1 TheVedanta Kesari November 2019

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11 The Kesari The Vedanta The Dawn of a New

1 A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly `15 November of the Order since 1914 2019 2 Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, Pakistan (birth place of Nanak)

Guru Nanak Jayanti Swami and 12 November 2019 the Swami Balabhadrananda ‘He who eats what he earns through his earnest labour and from his hand gives An Ancient Vedic Institution Dr. Chithra Madhavan something in charity; he alone, O Nanak, knows the true way of life.’ ‘When mind becomes polluted by sins, it is washed by colouring it with His name.’ ‘Man obtains the human body as a result of good deeds, but he reaches the gate of salvation with God’s kind grace.’ -- Guru Nanak

Regd. Off. & Fact. : Plot No.88 & 89, Phase - II, Sipcot Industrial Complex, Ranipet - 632 403, . Phone : 04172 - 244820, 651507, PRIVATE LIMITED Editor: Swami Mahamedhananda (Manufacturers of Active Pharmaceutical Tele Fax : 04172 - 244820 Ingredients and Intermediates) E-mail : [email protected] Published by Swami Vimurtananda, Sri , - 600 004 and Web Site : www.svisslabss.net Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] 3 106th The Vedanta Kesari Year of Publication

A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly of The Ramakrishna Order

NOVEMBER Vol. 106, No. 11 2019 CONTENTS ISSN 0042-2983

y S o e ov C r r 11t

Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan for Swachh Bharath Swami Ekagamyananda 35 15

Swami Vijnanananda and FEATURES Reminiscences of Sargachhi the Ramakrishna Order 7 Swami Suhitananda Swami Balabhadrananda 8 Yugavani 9 EditorialĀtmārpaṇastuti An Ancient Vedic Institution 27 Vivekananda Way 125th Anniversary of Dr. Chithra Madhavan 41 Book Reviews Chicago Addresses: 43 Pariprasna Concluding Programme 45 Topical Musings ve 48 What is Religion? s 53 The Order on the March N ti d ra e ar l l e 33 24

h s i C

Poorva: Magic, Miracles ’s Demon and the Mystical Twelve Gitanjali Murari Lakshmi Devnath P oc ke T l t e 31 25 a s

Editor: Swami Mahamedhananda Published by Swami Vimurtananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] TheVedanta Kesari

The Vedanta Kesari Dear Readers, is one of the oldest cultural and spiritual magazines in the Brahmavadin Brahmavadin country. Started under the guidance and support of , the first issue of the magazine, then called , came out on 14 Sept 1895. was run by one of Swamiji’s ardent followers Sri . After his death in 1909 The Vedanta Kesari the magazine publication became irregular, and stopped in 1914 whereupon the Ramakrishna Order revived it as . ‘Now I am bent upon starting the journal.’ Swami Vivekananda’s concern for the magazine is seen in his letters to Alasinga ‘Herewith I send a hundred dollars…. Hope this will go just a little in Perumal where he writes: starting your paper.’ ‘I am determined to see the paper succeed.’ ‘The November 2019 Song of the Sannyasin is my first contribution for your journal.’ ‘I 4 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 has to be kept up by private help always, and we will do it.’ The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta For the last 105 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 publication costs have gone up manifold. A non-commercial magazine like this can continue its good work only with the generous financial support and active assistance of well-wishers. Hence, we appeal to our readers and admirers of Swamiji to support us by donating to the following schemes: PATRONS Patrons Pragati Offset, Hyderabad ` 25,000 Dr. Subramaniyabharathiyar R., ` Become a Patron of The Vedanta Kesari 10,000 Kancheepuram & help us to meet the running cost by contributing every month ` 5,000/- & above PERMANENT FUND DONORS Rangappa N, Bengaluru ` 40000 Vivekanand P, Secunderabad ` 10000 Permanent Fund Dharam Vir Seth, Dehradun ` 10000 To establish the magazine on firm financial Bjorn Johansson, Sweden ` 6842 footing please contribute ` 1,000/- & above Dr.Ramachandra R, Mysore ` 5000 to the Permanent Fund. A Devotee, Mumbai ` 2000 Sreerama Murty V, Hyderabad ` 1116 Vanjinathan S, Bengaluru ` 1000 Chandrachoodan Kathiresan, ` 1000 Sponsor a Page Madurai Once a year, please sponsor one or more pages of the magazine. We need around 600 OUTREACH DONORS sponsors annually. Sponsorship for one page November 2019 in one issue: ` 1000/- A Devotee ` 10000 ` 600 5 , Chennai Viswanathan R, ChennaiVK FOR STUDENTS Outreach Gift A Devotee, Chennai ` 10000 To spread the message of Ramakrishna- Dharam Vir Seth, Dehradun ` 8500 Vivekananda-Vedanta, please gift The Vedanta Dr. Ramachandra R, Mysore ` 900 Kesari to academic/public libraries & influential personalities of your choice or reaching 2239 libraries.... Kesari The Vedanta those selected by us. Contact details for 4 Gift Subscriptions for 1 year: Rs 600/- Contributors: [email protected] Mob. 6374213070 Subscribers: [email protected] VK for Students Phone No. (044) 24621110 To encourage noble conduct, we are offering ECO-FRIENDLY Trees are the life-breath of a complimentary copy of VK to students (class our world. To support environment conservation The Vedanta Kesari is printed 10-12) when they manifest honesty, selfless- on paper prepared mainly from sugarcane ness, etc., in their daily school life. Teachers bagasse. will every month choose a boy & a girl from their class to receive this Character Recognition gift. Please sponsor these gifts. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS For Physical copy subscription Rates Inclusive of Postage & a Special Issue & Free Digital copy visit Annual 3 yrs 5 yrs https://rkmath.in/thevedantakesari Download the Vedanta Kesari App India ` 175 ` 500 ` 900 free on your Android/Apple device ` 1200 ` 3500 * Other Countries ` 2700 ` 8000 * * 5 yrs subscription only in India.

PAYMENT DETAILS 1. You can send subscription payment/donations either by Cheque/DD/MO or Bank Transfer or Online Payment. 2. Cheque / DD / MO (through Speed Post) 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: November 2019 Name of the Bank : United Bank of India Name of the Branch : R.K. Math Road, Chennai - 4 6 Name of the Account : Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai S/B. Account Number : 1511010100001 Bank Code No. : 600027009 IFSC : UTBI0SRM842 {here ‘0’ is zero} Swift Code : UTBIINBBMBS of UBI 4. Donate Online: https://donations.chennaimath.org 5. After any donation please e-mail transaction details to : [email protected]

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 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). Ātmārpaṇastuti

Sri Appayya Dikshitendra

Sri Appayya Dikshitendra was one of the greatest exponents of advaita. He is said to have lived from 1520 to 1593 CE. One of his numerous works is Atmarpanastuti. It is a very moving work. The story is that once he wanted to test the intensity of his devotion. So, he consumed a datura seed which produces intoxication and asked his disciples to write down all that he spoke in that state. This turned out to be the beautiful Atmarpanastuti in praise of Lord Shiva. In this work he has praised Lord Shiva as the highest among the Trinity. This should not be understood to mean that he was a Shaivite with a bias against . He

was an advaitin and so madeविष्赁र ्픾no शङ्करो distinction वा �रुिशि betweenखरगिरामस Shiva्त तात㔪र and्भूमि Vishnu.ः He expresses this November 2019 clearly in these words:न ास्मकं तत्र वादः प्रसरति किमपि स㔪ष्टम饍핈तभाजाम् । किन्त핀श饍핇षगाढानलकलितदां दुर्मतनां दु셁啍酀 भक㔤ु 7 यत्न ममायं न हि भवतु ततो विष्赁वि饍핇षशङ्का ।।

‘Let Vishnu or Shankara be the purport of the words of the . We advaitins have no dispute whatsoever on that point. My attempt is only to counter the biased statements of the evil-minded persons whose hearts are burning with the fire of PAGE SPONSOR : KUM. V. DHARSHANI HARI, CHENNAI HARI, DHARSHANI V. KUM. : SPONSOR PAGE hatred of Shiva. Let no one think that I am against Vishnu.’ Kesari The Vedanta The beauty of Atmarpanastuti lies in the sound of the words and the intensity of the devotion behind them more than onSloka the meaning - 1 of the shlokas. कस्त बोद्ध प्रभवति परं देवदेव प्रभावं यस्मदित्थ विविधरचना सृष्टिरेषा बभूव । भक्嵍रह्यस्त्वम तदपि त्वमहं भक्मात्रात् स्तोतं वाञ्छम्यिमहदिदं साहसं मे सहस् ॥१

‘O Lord of lords, Who can know the extent of Your supreme glory, You from whom this multifarious creation has emerged! You are attainable only through devotion, and so I wish to praise You only out of devotion. Be so kind as to pardon this rashness on my part.’ Translated by Sri. S.N. Sastri. Yugavani

Money

hat does a man get with money? Food, clothes, and a dwelling-place— nothing more. You cannot realize God with its help. Therefore, money can never be the Money is agoal great of life.upadhi.

November 2019 The possession of money makes such a difference in a man! He is no longer the same person. A brahmin used to frequent the temple garden. Outwardly he was very modest. One 8 day I went to with Hriday. No sooner did we get off the boat than we noticed the brahmin seated on the bank of the Ganga. We thought he had been enjoying the fresh air. WLooking at us, he said: ‘Hello there, priest! How do you do?’ I marked his tone and said to Hriday: ‘The man must have got some money. That’s why he talks that way.’ A frog had a rupee, which he kept in his hole. One day an elephant was going over the hole, and the frog, coming out in a fit of anger, raised his foot, as if to kick the elephant, and said,Money ‘How becomes dare you the walk source over of my trouble head?’ Such is the pride that money begets! The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta

Money itself becomes a source of trouble. Brothers may live happily, but they get into trouble when the property is divided. Dogs lick one another’s bodies; they are perfectly friendly.Can we make But when an effort the house-holder to earn more throws money? them a little food, they get into a scrap.

It is permissible to do so to maintain a religious family. You may try to increase your income, but in an honest way. The goal of life is not the earning of money, but the service of God. Money is not harmful if it is devoted to the service of God. For householders money is a means of getting food, clothes, and a dwelling place, worshipping the Deity, and serving holy men and devotees. It is useless to try to hoard money. With great labour the bees build a hive; but a man —Sri Ramakrishna breaks it and takes the honey away. Editorial Swachh Bharat Our Pride - Our Responsibility

ast month, India celebrated the trace this downfall as beginning from the success of Swachh Bharat Mission time foreign invasions disrupted our social which is the world’s biggest structure. movement for sanitation and cleanliness. The Hence, in our struggle to regain our Mission or Abhiyan which began as a five-year national identity, leaders like Swami project in 2014, had theth goal of achieving a Vivekananda and laid great Clean India by the 150 birth anniversary of stress on social morality. From the very Mahatma Gandhi on 2 Oct 2019. It became a beginning of the Ramakrishna Math, Swami people’s movement and created cleanliness Vivekananda insisted that the sannyasis give awarenessL all over the country. By building importance to social cleanliness and over 11 crore toilets across rural and urban orderliness. Once, very early in the morning areas, the Abhiyan saved over 750 million someone was found to be cleaning the Indians from the fate of open defecation. This common toilet in . It was November 2019 single achievement along with waste uncleaned for many days. When curious management and personal hygiene awareness sadhus went to see who it was, they were 9 has saved millions of lives from communicable shocked to find Swamiji vigorously scrubbing diseases, and brought financial and economic and cleaning the whole place. He rejected benefits to millions of poor people. their wailing request to desist and allow The first positiveShaucha duty that them to do the job. After a thorough cleaning, prescribes as a preparation for a meaningful, he came out and reminded the sadhus of the spiritual life is or cleanliness of importance of keeping their surroundings mind, speech and body. And indeed, Indians clean. There is a symbiotic relationship Kesari The Vedanta are one of the cleanest races in the matter of between us and the external nature. personal hygiene – we bath at least once a Swamiji’s concern for social morality day and our homes are quiet clean. But then developed a greater dimension when plague why did we end up – as a foreigner described broke out in in 1899. As the terror-

PAGE SPONSOR : ECONOMICS DEPT., 2009-12 BATCH, VIDYAMANDIRA, BELUR MATH BELUR VIDYAMANDIRA, MISSION RAMAKRISHNA BATCH, 2009-12 DEPT., ECONOMICS : SPONSOR PAGE us – as ‘a very clean people living in a very stricken public fled the city in thousands, dirty place’? Our public or common places Swamiji who was recovering his health in the are dangerously dirty and for centuries have hills rushed back to Kolkata. Under the caused millions of deaths through epidemics. leadership of his disciples But we know also of the high standards and he initiated the fight of cleanliness and sanitation that was against the epidemic on 31 March 1899. He present even from the times of the Indus drafted a Plague Manifesto in which among Valley Civilisation. Somewhere down the other things he advised people to ‘Always time this aspect of social life was lost and we keep the house and its premises, the rooms, became, as Gandhiji observed, a race who clothes, bed, drain, etc., clean.’ He arranged a saw no virtue in national or social sanitation. public meeting where university students Those with a keen understanding of history, and professors were gathered. He wanted the

students of Calcutta to volunteer and clean Some years later, Gandhiji gave a up with their own hands the Bagh Bazar national focus to the task of social locality which was most affected by plague. cleanliness and hygiene. A few days before the He knew that nation-building depended on Congress Session of 1921, he asked the man-making. And a campaign against participants to prove their fitness for Swaraj unsanitary condition was a definite step in by accomplishing, among other things, a sense building such a character. of national or social sanitation. He wrote: Addressingbustee the students, Sister ‘Perfect cleanliness must meet the eye Nivedita described to them the unsanitary everywhere despite accumulation of waste condition of a and the reasons for it as water, refuse and night-soil. … Khadinagar she understood: ‘Everywhere we found all ought to provide an object-lesson in kinds of refuse thrown in front of the clean cleanliness.’ door-sills, and more frequently than not the Today, Ramakrishna Mission has once passage between two houses was the again presented a small modern model for common dust-bin. … No one who has public participation in social cleanliness. It is noted the cleanliness of a Hindu hut inside in the Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan conducted will take it that the dirt outside is by Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru,

November 2019 wilfully produced. … I attribute the bad Karnataka which we have here as this issue’s habit of throwing refuse on the roads, or into Cover Story. 10 out of the way corners, to the zenana system, In his comparison of the East and the which prevents women realizing the state of West, Swamiji writes: ‘The grace of both their surroundings.’ So, it was her conviction Lakshmi and Sarasvati now shines on the that if women recognised the importance of peoples of the Western countries. They do public cleanliness, and did all in their power not stop at the mere acquisition of the objects to promote it in their own immediate of enjoyment, but in all their actions they neigbourhood, the streets and lanes of the seek for a sort of beauty and grace. In eating

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta city would become clean. and drinking, in their homes and Nivedita gave the students a new surroundings, in everything, they want to see conception of civic life. She told them, ‘A an all-round elegance. We also had that trait sweeper who accomplishes his work through once — when there was wealth and an ideal is ready for an even greater ideal. prosperity in the land.’ Historians and What will that ideal be? It is for you to find sociologists agree that there is a close out. By saving Bagh Bazar, we are writing the connection between social cleanliness and history of India with life itself; this history social prosperity. has never been written. This is our In the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, our Ramayana.’ country has spent more than 20,000 crores of Nivedita, some sadhus, devotees, a rupees. Our society is awakening and the handful of students, and a dozen paid positive changes are there to see. To sustain scavengers waged a successful war against these developments each one of us has to the plague. It was perhaps the first time a stand up and take the challenge of following non-government organisation had safe and clean disposal of waste, and keep approached the task in a systematic way our immediate neighbourhood clean. Let us creating a model for others to follow. be responsible. Article

Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan for Swachh Bharath A Journey from a Campaign to a Revolution! SWAMI EKAGAMYANANDA

Five years ago the requested Ramakrishna Mission to actively participate in the Swachh Bharath Abhiyan. The call was to conduct cleanliness campaigns every week for five years from 2 Oct 2014. The goal was to achieve a clean India as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Mangaluru answered this call in a manner that transformed the campaign into a revolution! The story of this adventure is presented here in the words of Swami Ekagamyananda who led the movement. November 2019 Towards the end of SeptemberSwachh 2014, Malnad region of Karnataka. Malnad which is Bharath Abhiyanour headquarters at Belur Math situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats is a 11 instructed us to take up the tough terrain of hills, rivers, streams, and and inspire our devotees and waterfalls and the interior villages do not have the people of Mangaluru to participate in the high schools in walking distance. Most of the cleanliness drive. Initially I was not enthusiastic students, even meritorious ones, drop out of about getting involved in this Abhiyan. I saw it Balakashramschool after primary . Selected as a Central Government project and also students from this category are admitted to our

PAGE SPONSOR : DR. VIRAL KAMDAR, NAGPUR KAMDAR, VIRAL DR. : SPONSOR PAGE thought that given the huge fan following of the . The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Prime Minister our service would not be The second project was born of a survey required for the success of the campaign. conducted in the local area. When we visited Furthermore, I felt that our time and energy the local schools we came to know the plight of could be better utilised in more essential fields students coming from the lowest economic of service. rung of the society—children of labourers and Ramakrishna Mission has always worked slum dwellers. They came to school hungry, ill- in areas that are usually neglected by others. clad and dirty and they were also poor in We step in only when a real need is perceived studies because there was no one to guide and then tirelessly work for its fulfillment. Here them. To serve these unfortunate children, we we canBalakashram, refer to two such projects successfully started in our Math the ‘Vivekananda Coaching undertaken by the Mangaluru ashrama. One is Center’. Every evening nearly 150 students from the a hostel run in the Math class 4 to 10, receive tuition classes for two premises for meritorious high school boys hours. After the class, they are given nutritious The author is a sannyasi of the Ramakrishna Order serving at our Mangaluru centre. The write-up is hailing fromprepared poor by Smt. families Shobha in Alva, and a devoteearound of the the Math.food [email protected] and milk. Every yearswacchmangaluru they are given

f Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan

5 years: 2015 – 2019 2500+ Programmes 250 Groups 200 Weeks (Sundays) 10,000 Proud Volunteers 20 Lakh Man-hours 13000 Swachhata Senanis in 130 schools 2000+ News Articles

Srimat Swami Gautamanandaji & Dr. Harsha, The young and the energetic Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru

uniform, books, school bags, and umbrellas. hard for two months and prepared a plan to Routine health checkups are conducted. They make this campaign a success. The major task are provided with soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, was to present to the Mangloreans the concept hair oil etc., and encouraged to be clean and of a Clean India. The first step we decided

November 2019 tidy. Also every Sunday they received cultural would be to clean the city and remove the and spiritual training. All these services are garbage heaped in almost every street corner. 12 provided free of cost. For this we needed a workforce of dedicated Swachh Bharath Abhiyan began on a volunteers. We contacted devotees, schools and grand scale at Rajghat, New on 2 Oct 2014 colleges and the general public of Mangaluru. with the slogan ‘One step towards cleanliness’. Wherever I went, I was welcomed with the The Prime Minister Sri had words, ‘No Swamiji, it will not work. It is an earnestly requested our country men and impossible task.’ They said such a campaign women to dedicate at least 2 hours per week— would never succeed in Mangaluru

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta around 100 hours in a year—for this Abhiyan. I because most of the people here work in imagined that millions of government officials schools, colleges and offices. Andshramadan who would and enthusiastic students would participate volunteer to pick stinking garbage from and this Abhiyan would be a giant leap in the roadside! ‘Nobody will come for at progress of our country. But I was wrong! By 7 AM on Sunday mornings’ they discouraged the end of the month everything was back to me. square one. At many places, the Abhiyan was But I didn’t lose hope. ‘Come what may, limited only to exhibition of banners. A few we will take up the project at least for a year as people took brooms in their hands and posed an experiment, if nobody comes I will sweep for photos and publicity and people continued the roads alone’, was my thought. We launched dumping garbage on roadsides! the ‘Swachh Mangaluru for Swachh Bharath’ This prompted us to earnestly take up this Abhiyan on 30 2015, which is the project in Mangaluru and strive to create a role- Martyr’s Day. Our programme began with a model Swachh Bharath Abhiyan. We worked rally of 2000 students, oath taking ceremony and honoring of 100 Poura karmikas or had spread across the city. And 50 teams of Corporation workers. volunteers joined us out of their own will. We We did not know from where we would took up cleanliness drive in 10 - 15 places get financial aid for the huge task before us. But every week and completed five hundred I had faith in words of Swami Vivekananda who shramadan projects in Mangaluru. said that when we selflessly work for a noble Many people think that shramadan is cause, financial help will somehow come of its nothing more than sweeping the city. But we own. This proved to be true very soon. In one had a different idea. We repaired footpaths and of our Swachhata Andolan programmes, the roads; we painted fly-overs and beautified chief guest was Sri Dharmendra Pradhan, the them with artwork; we renovated old bus Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural gas. shelters replacing broken seats with new ones, Another important guest on the stage was Sri and even built new bus shelters when The young and the energetic H. Kumar, the M.D. of Mangalore Refinery and requested by local people; we removed Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), Mangalore, a unofficial banners and posters from public Central Public Sector Enterprise. Fortunately walls and painted the walls with artwork; we for us, the Union Minister requested Sri. H. erected more than 150 signposts; we Kumar to financially support our project and constructed auto shelters; we put up barricade the latter immediately agreed. From then on railings on roads for the smooth flow of traffic; M.R.P.L. became the major sponsor of this we cleaned public toilets, we cleaned roadside 5-year project! NITTE University and garbage dumping places; and we constructed November 2019 individuals also contributed their mite. The new parks wherever possible. total expenditure of the Abhiyan was around 13 7 crores. Though some volunteers began with great enthusiasm they gradually dropped off from the Abhiyan. To overcome this, I adopted a new

PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, CHENNAI DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE approach. I first prepared a list of nearly 200 individuals who were close to the Math and

then every Saturday for over two hours I sat Kesari The Vedanta with my mobile and rang up each one of them personally requesting them to assist us in the next day’s shramadan. The strategy worked. Every Sunday nearly a hundred dedicated volunteers would show up at the shramadan site with brooms in their hands! We divided the Abhiyan into five phases. The first phase was in 2015, the second in 2016, the third phase in 2016 - 2017, the fourth phase was in 2017 - 2018, and the fifth in 2018 - 2019. In the first and the second phase, we worked as a single team and cleaned up different areas of our city. By the time we reached the third phase, the news of our work before Abhiyan after Abhiyan

People have sometimes asked, ‘Do the decorated the places with flowerpots and places that you clean up, remain clean?’ beautiful plants. Slowly people started In the beginning this was a real challenge cooperating. At the same time a special team of for us. After we cleaned a place, the very next 85 volunteerswarriors kept watch of cleanliness (often the whole day people would again dump garbage at the night) over the cleaned black spots. They called same spot. Banners with requests and warnings themselves ! When did not help. People did not care even when we people threw garbage, these volunteers would told them that there were close circuit cameras. pick it up and deliver it back to their owners They kept dumping garbage because they knew with the gentle request that they give it to the there were no cameras. Notices were put up garbage collecting vans! Hard work reduced the that people who dumped garbage on roadsides black spots from 900 to just 40. Today, many November 2019 would be fined; but nobody cared. roads of Mangaluru are garbage-free. 14 At the very beginning of the Abhiyan, we In the fourth phase we had four different identified more than 900 black spots in the city. kinds of programmes. There were the weekly These were places where people had been shramadans on every Sunday. The second dumping garbage for a long time. Reducing programme was ‘Swachh Manas Abhiyan’ or these black spots by changing people’s ‘Campaign for Clean Mind’ organized for school behaviour was the challenge. Finally, we came children. The third was ‘Swachh Gram Abhiyan’ up with a simple plan. We decided to remove or ‘Clean Village Campaign’ organized for one hundred villages of Dakshina Kannada. The

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta the banners we had put up at these black spots warning people not to dump garbage. Strange fourth was ‘Swachh Soch’ or ‘Clean Thoughts’ but true, these boards seemed to guide people campaign for college students. 50 teams of our to the exact spot to dump their garbage! volunteers visited various residential layouts To everybody’s surprise our plan worked! everyday and conducted 200 awareness programmes in 200 days.(Continued on page 21...) People stoppedbefore Abhiyan throwing garbage in such black after Abhiyan spots. And moreover, after cleaning up we Reminiscences

Reminiscences of Sargachhi SWAMI SUHITANANDA

Swami Premeshananda (1884 – 1967) was a disciple of Holy Mother Sri . For over two decades he lived at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sargachhi, . Under his inspiration countless people led a life of spirituality and service, and many young men and women entered into monastic life. His conversations – translated from Bengali and presented below – were noted by his attendant who is now Swami Suhitananda, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Ramakrishna Order.

44 (Continued from previous issue. . .) 3.11.60

(continued …) every action of this body-mind-intellect—he is aharaj: You cannot spend the totally detached, just like Mathuradas and November 2019 whole day in and Swami. The cases of Sri Ramakrishna japa. Without compromising on and Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi are different 15 them, you have to devote the rest of your —they had to force their minds down to a energy to work. In this way you can do your lower plane. Totapuri also remained in an work, Swamiji’s work, and work for the good of exceptional state. He went beyond thesarvam stage the world. You cannot live without working, so khalvidamwhere Brahma is perceived in all living and do work that will benefit others. non-living beings of the world— A revolutionary once fled to Uttarkashi . Sri Ramakrishna brought PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, CHENNAI DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE and M became a sadhu. But he couldn’t do him down to this perception Kesari The Vedanta meditation or japa. The bank of the Ganga, Question: If we pray to God, will the where the sadhus lived, was getting eroded by bondage of our body and mind be gradually cut the current of the river. So he carried boulders asunder? every day and built an embankment there. Maharaj: It is not possible to answer this There was another sadhu in the rural area of question in a word. While meditating, focus on Mymensingh who was known as ‘Kodaley Baba’ the heart (the psychic centre at the heart), not (sadhu with a spade). He used to stay in a on the forehead. If the mind does not settle in village for two years, grow a garden there, and the heart, imagine that your Chosen Ideal is then move on to another village. sitting on a throne in front of you. 17.11.60 18.11. 60

Question: How does a jnani (a man of Maharaj: The wave of the sea merges in knowledge) work? the sea. I do not want to become sugar, I want Maharaj: After the attainment of to enjoy the taste of sugar. These are Sri knowledge the jnani becomes the witness of Ramakrishna’s words. These words scare us. Purushottama,

This prostrating at the feet of the Lord, weeping the Supreme Being. (reference is continuously, etc., weakens us. Rather, if we to 15:18) , know that we are That, nirgunabut have come down to Question: Can we come out of tamas? this sorry state, and by ascending continuously Unless we reach sattva how can we find the

will again be in that (attributeless) way out? state – then we will have confidence and will Saguna Maharaj: Oh dear! It is the way to also feel that we have a claim on Him. We will Brahman . progress that we are discussing! You cannot develop devotion and be able to pray to . move ahead if you stay put under the excuse of or God with attributes being in tamas That’s why I say that you Listen very carefully so that acknowledge tamas and go forward. you do not commit the slightest As you proceed, tamas will mistake. First therekarana is the diminish and gradually sattva anandamayabody-mind-intellect; then will appear. there is the It is not possible to or the maha-karana lead the life of a sannyasin causal blissful sheath; Nirguna as an individual. That is beyond that ; Brahman why we have the Order, and lastly November 2019 where everyone is . Creation does nourished by mutual not evolve out of Nirguna 16 Saguna Brahman. cooperation. Our Order has Brahman, it evolves from not yet fully blossomed. But Sri we are still only in our second Ramakrishna is Nirguna . Swami Premeshananda generation—we are right after Brahman and Holy Mother Sri Sri Ramakrishna’s direct disciples. Sarada Devi is Saguna Brahman After us, it will be your turn and you Holy Mother is a wave in the nirguna will create a favourable environment. ocean and we are wavelets. She showed us the The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta . Thereafter many will be born yogis. By then way and then merged into the ocean. What is kshara, akshara, people will have progressed in society, and this way? It is the way to reach the nirguna We (To be continued. . .) society also will be better. are perishable, Holy Mother is imperishable, and Sri Ramakrishna is

‘Failures are the pillars of success!’ Knowledge arises through the combination of all our mistakes and errors, our good and bad deeds. … How many thousands and thousands of times you have assumed various bodies, how many good and bad deeds you have performed! You have forgotten all this and, by calculating the insignificant merits and demerits of this one little life, are suffering for no reason. Look at the numberless past lives you have lived; think about your limitless future lives. … You do not belong to your father or mother, to any caste or any person, to any country or any time—you are chaitanya, pure , beyond time, space, and causation. Don’t worry or have regrets for no reason. —Letters of Swami Premeshananda. 1: 95 RAMAKRISHNA MATH (KATHAMRITA BHAVAN) 14, Guruprasad Choudhury Lane, Kolkata - 700 006 Mobile: 89025-53411 / 7980391808 E-mail: [email protected] An Appeal for Expansion of Service Activities Kathamrita Bhavan was the residence of Sri Mahendra Gupta (M.), a householder devotee of Sri Ramakrishna and the chronicler of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamritha (translated as The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna). This house is now a branch centre of the Ramakrishna Order and is known as Ramakrishna Math – Kathamrita Bhavan. The house is sanctified by the visits of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and other direct-disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Moreover, Holy Mother stayed here on several occassions and many sannyasis of the Ramakrishna Order were groomed by M. in this very building. It is today a place of pilgrimage for thousands of devotees. But this historical house is a small building. So, to accommodate the centre’s expanding service activities, and also keeping in mind its future needs, we are trying to November 2019 purchase some neighbouring buildings. By Sri Ramakrishna’s grace, some adjacent houses have come forward to sell their 17 properties to the Math. We have to urgently take up these offers for which we need a sum of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore). We humbly request the admirers and devotees to donate liberally and help us to raise this amount. May the blessings of the Holy Trinity be bestowed upon all is our ardent prayer.

All donations are exempt from Income Tax under section 80G. Kesari The Vedanta Please send your donations by Cheque/DD/RTGS/NEFT in the name of Ramakrishna Math, Kathamrita Bhavan. Along with your donation please also send a covering letter stating the purpose of the donation, your PAN number, your full postal address, phone number and Email. Bank : State Bank of India Branch : Srimani Market A/C Name : Ramakrishna Math, Kathamrita Bhavan A/c No. : 37162044100 IFSC Code : SBIN0031539 With prayers for all, Yours in the Service of the Lord Swami Siddheshananda Adhyaksha SRI RAMAKRISHNA MATH, THANJAVUR A NEW SUB-CENTRE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA MATH, CHENNAI An Appeal Dear Devotees, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission centres across the world motivate people to come together & serve humanity as a form of worship in the fields of Health Care, Education & Spirituality. Ramakrishna Vivekananda Educational Trust run by the devotees of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna at Mariyamman Kovil (near Thanjavur) is rendering service in the rural areas of Thanjavur District for the past 26 years. This trust is now taken over by the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur, Kolkata & is functioning as a sub-centre of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai from July 2019. To expand the service activities, a new Math of this sub-centre is being started in Thanjavur town. We seek your generous contribution for these activities:

1. Getting land for the Ashrama Rs.80 lakh 4. Renovation of the existing Temple Rs. 20 lakh 2. Establishing the Ashrama with a new Temple Rs. 3 crore 5. Rural development projects Rs. 1 crore 3. Nitya Pooja of Sri Ramakrishna Rs. 50 lakh 6. Endowment for Sadhu Seva Rs. 50 lakh AN APPEAL TO DEVOTEES AND WELL-WISHERS Dear Friends, Namaste. We pray for you and your family. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai has been rendering service for over 120 years to the society in the fields of Health, Education, Publication of Spiritual & Inspirational books and magazines both in English & Tamil, cultural November 2019 activities, relief work etc. In order to execute the projects on hand, we appeal to you for contribution.

18 Service activities in brief Expenses Your support needed Maintenance of Vivekananda Centenary Girls Hr. Sec. School for under Monthly Rs.7,20,000/- Rs.8000/- privileged (900 students) Per student Rs.800/- For 10 Students Maintenance of Sri Ramakrishna Math National School for under privi- Monthly Rs.2,80,000/- Rs.8000/- leged children (350 students) Per student Rs.800/- For 10 students Monthly Rs.1,20,000/- Rs.10,000/- Rehabilitation Service to Leprosy afflicted persons – 120 beneficiaries Per beneficiary Rs.1000/- For 10 beneficiaries Monthly Rs.5,40,000/- Rs.9,000/- Medical Service to 600 - 800 poor patients daily The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Per patient Rs.900/- For 10 patients Nursing Assistants Training for poor rural girls Rs.25,000/- Per batch Rs.7,50,000/- – 30 students per batch of 1 year Per student Rural development – Education, Women Welfare & Medical Help, Alcohol Monthly Rs.1,00,000/- Rs.5000/- de-addiction – 100 beneficiaries Per beneficiary Rs.1000/- For 5 people Sri Ramakrishna Daily puja, Neivedyam and Arathi Rs.10,000/- Per day Daily Annadhanam for 200 devotees Rs.10,000/- Sadhu Seva per day for 50 members Rs.5,000/-

Donations for both Thanjavur & Chennai Math may please be sent by cheque / DD favouring “Sri Ramakrishna Math”. For Online donation please visit https://donations.chennaimath.org Transfer directly & intimate us along with PAN details through email. Donations are exempted from Income Tax under Section 80G. May the blessings of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna be on you is my earnest prayer to Him. Sri Ramakrishna Math 31, Sri Ramakrishna Math Road, Yours in the Service Mylapore, Chennai-4. & : 24621110. of the Humanity, email : [email protected] Swami Gautamananda website : www.chennaimath.org For more details : 98409 87307 Adhyaksha Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Road, Laitumkhrah, Shillong, Meghalaya 793 003, India Phone : 0364-2221709 & 2536767 Email : [email protected] An Appeal For the Renovation of the Historical Quinton Hall Not all the cities have the privilege to hear a Prophet, let alone hear his parting words in the last public lecture! Shillong was indeed blessed to hear Swami Vivekananda for the last time in a public lecture on 27th April 1901 at the Quinton Hall. For a long time the Quinton Memorial Hall witnessed the evolution of the institute and the city as well. Apart from Swami Vivekananda, many eminent personalities including , Rabindranath Tagore, Annie Besant, Prafulla Chandra Roy, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr B.C. Roy and many others graced the hall with their illumined presence and eloquence. And with a tryst with destiny, the Hall remained in a state of shambles for years, after it went to the custody of a business house, kept as a Cinema Hall for decades. But the phoenix rose again from the ashes and has taken the shape of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre, catering to the needs of 6000 students annually in different fields. November 2019 The Hall presently needs urgent renovation, as it has not undergone any major repairing work for almost two decades and is in constant demand for various purposes of the 19 Institute. A sum of Rs. 1.2 crores is estimated for repairing, renovating and enhancing the facilities of the historical Hall. We request devotees and admires to donate generously for this noble. Donation may be sent by means of Cheque/DD in favour of “Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong” or NEFT/RTGS. All donations will be duly acknowledged. Our bank details are: The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Bank Name : State Bank of India Bank Address : Laimukhrah, A/c. Name : Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong Shillong Bank Account No. : 10613596070 PAN No. : AAAAR1077P IFSC No. : SBIN0002081 Please mention the purpose of donation – ‘Renovation of the Quinton Memorial Hall’, The PAN and full address through email at [email protected] May Swami Vivekananda bless you all! Swami Sarvabhutananda (Secretary) November 2019

20 The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta (Continued from page 14...) Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan for Swachh Bharath

Swachh Bharath Abhiyan We had five types of programmes in the fifth were also organized for college and university phase of . Along with the students. four programmes of the fourth phase, the fifth and More than 2000 cleanliness drive the most innovative addition was ‘Swachhata programmes were organized in 100 villages of Jagrithi Jana Sampark Abhiyan’ or ‘Mass Contact the Dakshina Kannada district and 100 villages Campaign for Cleanliness Awareness’. of Udupi district under Swachh Gram Abhiyan At this phase Swami Jitakamananda, head or Clean Village Campaign. 100 volunteers from of the Mangaluru centre wanted to involve every village were nominated as the members school children in the Swachhata Abhiyan. A of the Abhiyan. Over 8000 members took up nation is built when its children are educated. To shramadan projects on one Sunday of every create awareness of cleanliness among school month in their respective villages. children, over 500 ‘Swachh Manas’ programmes During the year 2017-18, fifty teams of were organized in 130 city schools. 100 students our volunteers visited nearly 20,000 houses in from each school,Swachhata adding upSenanis to 13,000 students Mangaluru city to create awareness among

were specially trained in cleanliness and people under Swachhata Jagrithi Abhiyan. 200 November 2019 recognised as or Soldiers of programmes were organized in 200 days under Cleanliness. Innovative projects like the this project. 21 Swachhata Chintan (Clean Thoughts), Swachhata Swachhata Jana Samparka Abhiyan events Divas (Cleanliness Day), Swachhata Darshan were organized every day at different (Clean Perception) and Swachhata Manthan residential layouts of the city. During each (Clean Discussion) were organized in these event, our volunteers organized awareness selected schools. 70 resource persons visited programmes with the slogan ‘Our Garbage, Our these schools to train the children. Responsibility’. They conducted demons- PAGE SPONSOR : SRI HEMANT GUPTA, CHANDIGARH GUPTA, HEMANT SRI : SPONSOR PAGE To create awareness among the college trations to educate people on how to prepare Kesari The Vedanta students, ‘Swachh Soch’ programmes were organic manure at home using earthen compost arranged in the city’s colleges. Symposiums pots. ‘Swachh Bharat’ pamphlets were were organized in about 50 colleges of distributed to create awareness. 220 such Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. events were conducted throughout the year. Lectures, demonstrations, workshops and Volunteers and experts explained to debates were conducted by our resource people the concept of decentralized waste persons. District level and state level seminars management through proper ways of disposal. Japanese volunteers A people’s movement Transgenders in the Abhiyan Swami Jitakamananda—the guiding force 240 Magic shows

There are two kinds of domestic waste, second pot gets filled, the natural manure of the wet waste and the dry waste. The organic very fine quality will be ready for use in the wet waste produced in kitchens is composed of bottom pot. Mangalore Chemicals and vegetable and fruit peels and the leftover food. Fertilizers Limited (MCF) has certified the fine It’s a known fact that such waste produces foul quality of the manure produced in this manner. smell if not disposed of within a day. If the This natural manure is produced by small garbage collectors don’t come in time, people worms that breed in the pots and these tiny tend to throw it on the streets. Pot composting worms are not at all harmful. This manure can November 2019 is the solution for this problem. We introduced be used for gardening or sold for a profit. 22 the concept of pot composting for wet waste The concept of pot composting is management in Mangaluru by providing spreading in Mangaluru city. 1000 homes in households at subsidised rate earthen compost Mangaluru already have these pots and more pots (each unit consisting of three pots placed than 4000 people have placed orders for these one above the other) and a bag of coco fiber. compost pots which we procure from Mysuru The wet waste from the kitchen is and other places. What a wonderful way to collected in the topmost of the three pots and a dispose garbage! We are sure that this thin layer of coconut fiber is spread on the top movement will end the practice of dumping city The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta every night. For a family of four to five garbage in hundreds of acres of land outside members, it may take twenty to thirty days for the city and thus stop land, water and air the pot to be filled. Even non-vegetarian food pollution. waste can be collected in the pot. When the first Generally, we have to pay for the disposal pot is full, it is placed in the middle and the of dry waste that we generate. But we have Swachhsecond Manas potprogramme is placed for on 13000 the schooltop. By children the time the designed Dumpyarda project whereconverted people into Arise! can Awake!earn from Park their dry waste! The plan is to visit residences the Central Market of Mangaluru. Befitting the that use compost pots and collect their dry movement, it was organized as a massive waste. This dry waste will then be sent for shramadan in which more than 100 NGOs and recycling and the income thus generated groups of individuals joined hands with us distributed among the people who to clean 23 black spots in the Market. generated waste. Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji, one Magic shows for cleanliness of the Vice-Presidents of the was another innovative way of Ramakrishna Order, graced the teaching people about occasion along with other cleanliness. We organized 240 dignitaries. magic shows by Sri Kudroli In his benedictory address Ganesh, a famous magician, at Gautamananda Ji praised the various schools and other whole team of monks, venues in the city. 1,30,000 volunteers, and citizens of students and general public were Mangaluru for making the Pot composting educated in this manner. Swachhata Mission a phenomenal Throughout the five years the success. He said if Swami Vivekananda

media was a constant source of was physically present, he would have November 2019 encouragement. There was regular, extensive proudly praised all those involved declaring, coverage in newspapers, magazines, and ‘Sabhash! You have all become men of 23 television and more than 2000 articles were substance.’ Revered Gautamananda Ji said the published about Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan. Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan was a successful All the Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan model that could be replicated across India. programmes witnessed enthusiastic This has been a fairy tale participation by people from all transformation in the landscape of walks of life. There were Mangaluru city, and more PAGE SPONSOR : . SRINIVAS KAMATH, CHENNAI KAMATH, SRINIVAS M. SRI : SPONSOR PAGE government officers, teachers, importantly in the mindset of Kesari The Vedanta college students, and school Mangalurians. Senior citizens, children; and there were elected representatives, and eminent personalities like Sri. even government officials have Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice requested us to continue our , Bollywood campaign in the coming years. actor Sri. Nana Patekar, Dr. B.R. We will do it. Within the next 10 to 15 years, our goal is to convert Shetty of Abu Dhabi, Padma Swami Ekagamyananda Bhushan Dr. B.M. Hegde, Nitte Vinaya leading the Abhiyan all the wet waste in our city into Hegde, Union Ministers Sri. compost manure, and recycle all the Dharmendra Pradhan and Sri dry waste. Ramesh Jigajinagi, MPs and MLAs. In Our Swachh Mangaluru the 5-year Abhiyan over 20 lakh hours of volunteers have set a goal before themselves— human resource were involved. To convert Mangaluru’s Pacchanadi (the 100 The Concluding Programme of the Swachh acre dumping yard) into Swachhanadu (Clean Mangaluru Abhiyan was held on 29 Sept 2019 at Region)! Ratha Yatra, Kadapa Special Report

125th Anniversary of Chicago Addresses : Concluding Programme For the last 12 months the branch centres of the Ramakrishna Order the world over celebrated the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic Addresses at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, USA. These celebrations strongly reawakened across India and in many other countries the memory of Swami Vivekananda’s historic addresses. Lakhs of students and general public

November 2019 were introduced to Swamiji’s Chicago lectures and through them to a deeper understanding of the fundamental tenets of . 24 We have every month given brief reports of these events. This Special Report sums up some of the main activities and the concluding programmes of the celebration. The number of participants in each programme is given in brackets.

Programmes by the Head Quarters th

Sept (5000); a Public Meeting on 19 st Sept The year-long celebration which was (1500) and a Seminar on 21 Sept The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta formally inaugurated at Belur Math, the Head (600 lecturers/students) at the Institute of Quarters of the Order on 11 Sept 2018 had a Culture, Golpark; and a Youth Convention grand finale with various programmes (2500) and Valedictory Meeting (1500 organised by the Head Quarters and the branch devotees) for the year-longth programme at centres. The Inaugural Meeting of the Nazrul Mancha, Kolkata on 27 Sept. The Public Concluding Programme at Belur Math, presided Meeting was presided by Srimat Swami by Srimat Swami Shivamayananda Ji, one of the Gautamananda Ji, one of the Vice-Presidents of Vice-Presidents of the Order was held on 11 the Order and Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly, Sept 2019 (3500 devotees). Swami Former Judge, and Suvirananda Ji, the General Secretary of the Justice Biswanath Somadder, Calcutta High Order welcomed the gathering, Hon’ble Justice Court addressed the meeting. Swami Pinaki Chandra Ghose, Chairperson, Lokpal Tattwavidananda, one of the Asst. Gen. delivered the Chief-Guest address and Srimat Secretaries of the Order, Dr. Samiran Chandra Ji Maharaj, the President Chakrabarti, Former Professor, School of Vedic Studies, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata of the Order, gave his benediction. (Continued on page 50...) and a number scholars spoke in the Sanskrit The Head Quarters organised a day-longth Devotees’ Convention at Belur Math on 12 Pocket Tales

Shiva’s Demon GITANJALI MURARI A fictional narrative based on incidents from the childhood of Swami Vivekananda.

h children, give a poor man some coins…’ The scrawny beggar clutching his torn rags and trying to cover his body, looked piteously at Naren and his friends. Naren stopped playing and walked over to him. The beggar cried again, ‘Give me some money so I can buy a shirt, little boy…’ ‘I don’t have any money … but,’ Naren’s eyes lit up. ‘I will give you this…’ He quickly unwrapped the dhoti from around his waist. ‘It is new…and it will make you a nice shirt…’ ‘Ah,’ exclaimed the beggar, feeling the cloth. ‘It is very fine…but not enough…’ Noticing November 2019 Naren’s‘O downcast expression, he added quickly, ‘Don’t worry child…I shall use it as a turban to cover my head…’ 25 ‘Naren!’ His mother’s shocked voice halted his steps as he ran into the courtyard. ‘Where is your dhoti?’ ‘Ma, I gave it to a poor man,’ he replied beaming with joy. ‘But we just bought it for you…’ Bhuvaneshwari Devi looked upset. ‘How many times must I tell you not to give all your things away…promise me, you will ask the next time…’ PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. BRAGADA S., CHENNAI S., BRAGADA SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE

Unrepentant, Naren smiled more widely and shook his head. Kesari The Vedanta ‘Alright then…’ Bhuvaneshwari Devi caught his hand and dragged him into a room. ‘Remain here for the rest of the day…if you change your mind, let me know…’ ‘That’s not fair ma,’ Naren yelled throwing all the cushions from a couch on the floor. ‘Put them back at once,’ she ordered, but he turned his face to the wall refusing to look at her. ‘You are a very disobedient boy! I prayed to Shiva for a son, just like himself…instead he sent me one of his demons...’ Leaving the room, she locked the door behind her. Naren frowned. ‘Why does ma get angry every time I give something away? She also gives so much…then what is the difference between my giving and hers?’ The sound of music reached his ears and he looked out of the window eagerly. It was a small band of minstrels singing one of his favourite bhajans in praise of Rama and Sita. Clapping his hands to the beat, he sang along, the words sweetly tripping off his tongue. Hearing his voice, the minstrels stopped under the window and danced with graceful movements.The author, a media and television professional for over 20 years, is now a writer of fiction. She lives in Mumbai. [email protected] Illustrator: Smt. Lalithaa Thyagarajan. [email protected] ‘You sing very well,’ they said. ‘Thank you,’ Naren smiled back. ‘So do all of you…that was wonderful music…’ The singers laughed and bowed, charmed by his brightness. Noticing other people giving them money, it occurred to Naren that he too should give something. But when he looked around the room, his face fell. It was empty, save for the couch and one old iron trunk. ‘Maybe,’ he thought. ‘Just maybe there is something in there…’ Lifting the heavy lid with some effort, he rummaged inside the box and found the perfect gift.

November 2019 ‘Wait,’ he called out to the minstrels, running 26 back to the window and tossing out beautiful silk sarees to them. ‘These are very expensive,’ they exclaimed. ‘Won’t your mother be angry?’ The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Naren became serious, but the next moment his face broke into a delightful smile. ‘Ma will not mind…she says we must always share our good fortune with others …’ Blessing him and his mother, the minstrels waved goodbye and Naren stayed by the window, the strains of another song wafting back to him on the cool evening air. The lowest man is he whose hand draws in, in receiving; and he is the highest man whose hand goes out in giving. The hand was made to give always. —Swami Vivekananda PULLOUT FOR REFERENCE

Series 5: Understanding India - through Swami Vivekananda's eyes

ISSUE 22 This issue of Vivekananda Way is based on ISSUE 10 the lecture "Reply to address of welcome at Ramnad" in the book, Lectures from Colombo to Almora. (Complete Works Vol. 3)

This will be useful to gain an introduction to Swami Vivekananda's vision, but we recommend that you read the original lecture, focus in this issue: if you seek deeper inspiration. India – the giant awakens

The longest night seems to be passing away, “ the sorest trouble seems to be coming to an end at last, the seeming corpse appears to November 2019 be awaking and a voice is coming to us — 27 away back where history and even tradition fails to peep into the gloom of the past, coming down from there, reflected as it were from peak to peak of the infinite Himalaya of knowledge, and of love, and of work, India, this motherland of ours — a voice is coming unto PAGE SPONSOR : SRI. R. CHINTHAIAH, HYDERABAD CHINTHAIAH, R. SRI. : SPONSOR PAGE us, gentle, firm, and yet unmistakable in its utterances, Kesari The Vedanta and is gaining volume as days pass by, and behold, the sleeper is awakening! Like a breeze from the Himalayas, it is bringing life into the almost dead bones and muscles, the lethargy is passing away, and only the blind cannot see, or the perverted will not see, that she is awakening, this motherland of ours, from her deep long sleep. None can desist her any more; never is she going to sleep any more; no outward powers can hold her back

any more; for the infinite giant is rising to Designed & developed by her feet. ILLUMINE Knowledge Catalysts > Turn overleaf to explore further... ® www.illumine.in Here are nine memes that will helps us understand the key messages that Swami Vivekananda delivered in this lecture:

1 2 Religion is India's foundation mind is tuned to religious ideas, not necessarily "Religion and religion alone is the material ones life of India, and when that goes India will die, in spite of Kubera's "Let others talk of politics, wealth poured upon the head of of the glory of acquisition of every one of her children" immense wealth poured in by trade, of the power and spread of commercialism, of the glorious fountain of physical liberty; but these the Hindu mind does not understand and does not want to understand"

I am carrying out my dharma... November 2019 "This is the motherland of philosophy, of 28 spirituality, and of ethics, of sweetness, gentleness, and love"

3 "Touch him on spirituality, on Renunciation is the central theme The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta religion, on God, on the soul, on within the diversity of Hindu thought the Infinite, on spiritual freedom, and I assure you, the lowest peasant in India is better informed on these subjects than many a so- called philosopher in other lands" Kabir panthi The Idea of Sikhism Renunciation "From out of many voices, consonant and Varkaris dissentient, from out of the medley of Smartism sounds filling the Indian atmosphere, rises

Nath up supreme, striking, and full, one note, and that is renunciation. Give up! That is Dashanami the watchword of the Indian religions" 4 India's greatest minds have boldly ventured into the farthest 5 boundaries of religion Yet, we need to learn "The characteristic of my nation is this from the West, its power transcendentalism, this struggle to go of organization beyond, this daring to tear the veil off the face of nature and have at any risk, at any price, a glimpse of the beyond"

Soul of religion "We have, perhaps, to gain a little in material knowledge, Time in the power of organisation,

Space in the ability to handle powers, organising powers, in

Universe November 2019 bringing the best results out Material World of the smallest of causes" 29

6

Furthermore, we may need to provide Hindus with 'grades of renunciation + enjoyment' and help them gradually climb to the highest PAGE SPONSOR : SRI VENKATARAMANAN T., CHENNAI T., VENKATARAMANAN SRI : SPONSOR PAGE The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta

"Yet, perhaps, some sort of materialism, toned down to our own requirements, "We know that this would be a blessing to is the ideal - to give highest many of our brothers who up after seeing and truths are not yet ripe for the experiencing the highest truths" Toned down materialism vanity of things. grades of renunciation + enjoyment But that ideal can only be realised after a certain amount of experience" materialism 7

Thus, we need to build a new vision of the Hindu, rooted in our national ideals & global in outlook

"There are two great obstacles on our path Ideal of a Modern Hindu in India, the Scylla of old orthodoxy and the Charybdis of modern European civlisation. Of these two, I vote for the old orthodoxy, and not for the Learns from Europeanised system; for the old every nation orthodox man may be ignorant, he may be crude, but he is a man, Orthodox Hindu he has a faith, he has strength, he (rooted in tradition) stands on his own feet; while the But with the foundation Europeanised man has of our national ideals no backbone, he is a mass "Stand on your own feet, and of heterogeneous ideas assimilate what you can; learn picked up at random from from every nation, take what every source - and these is of use to you. But remember ideas are unassimilated, that as Hindus everything else Europeanised Hindu undigested, must be subordinated to our (mass of undigested ideas) unharmonised" November 2019 own national ideals"

30 8 9 As a nation, we must learn from This is the time to everywhere and yet integrate/ awaken — individually & subordinate it all to our spiritual core collectively as a nation

"... whether you believe in spirituality or "Let us all work hard, my not, for the sake of the national life, you brethren; this is no time for

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta have to get a hold on spirituality and keep to sleep. On our work depends it. Then stretch the other hand out and gain the coming of the India of all you can from other races, but everything the future. She is there ready must be subordinated to that one ideal of waiting. She is only sleeping. life; and out of that a wonderful, glorious, Arise and awake and see future India her seated here on her will come…" eternal throne, rejuvenated, more glorious than she ever was - this motherland of ours" Protect your roots

If you have any questions on this lecture, do post your queries on www.vivekanandaway.org You can also access previous issues of Vivekananda Way here.

c M ag cl i , e Mi d ve ra he y c l T el s an t M sti a w

LAKSHMI DEVNATH

Roots in the Air and Shoots in the Soil

(Continued from previous issue. . .) The Story of Thirumazhisai Aazhvaar

’m falling – no, moving back!” Poorva shouted. She was totally shaken. “Swami

Thaatha! Where is everybody? Thirumazhisai Aazhvaar, Pey Aazhvaar and …?” November 2019 Poorva’s voice trailed off when she discovered that the Swami was gone. She found herself in yet another new place. There was deep silence all around. 31 But the next moment her scream rent the air. Something had stung her arm. She looked down and saw a fat black insect crawling away. Poorva was about to crush it with a vengeance, when her glance fell on her dress. “Wu-hoo!” she whooped with delight. She was all spruced up, wearing a brand new set of clothes. Excited, she set about examining herself; and the offender, grateful for his six legs, used them all to scurry to safety. Once she finished admiring her pretty new dress, Poorva calmly surveyed her surroundings. What PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. PREMA RAGHUNATH, CHENNAI RAGHUNATH, PREMA SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE

“I Kesari The Vedanta was that in front of her? She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Lying in the midst of a bamboo thicket was an infant! “Poor thing,” Poorva clucked, as she moved towards the baby. She heard the sound of footsteps and was alarmed to see a hunter approaching. She stepped back hastily. Only then did she remember that she was invisible here. Feeling sheepish, Poorva relaxed. Predictably, the hunter saw the baby and stopped. From his amazed expression, Poorva deduced that he was not the father. If so, whose child could this be? Angry with the bad parents, she kicked the ground furiously. Much to her alarm, she saw the man happily pick up the infant and walk away. What did he plan to do with the baby? Poorva ran frantically behind him. At the front door of a small house, the hunter stopped and shouted excitedly, “Pangayachelvi! Look what I’ve brought you!” The author is a researcher and writer with various books and articles on Indian music and culture to her credit. [email protected] Illustrator: Smt. Lalithaa Thyagarajan. [email protected] A woman came running out of the house. “A baby boy!” she exclaimed. “How I’ve always longed for one! At last, we’ll have a child in this house. Where and how did you find him?” Poorva smiled wryly. All her fears had been unfounded. It was an abandoned child that would now be adopted. Nevertheless, she could not for the life of her understand all this excitement over a mere baby. She looked around for a comfortable place to rest, when days and nights started alternating in quick succession before her very eyes! To Poorva, it seemed as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button on a DVD player. Not quite so, she corrected herself – the movements may be fast, but she could still see both husband and wife lovingly cuddle their baby and attend to his needs. By and large, the child neither cried nor seemed to feel hungry. Poorva remembered her baby brother – eternally crying and perennially hungry – and felt sorry for her poor mother. Trying hard to control a giggle, she wondered whether there was some way she could exchange her brat of a brother for this baby. She was completely absorbed in working out the logistics of this brilliant idea when, once again, her attention was caught by what was happening in front of her. The baby had grown into a little boy! Poorva was flustered November 2019 when she realized that many years had passed. Had she become older too? Worried, she ran to the water-pot and looked at her reflection. The next moment she heaved a sigh of 32 relief. “I look the same … then how come …?” Before Poorva could solve this mystery, a voice called out, “Thiruvaalan!” An old man and his wife were knocking on the door of the hunter’s house. Thiruvaalan and Pangayachelvi came out. The old man handed over a glass of milk to the child and told the parents, “Here is our daily offering for your little boy.

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta As I’ve been repeatedly telling you, this is no ordinary child. He is divine.” The boy drank some of the milk and fondly offered what was left to the old couple. Smart boy, thought Poorva. Obviously, he doesn’t like that yucky stuff either! When the couple finished the milk and placed the glass down, Poorva’s eyes almost popped out in surprise – the aged couple had turned young! Poorva revised her opinion about ‘that yucky stuff’ and marvelled silently at the (To be continued. . .) magical qualities of milk. This story book is available through www.lakshmidevnath.com Chiselled Narratives

An Ancient Vedic Institution

DR. CHITHRA MADHAVAN

This section presents less known but enlightening nuggets of information about our ancient culture as revealed in our temples, images, symbols, and inscriptions.

Tribhuvanai, a small and historical A large number of inscriptions etched on village, is located about 23 km from the outer walls of the main garbha-griha or Pondicherry on the Villupuram sanctum sanctorum belong to the Chola times. road. Inscriptions mention that it was known in These precious epigraphs are in the Tamil the Chola times as Tribhuvana Mahadevi language and etched in the Tamil script of this Chaturvedimangalam, namedth so after the queen era. The most important and probably the of Parantaka Chola I (10 C.E) who was the longest inscription in this temple, refers to an November 2019 great-grandfather of Rajaraja Chola I. The word educational institution which functioned in its Chaturvedimangalam indicates that it was a premises. This epigraph is of the reign of 33 place peopled by scholars of the four . An Rajadhiraja Chola I (1018- old temple for Vishnu, dating back to the reign 1054 C.E.), the grandson of of Parantaka Chola I originally called Sentangi Rajaraja Chola I and son of Vinnagar and now known as the Varadaraja Rajendra Chola I. It is Perumal temple is located in Tribhuvanai. The etched on the north and epigraphs in this temple, state that the original west outer walls of the PAGE SPONSOR : SRI VIJAYARAGHAVAN K., CHENNAI K., VIJAYARAGHAVAN SRI : SPONSOR PAGE name of the deity in this temple was Naduvil Sri garbha-griha. Kesari The Vedanta Viranarayana Vinnagar Azhvar. This great This temple of the early Chola times, is centre of learning small in structure but rich in epigraphs and had 260 students minute carvings. On the outer walls of the main and 12 teachers. Srimadsanctum Ramayanam are miniature sculpturesBhagavata of various The subjects Puranamincarnations of Vishnu and episodes from the and the . The minute details of the sculptures, seen clearly even after many centuries, despite being exposed to sun, wind and rain, are a tribute to the talented sculptors of the Chola times. The author is a historian focussing on temple architecture, iconography and epigraphy. She is a recipient of two post-doctoral fellowships, and author of nine books and several research papers. She lives in Chennai. [email protected] November 2019

34 Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Tribhuvanai Rig Veda Yajur Veda, Chhandogasama, Talavakara Sama, Apurva, Vajasaneya,taught here Bodhayaniya, were Satyashadhasutra,, Tirumukkudal (near Pazhaiya Seevaram) Vedanta, Vyakarana, Rupavatara, Sri Bharata enroute from Chennai to Kanchipuram via Mahabharata Ramayana Manu-Sastra Chengalpet. These two epigraphs refer to the Vaikhanasa Sastra existence of large educational centres in the

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta ( ), , and premises of the temples in the ancient Tamil . The number of teachers and country. students for each subject is also clearly given. The Varadaraja Perumal temple in TiruvaimozhiProvision was made for feeding Srivaishnavas Tribhuvanai is a protected monument of in the temple and for the recitation of the national importance under the care of the (a composition of Nammazhvar, Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.). one of the twelve Azhvars—the preeminent devotees of Vishnu). The daily allowances of the students and the remuneration of the teachers was in measures of paddy. It is interesting to note that an earlier epigraph of the time of Rajendra Chola I found in the Alagiya Narasimha temple in Ennayiram (near Villupuram) has similar contents as also a later inscription of the time of Vira-Rajendra (another son of Rajendra Chola I) etched in the Appan Venkatesa Perumal temple in Article

(Continued from previous issue)

ghat fter this Swamiji asked him to build a and an embankment on the bank of the Ganga. Vijnananandaji immediately plunged into the work braving a hot summer. He would supervise the work of the labourers standing the whole day in the blazing sun. One day while Vijnananandaji was supervising the work braving the intense heat, Swamiji was sitting in his upstairsA room sipping a glass of juice chilled with ice. Just then Swamiji happened to see Vijnananandaji. Feeling sorry for his brother- disciple, he wanted to share with him the chilled juice. But by then the glass was almost empty. Still Swamiji sent that glass to

Vijnananandaji asking him to drink from it. November 2019 Vijnananandaji’s happiness at receiving a glass Swami Vijnanananda and the of juice from Swamiji, turned into 35 disappointment when he found only a few Ramakrishna Order prasaddrops of juice in it. Nevertheless, he obeyed Swamiji’s order and drank those few drops as SWAMI BALABHADRANANDA . Miraculously, the next moment his thirst was quenched and all his weariness The article introduces the life and work of vanished! one of the architects of the Ramakrishna PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. LAKSHMI S., CHENNAI S., LAKSHMI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE

Movement who was also a blessed direct- Kesari The Vedanta In 1900 Swamiji sent him to Prayag disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. (Allahabad) to start a centre. Vijnananandaji pays homage to this great first put up in a friend’s house and later, on the Brahmavadin Club Brahmajnani on his 151st birthday.The Vedanta request of some young men shifted to the Kesari which they had founded. Once while in the West, Swamiji had told his brother-disciple Swami simple, meagre food and did the daily chores Turiyanandaji, ‘Wherever you go, a centre himself. In the afternoon he would meet (branch of the Order) will come up there.’ This visitors, answer their spiritual queries, and was Swamiji’s faith in the spiritual power of his conduct a class on Bhagavad Gita for young Brahmavadinbrother-disciples. Club This came true with boys. Again from evening he would sit for long Vijnananandaji at Prayag. With his presence, hours in meditation. Thus all through the ten turned into an ashrama. years of his stay at the Club, he was everyday From morning till afternoon he would be engaged for over fifteen hours in meditation immersedThe in author meditation is a senior and sannyasi study. of He the lived Ramakrishna on and Order studies. and is serving Gradually, as one of his its Assistant exemplary General life Secretaries at Belur Math. created in Prayag a group of sincere followers through someone saying, ‘I am now busy with of Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji. In 1910 he some work, I will see you later.’ Even after bought a house and a vacant plot at Muthigunj, Swamiji’s passing away, he said he could see and a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math came Swamiji in his room. Therefore, he would always into existence there in October 1910. mahasamadhitiptoe by Swamiji’s room fearing that his Thenceforth, Ramakrishna Math, Allahabad footsteps would disturb Swamiji. After Swamiji’s became his home until his end. When required, , Swami Brahmanandaji entrusted especially in connection with construction of Vijnananandaji with the construction of buildings, he would visit the branch centres and Swamiji’s temple. During the construction work Belur Math. from 1919 to 1920, he would go to the site after Sri Ramakrishna had cautioned breakfast and but for a little lunch-break at Hariprasanna to keep distance from women around 1 pm he would work till the evening. He saying, ‘You belong to the Divine Mother, and would tell the labourers, ‘Work carefully! You are you will have to do a lot of work for Her. A building the temple of Lord Shiva!’ pecked fruit cannot be offered to the Mother.’ Vijnananandaji’s immortal contribution to Therefore, when Swami Vivekananda in the the Ramakrishna Order and to the devotees and course of his work in the West interacted with admirers of Sri Ramakrishna the world over, is women, young Vijnananandaji wondered if the grand temple of Sri Ramakrishna at Belur November 2019 Swamiji was not violating one of the basic Math. When at Swami Vivekananda’s call 36 instructions of the Master to his monastic Hariprasanna visited Ambala in October 1897, disciples. One day he expressed this doubt to he had accompanied Swamiji to many ancient Swamiji. Swamiji replied, ‘Do you think that Hindu temples of Rajputana. Swamiji had then what you have understood about the Master is explained to Hariprasanna his ideas about the all that he is? What do you know about the art and architecture of the future Ramakrishna Master? Do you know that the Master has Temple. Again, when the was shifted eradicated the idea of difference between male to Nilambar Mukherjee’s Garden house, (which and female from my mind? Is there any is just adjacent to Belur Math) Swamiji again The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta distinction of sex in the ? Moreover, the elaborately discussed with Vijnananandaji his Master came for the good of entire world. Did plans for the future Ramakrishna temple and he come to liberate only men? He will save all even selected the site where he wished the —both men and women.’ Vijnananandaji was temple to come up. He asked Vijnananandaji to embarrassed. But Swamiji in a kind voice draw a sketch according to his ideas. continued, ‘Whatever the Master told you is Accordingly, Vijnananandaji prepared two or true; you follow that implicitly. But to me his three sketches. Swamiji approved one of them, instructions were different. He not only gave and the temple was later built based on that me instructions, he clearly showed me plan. After approving the drawing Swamiji said, everything. He holds my hands—whatever he ‘This temple will certainly come up, but I may makes me do, I do.’ not live to see it. ... I will see it from above.’ Due to such interactions and experiences Swami Shivanandaji laid the foundation stone with Swamiji, Vijnananandaji’s attitude towards of the temple in 1929. But later it was felt him was one of spiritual awe mixed with necessary to shift the temple site farther from childlike behaviour. When Swamiji would be in a the Ganga. Therefore, in July 1935, serious mood, Vijnananandaji would not go to Vijnananandaji re-laid the same stone one- him even when called for. He would send word hundred feet south. From the very beginning of the temple construction, Vijnananandaji was temple, Vijnananandaji entered the inner watchful so that every phase of the sanctum, placed the relics of Sri Ramakrishna construction work was carried out on the altar and offered flowers. When the meticulously. It took four years to complete the worship was over, he returned to his room and temple. As the work was nearing the end, told his attendant, ‘I said to Swamiji, “You told Vijnananandaji grew restless for its early me that you would watch from above. Please completion. First it was contemplated that the see now that the Master is seated in the new temple would be consecrated on the temple.” Then I vividly saw Swamiji, Rakhal Puja Day in 1937. He, too, Maharaj, Mahapurush Maharaj, Sharat had reached Belur Math well in Maharaj, Hari Maharaj, Gangadhar advance. But the idea had to be Maharaj and others standing in dropped as the final work of the southwest corner watching the sanctum sanctorum was the consecration ceremony.’ not complete. He was a little After a pause he said, ‘Now upset at this development my work is over. Today I am and said, ‘You are being relieved of the responsibility exceedingly late! Finish the that Swamii entrusted to me.’ task of consecration as early as After this event he came to possible. Do not delay any more. Belur Math for the last time on November 2019 Swamiji made the plan of the 26 February 1938 to attend the 37 temple, but the temple did not come birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna. up then. Raja Maharaj tried, he also could not He returned to Prayag on 8 March 1938 and initiate it. Mahapurushji laid the foundation entered into mahasamadhi on 25 April 1938. stone, but could not proceed further. They all All through his life Vijnananandaji left one by one. That is why I am telling you, preferred a secluded life and spoke only to finish the work as soon as possible, do not selected individuals on spiritual matters. But delay.’ The hint was alarming. The sadhus PAGE SPONSOR : SRI SUBRAMANIAN S., TRICHY S., SUBRAMANIAN SRI : SPONSOR PAGE this changed remarkably during the last five

natamandira Kesari The Vedanta therefore, decided not to wait for the years of his life and he attributed this to the last completion of the and instead blessings that he received from his brother- consecrate the temple as soon as the sanctum disciple Swami . In April 1933 sanctorum was ready. The day selected for this Shivanandaji had a stroke, which left his right was 14 January 1938, the last day of the hand paralysed and he also lost his speech. Bengali month, Pousha. Vijnananandaji came from Prayag to see him. That day Vijnananandaji got up early in While taking leave, Vijnananandaji had a unique the morning and put on a new ochre cloth. As experience when Shivanandaji blessed him his health was not good, a car was arranged to placing his left hand on his head. Describing the take him from the Math building to the new experience, he later said, ‘… his touch changed temple. Swami Omkaranandaji brought the my mental attitude. He passed on to me his great relics of the Master from the old shrine and desire to help people spiritually and to assume handed them to Vijnananandaji who was responsibility for them. I now feel that as long as waiting in the car. The car then started to move, I live and have the least strength in my body I following a procession of sadhus and shall do the same and give the Master’s name to brahmacharins ahead, amidst singing, blowing all.’ From then onward Vijnananandaji was of conchs and ringing of bells. On reaching the found to mingle more freely with people and give initiation to anyone who sought spiritual would wear a cap that would cover his ears. refuge. When he was at the Allahabad ashrama, three Referring to his irresistible urge to beds had to be kept ready for him: one in the shower grace on all, Shivanandaji used to say, ‘I courtyard, one in the verandah and one in his have now become Mother Ganga.’ room; and it was forbidden to move the beds in Vijnananandaji too became so, though the verandah or courtyard even when it rained. The room where he actually stayed was outwardly he maintained a grave demeanour. We may mention in this connection theth extremely disorderly, and he disapproved any experience of Swami Atmasthanandaji, the 15 attempt to tidy it. But this apparently whimsical president of the Ramakrishna Order. Hearing sadhu had regular visions of gods and from others about the greatness of Swami goddesses; such visions were as natural to him Shivanandaji, as a teenage boy Atmasthanandaji as the visible nature. When he would visit a had developed great devotion towards him. But pilgrim centre, the presiding deities would before he could even see him once, come alive to him. In Prayag, Mother Triveni, Shivanandaji attained mahasamadhi. remaining true to Her name, revealed herself to Atmasthanandaji then went to Vijnananandaji; him in the form of a girl having three braids. but he was terribly disappointed to find him Once in Varanasi, when he was having a high sitting totally oblivious of who came or left. He fever, Lord Viswanath Himself appeared before November 2019 decided not to see him again. But that night he him and embraced him to heal his sufferings. He had a sharp, rational brain, but when it came 38 had a strange dream; Vijnananandaji was merging into Shivanandaji and then to travelling by train, his rationality would Shivanandaji was revealing himself as depart. He would be present at the railway Vijnananandaji. This continued the whole night. station five or six hours before the train’s The next day Atmasthanandaji rushed to meet scheduled departure. No appeal to his common sense would then work. ‘I cannot trust this Vijnananandaji. Theeso aloofbhai eso sannyasi of the previous day, now welcomed him with great machine of the British. I am not sure if it will warmth calling him ‘Come, brother not leave without me’, he would say. The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta come!’ And Atmasthanandaji took eternal Once Vijnananandaji expressed his desire spiritual refuge at his feet! to visit the Khidirpur dock of Kolkata Port. gupta brahmajnani, Swami Brahmanandaji once said that Swami Gangeshanandaji made all the necessary Vijnananandaji was a ‘a arrangements according to which they would hidden knower of Brahman.’ The Bhagavata leave for Baghbazar from Belur Math at 12 says that ‘an illumined soul can play like a child, noon by a steamer and from there go in a though he is wise; he can behave like a fool, devotee’s car to the dock. Some officials of the though he is actually highly intelligent; he may dock had agreed to receive Vijnananandaji and speak like one who is mad, though he is show him around. On the stipulated day, from 9 learned; and though established in the Truth A.M. itself Vijnananandaji started asking for his taught by the Vedas, he may still roam like lunch and finally had it at 10 A.M. But when cattle defying all codes of conduct.’ This verse Gangeshanandaji came just before noon, of the Bhagavata applied perfectly to Swami Vijnananandaji was not to be found anywhere! Vijnananandaji. His behaviour and attire were The sadhus searched everywhere, asked very unusual. Usually he would wear a long everyone concerned, but to no avail. They flowing robe with many pockets. Irrespective of finally found him in the evening returning from whether it was a hot, cold or rainy season, he his dock visit! He explained that after his 10 while and then replied, ‘We have seen that if the Master (Sri Ramakrishna) said he would do something, he would be restless till it was done. If he was to go anywhere, every now and then he would come out of his room and see if the carriage had arrived. When the carriage arrived, he would not even wait to change his wearing cloth. With the cloth under his armpit, he would climb into the carriage! One day, when the carriage had arrived, he immediately got into it along with Latu and Baburam (two of his disciples), and asked the coachman to start. But the coachman had gone somewhere. When he was informed, the Master said, ‘Then you

drive the carriage.’ th Swami Bhuteshanandaji, the 12 Swami Vijnanananda with his sevak Beni president of the Ramakrishna Order, who has recorded the above mentioned reminiscences November 2019 explains such behaviour: ‘When any resolve arises in the mind of a Knower of Brahman, his A.M. lunch he went to the jetty and found a 39 mind gets concentrated on that resolve. He Baghbazar-bound steamer ready to leave. So, he cannot feel any relief until that is done.’ boarded the steamer and from Baghbazar took a tram to the Khidirpur dock. After seeing the Nobody can claim to have fully or things of interest there he came back contented. correctly understood such great souls. One can only meditate on them and their life’s message, When a sannyasi asked Vijnananandaji (Concluded) which is an unfailing spiritual practice. why he had not waited for others before leaving PAGE SPONSOR : SRI SUNDARARAJAN RAMASWAMY, CHENNAI SUNDARARAJAN RAMASWAMY, SRI : SPONSOR PAGE for the dock, Vijnananandaji kept silent for a Kesari The Vedanta Sources Pouranik Abhidhan. Compiled by Pratyakshadarshir Smritipate Swami Vijnanananda. . Kolkata: 1) Sudhirchandra 5) God Lived with Them. Sarkar M. C. Sarkar & Sons, 2005 Compiled by Sureshchandra Das & Jyotirmoy 2) Swami Chetanananda. Kolkata: Basuroy. Kolkata: General Printers and Publishers, Shri Ramakrishna-Bhaktamalika. Patravali , 2011 1977 3) Swami 6) (Swami Vivekananda’s letters in Bengali) Swami Vijnananander Smritikatha. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. . Kolkata: , 2005 Kolkata: Udbodhan 4) Compiled by 7) Vol.8 Swami Chetanananda. Kolkata: Udbodhan,Swami Vijnanananda 2014 Jayanti on 11 Nov 2019 If any one asked for advice, Swami Vijnanananda would say, ‘Practise what you studied in the primary book in your childhood days: Always speak the truth and do not steal or covet others’ things. Follow these two moral principles, and then everything else will take care of itself.’ SWAMI BIRTH CENTENARY COMMITTEE 91/1, SOUTHERN AVENUE, KOLKATA - 700029, W.B. Email: [email protected] Visit us: www.atmasthanandacentenary.com Mobile: +91 9433654275, 8617023976, 9804984939, 9836463887 AN APPEAL Dear Devotees, Swami Atmasthananda Birth Centenary Committee is going to organise a Memorial Programme to celebrate the Centenary of Srimat Swami Atmasthananda Ji Maharaj, the 15th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, 10 May 2020. The Committee is extremely glad to announce that two Commemorative Volumes— one compiling the writings, lectures, interviews, & letters of Revered Maharaj in Bengali, , Gujarati and English and the other comprising the reminiscences of Revered Maharaj by sannyasis of the Ramakrishna Math, sannyasinis of , devotees and eminent personalities— will be released on that day. A pictorial biography and a documentary DVD based on the life and teachings of Revered Maharaj will also be released November 2019 in the function. Most Revered President Maharaj and the Vice- Presidents of the Ramakrishna Order would grace the occasion. 40 The Committee requests devotees and admirers of Revered Maharaj to share from their personal collections the photographs and letters of Revered Maharaj via email for the Commemorative Volumes. The Committee cordially invites you to become a Delegate Member and to attend the programme. Limited numbers of Delegate Membership cards on a first-come-first-served basis will be issued. The delegate charge is Rs. 1,500/- per person. Each Delegate Member will get a

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta complimentary gift of the documentary DVD and 30% discount on the Commemorative Volumes and the pictorial biography. The Committee appeals to the devotees, admirers and well-wishers of Revered Maharaj to support us with financial contribution for this noble cause. All donations (cash/ cheque) and registration charges should be made in favour of: “SWAMI ATMASTHANANDA BIRTH CENTENARY COMMITTEE”. Bank Details: Bank name: State Bank of India Calcutta University Branch; A/c Name.: Swami Atmasthananda Birth Centenary Committee; A/c No.: 38782094486, IFSC Code: SBIN0007766. After money transfer, please intimate us by email or phone about your registration/donation. The registration for the Delegate Membership will begin from mid-Nov. 2019 at the following branch Centres of the Ramakrishna Order: Institute of Culture, Golpark; Udbodhan Office, Bagbazar; Saradapitha (Belur Math); Ramakrishna Math (Yogodyan), Kankurgaachi; Advaita Ashrama, ; and Swamiji’s Ancestral House, Kolkata. Entry card for the Programme will be available to the Delegate Members from the above mentioned Centres from Feb. 2020. Thanking you, S. K. Roy, President, Centenary Committee Facets of Vivekananda Book 2015, artpaper, Rs.20 Science Universe Expansion in India. Reviews 2016, artpaper, Rs.20. For review in Both published by Ramakrishna Sarada The Vedanta Kesari, publishers need to send Mission, , Kolkata - 700 076. us two copies of their Booklets, published on the occasion of latest publication. the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Vivekananda.

hese are two aesthetically illustrated T eyes,______PREMA apart from being very goodRAGHUNATH, introductions CHENNAI books, the first being an exposition of Swami Vivekananda and the second to Swamiji’s amazing versatility. Siva I am Siva I am a bookFacets on of Swamiji’s Vivekananda interest in science and technology as the means to take India forward. Published by has snippets showing Vedanta Pratishtanam, November 2019 Swamiji as a nation-builder through reform in Plot No.1505, Mahatab all aspects of Indian society – religious belief, Road, Bhubaneswar, 41 scientific temper, cultivation of the spirit of Orissa - 751 002. Email: enquiry, attitudes towards women, and education adishankaravedantapratisthanam@gmail. – all of which combined to make him an icon of com 2014, paperback, pp.133. Rs150. the youth of every generation. For example, he was unequivocal in his message that serving one’s fellow human beings, and not mere temple he tone of this Shankara Jayanthi

PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, MYLAPORE, CHENNAI MYLAPORE, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE T visiting, is true religious faith. Then again, he Volume 2014 book is set by the pithy Kesari The Vedanta recommended autonomy for women, an unheard- title Siva I am Siva I am. The Editorial of concept in his times and not so widespreadScience titled ‘I () (A Vedantic Analysis)’ discusses Universeeven today. Expansion in India the problem of the ubiquitous eclipse of the Self The second of the two books, by the Ego and offers solutions. There are in all , traces Swamiji’s 11 articles dealing with topics like Adi Sankara’s momentous meeting with Jamsetji Tata and their teachings, Prana Tattva in the Upanishads, conversation which led to Mr. Tata’s investment and his Karika, significance of in iron and steel and from there branching out ‘Visvam’ as the first name in Vishnu Sahasranama, into diverse fields which covered every aspect the universality of Dharma, and the essence of India’s scientific future and established India of Sakta Siddhanta. Two texts Nirvanasatkam as a fully self-sufficient nuclear power, using it in and Atmaanatma Viveka are interpreted in two fields as varied as medicine and exploring Mars. articles. The latter text covers nearly half the book Both the books are bilingual in English and and presents two commentaries in Sanskrit. Bengali and the narration is short, crisp, and The contents of all the articles are inter- very readable. The production deserves special connected, as spokes to the nave, to the central commendation. Printed on glossy art paper with theme of Advaita. The book can be called a apt illustrations, the books are a feast for the bouquet of Advaitic blossoms. The heady fragrance______of the bouquet should N.HARIHARAN, be inhaled MADURAI by one The glossary of Pali words and index are of and all for their spiritual illumination. much______help to the reader. This PANCHAPAGESAN, booklet is a concise MUMBAI What The Buddha Taught and clear handbook of Buddhism. by Walpola Rahula Living Imprints of Indian Published by Motilal Banarsidass Culture. Publishers Private Limited 41, U.A. by Swami Atmashraddhananda Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Published by Sri Ramakrishna Delhi - 110 007. 2017, paperback, Math, Mylapore, Chennai - 4. pp.103. Rs.225. 2014, paperback, pp.102, Rs.30.

alpola Rahula (1907-1997), a Sri iving Imprints of Indian Culture is a Lankan Buddhist monk, scholar compilation and analysis of twenty- and writer became the Professor two aspects of Indian culture. Aspects of History and Religions at Northwestern that feature in our everyday life yet whose true University, thus becoming the first bhikku to hold rationale we are most often not aware of. Rangoli a professionalWhat the chair Buddha in the Taught Western world. Rahula to usher in auspiciousness is first described wrote extensively about Theravada Buddhism. followed by a philosophical analysis of the term provides in eight darshan. Namaste, the Indian form of welcome November 2019 chapters a succinct account of the teachings of and Indian hospitality follow. Lighting of the 42 the BuddhaW to a modern reader. It is based on lampL is part of the daily routine in every Indian the original, ancient Budddhistic texts from the home. Types of lamps used in various parts of the Tibetan and Chinese translations in the absence country are described. of the original Sanskrit texts, which are lost. Sacred marks on the body, bhajan and the According to Buddhism, there is nothing beautiful custom of arati are detailed. Next comes that is absolute in the world. Everything is the age old tradition of chanting of Vedas and relative, conditional and impermanent and there sacred hymns. The concept of prasada and the is no unchanging, everlasting absolute substance vital role of Sanskrit as an integral part of Indian

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta like Self, Soul, or Atman. What is known as ‘being’ culture is defined as is the role of literature. The or ‘individual’ is composed of Five Aggregates, the extensive tapestry of classical music, dance and cause of ‘dukkha’ (suffering) - matter, sensation, folk music that form India’s artistic heritage is perception, mental formations and consciousness described. which is based on the five senses. It is connected The wide range of traditional Indian to the other faculties. There is no ‘Self’ or ‘Soul’ clothing and cuisine from various states of India or ‘Ego’ opposed to matter. A Buddhist does not is considered. The author touches upon the accept that consciousness is a sort of Self or Silpa Sastra, Ayurveda and the contribution of Soul which is permanent. God is also denied by Aryabhatta, the renowned Indian mathematician. him. The amazing story of Dara Shikoh, the Mughal Regarding rebirth, a Buddhist says that prince who translated the upanishads into one’s energies do not die after one’s death but Persian is recounted. continue to take another shape. ‘Every moment, This publication is a handy compilation of we are born and we die too,’ says a Budddhist. information which helps to understand popular The Buddha’s teachings can be practiced customs and traditions and explains in a concise successfully even by a family man. There are hints manner______details that help JAYANTHI us to appreciateVARMA, CHENNAI our dropped by the Buddha about how a family man culture better. must order his social, economic, and spiritual life. Pariprasna Srimat Swami Tapasyananda Ji (1904 – 1991), was one of the Vice-Presidents of the Ramakrishna Order. His deeply convincing answers to devotees’ questions raised in spiritual retreats and in personal letters have been published in book form as Spiritual Quest: Questions & Answers. is a selection from this book. Pariprasna

QUESTION: I am told that one can attain Self-realization through alone. It seems to me that Karma alone, without thought, is often blind. If this is admitted, we have to admit the supremacy of thought over Karma Yoga. what are your general views on this? MAHARAJ: Karma without thought is purely mechanical. It will not be Karma Yoga at all, for this word means ‘communion through work’ and communion always implies thought. The position can be clarified if we bestow our attention on the various types of work known November 2019 to man. There is work done through the machine, which involves no thought and no reaction in the machine except wear and tear of the parts. Above this, there is animal labour and slave labour. 43 Though the agents are living creatures, they are entirely passive and their only stimulation for work is the fear of the whip. Next higher in the scale is work done with the profit motive, which is the law at the human level and much of what we call human civilization has been motivated by this incentive. Here certainly there is a considerable play of thought but that is wholly directed to personal advantages. But real Karma Yoga begins only when the incentive of pure personal gain is felt as unworthy and some impersonal incentive (is sought) as the motivation for action. When a man feels that it is PAGE SPONSOR : SRI RAVI CHAMUTURI, HYDERABAD CHAMUTURI, RAVI SRI : SPONSOR PAGE unworthy to live for his narrow self-interest alone, he seeks some impersonal motives like Kesari The Vedanta patriotism, social uplift, humanism etc., as the sanction for action. Here it is only thought and reflection that raise man to this higher level of life. While the work that a man does with these motives has a sure effect in the external world, it has got a beneficial effect on himself too. By identification with an impersonal cause his self expands and gets identified with higher and bigger ‘wholes’ like country, community, mankind etc. There is thus a kind of Yoga, communion, with these ‘wholes’ and where the identification is sincere and complete, such persons become a conduit for the expression of the energy of the spirit involved in these ‘wholes’. This ‘at-one-ment’ in thought and emotion is the source of the power we find expressing through great patriots, humanists and social revolutionaries. It was Swami Vivekananda who gave a new turn to the doctrine of Karma Yoga when he declared that it is in itself a self-sufficient path for the attainment of the spiritual goal. In the past it was always considered only as an indirect means or as a subsidiary aid. In Sankara’s system, Karma Yoga or detached and dedicated action leads to purification of mind which is the necessary psychological background for practising the discipline of Jnana or Knowledge of the unity of the Atman with Brahman. In the school such action is a part of the practice of devotion to God. Actions are performed as offerings to God. Devotion in its maturity brings the grace of God on the devotees. Swami Vivekananda’s gospel of Karma Yoga as a self-sufficient path does not seem to impose any metaphysical or theological dogma to begin with. It is a discipline of expanding our narrow self by identification with bigger and bigger ‘wholes.’ The Swami’s novel explanation of the two important technical expressions, ‘Pravritti’ and ‘Nivritti’ makes his attitude clear. Traditionally ‘Pravritti Marga’ is described as ‘an active life in pursuit of worldly values’ and ‘Nivritti Marga’ as ‘abandonment of actions in pursuit of Mukti.’ But Swamiji gives a new turn to these words by interpreting them on the basis of their root meaning. According to him, Pravritti means ‘going towards,’ and Nivritti means ‘going away from,’—a self-centred life. Self-centredness is the original sin, and freedom from it is real freedom. Here the contrast is not so much between worldly life and a life of renunciation of worldly goods and activities. The less we become self-centred, the more we grow spiritually, according to this view. The identification of our little self with impersonal causes and with bigger and bigger ‘wholes’ referred to earlier, indicates the spiritual development of man through pure Karma Yoga. A man may have no theory of God, soul, the hereafter etc, but if he can eschew personal values entirely and get fully identified with bigger and bigger ‘wholes,’ he attains to a state of mental purification in which truth should shine on Him automatically. Although this idea of Karma Yoga is a novel idea, it will find acceptance today among large Gitasections of people to whom metaphysics or theology is an anathema, and who yet feel the pursuit of pure personal values as ignoble. Here also Karma, if it is to become Yoga, involves thought. As the November 2019 says, ‘All Karmas find their final end in knowledge.’   44

One must perform work. It is only through work that the bondage of work will be cut asunder and one will acquire a spirit of non-attachment. One should

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta not be without work even for a moment. Work saves the mind from going astray. But then, prayer and meditation also are necessary. You must sit for meditation at least once in the morning and once in the evening. That will be like the helm to a boat. When one sits for meditation in the evening, there should be self- examination in respect of the works done in the course of the day. —Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi Topical Musings

hat is Karma-Yoga? The knowledge of the secret of work. We see that the whole Our universe is working. For what? For salvation, for liberty; from the atom to the highest being, Sadhana working for the one end, liberty for the mind, for the body, for the spirit. All things are always trying to get freedom, flying away from bondage. The sun, the moon, the earth, the planets,‘W all are trying to fly away from bondage. The centrifugal and the centripetal forces of nature are indeed typical of our universe. Instead of being knocked about in this universe, and after long delay and thrashing, getting to are but the necessary conditions of this world; know things as they are, we learn from Karma- poverty and wealth and happiness are but Yoga the secret of work, the method of work, November 2019 momentary; they do not belong to our real the organizing power of work. A vast mass of nature at all. Our nature is far beyond misery energy may be spent in vain if we do not know 45 and happiness, beyond every object of the how to utilize it. Karma-Yoga makes a science of senses, beyond the imagination; and yet we work; you learn by it how best to utilize all the must go on working all the time. “Misery comes workings1 of this world. Work is inevitable, it through attachment, not through work.” As must be so; but we should work to the highest soon as we identify ourselves with the work we3 purpose.’ do, we feel miserable; but if we do not identify ‘Karma-Yoga makes us admit that this ourselves with it, we do not feel that misery.’ PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. RAJAM SUBRAMANIAM, CHENNAI RAJAM SUBRAMANIAM, SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE world is a world of five minutes, that it is a ‘This “I and mine” causes the whole Kesari The Vedanta something we have to pass through; and that misery. With the sense of possession comes freedom is not here, but is only to be found selfishness, and selfishness brings on misery. beyond. To find the way out of the bondages of Every act of selfishness or thought of the world we have to go through it slowly and selfishness makes us attached to something, surely. There may be those exceptional persons and immediately we are made slaves. Never say who can stand aside and give up the world, as a “mine”. Whenever we say a thing is “mine”, snake casts off its skin the and rest stands of mankind aside andhas misery will immediately come. Do not even say tolooks go slowly at it. through There the are, world no of doubt, work. Karma- these “my child” in your mind. Possess the child, but Yogaexceptional shows beings; the process, but the secret, and the do not say “mine”. If you do, then will come the method of doing it to the best advantage.’2 misery. Do not say “my house,” do not say “my body”. The whole difficulty is there. The body is neither yours, nor mine, nor anybody’s. These ‘What does it say? “Work incessantly, but bodies are coming and going by the laws of give up all attachment to work.” Do not identify nature, but we are free, standing as witness. yourself with anything. Hold your mind free. All This body is no more free than a picture or a this that you see, the pains and the miseries, wall. Why should we be attached so much to a body? If somebody paints a picture, he does it ‘Here are the two ways of giving up all and passes on. Do not project 4that tentacle of attachment. selfishness, “I must possess it”. As soon as that ‘The one is for those who do not believe in is projected, misery will begin.’ God, or in any outside help. They are left to ‘So Karma-Yoga says, first destroy the their own devices; they have simply to work tendency to project this tentacle of selfishness, with their own will, with the powers of their and when you have the power of checking it, mind and discrimination,8 saying, “I must be hold it in and do not allow the mind to get into non-attached.”

the ways of selfishness. Then you may go out ‘For those who believe in God there is into the world and work as much as you can. another way, which is much less difficult. Mix everywhere, go where you please; you will They give up the fruits of work unto the never be contaminated with evil. There is the Lord; they work and are never attached to the lotus leaf in the water; the water cannot touch results. Whatever they see, feel, hear, or do, is and adhere to it; so will you be in the world. for Him. For whatever good work we may do, This is called “Vairâgya”, dispassion or non- let us not claim any praise or benefit. It is the attachment. I believe I have told you that Lord’s; give up the fruits unto Him. Let us stand without non-attachment5 there cannot be any aside and think that we are only servants kind of Yoga. Non-attachment is the basis of all November 2019 obeying the Lord, our Master, and that every the .’ impulse for action comes from Him every 46 ‘Non-attachment does not mean anything moment. Whatever thou worshippest, that we may do in relation to our external body, whatever thou perceivest, whatever thou it is all in the mind. The binding link of “I and doest, give up all unto Him and be at rest. Let us mine” is in the mind. If we have not this link be at peace, perfect peace, with ourselves, and with the body and with the things of the senses, give up our whole body and mind and we are non-attached, wherever and whatever everything9 as an eternal sacrifice unto the we may be. A man may be on a throne and Lord.’

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta perfectly non-attached; another man may be in ‘Instead of the sacrifice of pouring rags and still very much attached. First, we have oblations into the fire, perform this one great to attain this state of non-attachment and then sacrifice day and night — the sacrifice of your to work incessantly. Karma-Yoga gives us the little self. “In search of wealth in this world, method that will help us in giving up6 all Thou art the only wealth I have found; I attachment, though it is indeed very hard.’ sacrifice myself unto Thee. In search of ‘The Karma-Yogi need not believe in any someone to be loved, Thou art the only one doctrine whatever. He may not believe even in beloved I have found; I sacrifice myself unto God, may not ask what his soul is, nor think of Thee.” Let us repeat this day and night, and say, any metaphysical speculation. He has got his “Nothing for me; no matter whether the thing own special aim of realizing selflessness; and is good, bad, or indifferent; I do not care for it; he has to work it out himself. Every moment of I sacrifice all unto Thee.” Day and night let us his life must be realization, because he has to renounce our seeming self until it becomes a solve by mere work, without the help of habit with us to do so, until it gets into the doctrine or theory, the very same problem to blood, the nerves, and the brain, and the whole which the Jnani applies his reason7 and body is every moment10 obedient to this idea of inspiration and the Bhakta his love.’ self-renunciation.’ ‘Go then into the midst of the battlefield, ‘Why should you have any duty? Resign with the roaring cannon and the din of war, and everything unto God. We are14 all simply working you will find yourself to be free and at peace. out His will, and have nothing to do with ‘ Karma-Yoga teaches us that11 the ordinary idea of rewards and punishments.’ duty is on the lower plane; nevertheless, all of The highest men cannot work, for in them us have to do our duty. The only true duty is there is no attachment. Those whose whole to be unattached and to work as free beings, to soul is gone into the Self, those whose desires give up all work unto God. All our duties are ‘ are confined in the Self, who have become ever His. associated with the Self, for them there is no Blessed are we that we are ordered out work. Such are indeed the highest of mankind; here. We serve our time; whether we do it ill or but apart from them every one else has to work. well, who knows? If we do it well, we do not get In so working we should never think that we the fruits. If we do it ill, neither do we get the can help on even the least thing in this universe. care. Be at rest, be free, and work. This kind of We cannot. We onlyIf we helpwork ourselves in this way, in if this we freedom is a very hard thing to attain. How easy alwaysgymnasium remember of the that world. our present This is opportunity the proper it is to interpret slavery as duty — the morbid toattitude work thusof work. is a privilege which has been given attachment of flesh for flesh as duty! Men go to us, we shall never be attached to anything.’ 15 out into the world and struggle and fight for ‘ November 2019 money or for any other thing to which they get attached. Ask them why they do it. They say, “It He is the all in all; He is all and in all. We 47 is a duty”. It is the absurd greed for gold and can only worship Him. Give up all fruits of gain, and they try to cover it with a few flowers. work; do good for its own sake; then alone will ‘What is duty after all? It is really the come perfect non-attachment. The bonds of the impulsion of the12 flesh, of our attachment; and heart will thus break, and we shall reap perfect when an attachment has become established, freedom. This16 freedom is indeed the goal of we call it duty. Duty is good to the extent that Karma-Yoga.’ PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. LAKSHMI DEVNATH, CHENNAI DEVNATH, LAKSHMI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE it checks brutality. To the lowest kinds of men, ‘But how are we to fight? Most of us, by Kesari The Vedanta who cannot have any other ideal, it is of some work. The world’s work is the great Sadhana, good; but those who want to be Karma-Yogis wherein we accumulate character,Character by is which, self- must throw this idea of duty overboard. There restraint.when the time Self-restraint comes, we can is rise self-direction. even into the is no duty for you and me. Whatever you have Self-directionNirvikalpa Samadhi is concentration. itself. Concentration to give to the world, do give by all means, but when perfect is Samadhi. not as a duty. Do not take any thought of that. Be not compelled. Why should you13 be From perfect work to compelled? Everything that you do under perfect Mukti. This is the swing17 of the soul. Let compulsion goes to build up attachment.’ us then be perfect in work!’ References The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda CW CW 1) . [hereafter CW] Vol-1: Karma-Yoga: Ch-VII: Freedom 2) Ibid 3) Ibid The Complete 4) Ibid 5) Ibid 6) Ibid 7) . Vol-1: Karma-Yoga: Ch-VIII: The Ideal of Karma-Yoga 8) . Vol-1: Karma-Yoga: Works of Sister Nivedita. Ch-VII: Freedom 9) Ibid 10) Ibid 11) Ibid 12) Ibid 13) Ibid 14) Ibid 15) Ibid 16) Ibid 17) Vol-3, Religion & Dharma: Ch-XXVI: Work What is Religion?

Religion Is Between You and Your God

eligion is only between you and objection advanced: “What good can religion do? your God, and no third person must Can it take away the poverty of the Rcome between you. 1 It is interesting poor?” Supposing it cannot, would that to note how Swamiji has systematically removed prove the untruth of religion? Suppose a the dross from religion, and has distilled out the baby stands up among you when you are purest form of religion. trying to demonstrate an astronomical theorem, ‘Religion is not going to church, or putting and says, “Does it bring gingerbread?” “No, it marks on the forehead, or dressing in a peculiar does not”, you answer. “Then,” says the baby, “it fashion; you may paint yourselves in all the colors is useless.” Babies judge the whole universe from of the rainbow, but if the heart has not been their own standpoint, that of producing opened, if you have not realized God, it is all vain. gingerbread, and so do the babies of the world. We If one has the colour of the heart, he does not want must not judge of higher things from a low

November 2019 any external colour. That is the true religious standpoint. Everything must be judged by its own realization. We must not forget that colours and all standard and the infinite must be judged by the 48 these things are good so far as they help; so far standard of infinity. Religion permeates the whole they are all welcome. But they are apt to of man’s life, not only the present, but the past, degenerate and instead of helping they retard, and present, and future. It is, therefore, the eternal a man identifies religion with externalities. Going relation between the eternal soul and the to the temple becomes tantamount to spiritual life. eternal God. Is it logical to measure its value by Giving something to a priest becomes tantamount its action upon five minutes of human life? to religious life. These are dangerous and Certainly not.’3

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta pernicious, and should be at once checked. Our ‘Religion is not in books, nor in theories, nor scriptures declare again and again that even the in dogmas, nor in talking, not even in reasoning. knowledge of the external senses is not religion. It is being and becoming. Ay, my friends, until That is religion which makes us realize the each one of you has become a Rishi and come face Unchangeable One, and that is the religion for to face with spiritual facts, religious life has not everyone. He who realizes transcendental truth, he begun for you. Until the superconscious opens for who realizes the Atman in his own nature, he who you, religion is mere talk, it is nothing but comes face to face with God, sees God alone in preparation. You are talking second-hand, third- everything, has become a Rishi. And there is no hand,’ 4 religious life for you until you have become a ‘Religion is not talk, or doctrines, or Rishi. Then alone religion begins for you, now is theories; nor is it sectarianism. Religion cannot only the preparation. Then religion dawns upon live in and societies. It is the relation you, now you are only undergoing intellectual between the soul and God; how can it be made gymnastics and physical tortures.’2 into a society? It would then degenerate into ‘Religion does not live on bread, does not business, and wherever there are business and Swami Jayanti on 9 Nov 2019 dwell in a house. Again and again you hear this business principles in religion, spirituality dies. Religion does not consist in erecting temples, or ‘Religion is not for the many; that is building churches, or attending public worship. It impossible. A sort of knee-drill, standing up and is not to be found in books, or in words, or in sitting down, may be suited for the many; but lectures, or in organizations. Religion consists in religion is for the few.’ realization. As a fact, we all know that nothing Religion is not in doctrines, in dogmas, nor will satisfy us until we know the truth for in intellectual argumentation; it is being and ourselves. However we may argue, however much becoming, it is realization.6 Religion is here and we may hear, but one thing will satisfy us, and that now, in this present life.’7 is our own realization; and such an experience is ‘Religion is not an imitation of or possible for every one of us if we will only try. Mohammed.8 Religion is not a thing of The first ideal of this attempt to realize religion is imagination but of direct perception.’9 that of renunciation.’5

References The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Sages of India CW The CW. 1) . Gita III CW. Bhakti or Devotion [hereafter ] Vol-1: Lectures and Discourses: 5) Vol-4: Lectures and Discourses: CW The CW. The Claims of 6) Vol-2: Work Before Us Religion 2) . Vol-3: Lectures from Colombo to Almora: 7) Vol-4: Lectures and Discourses: CW Unity, The Goal CW. Mohammed November 2019 of Religion CW. Sayings and Utterances 3) . Vol-3: Lectures and Discourses: 8) Vol-1: Lectures and Discourses: CW The 9) Vol-5: 49 4) .Vol-3: Lectures from Colombo to Almora:

You have only one mind, and if you fill it with everything that is written in various books and everything that has PAGE SPONSOR : SMT. LAKSHMI DEVNATH, CHENNAI DEVNATH, LAKSHMI SMT. : SPONSOR PAGE been said by various people, you will Kesari The Vedanta only get confused. Have firm faith that whatever is to be achieved in spiritual life can be achieved by japa and meditation. Know this for certain, that the Lord’s name cuts through all obstacles. However you may do it, whether perfectly or imperfectly, keep on repeating His name, which has a power of its own. —Swami Subodhananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna

Swami Subodhananda Jayanti on 9 Nov 2019 (Continued from page 24...)

125th Anniversary of Chicago Addresses : Concluding Programme

seminar. The Youth Convention was addressed Mysore at the Senate Bhavan Manasagangotri. by Swami Balabhadrananda, one of the Asst. A special feature of the seminar at Chennai Gen. Secretaries of the Order, Swami Math was more than 70 paper submissions on Divyananda, a senior Trustee of the Order, 11 different themes and presentations of the 24 Dr. Partha Chatterjee, Minister of Education, short-listed ones by the youth participants.

Govt. of West Bengal, Sri Vinayak Lohani, the Jagadguru Sri Shivarathrith Deshikendra founder of Parivaar, a humanitarian Mahaswamiji, the 24 pontiff of Sri Suttur organization and others. The Valedictory Math, Sri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, meeting was presided by Srimat Swami Pontiff, Adichinchungiri Mahasamsthana Math, Vagishananda Ji, one of the Vice-Presidents of Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji, Swami the Order and addressed by Swami Veetamohananda, Minister-in-Charge, Centre Chetanananda, Minister-in-Charge, Vedanta Vedantique Ramakrishna, Gretz, , Swami DeshSociety Patrika of St. Louis, Janab Firhad Hakim, Mayor Balabhadrananda, and Swami Satyeshananda, of Kolkata, Sri Harsha Dutta, Former Editor of two Asst. Gen. Secretaries of the Order, Swami

November 2019 and other sannyasis and Muktidananda, Adhyaksha, Sri Ramakrishna dignitaries. Swami Suvirananda Ji participated Ashrama, Mysuru, Swami Nityasthananda, National Seminars across India 50 in some of these programmes. Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Davanagere, Swami Tyagananda, Minister-in-Charge, of Boston and the Hindu National Level Seminars on different chaplain at Harvard and MIT, Swami themes apropos to the event of Chicago Atmapriyananda, Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Addresses like ‘Hinduism for Youth’, ‘Relevance Mission Vivekananda Educational & Research of Swami Vivekananda in Regeneration of Institute, Belur Math, Swami Shantatmananda, Indian culture’, ‘Swami Vivekananda’s Universal

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, Message’ wereth held at the following centres:th Swami Yuktatmananda, Minister-in-Charge, Rajkot on 4 Aug (700),th Mangaluru on 10th Aug Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, New York, (635), Pune on 11 Augth (425), Delhi on 7 Sept USA, Swami Nikhileswarananda, Adhyaksha, (540),th Kanpurst on 11 Sept (300), Mysuru on 21 Sri Ramakrishna Mission Asharma, Rajkot, 20st and 21 Sept (1100) and Chennai Math on Swami Atmashraddhananda, Secretary, Sept (220). Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Kanpur, Swami Sri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Suddhidananda, Adhyaksha, Advaita Ashrama, Minister of India sent his message for the Mayavati, Rajamata of Baroda Her Highness seminar at Rajkot. The seminar at Mysuru was Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Chancellor of the heldBelur in Math collaboration with the University ofPuri Maharaja Sayajirao University,Mysuru Prof. Abhay Rajkot Khetri Faridpur, Bangladesh

Karandikar, Dircetor, IIT Kanpur, Prof. 3144 students and others, were held by the Makarand Paranjape, Director, Indian Institute ashramas at Antpur, Bajepratapur of Advanced Study, Shimla, Dr. Nitinkumar (Bardhaman), Math, Cooch Behar, Pethani, Vice-Chancelllor, Saurashtra University, , Gourhati, Joyrambati, , Prof. P.S. Yadapadithaya, Vice-Chancellor, Purulia, Rahara, Bati, and Mangalore University, Prof. G. Hemantha Tamluk; (ii) Cultural competitions were Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, organised by centres at Taki (155 students), Dr. M.K. Surappa, Vice-Chancellor, Anna Manasadwip (203 students from 19 schools), University, Chennai, Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, Vice- Bagda and Purulia (jointly 4500 students from Chancellor, The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical 132 education institutions); and (iii) Devotees’ University , Prof. (Retd.) Sumita Roy, Dept. of Conventions/Public Meetings were conducted English, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Dr. by the centres at Kathamrita Bhavan, - Sunita Singh Sengupta, Head & Dean, Faculty of Bishnupur, Taki, Baranagar Mission, Baghbazar, November 2019 Management Studies, University of Delhi and Bamunmura, , Gadadhar ashrama, Founder & Honorary Convener of ISOL Jalpaiguri, and Medinipur in which 4805 people 51 Foundation, Delhi, Smt. Jyotiben Thanki, participated. Jalpaiguri ashrama held a series of popular Gujarati writer, Sri Vinayak Lohani, Sri programmes— conventions for devotees, , noted writer and documentary youths, and military personnel, an interfaith film-maker, Dr. K. Venkatesham, IPS, meet, four public meetings and nda few culturalth Commissioner of Police, Pune, Sri Sharad Vivek events— at the centre from 22 to 27 Sept Sagar, an Indian Social Entrepreneur & CEO of attended by about 3000 people. Chandigarh

PAGE SPONSOR : DR. SUBRAMANIYABHARATHIYAR R., KANCHEEPURAM R., SUBRAMANIYABHARATHIYAR DR. : SPONSOR PAGE Dexterity Global, Dr. V. Srinivas, Founder-CEO, centre arrangednd special lectures at Punjab The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta Illumine Knowledge Resources, Mumbai, Sri University on 2 Sept and Sri Pratap Chandra Chakravarthy Sulibele, Founder of Yuva Sarangi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Brigade, Bengaluru, Sri Vijay Menon, mentor Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and motivation speaker from Kozhikode and Government of India addressednd the Youth several other sannyasis and dignitaries Convention at Puri Mission on 22 Sept. Programmes at Branch Centres addressed in one or more of these seminars. Cultural/Essay/Oratorical competitions over different periods were held for students by centres at Hatamuniguda (400), Vijayawada In West Bengal, (i) 13 Youth Conventions (32,391 from 257 schools and 7000 from 15 and lecture programmes, attended by about Chennai Delhi Kanpur colleges), Visakhapatnam (5840 from 152 Presidents of the Order gave a special talk in colleges in 4 districts), Chennai Math (5000 Karimganj before 300 devotees. On 11 Sept from 125 schools), Chennai Students’ Home Shillong ashrama arranged a public meeting at (200 from 14 polytechnic colleges in 3 the Meghalaya Raj Bhavan in which Sri districts), Coimbatore Mission Vidyalaya (3191 Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya at 44 schools/colleges), Ramanathapuram (915 addressed the gathering. On the same day, students and 40 teachers from 12 schools and Narottam Nagar centre held a public meeting in 2 colleges), Davanagere (800), Prayagraj (600 which Sri Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister from 37 schools/colleges), Guwahati (230 from of Arunachal Pradesh addressed the gatheringth 35 schools), Shillong (3500), Aalo (1200 from Kadapa asharma flagged off on 7 Sept a 9 schools and a university) and Narottam Nagar Vivekananda Ratha which will pass through six (1800 from 12 schools in Assam and Arunachal districts in Andhra Pradesh in the next few

Pradesh). weeks, and will disseminate Swamiji’s message. Youth programmes including speeches, Teachers’ conventions were held in the cultural events, processions, spiritual retreat ashramas at Tirupati (200), Chennai Mission etc., were conducted at the following centres: (200), Nattarampalli (370), Pune (400) and Puri Mission (284), Hyderabad (2000), Kadapa Khetri (278). th (1100), Visakhapatnam (1000), Bengaluru November 2019 Interfaith meets were held on 11 Sept by (665), Mangaluru (2500), Mysuru (300), Hatamuniguda (800), and Rajkot ashramas Ponnampet (526), Aurangabad (476), Pune 52 (400). The meet at Rajkot Ashrama was (450 in a convention and 10,000 at lectures in organised in collaboration with the Parliament 34 colleges), Limbdi (1000), Porbandar (1131 of World’s Religions and was approved as a in 10 workshops), Rajkot (400), Khetri (1362), Post-Parliament Event as a follow-up of the Jammu (360 from 10 schools), Almora (80), Parliament of World’s Religions held at Toronto Dehradun (325), Shyamla Tal (400), Vrindaban fromProgrammes 1-7 November, Abroad 2018. (250) and Karimganj (360).

The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta The following centres arranged Public Meetings, Devotee’s Conventions and Seminars: Bangladesh: Four Publicth Meetings for Vijayawada (500), Coimbatore Math (150), devotees: One meeting on 15 Sept at Faridpurth Coimbatore Mission Vidyalaya (168), Madurai Ashrama (350) and three meetings from 30 – (900), Koyilandy (350), Nagpur (300), Pune 31 Aug by the Chittagong Ashrama (2500).

(250), Indore (150), Narainpur (1500), Raipur Amstelveen Ashrama,th held a (300), Vadodara (300), Khetri (190), Public Meetingth on 15 Sept. Phoenix Ashrama Chandigarh (300), Prayagraj (300), Guwahati held on 7 Sept a Seminar in Durbanth (65 (400), Karimganj (250), Aalo and Kailashahar. people) and a Public Meeting on 9 Sept in the Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji addressed the centre (350 devotees). Johannesburgth Ashrama programmes at Narainpur and Raipur. Srimat held a Seminar on 25 Aug at a public Swami Suhitananda Ji, one of the Vice- auditorium (100). Pune Narainpur Shyampukur Bati The Order on the March News & Notes from Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission

Guests of Honour News of Branch Centres Sri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon’ble President of India, Srimat Swami Gautamananda Ji, accompanied by Sri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of West one of the Vice-Presidents of the Bengal, visited Belur Math on 30th September. Justice Pinaki Ramakrishna Order and Swami Chandra Ghose, Lokpal of India, visited Belur Math on 11th Suviranandaji Ji, the General Secretary September. Sri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for of the Order, inaugurated the Skill Development Centre at Chennai Students’ President of India, attending st November 2019 sandhya arati in Belur Math Home on 1 September. The School Education Department, Government of West Bengal, presented 53 the Best School Award to the High School run by the Rahara centre in a function held in Kolkata on 5th September. The award consisted of a certificate and a sum of one lakh rupees. The renovated primary school building PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, KOCHADAI, MADURAI KOCHADAI, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE of Narottam Nagar centre was dedicated by Kesari The Vedanta Sri Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister Culture and Tourism, Government of India, visited Chennai of Arunachal Pradesh, on 11th Sept. Math on 15th September. Sri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister Ranchi Morabadi centre observed the of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, concluding phase of the Golden Jubilee Government of India visited Puri Mission on 22nd Sept. of its Divyayan Krishi Vigyan Kendra Governor of Jharkhand Smt Droupadi Murmu, attended a from 23nd to 30th September. Srimat function at Ranchi Morabadi centre. Swami Vagishananda Ji, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Order, and the New Branch Centres Governor of Jharkhand Smt Droupadi A new branch of Ramakrishna Math has been started Murmu inaugurated the celebration. A on the premises of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Purnea, commemorative volume was released following its merger with the Math. A new branch of and public meetings, an alumni meet, Ramakrishna Mission has been started on the premises of Sri a seminar on ‘Regeneration of Rural Ramakrishna Sangha, , following its takeover by the India’, religious discourses and several Mission. cultural events were held. Delhi centre added a digital section to its public library in students participated, and (vi) a seminar on August. Clean India on 14 September attended by Hyderabad Math observed the 20th Foundation Day of its 700 youths. Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence by organizing a Distress Relief Convention for the faculty members of engineering colleges 18 centres distributed the following and a Youths’ convention; 2300 people participated. to needy people 11591 shirts, 10547 sweaters/jackets, 18702 trousers, 753 Values Education and Youth Programmes saris, 193 dhotis, 1120 notebooks etc. The following centres held workshops, conventions, personality development camps etc.: Winter Relief Delhi centre: 24 workshops in 13 towns and cities for 1754 Jamtara centre distributed 500 teachers and 65 principals; Gadadhar Ashrama: three Students’ blankets to needy people. convention for 580 students in Kolkata and Hooghly districts Flood Relief and a Parents’ convention in a village in Bankura district for In response to the floods in various 245 parents and teachers; Rajkot centre: 21 programmes in parts of the country, the following the Ashrama, and programmes in 45 schools in ten districts centres conducted relief operations: of Gujarat covering 21,772 students, 2 two-day residential Kerala: (a) Haripad centre distributed personality development camps for 79 students; Vadodara firewood and other food items in centre: two programmes in the ashrama and programmes in 44 Alappuzha district; (b) Kalady centre schools in six districts reaching 11,607 students. distributed food grains, clothes, and other household items among 550 families in November 2019 Healthcare Services Wayanad district. Gujarat: Vadodara Aalo centre: Three health awareness camps in four nearby centre distributed food packets, ration 54 villages benefitting 290 people. Asansol centre: Medical camp kits and saris. Maharashtra: Pune in which 611 patients were treated by 8 doctors. Jalpaiguri centre distributed food grains, blankets, centre: Medical camps in which a team of 20 doctors and utensils, food grains, etc., among 878 15 paramedical staff treated 1220 patients and prescribed affected families in Sangli, Satara and medicines. Madurai Math: A dental check-up camp in which Kolhapur districts 62 students were examined and 48 treated. Malda centre: A village medical camp in which 127 patients were treated. Flood Rehabilitation

Kerala: (a) In the aftermath of the CHENNAI TEYNAMPET, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta floods that affected Kerala in August Eye Camps: Bankura, Chennai Math (through 2018, the Headquarters distributed 188 Chengalpattu centre), Dehradun, Khetri, Lucknow, Madurai, bicycles to school girls in Alappuzha Malda, Nagpur, Porbandar, Rajamahendravaram, Rajkot, district through Kochi centre. Salem, Seva Pratishthan and Vadodara centres conducted (b) In response to the recent floods in eye camps in which 14,190 patients were treated, 1254 were the state, Koyilandy centre distributed Swachha Bharat Abhiyan operated, and 970 were given spectacles. 10 sewing machines among 10 affected Mangaluru Ashrama conducted the following activities in families in Kozhikode district. September: (i) five cleanliness drives in Mangaluru involving about 6530 volunteers, (ii) daily awareness campaign for 25 days Economic Rehabilitation in which volunteers reached out to 1850 households in different Under self-employment programme, parts of Mangaluru and spread awareness about cleanliness, (iii) Porbandar centre distributed 9 sewing cleanliness drives in 172 villages of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi machines to needy people. districts. (iv) magic shows on the cleanliness theme in 4 schools More details and photos at http:// in Udupi district which were attended by 2300 students in all, media.belurmath.org/category/service/ (v) workshops on cleanliness in 106 schools in which 10,636 relief. 55 PAGE SPONSOR : A DEVOTEE, TEYNAMPET, CHENNAI TEYNAMPET, DEVOTEE, A : SPONSOR PAGE Vol.106. No.11 The Vedanta Kesari (English Monthly) November 2019.

56 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 October 2019

How many in our country truly understand the nowadays? They have only learnt such words as Brahman, Maya, Prakriti, and so on, and confuse their heads with them. Setting aside the real meaning and purpose of the Shastras, they fight over the words only. — Swami Vivekananda

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