Motto: Atmano mokshartham jagad hitaya cha, “For one’s own Reach liberation and for the Newsletter of Centres of Australia welfare of the world.” 2 Stewart Street, Ermington, NSW 2115, Australia, P.O. Box 3101, Monash Park, NSW 2111. Website: www.vedantasydney.org; e-mail: [email protected]; Phones: (02) 8197 7351, -52; Fax: (02) 9858 4767.

Salutation be to You, O Narayani! O consort of Shiva! O Auspiciousness of all auspiciousness! O bestower of all requisites! O giver of refuge! O Three eyed one! O Fair complexioned, Gauri ! May the Divine Mother Sri Temple at Math, , Bankura , W.B. India, the Shower blessings on us all. birth place of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. (Inset : Her marble image in the shrine and the thatched house where Holy Mother lived in her later part of life)

Sayings and Teachings --- Sri Sarada Devi. and not millions of sheep can do Ibid, page 31 and 27. Humility so. Secondly, men should not be Strength taught to imitate a personal ideal, “The tree laden with fruits always however great.” bends low. If you wish to be great, “...Men should be taught to be practical --- . be lowly and meek.” and physically strong. A dozen of such lions will conquer the world, Ibid, page 58. “Be as devoid of vanity as the cast away leaf carried by the high wind.” CALENDAR OF EVENTS FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2010 --- Sri Ramakrishna. Function Centre Date Great sayings: Words of Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi and Durga Puja Sydney Friday, 15 October 2010 Swami Vivekananda; The Institute of Brisbane Saturday, 1 January 2011 Culture; ; page 18. Birthday of Holy Mother Melbourne Saturday, 1 January 2011 Love Sri Sarada Devi “Love is our forte. It is through Perth Saturday, 1 January 2011 love that the Master’s family has Sydney Monday, 27 December 2010 taken shape.” “If you love a human being, you Welcome will have to suffer for it. He is We welcome you all to the Ramakrishna - Vedanta Movement and invite you blessed, indeed, who can love God to attend our functions and actively participate in the propagation of the Universal alone. There is no suffering in lov- message of Vedanta as epitomized in the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy ing God.” Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda.

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 1 September 2010 News from and activities of the Vedanta Centres of Australia and New Zealand For the period from June 2010 to August 2010 ADELAIDE CENTRE CANBERRA CENTRE Weekly/Monthly Activities: Monthly activities: Swami Sridharananda conducted a) Swami Sridharananda continued to a) Swami Sridharananda continued his classes on the Bhagavad-Gita twice a deliver monthly discourses on the Bhagavad- three-days-a-month visit to Adelaide month at the Majura Community Centre Gita from Thursday to Saturday of and delivered discourses on the Bhagavad in Canberra. He also gave parlour a prescheduled week at Monash University Gita and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The talks based on the Yoga Sutras of Clayton Campus of Law, Wellington talks are held at Dulwich Community Patanjali once a month. Contacts: Mr. J. Road (L. Theatre L1). The Thursday and Centre, 14 Union Street, Dulwich SA Venkataraman, Secretary - 02-6258 7612 Friday sessions were from 7:45 p.m. to 5065. The lectures are being recorded. and Dr. Ian Doherty, Treasurer - 02- 8:45 p.m. and the sessions on Saturdays For details of the ongoing monthly 6247 8519. were from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The programmes please contact Mr. Raman MELBOURNE CENTRE recordings of these discourses are Sharma, Secretary, on 08- 8431 9775 or Daily Activities: available in Audio, Video and MP3 formats. Mrs. Pathma Iswaran on 08-8379 5336. Vesper service is held daily at the Centre b) A "Reading of The Gospel of Sri at 7 Judy Court, Vermont, Vic 3133 b) On the first Sunday of every month, Ramakrishna" was held every month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It includes set meetings were conducted from 5 p.m. to on a Sunday from 2:30 p.m. at 33 hymns, scriptural readings and meditation 7:30 p.m. These regular meetings included Woodhouse Crescent, Wattle Park, SA 5066. and occasional devotional singing. prayer, recitation of sacred mantras, singing of kirtan and bhajans, followed c) A bookstall on Ramakrishna- The bookstall made available literature by selected readings from the scriptures and Vivekananda-Vedanta literature was on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, Vedanta discussions on them by the participants. philosophy, and other spiritual topics in organised by the Centre at the Annual The meetings concluded with an print, audio, and visual media throughout Mela (Fair) organised by the Indian arati and the distribution of prasad. the period. For further information Australian Association of South Australia please contact Mr. Suresh Ravinutala, c) Group study of the Bhagavad-Gita held at Elder Park, Adelaide on 27th of Secretary, on 03-9803 6154 and Mr. continued every alternate Sunday from March 2010. Mohana Krishnan on 03-9801 6174. 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Group study

Our Bookstall in the IAASA Mela 2010 and a section of the spectators. The Premier Mike Rann, his wife, Multicultural Minister Grace Portelesi, opposition leader Isabel Redman, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison are seen in the photo above.

BRISBANE CENTRE Daily activities: Morning worship, evening arati, bhajans, and reading from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna are the regular activities at the Centre at 181 Burbong Street, Chapel Hill, QLD 4073, (Phone no. 07-3720 0228). A resident volunteer looks after the day-to-day activities at the Centre. Monthly and Annual activities: Swami Atmeshananda visited Brisbane once a month and delivered talks on the Bhagavad-Gita as well as on other spiritual topics. Swami Sridharananda visited the Centre from 10th to 11th of August 2010. Guru Purnima at the Melbourne Centre ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 2 September 2010 through viewing of the ‘Mundaka PERTH CENTRE books were conducted on the first Upanishad’ lecture series on Video Daily Activities: Sunday of every month from 11:00 held every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 5 The Centre located at 51 Golf View a.m. p.m. and through the ‘Patanjali’s Yoga Street, Yokine W.A. 6060 holds vesper On the occasion of the Australian Fed- Sutras’ lecture series every Friday from service daily at 7 p.m. with arati, a read- eral Election on the 21st of August 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ing from The Gospel of Sri Rama- 2010 a bookstall and a food-stall were d) The Children’s programme in krishna, and meditation. The Centre organized on the campus. two age groups comprising one group maintains a small bookstall and a li- Special information: Due to heavy of 4 to 6 year olds and another from brary. Contacts: Mr. Unni Krishnan - hailstorm on 22nd of March 2010 the 7 to 12 year olds is being held on Assistant Secretary, 0430 391 369, Mr. adjoining hall of the church was Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. K.P. Basu Mallick Secretary, - 0422 damaged extensively. It is being The sessions are from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. 370 066. currently renovated. This includes prayer, recitations and Monthly Activities: singing etc. Swami Sridharananda visited the Centre Celebrations: every month from Thursday to Saturday on prescheduled weeks and conducted A special prayer meeting was held discourses on the Bhagavad Gitā. on the auspicious occasion of Guru About 50 devotees attend the dis- Purnima on Sunday, the 25th of July courses. Monthly satsangs which in- 2010 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. cludes the singing of Bhajans and Other Activities: reading from The Gospel of Sri A committee meeting chaired by Ramakrishna and other inspiring Size of Hailstorm in Perth Swami Sridharananda was held on the 15th of May at Monash University. The agenda included future plans and activities for the Centre. An- other committee meeting chaired by the Secretary, Mr Suresh Ravinutala was held on the 4th of July at the Centre. The agenda entailed a review of the financial statement for the period July 2001 to June 2010. This meeting was followed by the centre’s monthly satsang. The Annual General Meeting was held on the 10th of July at the Monash University and was presided over by Swami Sridharananda. The agenda included a review of the past annual activities held by the Centre, future plans and activities and the financial statements for the period 2009-10. Bookstall and Food-stall at the Perth Centre.

Guru Purnima celebration at the Sydney Centre. ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 3 September 2010 SYDNEY CENTRE resumed from the 29th of May 2010. It Zealand from the 2nd to 7th of June Daily Activities: is held every Saturday at the Centre 2010 and delivered talks on spiritual subjects in Auckland. He also visited At 2 Stewart Street, Ermington chanting, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Malaysia from 27th to 31st of July daily worship and meditation are held f) Classes on moral and spiritual lessons 2010 on invitation from the Lincoln every morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and are conducted for children every College, Kuala Lumpur. the vesper service in the evening starting Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at 7 p.m. includes devotional singing at 2 Stewart Street, Ermington. In Visiting Monk: and a reading from The Gospel of Sri addition, drama and movement classes Swami Tadananda visited the Sydney Ramakrishna. Counselling, interviews are also held. Centre from 16th to 19th July 2010. and discussions with devotees are g) A three day Children’s Retreat was AUCKLAND CENTRE, NZ also conducted on a daily basis. The organised from the 6th to 8th of July library is available to devotees for reference 2010. About 32 children took part in Daily activities: and research. The Centre maintains a it. Mantra recitation, Yoga, clay A vesper service is held daily at the bookstall which has a range of books modeling, craft and other activities Centre at 27 Arawa Street, New Lynn, on the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, were organized to stimulate the Auckland from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vedanta, Yoga, and other spiritual children’s creativity. It includes singing of hymns, readings literature. Devotional songs, discourses h) Classes on moral and spiritual from text God Lived with Them and on , the Yoga Sutras of lessons were also conducted for children meditation. Patanjali, Mundaka Upanisad, and at Eastwood Public School on Monthly and annual activities: other topics are also available in various Wednesdays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. a) On the second Sunday of every media. i) A bookstall was organized on month Satsang programmes, which Weekly/ Monthly Activities: 15th of August 2010 at the India includes singing of Bhajans, discourse The Centre conducted the following Australia friendship Fair 2010, on the Ramayana, reading and discussion activities in Sydney: Homebush Olympic ground. about direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna a) Swami Sridharananda conducted Celebrations: and meditation, were conducted from 11 classes on the Bhagavad-Gitā every Guru Purnima was celebrated at the a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday morning from 9:45 a.m. to Centre on 26th of July 2010. b) On the last Sunday of every month 10:45 a.m. at the South Strathfield Raffle and Cultural Programme : reading and discussion on Srimad- Bowling Club, Augusta Street, Strathfield. A cultural programme, Arpanam, Bhagavad Gita, the Gospel of Sri The talk on 8th of August was held at the along with a Raffle draw was held by Ramakrishna, the life and teachings of Ermington Centre. Swami Damodarananda the Centre on 14th of August 2010 at Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda gave talks on spiritual subjects during Bahai Centre Auditorium to raise were conducted in addition to the Swami Sridharananda’s travels. funds for the Building Fund of Vedanta above. Music and chanting classes were b) Classes on the Bhagavad Gitā Centre. The first prize was a pair of also held on these days. were also conducted by Swami diamond ear-rings donated by a c) Swami Sridharananda visited Auckland Sridharananda at 1 Edwin Street, devotee. from the 2nd to the 7th of June 2010 Fairlight, Manly Beach on Tuesdays After an invocation for the blessings of and delivered talks on the Bhagavad from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the Divine by Swami Damodarananda, -Gita. c) Many devotees have availed the students of various dance schools d) The Annual General Meeting, presided themselves of spiritual counselling presented both classical and folk over by Swami Sridharananda, was and guidance. The Swamis also visited dances of India. The raffle was drawn conducted on 6th of June 2010. the homes of devotees when required. at the end and the contributions by the The activities of the Centre during d) Meditation sessions were held at the participants were acknowledged by the year 2009-10 were reviewed Ermington Centre on Sundays from 5 Swami Atmeshananda. and plans for the year 2010-11 p.m. to 6 p.m. Overseas Visit: were discussed. The new office bearers were elected during the AGM. e) Yogasana Classes for adults has Swami Sridharananda visited New

Enjoying Prasad on Guru Purnima. A glimpse of the cultural programme. Swamis Damodarananda and Atmeshananda. ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 4 September 2010 e) Dr. Jayashankar Lal Shaw, a senior Vedanta and also dwelt on the Celebrations: Professor of the Victoria University of contribution of Sri Ramakrishna and The Centre celebrated Guru Purnima Wellington and also a Trustee of the Swami Vivekananda in evolving this on 26th July 2010. The programme Centre delivered two talks on “Neo in the modern age and its relevance in started at 8:00 p.m. after the arati and Advaita Vedanta” on 18th and 21st of our day to day lives. continued up to 9 p.m. followed by August 2010 during his visit to this f) Swami Tadananda of Ramakrishna prasad distribution. There were Centre. He highlighted the essential Mission, Nadi, Fiji, visited Auckland bhajans/Kirtans and talks on the aspects of the concept of Neo Advaita during the last week of July 2010. significance of Guru.

Auckland Centre—shrine; devotees attending Gita discourse and audience during the talk of Prof. J.L.Shaw.

MANAGING COMMITTEES OF VEDANTA CENTRE OF SYDNEY AND OTHER CHAPTERS SYDNEY BRISBANE Mr.Vierend Ramsaran, Patrons: Mr. B.Ramakrishna, President : Mr Maha Sinnathamby. Mr. Moulinath Ganguly, Mrs. Kanaka Ramakrishna. Deputy Presiden: Dr. Ashim Majumdar. Mr. Kirit Kapadia, President: Swami Sridharananda. Vice Presidents: Swami Atmeshananda, Mrs. Rita Khazanchi, Vice Presidents: Swami Atmeshananda, Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda, Mr. M. Neelakantan, Mr. Prakash Chand. Dr. Unnikrishnan Pilla. Mr. Narendra Pilaka, Secretary: Mrs. Vandana Sarathy. Secretary: Mr. Shyam Das. Mr. Kannan Joghee. Treasurer: Mr. A. Premachandran. Asst. Secretaries: Mr. Atul Deshpandey, Members: Swami Chandrashekharananda, Mr. K. Navaratnam. PERTH Mr. Saba Arunanthy, Treasurer: Mr. Rajah Kunarajah. President: Swami Sridharananda. Mr. Shivprasad Bhatt, Asst. Treasurer: Mr. Mahalingam Perumal. Patrons: Dr. Amirthalingam Sinnathamby, Mr. Rajkumar Dutta, Members: Dr. Bram Singh, Mrs. Savithiri Sinnathamby, Mr. Dilip Mohanty, Dr. Gopal Krishna Bose, Mr. Cecil and Mrs Julie Bethell. Mr. Debu Mukerji, Mr. Muthiah Surendra, Vice Presidents: Dr. S. Devi, Mr. Chandan Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Naidu Bodapati, Mr. Hiren Mukhopadyay, Mr Amitava Sen, Mr. Biswadeep Basu, Dr. Yatendra Sharma. Dr. Subramaniam Sinnathamby, Mrs. Saras Narsey, Secretary: Mr. K.P. Basu Mallick. Dr. Jenny Spencer, Mrs. Parames Navaneethan, Joint Secretary: Mr. Unnikrishnan. Mr. Chandrahas Thakkar, Mrs. Vicky Mogana Sundram, Treasurer: Ms. Sharmini Lingam. Mr. Jaishankar Venkataraman, Mr. Indra Raja Selvaduray, Member s: Mrs. Maya Chaterjee, Mr Srinivas Avvari, Mrs. Krishnavanee Newman, Mrs. Manju Ghosh, Mrs. Modhumita Chaudhuri, Dr. Tapan Saha, Mr. Bappa , Dr. Tadipatri Prasad. Mr. Preeti Suraj, Mrs. S. Mazumdar, Mr. Hari Raniga, Mrs. Janet Waughray, ADELAIDE Ms. Jayashree Kapadia. Dr. Probhat Pal, Patrons: Dr. Janan Iswaran, CANBERRA Dr. Hariharan, Mrs. Pathma Iswaran. President: Swami Sridharananda. Mrs. Rani Sanmugam, President: Swami Sridharananda. Secretary: Mr. Jaishankar Venkataramanan. Mr. George & Mrs. Nirmala Veaudry. Vice President: Dr Nitin Bhise, Treasurer & P.O. : Dr. Ian Doherty. VEDANTA CENTRES OF Dr. Kandiah Parasivam. Members: Mr. Venkat Krishna, AUSTRALIA Secretary: Mr. Raman Sharma. Mr. Murugesan Puthur Chairperson: Jt. Secretary: Mr.L.V. Krishnamoorthy, MELBOURNE Mr. Mahalingam Sinnathamby. Treasurer: Mr. N Rajaramanan. Patrons: Mr. Santosh Kumar Paul, Secretary: Mrs. Modhumita Chaudhuri. Members: Mrs. Nirmala Puvan, Mrs. Aruna Paul. Directors: Swami Sridharananda, Mrs. Pathmini Parasivam, President: Swami Sridharananda. Swami Atmeshananda, Mrs S. Gowri Rajaramanan, Vice President:Mrs. Nandita Bhattacharjee. Swami Chandrashekharananda, Mrs. Shivani Sharma, Secretary: Mr. Suresh Ravinutala. Dr. Jennifer Spencer, Mrs. Anjan Bhise, Tresurer: Mr. Govindan Aiyar. Mr. Jaishankar Venkataraman, Mrs. Margaret Holdsworth, Members: Mr. Mohana Krishnan, Dr. S. J. Iswaran, Mrs. Madhu Saraf. Dr. Ajit Kumar Ghosh, Mr. Shubroto Bhattacharjee.

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 5 September 2010 Feature Article: Holy Mother’s journeys to Dakshineshwar and Jayrambati The period of thirteen years that the Holy Mother served the great Master Sri Ramakrishna was inwardly characterised by her absorption in the Master’s ideal and fusion of her life with the Master, and outwardly by her periodic migration from Dakshineswar to Jayrambati and back. During this period she went seven times to Jayrambati and back to Calcutta, a journey of about sixty miles, which she often had to make on foot. These visits were generally occasioned by her ill health or for rendering assistance to her mother during the Jagaddhatri Puja. But as her services were very much needed by the Master, her stay at Jayrambati was perforce not very long. Sri Sarada Devi at Dakshineswar plaint against the Master at all, or Shambu Mallick had been serving any ill-feeling towards her nephew. the Master and the Mother with But all her sorrows and complaints wholehearted devotion. His wife, were laid at the feet of the Al- too, adored the Master as God him- mighty whose Will rules every- self; and whenever the Holy where. And so at the time of depar- Mother happened to be at Dakshi- ture, she told Mother , who neswar, the lady took her to her dwelt within her mind, ‘Mother, I house every Tuesday to make offer- shall revisit this place only if you ings at her holy feet as she would will have me here again.’ have made at a deity’s. Hridaya transgressed the limits of It did not take long for a warm and courtesy. This was not the first in- generous-hearted man like Shambu stance of his rudeness to the Holy Babu to realise that for the Holy Mother. On another occasion, Sri Mother who was used to the ease Ramakrishna who noticed such and freedom of the village, living in misbehaviour, reprimanded him a small place like the Nahabat, saying, “My dear Hride! you may which was very small, would be be talking to this (pointing to his own body) slightingly, but don’t very uncomfortable. He purchased Sri Sarada Devi at Jayrambati a small plot of rent-free land near you do so to her. If the one that is the temple premises, on which he thatched home for long. She had to in this (body) raises its hood, you planned to build a thatched house return to the Nahabat for attending may still be saved; but if the one for her. Captain Vishwanath to the Master who had a bad attack that is in her raises its hood even Upadhyaya, who was a staunch of dysentery. As the Master became Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara devotee of the Master, offered to too weak to walk away from the cannot save you.’ In due course, supply the timber for this purpose. room, the Mother used to come through the force of circumstances, The house was thus completed, and from the new home to help him. Hridaya had to leave the temple the Mother took residence there. Eventually she shifted to the Naha- precincts for good to clear the way bat to engage herself in the Mas- for the Mother’s return. Then the The Mother cooked the Master’s ter’s service more completely. Master’s nephew Ramlal succeeded food there according to his taste Hridaya as the priest of Kali. On and needs and carried it to his Holy Mother’s subsequent visits getting this promotion he was to Dakshineswar room, where she sat till he had fin- elated with the thought of becom- ished. For looking after the com- It was perhaps in the month of ing the priest of Mother Kali and forts of the Mother the Master, too, March 1881 that Holy Mother re- became unmindful of his duty to- often visited the cottage during the turned to Dakshineswar. However, wards Sri Ramakrishna. There was daytime and spent some time with Hridaya, the Master’s nephew who none besides Ramlal who could her. One day it rained so heavily stayed with the Master at Dakshi- really serve the Master with devo- just after his arrival there, that un- neswar, for reasons best known to tion. So, the Master suffered, and able to return, he had to finish his him, questioned the Mother for the he sent word to the Mother through meal there and then lie down for purpose of her visit to Dakshines- people who happened to go those the night. From the bed he said to war. For fear of Hridaya, the Mas- parts of Bengal, to rejoin him at the Mother laughing, “This is as ter kept mum all through. With the Dakshineswar. The earnest call though I have come home like any deepest disappointment the Mother made the Mother at last come to priest of the Kali temple going left – she could not stay at Dakshi- Dakshineswar around February- home at night.” neswar even for a day. Apart from March, 1882. This was her fifth Tending to the Master this solitary grievance, the unas- visit after staying away for about a suming selfless wife had no com- year. The Mother could not live in this

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 6 September 2010 The next time she went to Jayram- cided after reaching Arambagh, that said softly, “Don’t be afraid; I have bati, she spent about seven to eight there was plenty of time left for a a woman with me who has fallen months there, before returning to moderate walk to reach Tarakeswar back. At this the Mother’s eyes Dakshineswar in January-February, before it became too dark and that were taken off the immediate dan- 1884. It was at this time that the it was not wise to waste a day for ger and extended further off where, Master tumbled down when in a rest which was not really wanted. sure enough, a woman was moving state of ecstasy and, as a result, had The Mother was well known, even up. Then she got encouraged and a bone in the left hand dislocated. from her early age for her unobtru- said, “Father, my companions have As soon as the Mother entered the siveness; if need arose she would left me behind, besides, methinks, I Master’s room and placing the bun- endure discomfort to make it easier have lost my way. Will you kindly dle of clothes on the floor saluted for others. In the present instance take me to them? Your son-in-law him, he inquired, “When did you too, she restarted with them, though lives in the Kali temple of Rani start?” Ascertaining from her reply she knew well enough that her tired Rasmani in Dakshineswar. I am on that she had started in the afternoon legs could not bear such prolonged my way to him. If you take me to of a Thursday, which is regarded as strain. Soon she began to lag be- that place he will treat you very extremely inauspicious, he said, “I hind others. Her companions halted cordially.” The woman came up got my hand injured because you three to four times to allow her to before the Mother had finished and started on Thursday afternoon. Go catch up with them. But when at the latter took hold of the woman’s back and make a fresh start.”The last they were convinced that she hand with full confidence and af- very next day the Mother left for could not keep pace with them and fection and said, “Mother, I am her village home to recommence that such slow movement would your daughter Sarada; I was in a her journey on a more auspicious expose all to inevitable danger or terrible plight having been left be- day. The next she was at Kamarpu- even death, and on top of all this, hind by my companions. Fortu- kur at Ramalal’s marriage in 1884 the Mother asked them not to worry nately you and father appeared; and returned to Dakshineswar in about her but to go forward, they otherwise I can’t say what I would the beginning of the next year. quickened their steps. They were have done.” From this time on, there are no re- soon lost to sight, while the Mother Holy Mother conquers the hearts cords of Mother visiting Jayrambati trudged on all alone. of the robber couple again during the Master’s lifetime. When the sun set and the darkness This simple behaviour, extreme The Mother and the Bagdi couple of the night began fast enveloping confidence and sweet disposition The Mother usually covered the everything around, the Mother was conquered the hearts of the robber distance from Jayrambati or still plodding on across the solitary couple who belonged to the lowly to Dakshineswar by fields of Telo-bhelo, full of anxiety, Bagdi caste. As a result they forgot foot. Once when some village but finding no way out. Just then the gulf of social difference that women started for Calcutta for a she noticed a tall figure emerging separated them from a Brahmin dip in the Ganges on some sacred out of the darkness and approach- woman and consoling her as though day, the Mother, too, accompanied ing her. When the figure had drawn she was truly a daughter of theirs, them together with her nephew sufficiently near, the Mother saw they did not allow her to proceed Sivaram and her niece Lakshmi that it was a man of deep dark col- further because she was tired. They Devi. Her idea was to stay on at our and thick long hair who had a took her to a little shop nearby, Dakshineswar after the holy bath. It stout staff on his shoulder and sil- where the woman improvised a bed was settled that their first halt ver bangles round his wrists. She for her with her clothes and other should be at Arambagh which was knew that he was a robber, and ter- things and the man brought some eight miles from Kamarpukur; for ror-stricken, she halted at once. The fried-rice for her to eat. Then she in front lay the uninhabited, notori- man had no difficulty in under- was laid to rest with extreme affec- ous stretches of fields called Telo- standing her mind, and with a view tion, and the man keep guard at the bhelo which were infested with to terrifying her all the more he said door with his staff. robbers. People would not cross in a harsh voice, “Hullo! Who is that standing there at this time? At dawn, when they were on their them alone even in daylight. As a way to Tarakeswar, the Bagdi reminder of those fearful days there Where would you go?” “Eastward,” said the Mother. “This is not the mother picked up green peas from is still the terrible image of the god- the field for the Holy Mother. The dess Kali at the centre of the Telo- way there; you have to go that way”, said the man. The Mother latter accepted the affectionate gift bhelo which the robbers used to like a little girl and put them in her invoke before engaging in their ne- still made no movement, and the man came very close. But as he mouth. They reached Tarakeswar farious activities. The image is still about an hour and a half after sun- called the robbers’ Kali. looked at the Mother’s face, there came a sudden change in his de- rise. Here the Bagdi woman said to The party from Kamarpukur de- meanour, and the cruel man-hunter her husband, “My daughter had

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 7 September 2010 nothing to eat at night; finish the the Holy Mother got a promise morning the Holy Mother sent me to worship of the Lord Tarakeswar from the couple that they would a certain person on an errand. As I (Shiva) soon, and bring some good visit Dakshineswar and then man- was about to leave, she asked me, things from the market; she has to aged to take leave of them. The “What will you say to him?” I said, be fed today.” When the man was couple kept their promise visiting “Why? I shall say to him, ‘She out, the companions of the Holy Dakshineswar more than once asked me to tell you, etc.’ “No, my Mother who had been out in search with various gifts for the Mother. child,” said the Holy Mother, “Tell of her came to that place and were Sri Ramakrishna, coming to him, ‘The Mother asked me to tell delighted to find her safe. Then the know the whole incident, be- you.’ She emphasised the word Mother introduced them to the haved with them like a true son- ‘Mother.’ Bagdi mother who had given her in-law. The Mother, however, At Udbodhan Prayer-Hall shelter on the previous night and when relating the incident to the said, “If they had not appeared and It was morning and we were talking devotees ended it with this sig- with the Holy Mother. saved me, I don’t know what I nificant remark, “Though my rob- would have done last night.” ber parents were so simple and Mother: After Sri Ramakrishna It is no longer possible to ascertain well-behaved, still it strikes me passed away, while staying alone at how this event was viewed by the that they did commit robbery off Kamarpukur, I thought within my- pilgrims from Kamarpukur who and on in their earlier days.” In self, “I have no children. There is no were steeped in class prejudices. other words, she never looked one in this world whom I can call Nor can we gauge how far they re- upon that thrilling incident on my own. What will happen to me?” alised the full impact of that ex- that lonesome plain of Telo-bhelo Then the Master appeared to me and traordinary drama of affection that as an ordinary event. said, “Well, you want a son. I have given you so many jewels of sons. was enacted on the solitary field at Conclusion nightfall, and the intimate relation- And in course of time you will hear ship that was established between It is beyond our capacity to imag- many, many more people addressing the robber couple who belonged in a ine an adequate reason for the you as Mother. sudden change of mind of the very low caste and the Brahmin girl Mother’s love who was picked up at that odd hour robbers. It might have been that It was the time of worship. The from a very odd place. Nor do we the common guilelessness of the Mother made herself ready to go to get any inkling of any light having Mother and her immaculate holi- the shrine room. I came downstairs. flashed across the minds of those ness exerted an irresistible influ- After the worship was over, I went ignorant villagers with regard to the ence on their minds or it might upstairs again to bring the prasada victory of that sacred, though as yet have been some supernormal fac- for the devotees. As I took the unfolded motherhood over the cru- tor was at work. leaves containing the sweets and elty of the robber, or the supremacy The Mother once asked her Bagdi fruits, suddenly my elbow touched of light over darkness when the two parents, “Why, my dears, are you came into conflict. Instead, the Holy the Holy Mother’s feet. “Ah!” said so attached to me?” They replied, the Mother, and saluted me with Mother, the robber couple, and the “You are not, in fact, an ordinary Kamarpukur pilgrims co-operated folded hands. “That’s nothing,” said mortal, for we saw you as Kali.” I. But she was not satisfied with in a common endeavour for their “How you speak my dears! How merely bowing down before me and noon-day meal. And after finishing could you have seen me so?” re- said, “Come, my child, let me kiss it in a very cordial manner, started monstrated the Mother. Un- for Baidyabati on the way to Cal- you.” She touched my chin with her abashed they said in an aggrieved hand and kissed the hand and so cutta. voice, “No, Mother, there was no became pacified. Thus she used to The Mother and the Bagdi couple mistake about what we saw. You respect her disciples as the manifes- had drawn so close to one another want to hide this from us since tations of God, and at the same time during that single night that all three we are sinners.” To this the show her affection to them as a began to shed profuse tears at the Mother said indifferently, “Who mother does to her children. thought of separation. As the pil- knows? I am not in the least Sources: grims moved onward, the Bagdi aware of it.” couple accompanied them for some Holy Mother: Sri Sarada Devi by Swami Some reminiscences of the Holy Gambhirananda; Sri Ramakrishna distance, and the woman picked up Mother by ‘devotee-children’ Math, Chennai, pages 63-73. some peas with eager hands from The Gospel of the Holy Mother recorded the fields and tying them to the hem The Holy Mother as ‘Mother’ by her devotee-children, Sri Rama- of the Mother’s garment said in a At first I used to hesitate to ad- krishna Math, Madras, pages xxi-99 choked voice, “Dear daughter dress the Holy Mother as Sarada, when you chew your fried ’Mother.’ My own mother had rice at night, add these to it.” At last died during my childhood. One ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 8 September 2010 Divine Light Personified: Swami Advaitananda, one of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna

According to the Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac Swami Advaitananda’s birthday celebration will be observed on Tuesday, the 7h of September, 2010.

The scriptures say, “Tormented by fall festivals of the . three kinds of suffering – physical According to M, the recorder of and mental, terrestrial, and super- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, natural – people inquire about re- Gopal first met the Master some- ligion as an antidote to sufferings.” time in the latter part of the 1870s. Bliss is inherent in human beings; M. () recorded therefore they cannot bear pain, for three visits of the Master to Beni it is foreign to their true nature. Pal’s garden house in great detail: However, sometimes grief plays an 28th October 1882; 22nd April 1883; important role in human life: It 19th October 1884. Gopal probably makes people understand the im- saw Sri Ramakrishna in the crowd permanency of the world. Nothing during festival time, but this did not makes life so empty as the loss of a leave any deep impression on his mother in one’s infancy, the death mind. Moreover, Gopal was a self- of a father in boyhood, or the loss effacing person and did not try to of a spouse in old age. put himself in the limelight. First meeting with Sri Ramakrishna In the company of Sri Ramakrishna Gopal Chandra Ghosh of Sinthi, Swami Advaitananda As he had no family ties after the Calcutta, lost his wife when he was (One who enjoys being in the death of his wife, Gopal moved fifty-five years of age. Broken- bliss of Non-duality) from Sinthi to Dakshineswar to hearted and unable to bear his over- serve the Master. Ramakrishna (1828—1909) whelming grief, Gopal went to a accepted Gopal as his disciple and friend, Dr Mahendra Pal, for consolation. and that dispassion is the only would address him as ‘the elder Mahendra was a devotee of Sri medicine which will counteract Gopal’ or ‘Overseer.’ The other Ramakrishna, so he suggested that grief and delusion. The Master’s disciples called him ‘Gopal-da’ (Gopal, Gopal see the Master at Dakshineswar, words on the impermanency of the the elder brother), since he was thinking that holy company might world appealed to Gopal and made eight years older than Ramakrishna. assuage his grief. Sometime in a lasting impression on his mind. The Master introduced him to Holy March or April of 1884, Mahendra He returned home and seriously Mother, who needed a person who accompanied Gopal on a visit there. began to think of renouncing the could shop and run errands for her. Mahendra told the Master about his world to search for God. He was Ramakrishna praised Gopal’s friend’s condition. Generally attracted to the Master, and soon managerial capacity in household Ramakrishna felt an affinity with returned to Dakshineswar. Gopal affairs and his sweet behaviour his disciples at first sight, but he later narrated what happened after his with people. third visit, “The Master possessed treated Gopal like a stranger. Gopal Tending to the Master also did not see anything extraordinary me. I would think of him day and about the Master. After returning night. The pang of separation from In September 1885 Ramakrishna home, still deeply depressed, Gopal the Master gave me chest pain. No moved to Shyampukur in Calcutta decided not to visit Ramakrishna matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t for cancer treatment and Gopal again. Mahendra told Gopal, forget his face.” accompanied him. He served the Master like a nurse, giving him “Look, holy people sometimes do Early life not like to be caught easily. They medicine and a proper diet. Usually test our sincerity through indifference. Gopal Chandra Gosh was born in Holy Mother prepared the Master’s 1828 at Rajpur, twenty-five miles Please visit the Master frequently.” food and carried it to his room. north of Calcutta. Very little is Gopal acted as Holy Mother’s The second time Gopal went to known about his family except that messenger; he was free with her, Dakshineswar, Ramakrishna, like a his father’s name was Govardhan and she did not cover her face with good physician, gave him an infallible Ghosh. Gopal moved to Sinthi, a a veil in front of him. When the antidote for his grief. Speaking of God, northern suburb of Calcutta, in order doctor prescribed any special diet he lifted Gopal’s mind, uprooting his to work for Beni Madhav Pal. He for the Master, Gopal would note worldly ties and attachments. Gopal was a Brahmo devotee and used to down the details and convey them learned from the Master that the invite Sri Ramakrishna to his beautiful to Holy Mother. When the food world is unreal, like water in a mirage, garden house during the spring and was ready, she would send Latu or

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 9 September 2010 Gopal to inform the Master. The Girish Babu heard about this, he Where else will you find such all- devotees and disciples would remarked, “The one upon whom renouncing monks? Each of them is immediately leave the room and Gopal is meditating with closed equal to a thousand monks.” This Holy Mother would bring the food. eyes is suffering on a sickbed, and changed Gopal’s mind. The Master took his meal twice fancy, he is meditating upon him!” On Tuesday, 12th January 1886, daily: a little before midday and Gopal was sent for. When he arrived Gopal gave the ochre cloths and shortly after sunset. Holy Mother the Master asked him to stroke his rosaries to the Master who touched would wait in his room until he had legs. Then he said to Gopal, “Do them and sanctified them with a finished his meal, then she would you think I am asking you to stroke mantram. He himself then distributed take back the cups and plates. my legs because they are aching? them among his young disciples. They Gopal was also responsible for Oh, no! In your previous births you put on the ochre cloths and saluted administering medicines to the did many virtuous acts; therefore I the Master. Sri Ramakrishna was Master. One day the Master noticed am accepting your service.” pleased to see them in monastic that the time for taking medicine Sri Ramakrishna made his life a cloth and blessed them. The disciples had passed, so he asked another model for his disciples to follow. who received the ochre cloth were: disciple, “Where is that old man?” Gopal, though older than the other Narendra, Rakhal, Niranjan, Baburam, When the Master learned that disciples, tried very hard to follow Shashi, Sharat, Kali, Jogin, Latu, Gopal was sleeping, he said joyfully, the ideal the Master set for him. Tarak and Gopal. The twelfth ochre “Oh, how many sleepless nights he Even his brother disciples praised cloth and rosary, according to the has passed! Let him sleep. Please his sincerity, love, and steadfast Master’s instruction, were set aside don’t call him. You had better give dedication to the Master. One day for Girish Chandra. Later Girish me the medicine today.” he heard the Master say, “Never tell touched them to his head and felt Gopal used to wash the Master’s a lie – even jokingly or casually.” the Master’s special blessing. In cancerous sore daily with a special Gopal followed this teaching to the this sense it may be said that the solution made from margosa leaves letter and encouraged others to do Ramakrishna Order was founded by boiled in water, which is considered the same. Once a doctor prescribed Sri Ramakrishna himself, although to be antiseptic. One day when the juice of three lemons for the it did not come into official existence Gopal touched the sore, the Master Master’s upset stomach, and Gopal until after his death. was entrusted to collect them. Instead cried out in pain. Gopal said sadly, Sri Ramakrishna’s passing away of three he brought several additional “Sir, what can I do? If I wash you Sri Ramakrishna passed away at lemons, but the Master accepted will get pain, so let me not do it.” 1.02 a.m. on 16th August 1886. At only three and asked him to return “No, no, you go on washing. Look, first the disciples could not ascertain the extras. Gopal realised that the I have no more pain,” the Master whether the Master had died or Master was an embodiment of truth replied as he withdrew his mind gone into Samadhi. Immediately and his speech and action were from that spot. Gopal was then able Narendra sent Gopal and Latu to always congruous. to wash the area carefully, and the Dakshineswar to bring Ramlal, the Master remained silent and cheerful - Every year during ‘makar Master’s nephew, thinking that he as if Gopal were washing someone sankranti’ (an auspicious day in could determine the Master’s else’s wound. mid-January) monks and pilgrims condition. When Ramlal arrived, he from all over India go to Gangasagar, Another day at Cossipore, Gopal found that the crown of the Master’s inadvertently breathed on the Master’s the confluence of the Ganges and head was still warm. Several doctors food plate. As a result, the Master the Bay of Bengal, for a holy bath. were informed, and at last Dr could not offer the food thus defiled Many pilgrims go by boat from the Mahendralal Sarkar declared that to the Devine Mother – and he Jagannath Ghat of Calcutta. Gopal Ramakrishna had passed away. never ate any food without offering had a little money and wanted to After the cremation that afternoon, it first to Her. The Master had to be acquire virtue by offering clothes to all the disciples left for home except served again with fresh food. After holy people on that auspicious day; Gopal, Latu and Tarak, for they had that Gopal was extremely careful so he bought twelve pieces of cloth no place to go. Within a few weeks while nursing the Master. and twelve rosaries of rudraksha the Baranagore Monastery was Once, Holy Mother recalled a beads to distribute among the established with the help of Surendra significant incident that took place monks. He dyed the cloths in ochre Nath Mittra, a well-do-do devotee when the Master lay ill at Cossipore. colour himself. When the Master of the Master. Gopal joined the A number of his disciples, including heard about it, he said to Gopal, other disciples, took the final vows Gopal, were taking turns attending “You will attain a thousand times of sannyasa and became Swami to his needs. But one day, instead more virtue if you present those Advaitananda. ochre cloths and rosaries to my of serving the Master, Gopal went Austerity and Pilgrimage off somewhere to meditate. He children rather than giving them to Advaitananda lived for a while at meditated for a long time. When the monks of Jagannath ghat.

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 10 September 2010 the Baranagore Monastery. He recalled those brother disciples who helped his brother monks with were practising austerities in various household work, and played tabla parts of India. Advaitananda responded when Vivekananda sang. Some- to Swamiji’s call. He left Varanasi times the young monks would tease and went to Alambazar, where the him or make him the subject of monastery had been moved in practical jokes. Most of the disciples 1892. In the early part of 1898, a slept in one room as they did not have plot of land was purchased at Belur many rooms. One day on the bank of the Ganges for the replaced his pillow with a brick and permanent home of the Order and when Advaitananda returned, he Advaitananda was entrusted to discovered his brick-pillow. He make the land ready for construction. smiled and said to Akhandananda, On 13th February the Ramakrishna “Ganga, I know you have done this Order was moved from Alambazar mischief. Brother, I shall use your to Nilambar Babu’s garden house, precious gift tonight as my pillow.” just south of the new property. Akhandananda was very touched. Although he was the oldest in the Immediately he threw away the group, in carrying out responsibilities brick and brought back the pillow. he was second to none. Early in the With an apology, Akhandananda morning after breakfast he would said, “Brother, you are a real monk, go to the new plot and engage the free from anger and ego.” Santal tribal labourers who had While living at the Baranagore been hired to level the ground. He Monastery, Advaitananda visited scolded them if he found any many holy places in India. He left dereliction of duty. Sometimes the monastery towards the end of Vivekananda would visit the 1887 and went to Varanasi, where grounds and talk to the poor labourers. he stayed in a cottage of Banshi He loved to hear the stories of their Datta’s garden house and lived on lives and hardships and sometimes alms. He devoted most of his time would arrange a feast for them. to spiritual disciplines and made Swami Advaitananda Pioneering work is always difficult. considerable progress. Sometime in Advaitananda worked until noon; the middle of 1888 he went to years in Varanasi practising austerities then he took his bath in the Ganges Kedarnath and Badrinath, two holy and forgetting the mundane word. and sitting under a tree he ate his pilgrimage sites in the remote Himalayas. He took care of whoever came to lunch, which had been sent from Then he met Akhandananda, whom Varanasi and would show the person the Monastery. Apart from levelling he had not seen in a long time, and the temples of the City of Light. In the ground and other construction burst into tears of joy. After that he spite of his old age he was healthy. work, Advaitananda started a vegetable stayed for some time in Vrindaban th However, once while walking garden and a dairy farm. Swami and practised austerities. On 25 through the street barefoot, a thorn recalled about the March 1890 he went to Gaya with pricked his foot, which gave him a early days: “Without Gopal-da the Holy Mother, who performed rites great deal of pain. Advaitananda monks of would not for the departed ancestors of her travelled extensively all over India. In have had vegetables along with family. In the same year Advaitananda 1897 he visited Raipur, Central India, their rice. He worked so hard to met Vivekananda and six other with Nabai Chaitanya of Konnagar. produce various kinds of vegetables brother disciples in Meerut. The Then he went to Kanyakumari, in the monastery garden.” brother monks remained together Rameswaram and other holy places for a few weeks then began to Although Vivekananda was thirty of South India. In 1899 he visited five years younger than Advaitananda, travel again in different directions. Kamakhya and Darjeeling; and in Advaitananda left to attend the Advaitananda had tremendous love 1900 he went to Dwaraka and other and respect for Swamiji because the Kumbha Festival at Hardwar with holy places of Western India. Akhandananda. Master had made him the leader of At Belur Math the disciples. On the other hand, At last Advaitananda returned to Swamiji also had affectionate regard the old cottage of Banshi Datta’s In 1897 Vivekananda returned from the West and established the Ramakrishna for Advaitananda. Swamiji used to garden house in Varanasi. He tease this old waggish monk, “You decided to spend the remaining part Mission. He wanted to do some philanthropic work for the regeneration are like an old bull; breaking off of his life in this abode of Lord your horns, you have joined the Shiva. Advaitananda passed five of India’s poor. For that reason he

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 11 September 2010 young calves.” One day Swamiji He forbade the monks to bang doors conscious, chanting the name of Sri said, “Gopal-da, you are getting old or tear a new cloth with a shrill Ramakrishna. day by day. Be careful. Now you noise, as the Master could not bear it. Swami Advaitananda started his must start taking milk and fruits, He kept himself busy in the service spiritual journey late, but his sincerity which will give you new life and of Sri Ramakrishna and couldn’t and steadfast devotion to the Master the bones will not be rusted. After bear lazy people. Because of his age brought fulfilment at the end of his all, you are the oldest among us so and temperament he did not engage life. Sri Ramakrishna made him a tomorrow we shall wash you in public activities such as relief role model for elderly seekers of ceremoniously with milk.” The next work and preaching; his monastic God. He will be remembered by the day Swamiji and other monks poured life was therefore uneventful. In Ramakrishna Order for his cheerful ten seers of milk on Advaitananda’s spite of that, he definitely set an manner and methodical ways, his head and then washed him with example for all and he was a source self-reliance, his untiring zeal in Ganges water. Afterwards a new of inspiration to many. every work he undertook, and his cloth was offered to him and he was implicit devotion to the Master and Advaitananda loved to do his own given various kinds of nutritious his cause. food. Swamiji joyfully told him, work. If anyone offered any personal “Brother, from today you are the service, he would decline to accept Sources: abbot and the responsibility of the the offer. His attitude was that God Lived With Them: Life Stories of sixteen monastic disciples by Swami monastery is yours.” It was all done a monk should be self-reliant, depending only on God and no one Chetanananda; Advaita Ashrama, in fun. When one of Swamiji’s pet Kolkata,1998, pages 513-527. ducks suffered for a week and then else. He was fond of music and Ramakrishna and his Disciples by Chris- died from shortness of breath, would play tabla when the brothers topher Isherwood; Advaita Ashrama, Advaitananda said to him, “Sir, it is sang devotional songs. Sometimes Kolkata, 1998, page 218. no use living in this ‘Kaliyuga’ [the when he had a little leisure, he would dark age] when ducks catch cold copy the scriptures in his beautiful “The highest men cannot work, for in them there is no attachment. Those from rain and damp and frogs writing. He used to chant the Gita every day. For his daily chanting he whose whole soul is gone into the Self, sneeze.” those whose desires are confined in the copied five different Gitas. A trustee of the Ramakrishna Self, who have become ever associated Math and Ramakrishna Mission Towards the end with the Self, for them there is no work. Such are indeed the highest of mankind; In 1901 Swamiji made Advaitananda In late 1909, Advaitananda, an all- but apart from them every one else has to one of the trustees of the Ramakrishna renouncing sannyasin of the Master, work. In so working we should never Math and Ramakrishna Mission; made himself ready to depart from think that we can help on even the least later he became the vice-president. the world. He had suffered from thing in this universe. We cannot. We When Vivekananda died on the 4th stomach trouble and, towards the only help ourselves in this gymnasium of of July 1902, Advaitananda first end he had fever. Dr. Matilal the world. This is the proper attitude of work. If we work in this way, if we al- checked his pulse and then said to Mukhopadhyay of Ghusuri, Howrah, was his physician and all ways remember that our present opportu- Swami Nirbhayananda, “Alas! nity to work thus is a privilege which has What are you looking at? Hurry to the monks served their old brother been given to us, we shall never be at- Dr Mahendranath Mazumdar and with loving care. One day the swami tached to anything. bring him here as soon as you can.” stood in front of Sri Ramakrishna’s picture and prayed, “Master, please Millions like you and me think After Vivekananda passed away, that we are great people in the world; but release me from this pain.” The the banner of Sri Ramakrishna was we all die, and in five minutes the world Master soon afterwards answered forgets us. But the life of God is infinite. carried by his other disciples. They the prayer of his old disciple. shaped their lives according to the "Who can live a moment, breathe a Swami Premananda later said, moment, if this all-powerful One does spiritual ideals of the Master; they “Before his death Gopal-da saw the not will it?" He is the ever active Provi- also helped others to put these ideals Master carrying a mace on his dence. All power is His and within His into practice for their physical, shoulder. He then asked, ‘Master, command. Through His command the mental and spiritual advancement. why are you carrying the mace on winds blow, the sun shines, the earth Advaitananda made strenuous lives, and death stalks upon the earth. He your shoulder?’ The Master replied, efforts to mould his life according is the all in all; He is all and in all. We “I am Gadadhar, ‘Upholder of the to the example of the Master and can only worship Him. Give up all fruits mace’, an epithet of Lord Vishnu. would sometimes express disappointment of work; do good for its own sake; then Gadadhar was also Sri Ramakrishna’s alone will come perfect non-attachment. that he fell so short of his ideal. But childhood name. The bonds of the heart will thus break, and this feeling of inadequacy indicated we shall reap perfect freedom. This freedom his real spiritual height. He had Advaitananda passed away at 4.15 th is indeed the goal of Karma-Yoga.” keen powers of observation like Sri p.m. on Tuesday, 28 December The Complete works of Swami Ramakrishna. 1909. Until the end he was fully Vivekananda, Vol 1 page 106-7.

ReachReach IssueIssue No.No. 178 Page 12 September 2010