, publication of Vedantic texts and spiritual ministration. The Publication Dept. of this Math has published 300-odd books. By its unique service of January 2019 decades, this Publishing House has contributed to the material and 13 spiritual progress of the society. Although it has developed over the years, its infrastructure has not developed in line with the increase in the volume of work and the Dept. now works under spatial

constraints. Kesari The Vedanta It is under these circumstances that we plan to build a 4-storeyed ‘Publication and Research Centre’, estimated to cost Rs. 6 crores. The new building will house the Publication Godown, Despatch Office, Publications Office (Books Section), Prabuddhakeralam Magazine Office, Public Library, Research Section, Living Rooms for and Guests etc. So, we request our devotees and well-wishers to make generous contributions to realize this unique project. I am fully sure that this project will contribute greatly to the welfare of society for decades to come. We will be greatly thankful to you if you could contribute even partially. Your donations may be sent as DD/Cheque in the name of ‘Sri Ramakrishna Math’ or transferred to our bank account: A/c Name: SRI RAMAKRISHNA MATH; SB A/c Number: 6711843752; Bank Name: Kotak Mahindra Bank; Branch Name: Thrissur; IFS Code: KKBK0000596. All donations are exempt from income tax under section 80-G of the I.T. Act. Thanking you in anticipation, Yours sincerely and affectionately, Swami Sadbhavananda Adhyaksha January 2019

14 The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Ramakrishna Math, Yelagiri (A Branch Centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, W.B.) P.O. Athanavur, via Jolarpet, Yelagiri Hills, Dt. Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Pin: 635 853 Mobile No.9113815749 Email: [email protected]

A humble appeal to all the well-wishers of the Ramakrishna Order Respected Sirs/Madams, Namaskars and greetings. You will be happy to know that Yelagiri, hitherto a sub-centre of Nattrampalli Branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, has been made by a resolution of the Belur Math authorities, an Independent Centre to serve the local populace in a better way. The existing two old buildings need extensive repairs. Boundary walls need to be constructed. We have plans to start non-formal education for local poor January 2019 children. As there is no medical facility available, we have planned to start a health centre to meet the demands. Also a Mobile Dispensary would be started. 15 At present there is nothing except 7 acres of land and two old buildings. To develop the above said infrastructure, funds to the tune of several crores are required. It is in this context that we earnestly appeal to all the well-wishers, devotees and philanthropists to support this public cause by contributing your mite. Drafts / cheques drawn in favour of Ramakrishna Math, Yelagiri, can be sent to the above address. Kesari The Vedanta Online deposits can also be made to the following SBI account: Current A/c. No.: 37680966203 Bank Name and Branch: SBI, Nattrampalli Branch. IFSC Code: SBIN0014619 PAN No.: AAATR3497G Please give details of any donation by e-mail to [email protected] with your full postal address to acknowledge the donations, which are exempt from 80 G of I.T. Act. With grateful thanks, Yours in Sri Ramakrishna Swami Bhavarupananda Adhyaksha January 2019

16 The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Article

Meditation on the New Year

SWAMI CHETANANANDA

See God with Open Eyes is Swami Chetanananda’s new book published by Vedanta Society of St Louis, USA. The book, filled with anecdotes from the life of Sri Ramakrishna, describes how devotees can meditate on different aspects of Sri Ramakrishna – his physical form, his mind, his divine qualities, and so forth. We are grateful to Swami Chetanananda for giving our readers a New Year gift by permitting us to present here in an abridged form the chapter ‘Meditation on the New Year.’ Revered Maharaj is Minister-in-charge, Vedanta Society of St Louis, USA. Copies of this book will soon be available in India. [email protected] …… Ishta-mantra. Some centres conduct retreats …… where they discuss the episode of Ramakrishna Welcoming the New Year is a cultural as the kalpataru. tradition. On New Year’s Day, Although more than 130 ancient Babylonians would take years have passed, people from all January 2019 a vow to repay their debt to over the world have not forgotten God. The ancient Romans would that memorable day: 1 January 17 make various solemn resolves 1886. One proof of this is the to their God Janus — which Kalpataru Festival that is held at is why the name of the first Cossipore every year. On that day month is January in the Julian nearly a million people stand in Calendar. On New Year’s Day, line from morning to night to bow many Christians pray to God to down to Ramakrishna’s picture in preserve their resolutions. Among his room, and they pray to him to PAGE SPONSOR : SRI VENKATARAMANAN T., CHENNAI T., VENKATARAMANAN SRI : SPONSOR PAGE the Jews, it is customary to beg fulfil their wishes. That day is now Kesari The Vedanta forgiveness for any wrongdoings the object of our meditation. committed during the previous Meditation has infinite power. year. On New Year’s Day, Hindu It is not limited by time. One can turn a merchants go to temples with new past event into a present event in the mind account books and offer worship for the success through meditation. We can imagine that it is of their businesses. New Year’s Day and visualize Ramakrishna …… lying on his bed in the southwest comer of his …… room at the Cossipore garden house. There Our Vedanta centres in the was no cot in his room: his bed was a mattress observe New Year’s Day in various ways: placed on a carpet and a mat. It was convenient Some centres start with midnight meditation for him to sleep that way, because his body and prayer. Some centres observe a vigil from was weak from cancer. The Master is chanting six o’clock in the morning to six o’clock in the the Divine Mother’s name and praying for the evening; during this time, monks and devotees welfare of the devotees. take turns each hour in silently repeating their …… In Cossipore, the Master continued to Before anyone had spoken a word, the observe his daily routine. Sashi Maharaj would Master addressed Girish, asking him: ‘Girish, help the Master with his morning ablutions. The what have you seen and understood [about Master would brush his teeth with a twig and me] that makes you say all these things [that I scrape his tongue. He always kept his mouth am an avatar and so on] to everyone, wherever clean because he used it for chanting God’s you go?’ Girish responded by kneeling down name and talking about Him to the devotees. at the Master’s feet, folding his hands before He then drank a little fruit juice or milk, He his raised face, and saying in a voice choked could not eat solid food because of the cancer with emotion: ‘What more can I say of Him? in his throat. Holy Mother would prepare farina Even the sages Vyasa and Valmiki could find or tapioca pudding for his lunch. After lunch he no words to measure His glory!’1 would take some rest. After his noon rest on 1 Ramakrishna was deeply moved by January 1886, he felt better than usual. At 3 p.m. Girish’s words and his conviction. He stood he told his nephew: ‘Ramlal, I feel good today. still on the red brick-dust garden path, his Let us go for a walk in the garden.’ Ramlal whole body covered in goosebumps as his mind replied: ‘Yes, uncle. You look good. Let us go ascended into ecstasy. His whole face beamed for a walk.’ with divine bliss. Seeing that wonderful form The Master put on a red-bordered dhoti, of the Master, the devotees’ joy knew no a shirt, a coat, a broad red-bordered chadar, a bounds. Exultant, they began to shout, ‘Jai Sri cap that covered his ears, and sandals. He took Ramakrishna, Jai Sri Ramakrishna — Victory to January 2019 his walking stick. Latu Maharaj and Ramlal Sri Ramakrishna!’ Some collected flowers from helped him go down the wooden steps to the the garden and offered them to him, and some 18 ground floor. He then came out of the house took the dust of his feet. … through the western door and began to walk We regret that there was nobody there on the garden path. Because it was a holiday, with a camera to take a picture of the Master in more than 30 people had come from Calcutta samadhi on the garden path. How wonderful to see the Master. Some were waiting inside it would be to have such a photograph! the house and some were under the trees in the However, if we did have such a picture, we garden. They were talking amongst themselves would be deprived of the bliss that our limitless

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta about the Master. When they saw him, they all imagination can bring. stood up reverently and bowed down. They After some time, the Master came down were delighted to see him in the garden, and from deep samadhi (antar-dasha) to a half- they followed him as he walked. ecstatic state (ardhya-bahya-dasha). Smiling, he …… said three sentences: ‘What more need I tell It was a pleasant and sunny afternoon. you? I bless you all. May you all be illumined!’2 The red brick-dust garden path went from the After uttering those words, he became main house to the south and then turned right overwhelmed with love and compassion for towards the gate. The Master proceeded slowly his devotees, and went into ecstasy. Please southward to the gate. The devotees followed remember that this auspicious occasion was the him at a little distance. When he reached the last time that he appeared outside the house to midpoint of the path between the house and a group of devotees, blessing them collectively. the gate, the Master saw Girish, Ram, Atul, and On this day he expressed his last message to all. a few others under a tree on the west side of the (Of course, later he blessed and advised some path. They bowed down and came over to him devotees individually.) joyfully. …… The devotees understood that from this unripe, ‘I’ completely disappeared. And day on, the Master would no longer conceal whatever I-ness was left saw itself as ever his divinity from them or from anyone else in connected with the Cosmic, or ripe, ‘I’. the world. They had no doubt that from now Sometimes it would feel itself to be a limb or a on all sinners and sufferers — despite their part of the Cosmic ‘I’, and sometimes it would shortcomings, lack of spirituality, or feelings of ascend gradually to the level of the Cosmic ‘I’ inadequacy — would find shelter at his blessed and merge in It. The Master could therefore feet. … grasp all ideas within all minds because all …… ideas of all minds in the world spring from Now we shall meditate on the last three that Cosmic ‘I’. Because the Master was always public sentences of Ramakrishna: identified with that all-pervading ‘I’, he was 1. ‘Tomader ar ki balba — What more need able to know and understand any ideas that I tell you?’ From 1879 to 1885 the devotees arose in the Cosmic Mind. In that exalted and disciples visited the Master and listened state, the Master’s feeling ‘I am a part of God’ to message. The blessed M. recorded 177 days would gradually vanish and the Cosmic ‘I’ of the Master’s conversations in the Kathamrita or the Divine Mother’s ‘I’ would become (Gospel). Still there is no limit to how many manifest through him, and he would act as a incidents and talks of the Master we have lost. guru, possessing the power of bestowing grace According to an ancient Greek legend, and inflicting punishment. At that time the swans sing a beautiful song just before Master would not appear to be humbler than dying. This is the origin of the phrase ‘swan the humblest: His demeanour, behaviour with January 2019 song.’ Like that legendary Rajahamsa (swan), others, and other actions took a different form. Paramahamsa Ramakrishna was in essence- Becoming like the mythical wish-fulfilling tree, 19 saying to his devotees: ‘Look, I have been he would ask a devotee, ‘What do you want?’ as giving my message to you continually for the if he was ready to use his superhuman power to last seven or eight years. Now my throat has fulfill the devotee’s desire immediately.3 developed cancer due to speaking for long When the Master became the kalpataru periods day after day, and also due to taking on that auspicious New Year’s Day, he blessed upon myself the sins of others. I have no more his devotees. This blessing was infallible. It PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, NEW JERSEY NEW DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE strength to speak. I am now at the end of my is not true that the Master became kalpataru Kesari The Vedanta life, and I am telling you the most important only on that day; he had fulfilled the wishes thing. Listen carefully.’ of his disciples and devotees many times …… on different occasions earlier. Swamiji once 2) ‘Asirbad kori — I bless you all.’ In said: ‘He is actually distributing love. Love, Bengali, the word ‘I’ does not appear. It is devotion, knowledge, liberation, and whatever implied by the verb ‘kori.’ The Master meant to one desires —Gora [Ramakrishna] is bestowing say, ‘I bless you all,’ but he could not utter the upon us whatever he wishes. What wonderful word ‘I’ and ‘mine.’ His ego was completely power!’4 Even now the Master listens to his uprooted, and his ‘I’ was merged with God’s ‘I’. devotees’ prayers and fulfills them. …… 3) ‘Tomader sakaler chaitanya hok — May Ramakrishna’s mysterious ‘I’ played out you all be illumined!’ This was Ramakrishna’s in different planes at different times. Swami last public utterance. The phrase is similar to wrote: the word ‘Tattwamasi — thou art that,’ a great It is evident that after he attained Vedic dictum. In the Chandogya Upanishad, nirvikalpa samadhi, the Master’s little, or the sage Aruni instructed his son Svetaketu nine times using the phrase ‘Tattwamasi — real and unreal. The sign of knowledge That thou art.’ Tat = Brahman; twam = you; is passion for God, the awakening of the asi = are. Through this, Svetaketu attained kundalini, a peaceful nature, and the absence Self-knowledge. Aruni told his son: ‘You have of pride.’ always been Brahman, but due to ignorance The Master came to lead human beings you were unaware of it. One attains the bliss of from darkness to light, bondage to liberation. So Brahman when ignorance disappears.’ he blessed the devotees, saying, ‘Be illumined.’ On that New Year’s Day in Cossipore, He knew the mind goes up and down in the many devotees were present, so the Master dualistic plane, so there is no permanent said, ‘May you all be illumined,’ meaning peace and happiness there. The nondualistic ‘Let your hidden Brahman- be experience is the final goal in spiritual life. awakened.’ The difference between ‘Tattwamasi’ The Master said, ‘First tie the knowledge of and ‘Tomar chaitanya hok’ is the wording and not nonduality in a corner of your cloth, then do the meaning. But on that day the Master did as you please. Consciousness is awakened not stop at saying ‘May you all illumined’; he after the knowledge of the nondual Brahman. touched each devotee’s chest, one by one, with After this realization comes eternal bliss.’ On the palm of his hand and transmitted spiritual that New Year’s Day, the Master bestowed power to them instantly. In Tantra, awakening his supreme blessing not only upon those 30 someone’s spiritual consciousness by touch is devotees, but also for future human beings. called Sambhavi initiation. Among the four goals of human life — dharma January 2019 What is this consciousness? Spiritual (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (aesthetic consciousness is the chit aspect of Sat-chit- desire), and (liberation) — moksha is 20 ananda Brahman. All kinds of knowledge come the supreme or ultimate goal. The scriptures from this consciousness. This question arose say ‘Jnanat moksha — liberation comes from in the Mundaka Upanishad: ‘What is that by Self-knowledge.’ knowing which all this becomes known?’ That The main intention of the Master’s is Satchidananda Brahman. It is the light of all blessing was to impart the knowledge of lights. When It shines, everything shines. Stars, Brahman to devotees by destroying the fetters moon, sun, lightning, and fire are lighted by the binding their hearts. The Brihadaranyaka

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta light of Brahman. Upanishad says: ‘This Brahman is the supreme The Master once said: ‘One cannot goal, supreme glory, supreme abode, and know that Consciousness without supreme bliss. On a particle of this bliss other awakening one’s own spiritual consciousness. creatures live’ (4:3:32). Futile is the human birth without the On this auspicious New Year’s Day, awakening of spiritual consciousness.’ For the Master broke the jar of bliss in front of this reason the Master awakened spiritual everybody assembled in that garden. Akshay consciousness in the hearts of his devotees on Kumar Sen wrote in Ramakrishna Punthi: ‘Sri this New Year’s Day. Ramakrishna promised that before he left the Spiritual consciousness is knowledge. world he would break the earthen jar in the The Master further said: ‘It to know one’s own market place. Let me tell you how the Master Self and keep the mind in It. One must light broke the jar.’ Then the author described the the lamp of Knowledge in one’s heart to see events of 1 January 1886. … the Divine Mother. After attaining knowledge, The meaning of ‘breaking the jar in the when a man lives in this world, he can see market place’ is ‘to reveal a mystery in front clearly the difference between good and bad, of all.’ However, this also implies that if the Cossipore Garden. Sri Ramakrishna became the Kalpataru near the curve of the Mango tree

earthen jar is broken in the marketplace, its The Master said to me, ‘Ramlal, my hands contents (generally sweets) come out and can and feet are burning. Please bring some Ganga no longer be sold. The treasure within the jar is water and sprinkle it on me.’ He was extremely gathered up by the public to enjoy — as during restless. I asked, ‘What happened?’ He replied: a festival when sweets are scattered in honour ‘I came into this world secretly with a few close of Lord Hari for the devotees to collect. devotees, and now Ram [Ram Chandra Datta]

On that New Year’s Day, standing on the is spreading my name. He brings all sorts of January 2019 red brick-dust path at the Cossipore garden people here and asks me to touch and bless house, the Master became the kalpataru and them. How much burden can I carry? I got this 21 broke the jar of love in front of his devotees. disease by taking the sins of these people upon Tasting that supreme divine love, some myself. Look, I shall not stay in this world any became intoxicated, some peaceful, and some longer.’ I consoled him: ‘No, no. You will not completely immersed in the bliss of the . have to receive any visitors or touch anybody.’ Out of exuberant joy they began to call others to Then I brought the Ganga water and washed his partake of that joy. This is the sign of supreme hands and feet, and gradually he calmed down.5

PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, CHENNAI DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE love. The Master used to say, ‘Pure knowledge The Master’s kalpataru-lila and last public The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta and pure love are the same.’ message are the objects our meditation. On …… this day, the Master bestowed fearlessness to …. The Master returned to his room after the devotees through Self-revelation, fulfilled blessing the devotees. As Lord Shiva drank the their wishes, and lighted the lamp of wisdom poison of this world to protect the creation, so in their hearts. However, God does not become the Master absorbed the poisonous sins of the the kalpataru only on one day; God is always devotees whom he had touched and began the kalpataru. If we meditate daily on this lila of

to suffer from a burning sensation. Ramlal the Master, then he will appear before us every

recalled: day as the kalpataru. t t

References 1. Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play. [Divine Play] 3. Divine Play, 450 Swami Saradananda. Trans. Swami Chetananda. 4. Ibid., 803 St.Louis: Vedanta Society, 2006, 926 5. Ramakrishna as We Saw Him. Swami Chetanananda. 2. Ibid., 926 St. Louis, Vedanta Society, 2012, 60 Pariprasna Q & A with Srimat Swami Tapasyananda (1904 to 1991), Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order.

Approach the wise sages, offer reverential salutations, repeatedly ask proper questions, serve them and thus know the Truth. — Bhagavad Gita

Question: Where should reasoning stop and give place to faith? Maharaj: Reason and faith work in different fields, although up to a certain point they can go together. Reason, in the sense of logical inference, works on the basis of data provided by the senses. It works as deduction and induction. Deduction is based on a general proposition which is taken for granted. This general proposition in its turn is based upon induction, upon observation of sense data and verification through experiment. Thus sense data are the material which all logical processes deal with ultimately. The function of the logical process is to correlate these data, arrive

January 2019 at valid generalizations, draw implications in the light of the laws of thought, and thus help the intellectual understanding of perceived facts. 22 It will be seen that reason or logic in itself cannot give us any data. It can only process data obtained through perception. So logical reasoning can effectively function only where sense data are available, ie., within the limitation of our powers of observation with senses alone or senses aided by instruments. With regard to anything beyond, it can only work as an unreliable pointer to many possibilities, creating a sense of learned ignorance and uncertainty. Thus it cannot give us any conviction about the existence or nature of God, although it can point towards several possibilities in this respect. In the field of the Spirit, which is non-spatial and non-temporal, only inspiration or The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta supersensuous understanding (Jnana) can give us any data carrying conviction. To think that logic and reason can do so is to expect the impossible. But before Jnana is generated in us, that is, in our present state of understanding confined to spatial and temporal things, how are we to proceed with a working conviction on such a fundamental truth as existence of God? It is here that the faculty of our understanding known as faith has to come into operation. Faith is the capacity of the mind to accept on trust the ultimate and otherwise ununderstandable facts of life with a power very near that of conviction. Trust is of course always on the basis of a reliable authority—a scripture or a teacher. It is an abuse of this faculty to invoke it in all petty affairs of life or to support the mystery-mongering tendencies of people. Its legitimate application is with regard to the ultimate questions of life where sense powers and logic are quite helpless in giving either data or certainty by themselves. Does God exist? What is His nature? Is there a hereafter? Has life got any ultimate meaning? How are we to live so as to realize the ultimate end of life? Questions such as these can be decided only on the basis of scriptures, which are divine revelations, or on the authority of great illumined world- teachers who are acclaimed as messengers of Light. To live in perpetual doubt on such fundamental and vital questions on the ground that our sense faculties and reason in themselves cannot help us, is folly. Doubt in this sense is as much a disease as credulity, which may be described as proneness to accept all kinds of claims and views on ordinary matters of life where the exercise of intelligence and critical spirit is needed in order to avoid deception. In the choice of scriptures and teachers also there are certain norms set forth by these agencies themselves. Scriptures are revealed literature and have proved their genuineness by their survival through the ages and their conveying light and inspiration to countless generations o f men. And great world-teachers are men of illumination and power who have no selfish ends of their own to seek and who live absolutely for the welfare of the world at large. Even here man has freedom of choice. People are born in different religious traditions. In these days when cultures and nations are brought into very intimate contact, man has got the freedom to draw inspiration from all these traditions. When he feels that the teachings of a particular religion on ultimate questions are more credible than those of another, he has got every right to accept them. Credibility is a requirement even where faith has to be exercised, especially if the men concerned are of considerable mental and intellectual

development. January 2019 The question of ‘credibility’ brings us again to a consideration of the legitimate place of reason in our scheme of life even while according a proper place for faith. Just as reason can correlate the 23 facts experienced by the senses and build them into an understandable system, so also it can help in relating the various facts of supersensuous experience among themselves and these in turn with our knowledge of the world of senses. It has been well said that what is accepted on faith need not necessarily contradict reason. The coherence of all data, whether sensuous or supersensuous, is a demand that human understanding makes for an integrated world-view. The great Vedantic thinkers of India and the great theologians of the West have attempted

PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, CHENNAI DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE this work of integration through reason. But this has its limitations. If we could understand the The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Spirit fully by logical thinking alone, Spirit would have become matter. Unless the limitations of logic in this field are recognized from the start, we are liable to commit the mistake of rejecting as unacceptable or non-existent what is beyond its capacity. We have therefore got to make a distinction between what contradicts reason and what transcends reason and be prepared to abandon the pretensions of logic when the point of transcendence has come. In other words man must be prepared to admit that his capacity for knowledge is very limited and his logic will break at some stage in its efforts to capture the Infinite in its webs. That point is the point of transcendence and what is beyond we have to accept by exercise of the faculty of faith alone ie., on the authority of the scripture and the teacher. For example let us take the question of the existence of God. Attempts can be made on purely rational grounds to establish the plausibility of a First Cause. But when we try to understand the nature of It on pure logical reasoning, we will find our logic breaking. God the First Cause, by common acceptance, is (Continued on page 39...) Article

Two Versions of Swami Vivekananda’s First Chicago Speech

WILLIAM PAGE

It is not generally known, but there are Tribune, and Record, ca. September 11, 1893.’ at least two versions of Swami Vivekananda’s As Volume 9 notes (p. 429), it was compiled famous speech titled ‘Response to Welcome.’ by the late Marie Louise Burke (), That was the first speech he gave at the World’s and first appeared in her monumental work, Parliament of Religions in Chicago, on 11 Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries, September 1893. There are a short version and Volume 1, pp.83-84. a long version. The short version is the standard, The two versions combined canonical version. It is found in The Complete The interesting thing about the long Works of Swami Vivekananda (hereafter, CW), version is the ways in which it differs from the January 2019 Volume 1, pp. 3-4, and it is 472 words long. short one. Below is a conflation of the two. The The long version, which is less known, is text in black print is common to both. The text 24 also in the CW, but in Volume 9, pp. 429-430. in red italics appears only in the long version. It is 554 words long—82 words longer than Where there is a difference in wording, I give the short version. Published in a section titled both, separated by a slash bar (/). The wording ‘American Newspaper Reports,’ it is described in the short version comes first, then the as an ‘Editorial synthesis of four Chicago slashbar, then the wording in the long version, newspaper reports from: Herald, Inter Ocean, in red italics:

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Sisters and brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. / to the grand words of welcome given to us by you. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world. / the most ancient order of monks the world has ever seen, of which Gautama was only a member. I thank you in the name of the mother / Mother of religions, of which and are but branches; and I thank you, finally, in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu / Hindoo people of all classes / castes and . My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on the /this platform, who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, [the long version omits ‘referring to the delegates from the Orient’] have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. / will bear to the different lands the idea of toleration which they may see here. My thanks to them for this idea.

William Page has been associated with the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Massachusetts since 1960 and is a member of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Association of Thailand. [email protected] I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, / tolerance, but we accept all religions as / to be true. I am proud to tell you that I belong to a religion in whose sacred language, the , the word exclusion is untranslatable. (Applause.) I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who / a remnant of which came to Southern / southern India and took refuge with us in the very year / years in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, / brothers, a few lines from a hymn which every Hindoo child repeats every day. I feel that the very spirit of this hymn, which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: / by millions and millions of men in India, has at last come to be realized. ‘As the

different streams, having their sources in different places, all mingle their water in the sea, so, January 2019 O Lord, / O Lord, so the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.’ 25 The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, / an indication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita [the long version italicises ‘Gita’]: ‘Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men [the long version omits ‘men’] are struggling through paths which in the end always lead to Me.’ Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed / have possessed long this beautiful earth. They have / It has filled the earth

PAGE SPONSOR : DR. RAMYA S., CHENNAI S., RAMYA DR. : SPONSOR PAGE with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, / with human gore, destroyed The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta civilisation / civilization and sent whole nations to / into despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. [The long version omits this last sentence.] But their time is come; / But its time has come; and I fervently hope / believe that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention / in honor of the representatives of the different religions of the earth, in this parliament assembled, may be the death- knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions / is the death-knell to all fanaticism (applause), that it is the death-knell to all persecution with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons / brethren wending their way to the same goal. / to the same goal, but through different ways.

Analysis magisterial history of the parliament, The If Sister Gargi synthesised the long World’s Parliament of Religions, Volume 1, pp. version from four Chicago newspaper reports, 101-102, published in Chicago in 1893, the same where does the short version come from? year the parliament was held. Sister Gargi Evidently it is a slightly edited variation of suggested this in New Discoveries, Volume 1, p. the version published in John Henry Barrows’ 82. It seems likely that the long version was about using colourful language. Prim and a more accurate rendering of Swamiji’s speech proper Victorian minds would naturally shy than the short one. It sounds closer to spoken away from the goriness of gore and want to English. In fact, the short version looks very substitute the more sanitised word blood. much like an edited version of the long one. The short version ends with a bang: It is smoother; some of the rough edges have the hope that the bell that had tolled that been sandpapered away. Nonessential phrases morning would sound ‘the death-knell…of all and clauses have been deleted. Claims that uncharitable feelings between persons wending might strike a discordant note in the harmony their way to the same goal.’ The long version of religions by offending the Buddhists and the ends (with apologies to T.S. Eliot), not with Jains (‘of which Gautama was only a member,’ a bang, but a whimper: it trails off with the ‘of which Jainism and Buddhism are but debilitating qualifier, ‘but through different branches’) have been dropped. The sentence ways.’ But it compensates for this shortcoming containing the claim ‘a religion in whose sacred by replacing the vague and general word language, the Sanskrit, the word exclusion is persons with the warmer and more inclusive untranslatable’ has been deleted. Extraneous word brethren. words like finally and always have been omitted. Lengthy phrases have been condensed: Conclusion ‘millions and millions of men in India’ has been So far as we know, Swamiji had to downsized to ‘millions of human beings’; ‘the compose the speech in his head, while sitting January 2019 representatives of the different religions of the on the stage waiting to be called on. We don’t earth, in this parliament assembled’ has been know how much advance notice he had. We 26 whittled away to ‘this convention.’ Stylistically, do know that he had declined an invitation the short version is superior. to speak at the morning session, a few hours The English usage provides further earlier. The short version is a masterpiece of evidence that the long version is truer to the rhetoric, and might easily be taught as a model original. First, we have the phrase ‘given to us for students to emulate in both speaking and by you.’ Indian English is fond of the passive writing. The longer version is also very good. voice. Swamiji was an Indian, so he would As it was delivered with very little time for

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta have been less likely to say ‘which you have preparation, given the conditions under which given us.’ That construction is more idiomatic Swamiji had to compose it, in terms of content, in American English, and is likely to have been organisation, and eloquence its high quality is substituted by an American editor. almost miraculous. Second, Swamiji was more likely to have Both versions serve three functions: used the word castes, which is specific to Indian they respond gratefully to the warm welcome culture, than the more general word classes. Swamiji has received; they summarise Third, the long version, recorded by American concisely and eloquently the centuries-long reporters, uses American spelling throughout Hindu tradition of accepting other faiths and (honor, civilization, realized), whereas the short welcoming their believers; and they end with version, probably edited in India, uses British an appeal for an end to intolerance. Whichever spelling (honour, civilisation). version comes closer to the original, the fact that There is a question of whether Swamiji Swamiji composed it in his head, without any referred to human blood (short version) or books to refer to and without even being able to human gore (long). I suspect the latter, because write it down, shows once again the matchless it’s more colourful. Swamiji was never shy quality of that marvelous brain. pullout for reference

Series 4: Swami Vivekananda's messages to the youth of India ISSUEISSUE 1013 - a nine-part series

ISSUE 13: MESSAGE 1: It is the youth who will transform this nation

ISSUE 14: MESSAGE 2: Take up an ideal and give your whole life to it

In this issue: ISSUE 15: MESSAGE 3: Stand on your own feet

MESSAGE 1 ISSUE 16: MESSAGE 4: Awaken the spirit of ‘rajas’ It is the Youth who will within you ISSUE 17: transform this nation MESSAGE 5: Believe in yourself ISSUE 18: January 2019 MESSAGE 6: Be bold and fearless 27 Swami Vivekananda has addressed the ISSUE 19: MESSAGE 7: Expand your heart youth of this nation on many occasions. We have organized his message to the ISSUE 20: MESSAGE 8: Be open to learning from youth into 9 key categories, as shown in anyone the table on the right. ISSUE 21: MESSAGE 9: Develop a gigantic will

PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. SELVAJOTHI V., CHENNAI V., SELVAJOTHI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE In this issue, we explore how we can The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta build ourselves towards becoming a nation builder ...

“ My faith is in the younger generation, the modern generation, out of them will come my workers. They will work out the whole problem, like lions.

CW:V. pg.223

> explore further... Swami Vivekananda's vision - how we must build ourselves, if we seek to transform our nation...

“Each one of you has a glorious “My hope of the future lies future if you dare believe me. Have a in the youths of character – tremendous faith in yourselves, like intelligent, renouncing all for the the faith I had when I was a child, service of others, and obedient and which I am working out now. – who can sacrifice their lives Have that faith, each one of you, in working out my ideas and in yourself – that eternal power thereby do good to themselves is lodged in every soul – and you and the country at large. will revive the whole of India. CW:VIII. pg 230-231 CW:III. pg. 303-304 January 2019 “We must enter into the life of 28 “...what I want is muscles every race in India and abroad; of iron and nerves of steel, shall have to work to bring this inside which dwells a mind of about. Now for that, I want the same material as that young men. “It is the young, of which the thunderbolt is the strong, and healthy,

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta made. of sharp intellect that will reach the Lord”, say the Vedas CW:V. pg.117 CW:III. pg. 303-304

“... by the will of God, from among these very boys may arise in time great heroes of action and spirituality who will in future work out my ideas.

CW:VIII. pg 230-231

Share examples of your experiences of trying out these practices, on www.vivekanandaway.org. Any questions that come up in your mind while doing so, can also be discussed here. How do I develop myself into one of Swami Vivekananda's young "lions"?

A CHECKLIST (based on Swami Vivekananda's vision)

1 Am I strengthening my faith in myself? (Refer Vivekananda Way, Issue 7, July 2018: Developing Shraddha in Oneself & Issue 9, September 2018: Living the ideal of 'faith in oneself' )

2 Am I developing my character 5 capabilities? 4 3 2 1 (Refer Vivekananda Way, Issue 3, March 2018: Build my January 2019 character & personality) 29

3 Am I developing my mental/ intellectual capabilities? (Refer Vivekananda Way, Issue PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, KOCHADAI, MADURAI KOCHADAI, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE

2, March 2018: Affirm my infinite Kesari The Vedanta possibilities & Issue 4, April 2018: Develop my career worthiness )

4 Am I developing my physical capabilities? (E.g. build stamina to work long hours, develop a strong and healthy body, develop tolerance to pain, etc. Also Refer Vivekananda Way, Issue 2, March 2018: Affirm my infinite possibilities) 5 Am I ready for a life of heroic action? (Refer Vivekananda Designed & developed by Way, Issue 5, May 2018: Contribute to Society) ILLUMINE Knowledge Catalysts

® www.illumine.in How can I be one of Swami Vivekananda's workers, who will "work out the whole problem"?

Here are some examples:

I can actively participate in nation building I can adopt new professional pathways activities in my choice of job/career... which involve serving the nation...

At 23, she was the youngest The Government has member of the team innumerable benefits & participating in India’s schemes for people, but very maiden moon mission in little of it is known to those who 2008. need these the most. After completing her B.tech, 29 year old Aniket's work, Khushboo was placed in a spread across 10 states, is foreign software firm but gave bringing information to the KHUSHBOO it up to join ISRO at a much ANIKET local people and thereby MIRZA modest salary. Her reasons DOEGAR creating access to business – “I wanted to make my loan for farmers, skill building ISRO contributions to Indian science. Social for rural woman, scholarship for Scientist I think I have made a start.” Entrepreneur children and much more. January 2019 I can transform my role at work and I can I can be an active citizen and take up 30 become an agent of change... causes that impact the country..

28 year old Pame, changed Driven with the mission of the face of Manipur sub- changing the status quo in division that he was posted her community in which girl in, earning him the nickname child is hardly educated, early ‘miracle man’. marriage is prevalent, and His first miracle was a 100 woman’s health suffers due km motorable road, which he to superstition, 19 year old HYDERABAD KISMATPUR, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta built by mobilizing people’s ARMSTRONG SHANTI Shanti, started an initiative participation, in the absence of ‘Parivartan’. Along with youth in PAME MURMU any government support. her village, aanganwadi workers IAS Officer This connectivity acted as a Pro-active and health workers, Shanti catalyst for the region bringing Citizen has brought these issues into people essential services and forefront in her community. spurring economic activity.

Wherever I am, even if I have limited or no access to resources, I can serve the nation, if I have the desire to do so...

Moved by seeing children working in fields instead of going to school, 9 year old Babar, invited them to his backyard and took it on himself to BABAR ALI teach them what he learnt in school. World’s Over the years, this informal gathering became a formal school with youngest classes up to 10th standard and Babar its headmaster at the age of 16. headmaster Now 25, Babar firmly believes that the government alone cannot bring change, people need to come forward to make education for all possible. January 2019

31 PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, KISMATPUR, HYDERABAD KISMATPUR, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Article

Golden Temple, Amritsar

Ramakrishna-Vivekananda in ‘The Land of Five Rivers’ An Overview of Ramakrishna Movement in Punjab and Haryana

SWAMI ATMASHRADDHANANDA

The author is the secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Kanpur. He gratefully acknowledges the valuable and timely help in various ways that he received from many monks, brahmacharis, devotees and volunteers in preparing this article. [email protected] January 2019

32 ‘This [Punjab] is the land which is held race, Guru Govind Singh, after shedding his to be the holiest even in holy Aryavarta; this blood and that of his dearest and nearest for is the Brahmavarta of which our great Manu the cause of religion, even when deserted by speaks. This is the land from whence arose that those for whom this blood was shed, retired mighty aspiration after the Spirit, ay, which in into the South to die like a wounded lion struck times to come, as history shows, is to deluge to the heart, without a word against his country, the world. This is the land where, like its without a single word of murmur . . . ’1 mighty rivers, spiritual aspirations have arisen This is how Swami Vivekananda The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta and joined their strength, till they travelled described Punjab and its glorious past. This over the length and breadth of the world and was in 1897 when he gave his famous lecture declared themselves with a voice of thunder. titled ‘Common Bases of ’, the first This is the land which had first to bear the of his three lectures given in Lahore in the brunt of all inroads and invasions into India; Undivided Punjab. Besides being a remarkable this heroic land had first to bare its bosom to piece of oratory, this also gives an idea of how every onslaught of the outer barbarians into well-acquainted Swamiji was with the history Aryavarta. This is the land which, after all its of Punjab. The present-day Indian Punjab, sufferings, has not yet entirely lost its glory and however, is a much smaller geographical entity its strength. Here it was that in later times the than what Swamiji visited and spoke about. gentle Nanak preached his marvelous love for The march of history has taken its toll on the the world. Here it was that his broad heart was ‘land of five rivers’. Things have changed over opened and his arms outstretched to embrace the years. the whole world, not only of Hindus, but of It would be appropriate and imperative Mohammedans too. Here it was that one of the that before we sift the facts and details of how last and one of the most glorious heroes of our the ancient land of Punjab is connected with Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, and the Movement connecting the cities of Karachi and Lahore. that bears the name Ramakrishna Movement, Harappan Civilisation was a highly developed we draw a quick outline of Punjab, Punjabis and organized civilisation and its discovery and their rich culture. This will be an exercise in redefined the way the world history was written. recalling, briefly but contextually, the historical, While the sites of Harappan civilisation are in geographical and cultural perspective in which Pakistan and other states of India, Punjab is the the Ramakrishna Movement started and has place where it started. Punjab, in that sense, is been working to spread, slowly but steadily, its the cradle of human civilisation and culture. message of harmony, peace and brotherhood, On account of its geographical location based on a spiritual outlook of life in the states and vulnerability, Punjab has seen numerous of Punjab and Haryana. We should first know invasions by the Persians, Greeks, Kushans, what does ‘Punjab’ consist of.2 Ghaznavids, Timurids, Mughals, Pashtuns, British, and others. These invasions mainly The Historic Land of Undivided Punjab targeted the most productive central region of Punjab, or Panjab, is one of the oldest the Punjab known as the Majha region (other regions on the earth where humans began to two being Deoba and Malwa), which is also live. It is a geographical and cultural region in the bedrock of Punjabi culture and traditions. the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Scores of dynasties and imperial powers have comprising parts of eastern Pakistan and ruled Punjab—and lost it too. It has naturally northern India. Until the Partition of India, and made the people brave and strong, ready to of Punjab, in 1947, the British Punjab Province face challenges of life with strength, courage January 2019 encompassed the present-day Indian states of and gusto. Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Union Punjab is witness to numerous exploits 33 Territory of Chandigarh, and most parts of motivated by greed for wealth and power, National Capital Region or Delhi, and the plunder and the inhuman side of mankind, Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Islamabad alongside the inherent spirit of resilience, Capital Territory. It bordered the Balochistan bravery and goodness which mark the culture and Pashtunistan regions to the west, Kashmir of Punjab, nurtured by numerous Hindu and to the north, the Hindi Belt to the east, and Sufi saints (such as Kabir, Baba Farid and Bulleh PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, KISMATPUR, HYDERABAD KISMATPUR, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE Rajasthan and Sindh to the south. Shah), alongside the great Sikh Gurus, who Kesari The Vedanta The Indus Valley Civilisation or Sarasvati have blessed its people and history by their Civilisation or the Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation, lives and teachings. one of the early and the most widespread cradles Punjab is also the land where the of civilisations, originated and flourished in (the oldest scripture known to mankind), Punjab. It is also called Harappan Civilisation— Ashtadhyayi (Sanskrit Grammar) of Panini, named after the site where the remains of this Nirukta (one of the six Vedangas, dealing with civilisation were excavated in 1856 by the British etymology and interpretation of Vedic terms) engineers John of Yaska and Charaka Samhita (one of the and William foundational texts of Ayurveda), among many Brunton others, are believed to have been revealed or who were written. laying the The religion of Sikhs originated in Punjab, East Indian setting in motion the glorious tradition of Railway sant-sepahis, ‘saint-warriors’, who exemplified Company line selfless service, courage, hard work and sharing and caring for others. The Sikh tradition the collective psyche of Punjab. Uprooted was organized and consolidated into Khalsa from their homeland and social and financial (literally ‘pure’ or ‘genuine’, refers to the moorings, millions of Punjabis had to find new army of initiated Sikhs represented by the five roots and to work hard to return to normal beloved-ones, started in 1699, by Guru Gobind life again. A large number of Punjabi migrants Singh) which led to the formation of the Sikh settled in Delhi, and in several parts of Uttar Confederacy by the legendary Maharaja Ranjit Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and other states Singh of Punjab after the fall of the Mughal in north India. While the gruesome scenes of Empire. It was a glorious time for Punjab when, death and mass migration left behind on their among his other notable achievements, Maharaj mind indelible and traumatic memories, it did Ranjit Singh covered the sacred Harmandir not deter the undying spirit of the Punjabis who Saheb in Amritsar with 750 kg of gold, thus rebuilt their lives and once again came up in bringing it the well-known name, Golden material prosperity, scientific advancement and Temple, a shrine central to Sikh tradition and other fields of social and cultural development. spirituality. The Guru Granth Saheb, enshrining No wonder Swami Vivekananda the compositions of the Sikh Gurus, from Guru described the tough times Punjab passed Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, as also of through in its chequered history thus: ‘Wave several Hindu and Sufi saints and devotees after wave of Barbarian conquest has rolled from Punjab and other parts of India, is the over this devoted land of ours. “ Ho living presence in the Golden Temple. In recent Akbar!” has rent the skies for hundreds of January 2019 times, the Golden Temple was declared as the years, and no Hindu knew what moment ‘world’s most visited place of pilgrimage’. would be his last. This is the most suffering and 34 Then came the British with their vested the most subjugated of all the historic lands of interests. The entire Punjab region was annexed the world.’3 by the British East India Company in 1849. In 1966, some twenty years after India That was the making of the Punjab Province became free, the Indian Punjab was further of British India. Like other regions of India divided on the basis of language, and for better during the colonial rule, Punjab too witnessed administration, into three parts: Haryanvi- widespread exploitation of her people and speaking areas were carved out as Haryana,

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta malicious looting of her wealth and resources, Pahari-speaking and Hilly regions into reducing her rich and fertile land into one of Himachal Pradesh and Punjabi speaking areas poverty, starvation and misery. remained as Punjab. Here is a description of In 1947, after a long fight for freedom, these three states: India was freed of the British colonial reign The State of Punjab, or Indian Punjab, is but at the terrible cost of partition of the bounded by Pakistan on the west, Jammu and country and one of the ‘biggest migrations’ or Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh on displacements of populace in human history. the northeast and Haryana and Rajasthan to The Punjab Province of British India was the south. The dominant language divided along religious lines into West Punjab spoken is Punjabi with many and East Punjab. The West Punjab became a regional shades of differences part of Pakistan while the East stayed with and several India. The cruel and inhuman violence that dialects, as erupted in the wake of mass migration from also Hindi either side—the newly formed Pakistan and and Urdu. the mainland India—left indelible scars on Some of the shades of Punjabi and the dialects spoken by and fauna and human resources with a well- Punjabis are Majhi (standard Punjabi), Malwai, developed economy and roads, Haryana has its Doabi, Pwadhi, Western Punjabi, Shahpuri, own cultural identity and distinctive features. Jhangochi/Changvi, Jangli/Rachnavi, Kurukshetra, the place where Mahabharata Pothohari/Pahari-Potowari, Hindko, Dhani, War was fought, and the Bhagavad Gita was Jafri/Khetrani, Chenavar and Saraiki. Each of delivered, is in Haryana. Sri Ramakrishna’s these language traditions has its own distinct Vedanta Guru, Sri Totapuriji, hailed from usage, pronunciation and history. Undivided Punjab, and the where A large number of Punjabis (more than 10 he lived is located in Ladana, near Kaithal close million), both Sikhs and Hindu Punjabis, have to Kurukshetra4. migrated to , , USA The State of Himachal Pradesh, the third and other countries, carrying with them Punjabi state that emerged from the Indian Punjab, language, culture, cuisine and value systems. is situated in the Western Himalayas. It is Some of them have risen to many public offices bordered by the states of Jammu and Kashmir of high order in those countries. The Hindu to its north, Punjab in the west, Haryana to the Punjabis follow a composite culture of worship southwest, Uttarakhand in the southeast, and of Krishna, Rama, Durga, Ganesha and other the Tibet Autonomous Region in the east. At gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon, its southernmost point, it also touches the state alongside a reverential and regular reading of of Uttar Pradesh. The state’s name was coined Sri Guru Granth Saheb, full or in parts (such as from the Sanskrit—him means ‘snow’ and anchal Japuji Saheb, Sukhmani Saheb, Rehras Saheb, means ‘land’ or ‘abode’. January 2019 Anand Saheb and other sacred compositions of Like Punjab and Haryana, Himachal the Sikh Gurus). A significant segment of Hindu Pradesh’s history too dates to the Indus valley 35 Punjabis, deriving their inspiration from Swami civilisation. During the Vedic period, several , follow the principles small republics known as Janapadas existed and practices of which he founded which were later conquered by the Gupta in 1875. Empire. After a brief period of supremacy by The State of Haryana is bordered by King Harshavardhana, the region was divided Himachal Pradesh to the north-east, by river into several local powers headed by chieftains. PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. BHARATHI M., HYDERABAD M., BHARATHI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE Yamuna along its eastern border with Uttar These kingdoms, which enjoyed a large Kesari The Vedanta Pradesh, Rajasthan to the west and south, degree of independence, were invaded by the and Ghaggar-Hakra River flows along its Delhi Sultanate a number of times. Mahmud northern border with Punjab. Since Haryana Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning surrounds the country’s capital, Delhi, on three of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi sides (north, west and south), a large part of also marched through the lower hills of the Haryana is included in the economically-vibrant state and captured a number of forts and fought National Capital Region for the purposes of many battles. Several hill states acknowledged planning and development. Mughal suzerainty and paid regular tribute to Haryana too has a few Indus Valley the Mughals. Civilisation sites in Hisar and Fatehabad The Himachal Pradesh is home to many districts. Haryanvi, a dialect of Hindi, is the Devi temples such as Jwalamukhi, Nayana dominant language spoken in Haryana—along Devi, Chinnamastaka, Chamunda, Tara Devi with Bagri and Mewati, the two other dialects and others. Since pre-historic times, several spoken both in Haryana and parts of Rajasthan. tribes such as the Koili, Hali, Dagi, Dhaugri, Rich in history, monuments, heritage, flora Dasa, Khasa, Kinnar, Kirat and others have been inhabiting this region. Himachali, the Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas. All of them are dominant language of Himachal Pradesh, has tributaries of the Indus River, the Chenab being many dialects and usages. The state is known the largest. After Partition, only Sutlej, Ravi for its natural environment, hill stations, and and Beas are part of the Indian Punjab. All the scenic beauty. Blessed with perennial rivers, five rivers of Punjab were known to the Greeks Himachal Pradesh has several hydroelectricity who called them in Greek as follows: Indus was plants which produce surplus power that is called Indos, Jhelum as Hydaspes, Chenab as sold to Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and other Akesines, Ravi as Hydroatis, Satluj as Hyphasis states. Bhakra-Nangal dam, one of the tallest and Beas as Hesidros. dams in the world, is in Himachal Pradesh. The Indus River (or Sindhu) is one of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh the longest rivers in Asia. Originating in are in the forefront of protecting India’s borders the Tibetan Plateau in the vicinity of Lake by sending its brave young men to Indian army Manasarovar (now in China), the river runs a besides playing an important role in commerce, course through the Ladakh region of Jammu industry, agriculture and other areas of our and Kashmir in India, towards Gilgit-Baltistan national life. A good number of leading figures of and the Hindukush ranges, and then flows in a India’s freedom struggle were from these states. southernly direction along the entire length of Pakistan to merge into the Arabian Sea near the The Perennial Rivers of Punjab port city of Karachi in Sindh. A description of Punjab will remain The term ‘India’ is a Greek and Latin term January 2019 incomplete without mentioning its historic for ‘the country of the River Indus’. Elsewhere, and perennial rivers after which it is named. the Pakistani province of Sindh also owes its 36 Besides their antiquity, these rivers have been name to the river. The ancient Greeks referred part of the history of Punjab, silent witnesses to the Indians (people of present-day India and to numerous wars, celebrations, births and Pakistan) as ‘Indio’, ‘the people of the Indus’. deaths of various dynasties and hence occupy The Rigveda describes several rivers, including great significance in any discourse on Punjab’s ‘Sindhu’. The Rigvedic ‘Sindhu’ is thought to history. These are rivers of life, influencing be the present-day Indus river and is attested Punjab’s culture, economics and social lives. It 176 times in its text. Swami Vivekananda brings

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta is these rivers that make Punjab ‘the Granary of out an insightful connection between the river India’ or ‘the Bread Basket of India’. Sindhu and the term Hindu. He says, ‘The word Punjab is mentioned in the Vedas as Sapta Hindu, by which it is the fashion nowadays Sindhu, the land of the seven rivers flowing into to style ourselves, has lost all its meaning, for the ocean. These rivers are called in Sanskrit this word merely meant those who lived on Saraswati (thought to be the present day the other side of the river Indus (in Sanskrit, Ghaggar), Satadru/Shutadri (Sutlej), Vipasa Sindhu). This name was murdered into Hindu (Beas), Asikani/Chandrabhaga (Chenab), Iravati by the ancient Persians, and all people living on (Ravi), Vitasta/Vet (Jhelum) and Sindhu (Indus). the other side of the river Sindhu were called by The present name, Punjab, is a compound them Hindus. Thus this word has come down to of two Persian words, panj (five) and aab us; and during the Mohammedan rule we took (water). It was introduced and promoted by up the word ourselves. There may not be any the Turko-Persian conquerors of India, and harm in using the word of course; but, as I have more formally popularised during the Mughal said, it has lost its significance, for you may Empire. Punjab meaning ‘The Land of Five mark that all the people who live on this side Waters or Rivers’, refers to the rivers Jhelum, of the Indus in modern times do not follow the same religion as they did in ancient times. The Mr. and Mrs. Sevier who had been in Shimla word, therefore, covers not only Hindus proper, for some three months. In Ambala, Swamiji but Mohammedans, Christians, Jains, and other had religious talks daily with many people people who live in India.’5 of different religious backgrounds—Hindus, The term ‘Hindu’ obviously has historic Muslims, and Arya Samaj. connection with Undivided Punjab where the Swamiji’s Life says that on the morning river Sindhu passed through. Now, due to of the 16 August, at the request of a professor political divisions, the major part of the river of the Lahore College, Swamiji gave a short flows through the Pakistan Punjab. lecture into a phonograph (the voice recording device in vogue then). The whereabouts of this Swami Vivekananda’s Visit to Punjab phonograph are not known. Swamiji’s recorded Swami Vivekananda visited the voice is not available now though it has been Undivided Punjab in 1898, almost a year after documented that it was recorded in four he returned from his triumphant mission in the places—Mysore in Karnataka, Ramnad in Tamil West. He was accompanied, in some places, by Nadu and Ambala in today’s Haryana, besides his Western disciples such JJ Goodwin, Sister a phonograph sent by Swamiji from America to Nivedita, Mr. and Mrs. Sevier and one or two the Raja of Khetri.7 monks and some devotees and disciples. The Swamiji was in Ambala from 12 to 20 places that Swamiji visited in the Undivided August 1898. During his stay, however, Swamiji Punjab are: Ambala, Amritsar, Dharamshala, had been unwell. On account of his incessant Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Lahore with some travels and public speaking for more than a January 2019 visits in-between to Murree, Baramulla and year, Swamiji was not keeping good health Srinagar. Life of Swami Vivekananda by His and hence in Ambala he was down with fever 37 Eastern and Western Disciples6 gives good details for most of the time and did not agree to the of his travels, and interactions with people, in many requests for public lectures. On 19 August Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. morning he visited Hindu-Muslim School, an institution that interested him for its symbolic In Ambala name. It is not known where in Ambala this It was when Swamiji was in Almora, a school was located, but it is worth all efforts PAGE SPONSOR : GREENMESG.ORG, CHENNAI GREENMESG.ORG, : SPONSOR PAGE hill town now in Uttarakhand, that he began to find out its history and present status. The Kesari The Vedanta receiving invitations from the people of Punjab same may be stated about other buildings and who, like those in South India and elsewhere, institutions which Swamiji visited in Punjab, were keen to see and hear from him. Swamiji Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. An organized left Almora on 2 August 1898, via Bhimtal and earnest effort should be made to locate and Bareilly, to Ambala. It may be mentioned them, and appropriate signage should be put to that Ambala was a part of Undivided Punjab perpetuate the memories of his visit. then, and now it is in the state of Haryana. It is located almost on the border of the two states. In Amritsar and Dharamshala The city is organized as Ambala City and On 20 August Swamiji and his Ambala Cantonment. companions who included Mr. and Mrs. On 12 August night Swamiji left for Sevier, reached Amritsar by train. He was Ambala Cantonment where he was received at received at Amritsar with honour but remained the railway station by a large number of people there only for a few hours before proceeding and taken in a horse carriage to a bungalow that to Dharamshala for recouping his health and had been arranged for his stay. Here he met energy. During this short visit to Amritsar, Swamiji was accommodated in the house of Mr. and ideas and ‘voiced his desire to help’ Todormal, Barrister-at-law. Swamiji carry out his plan of work. Many Swamiji went to Dharamshala, a sadhus, pandits, students, officials of high rank delightful hill station, which now forms part and scores of others met Swamiji. During this of Himachal Pradesh, and spent some seven visit to Kashmir, Swamiji also visited Pampur, or eight days. Except for meeting a few casual Anantnag, Martand, Avantipur, and finally visitors, he spent the time quietly, as the guest reached Murree again on October 8 where he of Bakshi Sohanlal, a pleader of the Chief Court stayed till 16 October. At Murree Swamiji was of the Punjab. It is not known whether Swamiji presented an address of welcome to which addressed any public meeting in Amritsar.8 he ‘gave a talk which delighted the audience As his health improved and he felt immensely’. No transcript of this talk is, better at Dharamshala, Swamiji journeyed to however, available. Amritsar again where he stayed for two days. From Murree, Swamiji came to Rawalpindi During his stay, he had long discussions on (a distance of some 70 km) by tonga, where he religious and philosophical subjects with Rai was welcomed by some people of acclaim. He Mulraj and other leading Arya Samajists. Not met, at the residence of Mr. Hansraj, and talked much is known about the contents of these with Swami of the Arya Samaj. discussions. It is not known if Swamiji visited During their conversation renowned people such the Harmandir Saheb, but some historians as Justice Narayan Das, Mr. Bhaktaram, barrister suggest that it is quite likely that he did, as and many others, were present. January 2019 Harmandir Saheb was too well known to have In Rawalpindi on Sunday, October 17, escaped his notice. Swamiji delivered a lecture to a large audience 38 in Sardar Sujan Singh’s garden. The meeting In Rawalpindi and Murree was chaired by Sardar Sujan Singh and for two On 31 August Swamiji left for Rawalpindi hours Swamiji discoursed lucidly on Hinduism, (now in Pakistan). Many people had gathered extensively citing from the Vedas. An English there to give him a reception, and arrangements disciple who was present there described the had been made for him to stay; but he soon left scene of Swamiji giving this talk thus10 : for Murree, a small hill town now in Pakistan.9 ‘Swamiji, sometimes strolling in the course

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta At Murree, Swamiji stayed with Mr. of his lecture, as was his wont, and sometimes Hansraj, a noted pleader. While Swamiji did leaning against a pillar decorated with foliage, not accede to most requests for public talks due wreaths, and flowers, and himself wearing a to his ill health, he consented and went to the beautiful wreath of flowers on his head and a houses of some Bengali residents of the town, garland round his neck, looked in his flowing where he sang many bhajans. He did give some saffron-coloured robe and sash, like a Greek talks on religious subjects and on his plans for god. Moreover, as a background to this, the work in various parts of India. audience, mostly sitting on the lawn, turbaned From Murree, Swamiji went to Baramulla and cross-legged, with the sun setting in by tonga. He left Murree on 6 September and the distance, made altogether a wondrously reached Baramulla on 8 September. He then picturesque scene.’ travelled to Srinagar (in Kashmir) where he was At Rawalpindi Swamiji visited a Kali the guest of Justice Rishibar Mukhopadhyay. temple many times. At the temple he received During his stay Swamiji met Raja Rama Singh, and spoke to many visitors from different the brother of the Maharaja of Kashmir who provinces and gave several religious talks. was deeply impressed by Swamiji’s personality Swamiji left Rawalpindi on 20 October for Jammu where he met the Maharaja of Kashmir power and life that he (Swamiji) put into the and held discussions with him and others Hindi language was so extraordinary that the present with him. Swamiji also gave a number Maharaja of Kashmir requested him to write a of public lectures and was present for the few papers in that language. This he did, and festival. None of these lectures seem they were greatly appealing.’ Unfortunately, to have been noted in shorthand or otherwise. Swamiji’s papers in Hindi are lost in the pages Jammu has a sizable population of Punjabi- of forgotten history! But it is a great blessing speaking populace. Swamiji gave all his on Hindi language and literature that Swamiji lectures in Hindi. Swamiji’s Life records: ‘The bestowed by speaking and writing in Hindi. (To be continued. . .) References 1) Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, hereafter Colloquially pronounced as Ambarsar, Amritsar is CW, 1989, Mayavati Memorial Edition, Advaita situated 50 km from Lahore. The city is also believed Ashrama, , ‘The Common Bases of to be the place where the Ashrama of Maharishi Hinduism’, p.366. Valmiki, the composer of Ramayana, once existed. The 2) Most of the details given here are from the online Jallianwala Bagh is located near Golden Temple. Wikipedia, and a few from Punjab’s oral-tradition. 9) Both Rawalpindi and Murree were parts of the 3) CW, 3:69, ‘Common Bases of Hinduism’. Undivided Punjab. Located in Pir Pinjal range in the 4) The Vedanta Kesari, 2016, July, ‘A Pilgrimage to The Himalayas, Murree is in the Rawalpindi District of Monastery of Sri Totapuriji’. Pakistan Punjab. Murree was the summer headquarters 5) CW, 3: 118, ‘Vedantism’. of the colonial Punjab Government until 1876 when it January 2019 6) Life of Swami Vivekananda by His Eastern and Western was moved to Shimla. Both Rawalpindi and Murree had many Hindu Punjabis and Bengali residents who Disciples, hereafter Life, , Kolkata, 39 pages 280 to 294. were Swamiji’s chief hosts. Now Rawalpindi, the 7) The Vedanta Kesari, 2012, June, ‘That Golden Voice’. fourth-largest city in Pakistan by population, is in the 8) Amritsar—literally, the tank of nectar of immortality— Punjab province of Pakistan. Rawalpindi falls within was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru the ancient boundaries of Gandhara and is in a region Ram Das. The fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, designed littered with Buddhist ruins. Harmandir Saheb to be built in the center of this tank, 10) Life, pp. 284. and upon its construction, installed the Adi Granth. PAGE SPONSOR : SRI HARI VIJAYRAM, CHENNAI VIJAYRAM, HARI SRI : SPONSOR PAGE The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Pariprasna (Continued from page 23...) omnipotent, omniscient and all-merciful. But when we try to relate all these three in the light of His creation, we find them incompatible. For, a world so full of evil and a God who is omnipotent and merciful cannot go together, as far as our reasoning can see. Immediately one may jump to the conclusion that God does not exist, as the concept of Him is not logical and on the presumption that logicality is essential for reality. But the existence of Him is proved not by logic but by the experience of sages and seers and what logic attempts to do is only to reconcile His factuality with ordinary human understanding as far as possible. So when in the course of this attempt at understanding, we find logic breaking at a stage, we have to know that we have reached the stage of transcendence. There we have to stop relying on logic and begin to depend on faith alone until we rise to the stage of realization. Faith, it has to be admitted, denotes imperfect understanding, but it is the stepping stone to illumination which is the stage of perfect understanding in spiritual matters. But we have to confine the application of it to the ultimates and the imponderables where sense perception cannot give us any data and where logical thinking finds itself in a labyrinth leading nowhere. Selections from Spiritual Quest: Questions & Answers by Swami Tapasyananda Article

Some Thoughts on Spiritual Life SWAMI SATYAPRIYANANDA

It is seen that though people make a by desire involve the use of temporal objects beginning in spiritual life, not everyone is and consequently the fruits of such actions serious about crossing the ocean of samsara. are also temporal. We have to wake up to the When we receive a spiritual advice, the sound understanding that the purpose of human life or verbal energy enters into our ears. And for is not merely to live like animals but to aim for many people, the matter ends there! But in God-realisation even in this very life with the the midst of domestic problems, sometimes help of a sound body and a pure mind. the forgotten spiritual advice is suddenly What is God-realisation? These are remembered. Such regular remembering one the examples cited: A person searching for day converts the sound energy into action a misplaced necklace needs only to be told energy. And in time, the fruit of following the that it is worn on his neck! He does not have advice is readily seen. So, it is good to seek to to get the necklace again. Hanuman of great January 2019 know, and good to repeatedly hear spiritual prowess had only to be reminded of it to get 40 discussions. This article is an attempt to reflect back that energy lost temporarily by a curse. on some spiritual ideas, known to many of us, Sri Ramakrishna gives the example of a man so that they make a lasting impression on us. with a lantern in hand, looking for fire to light The foremost requirement for spiritual his pipe, only to be told that he already had life is a divine disgust. Yes, we are disgusted the fire he was looking for. In short, we have with our present life more or less. But that is to shift our identity from the present mistaken not divine disgust. Consider a bird or a cat in a body-identity to our real identity as the Atman. closed room. It will go from one end to the other To achieve this, purity of mind is a basic The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta looking for a gap to get out. Even these lower requirement. animals do not like to be jailed up! They feel the Purity of mind means freedom from call of freedom from within. But sadly, though impure thoughts, freedom of the senses from we are certainly at an advantage in being a the sense-objects, and remaining unperturbed higher evolutionary product of nature, we are in the face of the dualities of life like joy and content to live in fetters. The fetters of samsara sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat, and should make us feel like being locked up in a heat and cold. One of the ways to attain such jail. That provides the driving force or yearning purity is to regard any work as of utmost for finding an urgent solution to our plight. importance and then perform it unattached, All our troubles are because we identify looking upon oneself as the only person ourselves with the body-mind complex. We left, on whose endeavour the success of the desire things of the world and engage in undertaking depends. selfish actions, forgetting the fact that we are in When the mind is purified, it becomes reality completely fulfilled. Actions motivated steady and manifests tremendous powers just

The author is a senior sannyasi of the Ramakrishna Order and lives in Belur Math. [email protected] like a convex lens converging solar rays into a choose the long-term beneficent in preference focus generates immense heat. Such a steady to the immediate pleasurable. Once this choice mind can effectively focus upon spiritual is made, practice means to repeatedly bring the practices; it can reason to ascertain what is real mind to that which is beneficial in the long run. or permanent and what is unreal or ephemeral; With the mind thus controlled and it can be directed towards God with a love focussed, we have to approach the scriptures called ‘love for love’s sake’ that does not beg and the guru. The scriptures are a guide map worldly favours; it can be immersed in deep that show us the way to the splendour hidden meditation, from where it cannot be pulled within. And the guru is one who guides us out ‘just as the limbs of a tortoise which when on the way. So we should cultivate faith in tucked in never comes out even if it is cut to the scriptures and surrender to the guru. pieces’; it can perform work like a Hanuman Faith is the one essential thing. The faith that and yet not feel tired! Only with such a mind we have in a person or thing is based on our can any of the four yogas –jnana, , karma, own judgement of that person or thing. This and – be practiced successfully. reliance on our judgement presupposes faith Sri Ramakrishna used to say that lust and in ourselves. For, if we do not have faith in lucre constitute ignorance; me and mine does ourselves, how can we rely on our judgements? not allow one to perceive one’s real identity. Along with faith in ourselves, we must have He held that spouses should live like brother faith in the Name of God. and sister after the birth of one or two children God and His Name are one and the and devote their time to higher pursuits and same. Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi would January 2019 spiritual practices. Pursuit of wealth too should say, japat siddhi or perfection through the be balanced with its proper utilisation like repetition of God’s Name. We have to repeat 41 serving the poor and the afflicted, and other the Name of God and hold on to Him. Dive righteous activities. deep—this is the mandate. There is no point In earlier days, the student’s life was in merely floating on the surface if we like first devoted to understanding righteousness. to access the innumerable invaluable pearls That was the first goal of life. Rooted in it lying at the bottom of the lake, deep within the individual would pursue wealth and our consciousness. So, one should practise PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, VIDYARANYAPURA, BENGALURU VIDYARANYAPURA, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE desire, the next two human goals. It is lack stabilising the mind and simultaneously pray Kesari The Vedanta of this knowledge of righteousness that for divine grace so that we makes people amass wealth and enjoyments may progress in spiritual life unrighteously. That accounts for the sad state overcoming all obstacles. of our society today. The importance of learning From one point of view righteousness can be well appreciated if we God-realisation depends remember Sri Krishna’s words that ‘He is desire on the grace of God. But for which is unopposed to righteousness’ and He this grace to descend on was on the side of Yudhishthira because he was us we have to put in self- righteous. effort. Being pleased A usual problem faced by all aspirants is with our self-effort, that the mind is difficult to control. To achieve despite knowing our this tough task, Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad limited capacity to scale Gita, and in his Yoga suggest two tools: Vairagya or renunciation and (Continued on page 47...) Abhyasa or practice. Renunciation means to January 2019

42 The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta

150

1200 Kumbha Mela 2019 Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Marg, Mutthiganj, -211 003 Phone : (0532) 2413369, Mob: 9453630406 E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected] An Appeal Dear Friends, We all know that Tirtharaj Prayag (Allahabad) is a place for versatility of religions and spirituality. Not only different sects of the Hindu Dharma, but also people of all religions and faiths come to Prayag to feel the divine spiritual vibrations permeating its atmosphere. One can see this confluence of religions during the time of Kumbha Mela, which is a sort of a mini India. By the grace of spiritual teachers, from time immemorial pious devotees come to Kumbha Mela to take a dip in the Triveni Sangam and be sanctified. The upcoming Kumbha Mela is scheduled from 14 January to 19 February 2019. As per Government estimates, more than 15 crore sadhus, devotees and pilgrims will take bath in the holy sangams during the Mela. Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Allahabad, will take this opportunity to fulfil Swami Vivekananda’s mission: “Service to Man is Service to God”, by serving more than five lakh Sadhus, Devotees and Pilgrims coming from the remotest corners of the country. This is also a unique opportunity for us to spread the message of the Holy Trio. With the blessings of Most January 2019 Revered Swami Vijnananandaji Maharaj, who founded this Sevashrama in 1910, we are planning to organise a camp on the banks of Triveni Sangam. 43 During the Mela days, the following facilities will be provided to devotees/pilgrims: v Prayer-cum-Lecture Hall v Round-the-clock free Medical Camp with emergency facilities v Book Stall v Photo Exhibition on the Holy Trio v Boarding/Lodging facilities for sadhus, devotees and pilgrims. The estimated cost of this Kumbha Mela Camp is about Rs 1,50,00,000 (Rupees one crore and fifty lakh). To meet this huge expenditure we request you to contribute generously and also

encourage your friends to join us in this SevaYajna started by Swami Vivekananda himself. Kesari The Vedanta Your kind donation will be gladly accepted and acknowledged. Donations can be either by A/C payee Cheque / Draft in favour of ‘Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama— Allahabad’ or Bank Transfer(NEFT/RTGS): Bank Name: State Bank of India, Allahabad, A/C no: 10210448619, IFSC: SBIN0002584 All donations are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G(5)(vi) of Income tax Act, 1961. Please send your Pan No: along with your Donation. Our PAN No is AAAARIO77P. Hope you will seize this unique opportunity to make our Kumba Mela mission successful. With Namaskar and best wishes, Swami Akshayananda Secretary Book Reviews

For review in The Vedanta Kesari, publishers need to send us two copies of their latest publication.

Swami spiritual journey. Every other incident recorded in by Swami Chetanananda & Swami the book can be meditated upon to cultivate right spiritual attitude towards life and to develop faith Vimohananda in the Lord. One of the challenges that a sincere Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5, spiritual seeker faces is doubting his own sincerity Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata - 700 014, of purpose. Once when Swami Subodhananda was 2016, paperback, pp.212, Rs.100. asked what one must do if one has not firm faith in Swami Subodhananda, one of Sri God or in the divine reality, his simple yet profound Ramakrishna’s blessed direct disciples was lovingly reply was, ‘Don’t stop calling on God even if He known as Khoka Maharaj in the Ramakrishna Order. doesn’t show himself. If one already has firm faith, True to the word ‘Khoka’ which means a small boy, what else remains to be achieved?’ Swami Subodhananda had a childlike personality. The book is a must-read for all devotees of The charm of this personality was enhanced by a Sri Ramakrishna and even for spiritual aspirants deep spiritual wisdom and a generous heart. walking in different paths. The present book details the life, teachings, ______SWAMI SHANTIVRATANANDA, MYSURU

January 2019 reminiscences, and letters of Khoka Maharaj. The biographical narrative has been reproduced almost Caturyuga Calendar of verbatim from Swami Chetanananda’s popular and Vaisvasvatha Manvantara (Puranic 44 authoritative book ‘God Lived with Them.’ Twenty- Chronicle) one reminiscences of Khoka Maharaj by sannyasis and devotees have been translated from the Bengali by R. Parthasarathy. book Swami Subodhanander Smritikatha, compiled Published by The Kuppuswami Sastri and published by Office, Kolkata. Khoka Research Institute, No.84, Thiru Vi.Ka. Maharaj’s letters have been translated from the Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004. Bengali book Sri Sri Swami Subodhanander Jibani O 2015, hardbound, pp.212, Rs. 400. Patra, published by Sonargaon Ramakrishna Math, In this book under review the pre-historic

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Dhaka. conditions of Indian peninsula have been designed, The mark of a great saint is not in how he developed and discussed from two perspectives: enthralls his audience with revolutionary spiritual First, India as having an uninterrupted history for ideas, but in the way he lives his life without any many yugas as a punya-bhumi, and the other, the trace of ego. Such a great saint truly was our Khoka Western historians’ conception of ‘non-originality as Maharaj, who could transform lives by the power of ‘Indian’ and that only foreign ideas flourished after his compassion, love and childlike wisdom. Once 1500 B.C. To these Western scholars, the ‘Vedas are when a woman disciple asked him if he could teach mere books of prayers, the epics are unsubstantiated him Gayatri and other such disciplines, Khoka stories and the puranas are books of fables’. Maharaj humbly replied, ‘Mother, I don’t know all Both the Western scholars and Indian those things either. You see, I am a Khoka. I have historians who are against the above views intended given you what I have received from the Master, to rewrite Indian history from the puranic sources what I have known from my own experience, and ranging from 5000 years. In accordance to the great what has kept me in a blissful state. Please control longing of Dr. N. Mahalingam, the present author your mind and practice japa and meditation.’ has accomplished this assignment by writing this The book is replete with numerous anecdotes tremendous treatise. The work commences with reflecting Khoka Maharaj’s love and concern for the authentic source of the puranas as establishing devotees, and the miraculous ways in which he the history of India especially from their translation intervened to help his disciples progress on their to other languages as well as ascertaining the applicability of ‘saptarishi’ era for fixing the puranic logically consistent method based on the findings of events. Various sources are considered for asserting this unique work. the period of each yuga, along with the danger in ______R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, CHENNAI altering the dates as well. According to the author, in order to explore the various puranas, epics and Human Values in Religions other holy scriptures, the caturyuga calendar will be of immense help. by M.A. Jayachanra and others. In the prologue, it is stated that this work Published by Gandhi Centre of ‘tries to highlight various challenges faced by Science and Human Values, Bharatiya Indians in re-creating the ancient history of India Vidya Bhavan, 43/1, Race Course and relevance of puranas as sources for re-writing Road, Bengaluru - 560 001, Email: the history of India’. A large number of national [email protected]. 2016. and international sources are analysed in this regard paperback,pp.179. Rs.150. in order to authenticate the period of the puranas Pluralistic society is now the norm the which form the better source of Indian history, as per world over and we are witnessing the breaking the contention of the author. The subject matters of of borders through migration, whether voluntary the puranas pertaining to parables, avataras, deva- or enforced and some societies are bewildered by asura wars, and the scientific data which are found the changes they see. Fortunately for us, we have in the puranas are well explained subsequently. The had a long tradition of welcoming and embracing caturyuga calendar and time scale are elucidated different forms of worship, holding the view from with a view to focus the main theme of this work. Upanishadic times that Truth is one, though sages The role of the rishis in observing minutely the describe it different ways. movements of the planets and the disputes in This book throws light on the leading religions numbering them as six or seven has also been of the world – Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, highlighted. Christianity and Islam and, in doing so, enlightens January 2019 A variety of details contained in the puranas the reader of the basic tenets of each. Every religion pertaining to the yugas are developed with a key has been evaluated and explained by an active and 45 note that the mythological traditions and historical well-known practitioner of that particular religion. traditions vary widely in the puranas. The calendar Reading through the book, it is very clear that every dealing with the four yugas with puranic chronicles religion emphasises the same things – universal love, are properly annotated with a vivid picture of the acceptance, non-violence, charity, non-judgement, development of the puranic allusions and historic with great stress laid on tolerance and human facts. A few worthwhile appendices also add glory kindness. This is also the message of Sri Ramakrishna to this enthralling project. who illustrated it with a brilliant metaphor – it does On the whole this work has certainly fulfilled not matter whether one uses a ladder or stairs (and PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, VIDYARANYAPURA, BENGALURU VIDYARANYAPURA, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE the ambitious objective of the author that ‘the today even an elevator), the important thing is to get Kesari The Vedanta puranic events provided in this book offer an to the roof. excellent framework for incorporating Suryavamsa, The essays are full of high thinking and need Candravamsa and other dynasties within the revised concentrated study if it is to be interpreted rightly. Caturyuga scale.’ A great potential lies ahead for This book is for the serious reader and searcher for further research on a large scale for the enthusiasts. Truth as all the writers are experts in the doctrines Let us hope for the day when people and scholars of their respective religions and their scholarship and come together to thoroughly analyse the puranas, rigour is everywhere evident. yugas, dynasts, histories, mythology etc. in a ______PREMA RAGHUNATH, CHENNAI

A couple of days before the Master's passing away, when Narendra (later swami Vivekananda) and a few others were standing by his bed at night, a curious thought flashed across Naren's mind: ‘The Master has said many a time that he is an Incarnation of God. If he now says in the midst of the throes of death, in this terrible moment of human anguish and physical pain, “I am God Incarnate”, then I will believe.’ No sooner had Naren thought this, than the Master turned towards him and, summoning all his energy, said, ‘O my Naren, are you not yet convinced? He who was Rama, He who was Krishna, He Himself is now Ramakrishna in this body: not in your Vedantic sense, but actually so.’ The Vedas: An Exploration

The Braahmanas LAKSHMI DEVNATH

(Continued from the November 2018 issue...)

Guide books and manuals - supposedly of sacrifice namely prayers, formulas, chants, modern concepts- existed even in the Vedic sacrificial act, material and so on with equal ages. The Braahmanas – second major division importance and discuss it from various points of the Vedas – was primarily that. A cursory of view that include both legends and history. reading of the text reveals that the Braahmanas While the mantras of the Vedas reveal poetic function as a guide to the interpretation of calibre of a high order, the Braahmanas are the mantras otherwise called the Samhitas completely in prose and may be said to mark of the Vedas. The word Braahmanas, it may the beginnings of Sanskrit prose though, it be stressed, has nothing to do with the word may be remembered that even the Yajur Veda Brahmin – one of the four major castes in contains some portions in prose. Could it be

January 2019 Hinduism. Maurice Winternitz, an Austrian that it thus contained the seeds of future literary scholar, explains the Braahmanas as the ‘science works in Sanskrit? Each of the four Vedas has 46 of sacrifice.’ Braahmanas means a text that many Braahmanas. Only a few of them are explains each word of the mantra and the extant now. practical usage of them in sacrifice or yajna. The Rig Veda, presently has two Interestingly, they represent the earliest attempt Braahmanas – the Aitareya and the Kausitaki to interpret the Vedic mantras. Legends and also called as Saankhayana. Both these anecdotes are an intrinsic and interesting part of elaborate the entire sacrificial ritual, in a the Braahmanas. Philosophical speculation, hair- systematic manner. Curiously, the Aitareya is splitting textual interpretations and aphorisms concerned principally with the Soma sacrifice. The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta reveal the highly developed intellectual level Further, the Aitareya details the duties of the of the Rishis of yore. It also lists the Vedic Hotr – the officiating priest of the Rig Veda. karmas or rituals that are to be performed for The mantras however are not explained man’s welfare and are therefore aptly called the according to its original sequence present in Karma Kanda or the action portion of the Vedas the Samhita. The 40 chapters of the Aitareya along with the Samhita and the Aranyakas. are further subdivided into 8 divisions of 5 Pertinently, each exposition also specifies the chapters each. The Aitareya is an exhaustive Dakshina or payment to be given to the priests. text showing scant respect for brevity. Subject The contents of the Braahmanas are matters also include forays into legends. But, technically classified into two categories the text is easy to understand except for a few viz. vidhi – rules and arthavada – fruits of the parts that draw a thin line between profundity sacrifice and the adverse effects of sacrifices and obscurity. The second Braahmana called the wrongly performed. While concerned with the Kausitaki or Saankhayana, with its 30 chapters, arthavada, Braahmanas explain all the aspects appears to be comparatively a better organised The author is a researcher and writer with various books and articles to her credit on Indian music and culture. [email protected] Sayana, the great commentator on the Vedas says that the Braahmanas contain eight classes of topics. They are: Itihasa – history Purana – legend Vidya – esoteric knowledge Upanishad – philosophy Sloka – verses – aphorisms Vyakhyana – explanations Anuvyakhyana – elaborations In the Braahmana period, the supreme God seems to have been Prajapati. The word Braahmana [neuter gender] means primarily an ‘explanation or expression of a learned priest’, a doctor of Sacrificial science on some point of the ritual. The etymology of the word is however, doubtful. January 2019 text and, for the major part, covers the entire Both the above Braahmanas essentially gamut of sacrificial procedures. Its subject communicate in a common style, bereft of 47 matter is homogenous and the phrase tasya literary ornamentation. Both of them quote uktam Braahmanam [thus says the Braahmana] the Rig Vedic verse in parts and proceed to frequently appears in this. The tight and the explanations. However, where considered comprehensive narrative style of this text with necessary they do not hesitate to cite the whole its mnemonic phrases called gatha, however word. But there is a rapid and bewildering adds to the difficulty in interpretation. Could it change of subject that throws the reader off

PAGE SPONSOR : (LATE) SRI AJODHYA PAUL, BADARPUR, ASSAM BADARPUR, PAUL, NATH AJODHYA SRI (LATE) : SPONSOR PAGE be that this factor has resulted in the Kausitaki gear. The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta being less popular than the Aitareya? (To be continued….)

Some Thoughts on Spiritual Life Continued from page 41.... Maya, the Lord bestows His grace when the may I serve God with my body, mind, and time is propitious. speech; may I behold His devotees with these In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, we eyes; may I always have the company of have several references to a conversation Krishna’s devotees; may I always serve the between Radha and Yasoda. When Sri devotees of God; may I always chant God’s Krishna went away to Mathura, Yasoda name and glories with my tongue; may I once visited Radha and found her absorbed meditate on Him with this mind; may I go with in meditation. When she came to outer these feet to the place where His divine sport consciousness, Radha told Yasoda: ‘I am the is manifested; and may I devote all my sense- Primordial Energy. Ask a boon of Me.’ Then, organs to His service alone.’ Yasoda prayed: ‘I do not want Brahmajnana; This is the prayer that should be may I see the form of Gopala in my meditation; constantly pouring out from our heart. What is Religion?

Religion is the realizing of God.1 We often consider a man religious who can A thinker once said, “More people have talk well. But this is not religion. ‘Wonderful died in history because they gave the wrong methods of joining words, rhetorical powers, January 2019 answer to the Religion question. ‘Do you and explaining texts of the books in various 48 believe in God?’ ‘No.’ Bam! ‘Do you believe in ways — these are only for the enjoyment of the God?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you believe in my God?’ ‘No.’ learned, and not religion.’ Religion comes when Bam!” that actual realization in our own souls begins. That Religion has been the greatest boon of will be the dawn of religion; and then alone we human civilization. Religion also has been shall be moral.2 the worst curse on mankind! No other idea You must open your heart. Religion is exalts man to heights of divinity; no other idea not going to church, or putting marks on the regresses man to the depths of devilry! forehead, or dressing in a peculiar fashion; The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Religion is indeed an enigma. We can’t you may paint yourselves in all the colours seem to live with it, nor can we live without it. of the rainbow, but if the heart has not been One of the greatest contributions of opened, if you have not realized God, it is Swami Vivekananda to modern thought has all vain. If one has the colour of the heart, he been his exposition of what religion actually is. does not want any external colour. That is the We shall try and understand his ideas in this true religious realization. We must not forget regard, using his own words, as far as possible. that colours and all these things are good so In India, there are said to be three far as they help; so far they are all welcome. hundred millions of Vedantins. But if there But they are apt to degenerate and instead were one in a thousand who had actually of helping they retard, and a man identifies realized religion, this world would soon be religion with externalities. Going to the temple greatly changed. We are all atheists, and yet becomes tantamount to spiritual life. Giving we try to fight the man who admits it. We something to a priest becomes tantamount are all in the dark; religion is to us a mere to religious life. These are dangerous and intellectual assent, a mere talk, a mere nothing. (Continued on page 50...) Topical Musings

A Message to Garcia

The next few issues of Topical Musings, transforms as concerted, team-work done will present a broad outline of the spiritual under a new socio-economic world-view, and practice that Swami Vivekananda designed for corporate organization is the new Ashrama (or the modern man. station of life) where this modern Sadhana is Everyone knows what spiritual practice performed. generally means. Did Swamiji change anything Swamiji once told , “The in this area? Did he add or delete anything older I grow, the more everything seems to me to lie from the vast repertoire of practices that have in manliness. This is my new gospel.” traditionally come down from generation to We shall attempt to understand this generation? The answer is yes, and no. idea of Swamiji, which he himself declared We believe that Swamiji brought in some to be supremely important in his scheme of vital changes in the spiritual practices meant for things, by reproducing an 1899 essay that had the modern world. It is but natural. When the a tremendous impact in shaping the modern

world has got a new spiritual ideal to strive for, world. This essay ‘A Message to Garcia’ was January 2019 can the spiritual practices that lead you to that written by Elbert Hubbard. He was born new ideal be the same as before? Hence we say in Illinois, USA on June 19, 1856. He founded 49 ‘Yes, Swamiji did initiate some changes in the ‘Roycroft’, an avant-garde Arts and Crafts spiritual practices meant for this age.’ community in New York in 1895. Hubbard However, any idea, or practice, cut-off edited and published two magazines, ‘The from its connection to our past will be only a Philistine’ and ‘The Fra’. He was an influential novelty. It cannot last long, devoid as it will be, thinker, known for his ardent defense of free of sustaining life-force. So, the modern spiritual enterprise. His ideas have contributed in no

PAGE SPONSOR : SRI RAJU Z. MORAY, MUMBAI MORAY, RAJU SRI Z. : SPONSOR PAGE practices that Swamiji prescribed will have to small measure in shaping the work culture The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta be situated in the larger framework of the age- that placed America at the top of the global old, traditional practices of Japa, Dhyana, Bhakti economy. More importantly, all the countries and Swadhyaya. They will have to be an organic and cultures that embraced Hubbard’s ideas development from the past, and not an isolated, in ‘A Message to Garcia’ effectively transitioned standalone interjection in the present. Hence from the medieval to the modern world-view. we say ‘No, Swamiji did not change any of the spiritual practices, traditionally understood, A Message to Garcia but expanded their scope by introducing new Initiative elements, to make them relevant for this age.’ The world bestows its highest rewards, Thus we find that ‘Harmonious living’, both in money and in honors, for only one ‘Clarity of thought’ and ‘’ are thing. And that is Initiative. now powerful spiritual practices under the What is Initiative? I’ll tell you: It is doing new dispensation. Vyakulata is now seen as the right thing without being told. Manliness and Brahmacharya appears in a new But next to doing the thing without being form as Obedience. All ritualistic worship told is to do it when you are told once. That is to say, carry the Message to Garcia: those who most of its time complaining about hard-luck can carry a message get high honors, but their and injustice. pay is not always in proportion. Then, still lower down in the scale than Next, there are those who never do a thing this, we have the fellow who will not do the until they are told twice; such get no honors and right thing even when someone goes along to show him how and stays to see that he does small pay. it; he is always out of job, and receives the Next, there are those who do the right contempt he deserves thing only when necessity kicks them from To which class do you belong? behind, and these get indifference instead of (To be continued. . .) honors and a pittance for pay. This kind spends

What is Religion? (Continued from page 48...) pernicious, and should be at once checked. Our they are sung in the streets of Calcutta and in scriptures declare again and again that even every village. Most of these are religious songs, the knowledge of the external senses is not and their one central idea, which is perhaps religion. That is religion which makes us realize peculiar to the religions of India, is the idea the Unchangeable One, and that is the religion for of realization. There is not a book in India on January 2019 everyone. He who realizes transcendental truth, religion which does not breathe this idea. Man 50 he who realizes the Atman in his own nature, must realize God, feel God, see God, talk to God. he who comes face to face with God, sees God That is religion. The Indian atmosphere is full of alone in everything, has become a Rishi. And stories of saintly persons having visions of God. there is no religious life for you until you have Such doctrines form the basis of their religion; become a Rishi. Then alone religion begins and all these ancient books and scriptures for you, now is only the preparation. Then are the writings of persons who came into religion dawns upon you, now you are only direct contact with spiritual facts. These books undergoing intellectual gymnastics and were not written for the intellect, nor can any The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta physical tortures.3 reasoning understand them, because they were Religion is not, and never can be, in the written by men who saw the things of which field of intellect. Intellectual reasoning is based they wrote, and they can be understood only on facts evident to the senses. Religion has by men who have raised themselves to the same nothing to do with the senses.4 height. They say there is such a thing as realization There have been various poets in Bengal even in this life, and it is open to everyone, and whose songs have passed down to the people; religion begins with the opening of this faculty.5

All references from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

1) Vol-5: Sayings & Utterances 4) Vol-6: Notes of Class Talks and Lectures: Lessons 2) Vol-2: Jnana-Yoga; Ch- 8: Realization On Raja-Yoga 3) Vol-3: Lectures from Colombo to Almora: The Work 5) Vol-4: Lectures and Discourses; Before Us The Order on the March News & Notes from Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission

New Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna at Aurangabad In the historic city of Aurangabad, the tourist-hub for the celebrated Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Ajanta-Ellora caves, a group of local devotees initiated, in early 1980’s, the establishment of the present Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Aurangabad. With the blessings of several senior sannyasis who often visited the centre, the devotees acquired the land, where the ashrama is now situated, and took up service activities. The ashrama was affiliated as a branch centre of Ramakrishna Mission on 6 June 2005. The construction of the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna began in 2009, with Srimat Ji Maharaj, then one of the vice-presidents and currently the president of the Order laying the foundation January 2019 stone. The temple was consecrated on 17 November 2018 on the holy occasion of Sri Puja 51 by Srimat Swami Vagishananda Ji in the presence of Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji and Srimat Swami Shivamayananda Ji, the three vice-presidents of the Order. Functions including spiritual discourses by sannyasis of the Order, cultural and musical performances based on Vedantic tales, lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, devotional traditions of Maharashtra was held from 16 to 18 November. A commemorative souvenir, Arghya, was also released. In all, 325 sadhus and 5000 devotees from different parts of the world participated in the celebrations.

PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. LAKSHMI DEVNATH, CHENNAI DEVNATH, LAKSHMI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE Jubilee Celebrations The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Faridpur centre, Bangladesh, celebrated the centenary of its primary school, Mahakali Pathashala, on 11 November 2018. Swami Suvirananda, the General Secretary of the Order presided over the meeting, which was attended by a number of sannyasis and former students of the school. Platinum Jubilee of Sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthi Mandiram, Bengaluru Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru was founded by Swami in 1903, and is sanctified by the visits of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swamis Brahmananda, and Abhedananda and headed Aurangabad Temple consecration Bengaluru Mumbai Mysuru by illustrious swamis like Tyagishananda, and Yatiswarananda. Sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthi Manidram, a hostel in this Math for Class 11, 12 and undergraduate students came into existence in 1943 when Swami Tyagishananda gave shelter and provided all necessities to a young harijan student who wanted to pursue his studies. When the number of students slowly grew, and accommodating them became difficult, in his time as the head of the ashrama constructed the present spacious hostel. Currently about 130 students reside in the hostel. Popularly known as ‘Mandiram’ with its beautiful building, auditorium, prayer hall, outdoor theatre, lush green garden, well-equipped library and gymnasium, the hostel is an oasis in the city of Bengaluru for the young minds who are nurtured in Indian values and culture to grow as enlightened citizens of our society. The inmates most efficiently execute various responsibilities in the hostel like serving food, cleaning toilets, cultivating vegetables for the kitchen, and maintaining the garden. They also participate in rural development works and engage in regularly serve in slums and hospitals. January 2019 From 23 to 25 November, 2018 the Mandiram celebrated its Platinum Jubilee with Public Meeting, Youth Convention, Cultural Programmes and Alumni Meet. Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji, Swami Suvirananda, 52 Sri Siddalinga Maha Swamiji the pontiff of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Founder, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement and several sannyasis of the Order and distinguished guests addressed in different sessions of the celebration. A souvenir, Amrutha Vaahini, was also published on the occasion. Cultural Services The showroom and publication centre for Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Literature at the Dhaka ashrama, Bangladesh, built with financial donation from the High Commission of India to Bangladesh, was The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta inaugurated on 25 November 2018 by Srimat Swami Suhitananda Ji, one of the vice-presidents of the Order. Guests of Honour Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam and Sri Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya, visited Belur Math and Visakhapatnam centre on 13 November 2018. Sri C. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, participated in a function organised by Mumbai ashrama to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Addresses. Sri Vajubhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka, participated in the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthi Mandiram, Bengaluru. News from Abroad The California Heritage Council, committed to promoting the preservation of the unique architectural character of San Francisco and all of California, honored the Vedanta Society of Northern California with an award certificate in appreciation for the restoration and preservation of the Vedanta Society’s Old Temple, built in 1905 by Swami and well known as the first Hindu Temple in the western world. Swami Tattwamayananda, the minister-in-charge of the Vedanta Society received the award in the Acceptance Ceremony on 24 October 2018 which was attended by a large number of the prominent citizens of San Francisco. In his acceptance speech, Swami Tattwamayananda underlined the spiritual Mumbai Mysuru New York foundation of the temple by quoting Swami Trigunatitananda’s comment during the original dedication of the Temple: ‘Believe me, believe me, if there is the least tinge of selfishness in building the temple, it will fall, but if it is the Master’s work, it will stand.’ It may be remembered here that the temple miraculously withstood the great San Francisco fire and earthquake of 1906 did not have a formal foundation. But its foundation was stronger than any built of concrete, mortar or granite. Swami Trigunatitanandaji’s faith in God and his guru Sri Ramakrishna was the real foundation of the temple. Awards The headmistress of Higher Secondary School (Main) of Chennai Mission Ashrama received Leadership Award from NRI Welfare Society of India (UK Chapter) at the House of Commons, London, on 25 October 2018. 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Chicago Addresses

Spiritual retreats, public meetings, and music-festivals were held by Baghbazar, Jhargram, Koyilandy, January 2019 Mangaluru, Sarisha, Pune, , and Vadodara centres between 6 October and 25 November, 2018 in which 3620 people participated. 53 43 youth/students’ programmes comprising lectures, workshops and cultural performances were conducted from September to November by Almora, Sarisha, Chennai Students’ Home, Indore, Jammu, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Mumbai centres. Around 12,529 youth participated in these programmes. Visakhapatnam centre held cultural competitions in four districts of Andhra Pradesh from July to November in which 49,698 students took part. In the first round 4,948 prizes were given and in the final round 16 students were awarded prizes and certificates. Coimbatore Mission also held cultural competitions PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. LAKSHMI DEVNATH, CHENNAI DEVNATH, LAKSHMI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE in 13 schools and colleges on 26 September and 16 October in which 2085 students participated. Kesari The Vedanta Public meetings, lectures and musical programmes were organized on different dates from September to November by ashramas at Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and Phoenix in , Faridpur in Bangladesh, Gretz in , Amstelveen in , Sacramento in USA. Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji addressed the gatherings in South Africa, attended by more than 700 devotees. The event by Gretz centre was organised in a cruising boat in Seine river in Paris and was attended by 240 people including Sri Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to France. Amstelveen centre conducted three programmes in Amsterdam, Hague and Groningen, which are located in different corners of the country. In the reputed university city of Groningen, several Indian academics and a large crowd including students participated in the function held on 18 November 2018. Vedanta Society of New York conducted an Interfaith meet on 2 Oct which was attended by about 200 people. Education Services On 31 October 2018 the ‘Sports Science, Yoga and Fitness Centre’ of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Education and Research Institute (RKMVERI) at Belur main campus was inaugurated by Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj. The five storeyed building has been named Atma-Vikas – the unfolding or realization of the pancha-atma. Chennai Kalady

The foundation stone for the proposed girls’ high school building at Shivanahalli centre was laid on 22 November by Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji. Value Education and Youth Programmes Delhi centre conducted 15 values education workshops in Assam, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh between 29 September and 27 November, which were attended by 734 teachers in all. Rajkot centre held nine values education programmes in the ashrama premises and in four schools of the city between 23 September and 7 October, attended by 1875 students. Sarisha centre conducted a personality development programme for the youth on 2 September, attended by 220 youths. Healthcare Services The newly set-up High Dependency Unit at Kankhal Sevashrama hospital was inaugurated on 10 October. nd

January 2019 Vrindaban centre conducted the 2 of the Bi-annual Free Urology & General Surgery Camp 28 November to 4 December, 2018 with the kind support of Manav Seva Sansthan and a team of 8 guest and 6 in-house 54 specialists. About 342 patients were screened in the OPD and 120 patients underwent surgeries free of cost. Cyclone Relief Odisha: Continuing its relief work among the victims of the cyclonic storm Titli, Bhubaneswar centre distributed 1000 saris, 800 dhotis, 200 lungis, 500 blankets and 200 mosquito-nets among 500 families in Gajapati district from 31 October to 3 November. Tamil Nadu: In the wake of the devastating cyclone Gaja, which severely affected several districts of the state, Chennai Math commenced relief work by serving more than 62,000 plates of cooked food (rice,

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta pongal, etc) to affected people in Nagai and Thiruvarur districts from 18 to 22 November. Kerala Flood Relief In continuing the relief work, the Order through our centres at Haripad, Kalady, Koyilandy, Kozhikode and Pala distributed 5500 utensil sets; 13400 kg of groceries like rice, dal, and oil; 1582 packets of biscuits; 1294 mats/bedsheets; 33910 garments like saris, lungis, and shirts; 200 solar lamps; 483 mosquito- repellents; 1224 bars of bathing soap; 737 sanitary items, etc., among 6726 families and 24704 notebooks, 10458 pens, 16506 geometry/drawing boxes among 19945 students in Haripad, Ernakulam, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts. Distress and Winter Relief The Order has distributed 4304 saris, 996 ladies’ garments, 625 dhotis, 10550 shirts, trousers, etc., 240 children’s garment, 2146 blankets, 397 school bags through 15 centres in India; 100 dhotis and 375 saris through the Sylhet centre, Bangladesh; two sewing machines through Lusaka centre, . In addition to the regular ration for old women in Vrindaban, the Vrindaban centre distributed 1481 kg groceries, 215 bars of bathing soap and 215 phials of hair oil among 215 old women. 55

Kalady 56

Vol.106. No.1 The Vedanta Kesari (English Monthly) January 2019. Regd. with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No.1084 / 1957. Postal registration number:TN / CH (C) / 190 / 2018-2020. Licensed to Post without prepayment TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-259 / 2018-2020. Date of Publication: 24th of every month; Posted on 26 December 2018 It is very good to be born in a church, but it is very bad to die in a church. It is very good to be born within the limits of certain forms that help the little plant of spirituality, but if a man dies within the bounds of these forms, it shows that he has not grown, that there has been no development of the soul. —Swami Vivekananda

Lavino-Kapur Cottons Pvt Ltd

100% Export Oriented Unit * Star Export House BUREAU VERITAS–ISO 9001:2008 certified (Manufacturers of Absorbent Cotton Products)

Tarapur Plant: H-1, MIDC, Tarapur Indus- trial Area, Taps Post, Boisar–401 504 District–Thane. Maharashtra. Tel: 02525- 2722 90/91/92 Regd. Office: 121-122, Mittal Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai–400 021 Tel: 91 22 6632 5141 (30 Lines) Fax: 91 22 6632 4979 / 6632 4421 / 2282 0577 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.lavinokapur.com