Ref lections Metamorphosis
ne of the most entrancing of changes, snaps the absorption in the images, for carefully fortified by nature, is the there cannot be a movie without a leading creationO of a butterfly. An ugly stout character, and this disrupts the show. The caterpillar, builds a cocoon and transforms mind comes out of its absorption and it’s life energies, little by little, in an becomes conscious of itself. Control unimaginable way, into one of the most becomes possible. Atma vichar or self- beautiful creatures on our planet. As the analysis thus serves as a key to genuine myriad-coloured, brightly-winged, delicate transformation. butterfly takes wings and soars towards In human beings, the self-awareness the blue sky, one cannot but wonder— has come full circle and hence holds the whence this transformation? potential to manifest itself fully. That is All the lessons that God intended to why the sense of ‘I’, the fringe of our true teach us are enshrouded in nature around Being, is so strong. With a little analysis us. If we are willing to learn, there are we can see that the sense of ‘I’ has two lessons in leaves and messages in the dew levels. One is the ‘thinkable’ portion. It is that glistens on them. Learning is usually the epithets, appellations and labels metamorphosing. A very interesting part we have collected over time. It forms the of learning is questioning oneself. We, crust of our personality. More fundamental humans, have a unique way of deluding to this, is the feel of existence, without ourselves with a permanent sense of thought. Now, here we have an interesting identity; until we question the ‘I’ in all its find. We do remain over, even when we bareness. When we truly do this, we are are not thinking. When scrutinized, this is in for a real shock! a state of simple, intense self-awareness. Human identity is a defining feature It is completely independent of our mental of the human experience. No other cogitation. It is also independent of effort. creature has a sense of ‘I’ or self as strong No process of knowledge is involved in it. as we do. Man values his relationships, his In fact it is more ‘felt’ when the mind is affections and possessions because of their absolutely non-functional, as for instance, connections to his ‘I’. But how true is the during periods of tranquility, in the still ‘I’? A cursory look at the mind, which hours of dawn and dusk. It steals upon us radiates the sense of being, reveals unawares. The refreshing touch of no- something of the nature of a movie show. thought and the underlying, flowing, The movie is part documentary (based on unbroken awareness mesmerizes us memory), part drama (based on desire), occasionally. This experience is fairly with a sprinkling of fantasy, comedy and common in young people. Meditation is an fiction, all collaged together by the ego attempt to consciously and categorically which poses as the leading actor. And so usher in this state and then intensify it. It is we sport many identities and remain plunging into one’s own depths; bringing absorbed in our images and ego-ties. one’s whole being into full awareness. It Questioning the ego, peering into its nature, can be achieved by training attention, 6 Samvit September 2016 which is nothing but a spark of precedes work, and awareness precedes consciousness, arising at will, and illumining thought. The content and intensity of this the objects it falls upon. This makes awareness renders power to the thought meditation a cutting-edge spiritual and these energized thoughts inspire technology to plumb into the depths of our actions. Consecration, if real and life-long, personality structure. Transformation is has to stand on the bedrock of always transformation of ‘I’. Neither authenticity. It is not just the polishing of change of place, nor method, nor religion the exterior, expressed in the majesty of actually transforms, unless our sense of ‘I’ our works and the fineness of our words. has changed. Every brick of the personality structure – In 1898, Nivedita accompanied from the inner awareness to its subtle Vivekananda to Almora. She had left a percolation in daily action – is to be comfortable life and an illustrious career, trained. Thus discipline, de-conditioning in other words snapped the ties of ‘I’, to and the essential rewiring are inevitable. realize the truths that her Master spoke Vivekananda slashed down all personal of. In his wonderful personality she saw a affection, ‘only in order to bestow the selflessness and purity that were impersonal vision in its place’. Slowly, astounding. Initially she did not know what Nivedita found that her self-identity to make of it. Once shorn of the little self, metamorphosed into selfless being. And the truth behind the ‘I’ resurrects itself. from such natural renunciation came the When one touches the magnificent reality ability to work in conjunction with the of one’s true Being, the murky ego which divine will. is always unsure of itself, surrenders and Magnificent, vast objects naturally submits, or rather acknowledges it’s non- still the mind and uproot the little ego. The existence. This is the basis of all true loftiness of the Himalayan peaks had been ‘selflessness’, for the Self reigns over the the haven of Vedic seers and sages. Nature ego. And hence a spiritual person radiates has a shrine-like quality and the ambience a dignity that redefines the conventional generated by her natural vibes can be attitude of respect. Nivedita saw this clearly felt by anyone who lives in close clearly in the firm character of her great proximity with her. One evening in the Guru Vivekananda. She saw how indeed pristine precincts of the Himalayan peaks, a true sannyasin stands at the head of the Nivedita felt an awakening within. She Vedas. Her worship of the person now penned it down, “Long, long ago Sri transmuted into selfless dedication to his Ramakrishna had told his disciples that the cause. day would come when his beloved Naren Vivekananda could see the past and would manifest his great gift of bestowing future of his disciple and acknowledged knowledge with a touch. That evening at the intensity of her aspiration. But the Almora, I proved the truth of his prophecy. realization demanded neither mere change For alone in meditation I found myself of place nor exchange of objects, but a gazing deep into an infinite good, to the transformation, a metamorphosis. And recognition of which no egoistic reasoning transformation is always in the ‘I’. We had led me….” Her vision cleared, she judge people by their works, but thought took note, “I am learning…that there is a September 2016Reflections 7 certain definite quality which may be called surprised at what they saw. Many a time spirituality…that nothing that I have ever they found Nivedita taking a mat and called nobility or unselfishness was kissing it over and over again, and then anything but the feeblest and most sordid dusting it with great care, before spreading of qualities compared to the fierce light of it on the floor. Mother would sit on it and real selflessness. It is strange that it has so the extreme care! ‘I never saw a face taken so long to make me see these so full of love’ was Nivedita’s acute elementary truths clearly.” The two- discernment of Mother. She saw in Mother hundred year old glorious Deodar tree what everyone saw, but which none could standing as a silent sentinel at the Oakley fully articulate. A commingling of womanly house in Almora, to this day, bears virtue, immaculate purity and incredible testimony to the vibrant metamorphosis love radiated from those eyes, leaving no of Margaret Noble into Sister Nivedita. A doubt that Mother was the visible life of complete dedication is the result of embodiment of divine motherhood. The a transcendental touch somewhere in the calmness and consistency of her soul. Stepping into a higher state of demeanour revealed the bright light of Self- awareness brought its own vision, its own knowledge. As one sees the glint of luminosity and understanding. Meditation familiarity through self-recognition in one’s now became a habit with Nivedita. And image seen in a mirror, a Self-realized in its depths, she found the rationale of person percieves the same glint in every her dedication. The ‘fierce light of real eye. Mother’s eyes radiated this sense of selflessness’ was nothing but the calm familiarity and unity and hence her resignation of the ego to the Self. When personality compelled love and devotion. the ego is no longer active in posing and For the first time Nivedita pretence, the Self is able to manifest itself. encountered the sheer glory of the Indian When the Self is able to manifest, life culture first-hand. She saw the might and becomes one of determined higher reach of a culture that placed spirit above purpose – a saga of consecration, a matter, service above self, purity above chronicle of devotion. Nivedita’s pleasure. The result was that she became personality was suffused with a divine a life-long advocate of Indian cultural glow. values and an undeclared amabassador of Having lost itself, the ego made way the underlying spiritual heritage. She saw for the integration of the highest values of to her amazement that Mother’s lofty life life. The silence of the East and the energy dismissed, without regret, many of the that characterized the West conjoined in modalities that characterize the modern Nivedita’s frame. Herself charged, she feminist discourse. East/West, came to Kolkata and found shelter close motherhood/career, tradition/modernity— to a veritable powerhouse. Nivedita came the disparities dissolve, if life is elevated to live with Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, and made into an expression of one’s innate in the winter of 1898. In Mother’s house divinity, rather than a fiasco of one’s false at 10/2 Bosepara Lane, she lived, identity. All ‘-hoods’ are but the means to gracefully imbibing her first impressions of an end, and not ends in themselves. To orthodox Hindu life. Onlookers were get caught up in the means is bad enough, 8 Samvit September 2016 bestowing it ultimate value is cataclysm. acceptance of Nivedita, in the midst of her It is a deviation from one’s source and orthodox setting, is another turning point hence the cause of one’s misery. No human in Indian history, which made the work mind can find peace unless raised to its for women possible in an unexpected way. true stature. It is against our very grain to As if by divine design, it combined the best live a life of false values and identities. of the East and West, thus making way Hence the need to understand the deep for an enlightened global civilization. sense of Self-alienation that throws up the Nivedita went on to play a major role in storms of anxieties, fears and insecurities Mother’s movement. It was to her that in the conscious mind. Many a time we Vivekananda spoke of his plans for attribute the solution to a ‘raised’ sense of women’s development. Once on a boat trip identity. And hence the run to build greater on the Ganges, he pointed out to her, the and greater identity. After a long struggle exact spot on the banks, where the to find the solution, one sees that one women’s Math would come up. The school cannot build on false grounds. A mansion Nivedita started, which Mother cannot be raised on shaky ground, nor a inaugurated, became the nucleus of the monument built on sand. The actual Sarada Movement and cradled it’s biggest, solution lies in a raised, transformed independent, women’s monastic organization – Sri Sarada Math and the consciousness. Seeing Mother, one could Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. perceive the joy of living beyond body Touched by light and nourished by consciousness and the harmony it brought nectar, the butterfly flutters about into one’s daily life. Complicated situations, radiating the joy of life. As it darts from unnecessary heartaches, volatile blunders flower to flower, it gives us the message and unpredictable mannerisms—all the of freedom—the freedom to change and results of inflated egos, got subdued in her better ourselves, to rise above our divine presence. A Himalayan peace and circumstances, to effect the transforma- purity pervaded the household. Every tions that truly matter. The making of a man, woman and child who crossed the butterfly is nature’s magnificent act of threshold felt the ‘familiarity’ and metamorphosis, executed silently, to teach acknowledged that he had come home us that change is always within oneself. into the lap of his mother. No wonder Change is an unfolding from within, not an Nivedita could call Mother, ‘Sri imposition from without. This means we Ramakrishna’s final word as to the ideal are never at the mercy of a world ‘out of Indian womanhood.’ there’. Everything is indubitably entwined Holy Mother recognized in Nivedita with our consciousness which is fully laden the soul of a goddess and would with the equipment required for every endearingly call her ‘Khuki’- daughter. She change. And once the metamorphosis watched with pride Nivedita’s growing takes place, we may take wing into a life intuitions. In fact Mother’s complete of complete freedom.
“Her life is one long stillness of prayer.” -Nivedita on Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi IdealsSeptember 2016of Indian Womanhood - Revisited 9
PRAVRAJIKA AMALAPRANA
ister Nivedita, formerly known as Miss %vaM s~I %vMa pumaanaisa %vMa kumaar ]t vaa kuumaarI . Margaret Elizabeth Noble was born and %vMa jaINaao- dNDona vaHcaisa %vMa jaataoo Bavaisa ivaEvataoomauK: .. broughtS up in Ireland. She came to India and gave her all for this country. Even Thou art the woman and the man, the boy and today we can read on her epitaph in the girl. You are the old person walking with the Darjeeling — ‘Here lies Sister Nivedita help of a stick. You are born as all forms in the who gave her all to India.’ Really she loved universe. (Shvetasvatara Upanishad 4.3) India from the very depth of her heart and had become one with her very soul. Of Women are the custodians of course, this was the result of her deep culture and civilization. By their very nature devotion to her guru Swami Vivekananda. and quality they function as the harbingers It was from him that of civilization. Take for example a family she inherited this love – it is the women who for India. Swami control and preserve Vivekananda was in fact the household the very personification traditions and rituals. of the soul of India. He The Hindu culture has believed that for the produced some of the rejuvenation of the most exalted women, country what was most who may be called urgently needed was the the greatest products awakening of women. of civilization From time anywhere in the immemorial India is world. considered to be a land The Vedic and of great women. In the the Upanishadic age Vedic age, which is the Sister Nivedita’s Samadhi was the golden age for earliest period of our women. Even in the history and the seed bed of our culture and Pauranic as well as in the Classic age we civilization, women were given great come across many glorious women. In the respect and freedom. They distinguished Ramayana, Sita occupies the most themselves in every field of activity, important place. Swami Vivekananda has especially in the spiritual field their said, “Sita is typical of India – the idealized achievement was the highest. During that India – the name in India for everything period, the highest goals of human that is good, pure and holy. She is the very endeavour were open to everyone, without type of the true Indian woman.” But from any distinction of sex or age. Indian seers the Smriti period gradually the condition could see the Atman, the soul behind both of our women began to degenerate. This men and women. So they declared, was due to many reasons – the most
Pravrajika Amalaprana is the General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math & Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. 10 Samvit September 2016 important of them being the invasion of something for the welfare and progress of foreigners like Huns, Mohammedans, and women. She later made a significant finally Europeans who came one after contribution and built a model school for another, attracted by the affluence of the girls. All the welfare activities chalked out country. As a result of this, the political by Swamiji for the regeneration of our and cultural integrity of the country country including those for women were gradually collapsed. Similarly, social as well on the guidelines given by Sri Ramakrishna. as economical credibility started declining. Swamiji was the first monk to give equal All these affected the condition of the right for women even in the spiritual field. women very adversely. Thus on During his parivrajaka days, the eve of the modern period Swamiji came face to face the condition of the with the sorrows and ignorant, weak and sufferings of Indian downtrodden women and he later women of India, wrote with great trampled by men agony about, ‘the and tyrannized ages of tyranny, by society, mental, moral presented a very and physical that pitiable picture. has reduced the image of God to Awakening a mere beast of burden, the emblem This state of of the Divine Mother affairs could not continue to a slave to bear forever. A change was children, and life itself a inevitable. During the latter half Sita curse.’ According to Swamiji, of the nineteenth century, India Epitome of Purity men and women in any society witnessed a mighty wave of are like two wings of a bird or renaissance and spiritual revival. After the two wheels of a chariot. Unless both are darkest period of setback, a new brilliant equally good and strong the progress and age began. The dawn of this new age prosperity of the country is a far cry. He began with Raja Ram Mohan Roy and said if the women were raised, their culminated in Sri Ramakrishna- children would be great; their noble actions Vivekananda. would glorify the name of the country. Sri Ramakrishna’s reverence for Then will culture, knowledge, power and women is indeed unique in the religious devotion be awakened in the country. history of the entire world. He looked upon Vivekananda discovered the two great women as the replica of the Divine Mother. evils which had led to the downfall of India. Vivekananda said of Sri Ramakrishna that These can be summed up to be the he was the saviour of women and the trampling of women and grinding the poor masses. Sri Ramakrishna inspired one of through caste restrictions. So the his lady disciples, Gouri Ma, to do upliftment of women and awakening of the September 2016Ideals of Indian Womanhood -Revisited 11 masses occupied the foremost place in motherhood was Sri Sarada Devi, the his plan for the rejuvenation of India. He divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna. She was summed up the national problem of India born to preach this ideal of motherhood in two words – women and the people. and to demonstrate the glory of the ideal. Outwardly her life was very simple and ‘Mother First, Mother Last’ silent. Hence it is difficult to understand its real significance. One has to dive deep Women are the pillars of the home into her life to understand it. The and also of the larger home called society. motherhood of God is best revealed in the Unless our homes are value-oriented and touching, refreshing, ennobling incidents of our children trained to become worthy her life. In the entire history of the world, members fit to carry out the cultural she is incomparable in the manifestation traditions of society, how can society of Mother Power. Being mother of all, she improve? The social and spiritual ideals of looked upon people of all countries and of society are inculcated and nurtured at all races as her children. As she herself said home. If they are neglected, society can once, the Master had kept her in the world never improve. So the first and foremost to show the perfect manifestation of divine thing is the care of the mother which in motherhood. turn will shape the character of her That was the reason why Swamiji children. Swamiji said, “The ideal of took Margaret to Holy Mother first. He woman in India is the mother, the mother hoped that through Mother’s blessings first and the mother last.” The Margaret would be able to understand and predominant characteristic of Indian imbibe these ideals fully. Margaret, along women is motherhood, which is in fact with two friends, met Holy Mother on 17th the fulfilment of womanhood. March, 1898. She described the day in her The very concept of mother is diary as a ‘day of days’. Holy Mother spiritual in its nature. Motherhood does greeted them affectionately as ‘my not mean just being a biological mother. daughters’. Though the two groups were It is a state of mind where one has to poles apart outwardly, they felt a deep only give without bargain. It is nothing intimacy within. Margaret could but a pure act of love, just giving without understand the greatness of Holy Mother any expectation of receiving. Here, love at the very first meeting itself. Later she is transformed into self-sacrifice and wrote to one of her friends, “She is so service. It will be a great gain not only tender – ‘my daughter’ she calls me. She to our country but to the entire world if has always been terribly orthodox but all our women grow in this grace and dignity these melted away the instant she saw us, of being the mothers of mankind. India the first westerners....Fruit is always has always shown her genius in producing presented to us immediately. That was noble and glorious mothers. naturally offered to Mother and she, to the surprise of everyone, accepted it. This Living with Mother gave to us all a dignity and made my future work possible in a way nothing else could A living icon who embodied perfect possibly have done.” Nivedita ended the 12 Samvit September 2016 letter observing, “She is under the simplest, through her request. But on Mother’s part, most unassuming guise, one of the there was the least disturbance or strain. strongest and greatest of women.” Though For she had already accepted Margaret in they could not exchange words because her household. But Nivedita with her quick of the language barrier, they could and penetrating intelligence understood the understand each other perfectly well. inconveniences caused by her stay. Then Moreover, Holy Mother’s partaking of a house was found for her in the close food with the foreign ladies surprised even neighbourhood, which was at 16 Bosepara Swami Vivekananda who wrote to Swami Lane, where it stands even today. Ramakrishnananda who was in Madras, Presently it has been acquired and handed “Sri Ma is here and the European and over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission by American ladies went the other day to see the Government of West Bengal and the her. And what do you think, Mother restoration work of this house of Sister even ate with them! Is not that Nivedita is progressing steadily grand?” This incident had a by the said Mission. deep implication. It was an Nivedita loved the authentic sanction given Baghbazar area and her to Hindu society to house. We find this absorb and accept mentioned in her western devotees writings. Baghbazar, in into its fold. the northern part of Another Kolkata, has its own significant day in the fascination for all the life of Margaret was devotees of Sri 25th March 1898, Ramakrishna. The which was the day of entire place is sanctified her consecration. It was by the sacred dust of Sri on this day that she was Ramakrishna’s feet. On initiated into Brahmacharya one side stood Balaram’s by Swamiji and given the house which is known as Sri name Nivedita – ‘the dedicated Ramakrishna’s citadel in Kolkata one’. After she returned in October and on the other side was the big house from her wanderings with Swamiji in of Girish Chandra Ghosh. A little to the northern India, Nivedita started thinking north of these is Holy Mother’s house. Thus seriously about her work for women. the entire locality was charged with a pure, Nivedita thought she could understand religious atmosphere. Nivedita wrote, them better if she lived with Holy Mother. “What a beautiful old world it was in So she wanted to live in the house of Holy which I spent those months! It moved Mother itself as a guest for some time. slowly to a different rhythm from anything Swamiji helped her in this. Soon a room that one had known. It was a world in was found in the house. After staying there which a great thought or intense emotion for one or two days Margaret realized the was held as the true achievement, difficulties that she had created for Mother distinguishing the day as no deed could… September 2016Ideals of Indian Womanhood -Revisited 13
To live and move about those streets was courtyard of some poor person’s hut just like walking in some twilight of gods, opposite to her house. She immediately ran where the forms of men and women to their quarters and there saw a girl loomed larger than their wont.” dying….Hours went by and she sat with the crying women comforting them. The First Steps mother of the girl fell in a stupor in Nivedita’s arms and asked in despair, ‘Oh what shall It was in this building that Nivedita’s I do? Where is my child now?’ ‘Hush first work for Indian women – her school, mother’ Nivedita said, ‘Your child is with started on 13th November, 1898, which the Great Mother, she is with Kali.’ She was the auspicious day of Kali Puja. The further observed, ‘And then for a moment Holy Mother herself came and performed with memory stilled we were enfolded the opening ceremony of the school. At together, eastern and western in the the end, the Mother prayed that the unfathomed depths of consolation of the blessings of the Divine Mother be upon world-heart.’” In this way Nivedita the school and the girls who are trained in became one with the neighbouring women the school become ideal girls. Nivedita’s of the locality. joy knew no bounds when she heard In her books, Web of Indian Life and Mother’s blessings. She wrote later, “I Studies from an Eastern Home and others, cannot imagine a grander omen than this we get beautiful pictures, which reveal blessing of Holy Mother spoken over the Nivedita’s first-hand knowledge about the educated Hindu womanhood of the Indian women, their inner life and their unique future.” Thus the school began from the traits. The proud, dignified and orthodox next day – Monday, 14th November, 1898. women of the neighbourhood charmed In the beginning it was very difficult to get Nivedita. She always loved them from the girls for her school from the orthodox core of her heart and praised them both in locality. But gradually her love and her speeches and writings. She thought very sympathetic understanding won the hearts deeply about their ideals, their problems and of not only the children but also the their position in society. After a deep study confidence of their parents. Thus the she could declare, “India is above all the land number of children increased. The reserved of great women. Wherever we turn, whether and the orthodox women of the to history or literature, we are met on every neighbourhood also began to respond to hand by those figures, whose strength she Nivedita’s good intentions. They began to mothered and recognised while she keeps help her and gradually a good relationship their memory eternally sacred.” began to develop. The pure, sweet, shy and reticent ladies of the locality charmed In Defence of Indian Culture Nivedita and an intimate relationship grew between them. To quote an example from During the first years of the the book Sister Nivedita of Ramakrishna twentieth century, Christian missionaries Vivekananda by Pravrajika Atmaprana, were carrying out propaganda in western “One night as Nivedita was preparing her countries about the ignorance, oppression supper, a sound of wailing arose from the and the poverty of the women of India. 14 Samvit September 2016
Sister Nivedita took up the Indian women’s that the education, which our women cause and through her writings and received in the schools and colleges, was speeches she became their greatest neither national nor creative. In her opinion champion. Whenever she spoke in the the women in whom education did not western countries she held before her awaken national consciousness and did not audience the glorious ideals of self-sacrifice help them to understand the national and dedication for the high ideals of life, history, was no education at all. She which she had seen in the silent, believed the woman who had no notion commonplace lives of many an Indian of what her country stood for, was not at woman. In India she sought to raise all truly educated. In her scheme of awareness regarding the true concept of education for Indian women she gave the ‘modernism’ and upheld the worth of highest importance for development along Indian culture and tradition. In one of her national lines. At the centre of development speeches at Madras she said, “When we should be the thought of India, love for India come to the charge that Indian women are and service to its people. ignorant, we meet with a far deeper Sister Nivedita had great hopes fallacy. They are ignorant in the modern about the future of Indian women and forms – that is to say few can write and believed that in time they would rise to not many can read – but are they then their full stature and bring immense glory illiterate? If so, the Mahabharata and the to their motherland. She knew the first Ramayana and all the Pauranic stories every condition for this was that Mother India mother and every grandmother tell to their should be surrounded by the “mighty circle children are not literature. But the of her daughters first.” It is they who must European novels and the Strand magazine come forward to consecrate themselves by the same token are? Can any one of us to her, touching her feet, vowing to her accept this paradox?” their own, their husbands and their In another lecture she boldly asked children’s lives. Then and then only will the the women audience who were sitting in country stand crowned before the world. front, “Have the Hindu women of the past Nivedita declared with great faith, “Her become a source of shame to us, that we sanctuary today is full of shadows but should hasten to discard their old time when the womanhood of India can perform grace and sweetness, their gentleness and the great Arati – of nationality, the temple piety, in favour of the first crude product will be all light, nay – the dawn really shall of western information and social be near at hand.” aggressiveness?” I hope and pray that today our As Swami Vivekananda had invited women would realize the value of the Sister Nivedita to India to spread education glorious services Sister Nivedita rendered among the Indian women, she thought very in rousing the national consciousness and deeply about the education of Indian whole-heartedly strive to fulfil her hopes women. Nivedita had clearly understood and aspirations. Nivedita’sSeptember 2016 Assessment of the Holy Mother and Its 15 Uniqueness SWAMI BALABHADRANANDA
ivedita’s assessment of the Holy overwhelming reaction in learning that the Mother was distinct from what others Mother had not only accepted Nivedita didN in the matter, prior to her, as it and her American companions as her own brought to light some very important at their very first meeting, but had also aspects of the Mother’s personality, which taken food with them, which was then might have remained unnoticed considered a taboo in Indian society. “Is otherwise. This we can say, despite not that grand?”, Swamiji wrote in a letter Vivekananda’s emphatic declaration of to Swami Ramakrishnananda referring to Holy Mother’s greatness in his famous this incident. letter to Swami Shivananda, where he Still, Swamiji as well as those who placed the Mother even above Sri preceded Nivedita in discussing Ramakrishna and predicted an Sarada Devi in their books or upheaval of women all over writings, like Akshay the world centring Kumar Sen and around Sarada Devi.1 Ramachandra Dutta, Also to be highlighted only or remembered is his mostly the divine lecture entitled “My aspects of the Holy Life and Mission”, in Mother or mentioned which Swamiji her only in passing gratefully mentioned while praising Sri Holy Mother’s role in Ramakrishna’s pure supporting the cause of relationship with his the nascent wife. None of these Ramakrishna Order, writings addressed her during the trying times human aspects adequately or they were passing through at all. This was perhaps immediately after Sri reserved for Sister. And she was Ramakrishna’s demise. Though her well equipped for the task, as if bereavement was the most, she had divinely chosen. Firstly, being a woman she provided sympathy and solace to Swamiji had this advantage over the male admirers to realize Sri Ramakrishna’s mission of and disciples to enter the zenana of the founding the new monastic order. As Mother and observe her from close Swamiji said in the lecture, while most quarters amidst other women members of people had ridiculed them, which had gone the family. For this, the credit should go even to the extent of “persecution”, only both to Mother’s liberal acceptance of the Holy Mother had stood by the young Nivedita as well as Nivedita’s eagerness monks, though she was more helpless than and ready adaptability. Credit should be them.2 One can also remember Swamiji’s given also to the other women around Swami Balabhadrananda is the Assistant General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. 16 Samvit September 2016
Mother who also accepted Nivedita in their discussed, because of her being a woman, fold, willingly or under the enigmatic Nivedita had the advantage over Swamiji influence of Holy Mother’s personality. and other male devotees, to observe the Mother closely, in the informal setting of a A Unique Assessor typical Indian household. That was a great privilege which Swamiji could not have and There were several factors which that made a difference between the made Nivedita’s assessment of the Mother assessments they both made of the unique. First of all, as she was born in the Mother. Swamiji used to believe that the family of a religious preacher and was great ones express their greatness more deeply spiritual since childhood, it was through their apparently trifling deeds. And always easy for Nivedita to appreciate Nivedita had the insight to discover spiritual qualities like chastity, poverty, greatness even out of the trivial. So, with purity and prayer in others. That is why a rare wealth of mind and intellect, we get such grand expressions from her Nivedita spent her days in the Holy pen about the Holy Mother’s company, Mother: “Her life is the result being one long stillness of some rare glimpses prayer.”3 from the depth of Secondly, she the Mother’s had an inborn personality . analytical mind and We have to a keen intellect keep in mind that which were further Nivedita died in sharpened by her 1911 and all the western education authentic and vast studies. biographies of the Thirdly, her Holy Mother were close acquaintance Sister Nivedita written several with some great decades later. individuals, of the West and the East, as Nivedita did not depict Mother’s well as with people from different customs personality much through incidents. She did and cultures. And lastly, the influence of not have enough material for that. She did Swamiji, which provided her with a true not perhaps need also. Seeing Mother talk, understanding of Indian life, Hinduism and work, move about and interact with others spirituality in general. All this gave her, in from close quarters was a better means addition to her innate love for spiritual for her to understand the Mother. She values, a liberal outlook and a free mind loved to think, analyse and interpret and which could go beyond the parochial, and her portrayal of Holy Mother was just that, judge things both from the national and mostly interpretative. It was more of her international angles. One can never say personal contemplation than any narration that Swamiji did not possess these qualities for others. Nivedita did not write any book just mentioned. But, as we already on the Mother. Whatever she had written September 2016Nivedita’s Assessment of the Holy Mother and Its Uniqueness 17 on her can be found in her book, ‘The to regard her, Nivedita writes : “Then you Master as I saw Him’ and in a few of her should see the chivalrous feeling that the letters. Together they may not make even monks have for her. They always call her a fifteen-page booklet. But through that “Mother” and speak of her as “the Holy scanty material itself has emerged the Holy Mother”—and she is literally their first Mother of Nivedita, who is unique in many thought in every emergency. There are respects. Nivedita has revealed many a always one or two in attendance on her, significant aspect of Holy Mother’s life, and whatever her wish is, it is their which would have remained unknown but command. It is a wonderful relationship for her. to watch.”4 In the same letter Nivedita mentions Rare Glimpses mother’s love, gentleness and childlike merry fullness. “She is the very soul of The first record of Nivedita writing sweetness — so gentle and loving and as anything on the Mother is in her letter dated merry as a girl. You should have heard her 22nd May 1898, four months after her laugh the other day when I insisted that arrival to India. Describing to Mrs the Swami must come up and see us at Hammond how Sarada Devi used to dress once, or we would go home. The monk in a white cotton cloth covering her entire who had brought the message that the frame and laying a portion of the cloth over master would delay seeing us was quite her face like a nun’s veil, she narrates how alarmed at my moving towards my shoes, Mother used to meet her male devotees: and departed post-haste to bring him up, “When a man speaks to her, he stands and then you should have heard Sarada’s behind her, and she pulls this veil very far laughter! It just pealed out! And she is so forward over her face. Nor does she tender—‘my daughter’ she calls me.”5 answer him directly. She speaks to another In the same letter, Nivedita throws older woman in almost a whisper, and this light on another aspect of Sarada Devi’s woman repeats her words to the man.” personality, which she considers her real Then Nivedita breaks this information that greatness: “The best proof I can give you no grown-up male, even Swamiji, had of her real greatness is that she is always ever seen the face of the Holy Mother, attended when in Calcutta by fourteen or and remaining fully aware that to a fifteen high-caste ladies, who would be westerner all this might ‘not sound very rebellious and quarrelsome and give infinite sensible perhaps’, she writes: “Yet this trouble to everyone if she by her woman, when you know her well, is said wonderful tact and winsomeness did not to be the very soul of practicality and keep perpetual peace.” 6 Having said this, common-sense, as she certainly gives Nivedita mentioned that by this she did every token of being, to those who know not mean that the women around Mother her slightly. Sri Ramakrishna always were worse than any other, but only consulted her before undertaking anything, alluded to the fact that it was generally and her advice is always acted upon by difficult always to keep so many women his disciples.” To give an idea of how the at peace, which job Mother had been monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna used doing with incomprehensible ease and 18 Samvit September 2016 which Nivedita, therefore, considers a reading the Ramayana.”9 real sign of her greatness. Nivedita concludes this letter of A Sacrament 22nd May 1898 with the following words: “She really is, under the simplest, most Nivedita considered this a prize unassuming guise, one of the strongest and opportunity to stay with the Mother in her greatest of women.”7 We will see that house, which she knew was helping her to within four years since this date, Nivedita know the heart of Indian life at first hand. had to change her opinion on the Mother In a letter to a woman friend she writes from “one of the greatest” to “the on 28th March 1906, “If you ever come to greatest”. On 2nd September 1903, she India, it is my firm belief that the one way wrote to Mrs. Ratcliffe, who was then in which to obtain the true orientation is in the family way, “I shall want you to let by trying to live exactly like an orthodox me offer her ( the child to be born) for her Hindu woman. This becomes a kind of first blessing to Sarada Devi, our Holy sacrament, and has an effect on one that I Mother as we call her—who is only a cannot explain. It is possible, through it, simple Hindu woman, and yet, as I think, to change one’s whole centre of gravity. the greatest woman in the world today.”8 But when I think of all the help that came Nivedita would spend sometimes the to myself in doing this, under the wings of whole day with the Mother in her house Swamiji’s own presence, and in the house and sleep the sultry nights lying on the floor of the Holy Mother, I feel that no one else with her and other women devotees. A can ever again have such opportunity.”10 wonderful description of these days and Nivedita would be overwhelmed nights we find from Nivedita’s pen: “I spent with joy in the company of the Holy all my afternoons in the Mother’s room. Mother, a first hand account of which we And when the hot weather came, it was find in Sarala Bala Sarkar’s book, by her express command that I returned Niveditake jemon dekhiachi : “When the to her better-arranged house, for sleeping- Holy Mother would be at Udbodhan, at quarters. And then I occupied no room least once in a day Nivedita and Christine apart, but shared the cool and simple would pay a visit there and be seated near dormitory of the others, with its row of the Mother. Nivedita would keep looking mats, pillows, and nets, against the at the Mother joyfully like a small girl. polished red earthenware.... That Nivedita—a heroic heart like whose “The days were full of peace and could be rarely found, especially among sweetness. Long before dawn, one and women; whose eyes shone in the brilliance another rose quietly and sat on the sleeping of intelligence and looked so penetrating mat, from which sheets and pillows were as to solve all the mysteries of the world, now removed, beads in hand, face turned as it were. But in the presence of the Holy to the wall. Then came the cleansing of Mother the same Nivedita would turn a the rooms and personal bathing. On great girl of five as though, with all the innocence days, the Mother and one other would be of a child and totally resigned to the carried down to the river in a palkee and Mother. And whenever the Mother would till this arrived, the time was spent in cast her affectionate glance on her, September 2016Nivedita’s Assessment of the Holy Mother and Its Uniqueness 19
Nivedita would be visibly overwhelmed. situations with mriduta or gentleness. Again Mother used to sit on a small piece of mat she could be firm and strict also when she spread on the floor. The day Nivedita got would deem it necessary. Nivedita writes: a chance to spread the mat for Mother, “When there is a need for severity, no her joy would know no bounds. foolish sentimentality causes her to waver. Everybody could guess the state of her The novice whom she may condemn, so mind looking at her very face. She would many years to beg his bread, will leave first kiss the mat repeatedly with great the place within the hour... yet is she, as reverence. After that she would dust it one of her spiritual children said of her, with utmost care and then only she would speaking literary of her gift of song, spread it. Seeing her then, it would be ‘fullness of music’, all gentleness, all obvious to all that she deemed her life playfulness.”13 blessed being able to do this small bit of service to the Mother.”11 Embodiment of Selflessness Nivedita’s Sunday visits to Udbodhan were fixed for cleaning Holy To describe Sarada Devi’s self- Mother’s room, which included dusting the effacement, Nivedita first describes an bed, sweeping the floor and washing the incident as she had heard it from others: glass panes of doors and windows with “One story that is told ... of her life, is of soap and water. Nivedita considered this her bringing to him (Sri Ramakrishna) a job to be her holy duty and like a dedicated basket of fruit and vegetables one day, daughter of the Mother she would perform with all the eagerness and pride of a happy it. She would be always on her toes to child. He looked at it gravely and said, ‘But provide even the smallest comfort to why so extravagant?’ ‘At least it was not Mother, as we find in her letter dated 24th for myself!’, said the young wife, all her February 1904: “Oh, how many comforts sunshine gone, in sudden disappointment, I would like to take her! She needs a soft and she turned and went away crying pillow—a shelf—a rug, so many things. She quietly. But this Sri Ramakrishna could not is so crowded with people. I would like bear to see. ‘Go, one of you’, he said to give her a beautiful picture (also), a piece turning to the boys beside him, ‘And bring of bright colour. But I suppose one must her back. My very devotion to God will wait.”12 take wings if I see her weep!’” The incident The ideal human nature is described shows how dear Sarada Devi was to Sri in Uttara –Ramacharita as this : Vajradapi Ramakrishna. “Yet”, Nivedita writes, “one kathorani mriduni kusumadapi – Strictness of her most striking traits is the absolute and softness are seen rightly blended in detachment with which she speaks of the the great ones, to be used rightly, against husband she worships. She stands like a the evil and the wicked and in favour of rock, through cloud and shine...for the the good and goodness, respectively. The fulfilment of every word of his...Guru Deb, Holy Mother was a perfect example of Divine Master, is the name she calls him combining these two opposite traits in by and not one word of her uttering ever herself . Though full of love and sweetness, conveys the slightest trace of self- she dealt with the very provocative assertion with regard to him. One who did 20 Samvit September 2016 not know who she was would never here is the fact that Nivedita did not say, suspect from any speech of hers that her Mother was like those silent things, right was stronger or her place closer than because, by that, the Mother would have that of any other of those about her. It been smaller than those things. So she would seem as if the wife had been long chose the opposite —the silent things were ago forgotten, save for her faithfulness, in like Sarada Devi. 14 the disciple.” It is known to all that Nivedita had We cannot but discuss here felt that the Mother was ‘Sri Ramakrishna’s Nivedita’s famous letter to Sarada Devi, final word as to the ideal of Indian written ten months before her passing womanhood.’ Saying this she had put a away, from Cambridge. Nivedita’s question : “But is she the last of an old writings on Sarada Devi are all excellent order or the beginning of a new?”16 Let us pieces of literature, but try to see what exactly this letter perhaps Nivedita meant. surpasses all. The letter describes Holy Mother True Education as “all full of love”, but this love was not a For an ideal India, “flushed and violent Swamiji said that he love, like ours, and like wanted ‘to see the the world’s, but a gentle strong points of that peace that brings good India ( i.e., ancient India) to every one and wishes reinforced by the strong ill to none.” And this points of this age, only love that the world had in a natural way.’17 It is seen in Sarada Devi was applicable to women’s actually Sri ideals also, as a nation’s Ramakrishna’s. Too ideal cannot be seen precious to be wasted, divorced from its he left behind this love in Holy Mother, women’s ideals and more so, when the right receptacle for it, to be used Swamiji’s watchword for the nation’s rightly for the good of humanity. Sarada regeneration was ‘women and the people’. Devi is, in Nivedita’s words, “Sri And it is also true that what Swamiji held Ramakrishna’s own chalice of His Love for as ideals, can well be taken as ideals of the world—a token left with His children, Sri Ramakrishna also, because Swamiji said in these lonely days.” Lonely, because Sri that he was Sri Ramakrishna’s voice Ramakrishna was no more in his physical without his form. And an attentive study frame. Nivedita writes, “Surely the also evidently shows that the ideals of the wonderful things of God are all quiet — two were the same though expressed by stealing unnoticed into our lives—the air Swamiji in different words buttressed by and sunlight and the sweetness of gardens elaborate explanations. We will try to and of the Ganges, these are the silent judge the aforementioned statement from 15 things that are like you!” To be noted these angles. It is strewn in Nivedita’s September 2016Nivedita’s Assessment of the Holy Mother and Its Uniqueness 21 writings how the Holy Mother’s life was culture of Sarada Devi.”18 rooted in the best features of ancient Indian The same trait she found again in womanhood and how many positive traits the Holy Mother when she wanted to of modern women were also found in her. know about the European wedding. As About Sarada Devi’s culture and education the marriage vow was uttered, “For better Nivedita writes, “The Mother can read and or for worse, for richer or poorer, in much of her time is passed with her sickness and in health—till death do us Ramayana. But she does not write. Yet it apart”, the Mother got overwhelmed . She is not to be supposed that she is an said, “Ki dharmi katha go, ki dharmi katha” uneducated woman. Not only had she long (Oh the dharmic words! The righteous and arduous experience in administration, words!).19 secular and religious, but she has also Repeatedly, Nivedita has mentioned travelled over a great part of India, visiting Mother’s sainthood as well as her most of the chief places of pilgrimage.” stateliness, her “great open mind” as well Nivedita herself travelled a lot and due to as her immense practicality and her western upbringing, she could identify commonsense, her intelligence and Holy Mother’s travels as an educative sweetness, her childlike playfulness, her factor in forming her unique personality. abilty to command respect from monastic Nivedita continues: “And it must be stalwarts of the Order as well as from the remembered that as the wife of Sri womenfolk. Ramakrishna, she had the highest Nivedita also mentions in her letters opportunity of personal development that Sarada Devi’s courage to stand against is possible to enjoy. At every moment she petty and conventional thoughts. In her bears unconscious witness to this letter to Miss MacLeod dated 18th June association with the great.” Nivedita hints 1899, she writes, “What the Mother is— that so far as spiritual education is is only dawning on me now. You should concerned, Sarada Devi enjoyed the best have heard her defend Sadananda against of that, under the tutelage of none other horrid aspersion the other day! And when than the Prophet of the age and her life my zenana article comes out you will reflected every moment the fact that she realise what it meant when she said quietly had learnt sitting at his feet and serving that in giving us the poses Santoshini’s him from close quarters. (Nivedita’s student) mother had helped her Nivedita further observes, “But in (Sarada Devi)."20 The reference is to her nothing perhaps does it speak more loudly, article on the Indian Zenana which she than in her instant power to penetrate a wrote for a pictorial journal, Empress. As new religious feeling or idea.” Then the journal required, she arranged to take Nivedita describes how on an Easter Day, a few snaps of one of her girl students she could instantly understand the true and let them get published as part of her spirit of Easter prayers and Easter music, article. This invited criticism from some without finding any ‘foreignness or quarters. But the Mother took her side. unfamiliarity in them’. According to In another letter dated 22nd March Nivedita this was “one of the most 1904, Nivedita writes, “The Muslim impressive aspects of the great religious students have invited me to deliver a 22 Samvit September 2016 lecture to them at the Theatre Hall on aspects and became enamoured all the ‘Islam in Asia’. When I informed the more. It is in her writings first that the Mother of this the last Sunday, how happy Mother has been a subject of intellectual she was!”21 studies of the highest order. Swamiji Combining all these qualities, Holy brought Nivedita for women’s work Mother becomes the perfect blending of specially and he believed that centring the best of the ancient and modern ideals round Holy Mother, Indian women would of Indian womanhood. be awakened. By revealing newer and Nivedita’s assessment of Mother is wider dimensions of Holy Mother’s life, unique and valuable in the sense that while unforeseen till then, which would have she did never lose sight of the Mother’s remained so but for her, Nivedita served divine power, she also noticed her human that cause to a still greater extent.
References 1. Swami Vivekananda’s Letter of 1894 12. The Letters of Sister Nivedita, Vol.2, p.631 2. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, 13. The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, 1985,Vol.8, p. 80 January 1995, Vol. 1, p.106 3. The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, 14. The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, January 1995, Vol. 1, p.106 January 1995, Vol. 1, p.105 4. The Letters of Sister Nivedita, Vol.1, p.9-10 15. The Letters of Sister Nivedita, vol.2, p.1169 5. Ibid., p.10 16. The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, 6. Ibid. January 1995, Vol.1, p.106 7. Ibid. 17. Ibid., p.139 8. Ibid., Vol.2, p.585 18. The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, 9. Ibid., Vol.1, p.104,110 January 1995, p.06-07 10. Ibid., Vol.2, p.798 19. Ibid.p.108 & Sri Ma Sarada Devi, Swami 11. Swami Lokeswarananda, Shatarupe Sarada, Gambirananda (Udbodhan, Kolkata) (Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, 20. The Letters of Sister Nivedita, Vol.i, p.168- Golpark: October 1985), p.146-47 (Tr. from 69 Bengali) 21. Shatarupe Sarada, p.161-62 (Tr. from Bengali)
The soul that worships becomes always a little child: The soul that becomes a child finds God oftenest as mother. In a meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, some pen has written the exquisite assurance: “ My child, you need not know much in order to please me, only love me dearly. Speak to me, as you would talk to your mother, if she had taken you in her arms.”
--Nivedita in ‘Kali, the Mother’