Bala Gana Syllabus (Ages 9-12) December 2012 STORIES Discipline of Shakha Page 2 SV: Beginning of the Journey Page 4 SV: Meeting with Prince Mangal Singh Page 5 SV: Meeting with Maharaja of Khetri Page 7 SV: Maharaja of Mysore and Kanyakumari Page 8 SHLOKAS Shlokas Review Page 9 SUBHASHITAM/AMRITVACHAN Page 16 SANGH GEET Page 17 Discipline of Shakha 2 3 Swami Vivekananda Stories Wandering Monk – Beginning of the Journey After meeting pavahari baba at Ghazipur and learning meditation from him, narendra came back to Calcutta. Here he learnt of the illness of Balaram Bose, one of the early disciples of Ramakrishna. He went to varanasi to see him. While at Ghazipur earlier, he had heard of Surendranath Mitra, another lay disciple of Ramakrishna was on death bed. All this news made Narendra very sad. Pramadadas , the sanskrit scholar and friend was surprised that a monk would have all these emotions. Narendra told him, “ Dont think that just because I'm a monk I don’t have feelings, we are not dry monks. We care about people”. Soon both Balaram Bose and Surendranath mitra passed away. Narendra was determined to be focussed on his goal and there was lot of turbulence in him mind also. He was thinking about the status of hindus in india who were attracted by the materialism of the west. Every time narendra was focussed on attaining bliss (samadhi), he would hear the voices of people stuggling in poverty and ignorance. Gradually, Narendra came to realize that his life was not be a regular sadhu, interested in his own moksha. His thoughts were on what he could do to remove this ignorance and poverty. Finally narendra decided to leave the monstray again. This time he was determined not to return, as he told his fellow disciple, “Until I gain the realization that my very touch will transform the man”. He met Sarada Devi and obtained her blessings for his mission. Swami Akhandananda accompanied narendra on his journey and the two followed the course of Ganga. They visited Bhagalpur, Varanasi and a few other places, before arriving at Nainital. Both of them wanted to visit Badrikashrama, in the heart of Himalayas. They decided to travel the whole way by foot and not to touch money. On the way, at Almora, both of them spent many hours in meditation. Here, we see from his notes, narendra realized the oneness of universe and man. They could not go to Badrikashram since the government had closed the road due to famine. They proceed to hrishikesh and spend some time in the company of monks and ascetics. Then narendra moved to Meerut and stays there for 5 months. He spends his time in with some of his disciples and engage in meditation, bhajans and the like. Soon, he becomes restless and longs to free to travel without any attachment to his disciples. Narendra , assumes the name of Swami Vividishananda in the later part of 1891 and went to delhi. His discpiles came to know of this and they followed him and this makes him angry. He tells them not to follow him at all and that he wants to wander across India. 4 Swami Vivekananda Stories Wandering Monk – Meeting with Prince Mangal Singh – Idol worship Swami, rather more respectful title Swamiji is how Narendra was addressed during his wanderings. Swamiji assumed many different names during this journey. He met many kings, officials, educated professors and ordinary people during this travel. He closely observed the unity of India and as well as the tragedy of infighting, poverty, materialism and misguided attraction of western ideals. He taught and learnt by his interactions. One thing that stands out regarding Swamiji during this travel is his fearlessness. In February of 1891, at Alwar in Rajputana (present day Rajastan province) he met the king of Alwar, Maharaja Mangal Singh. This maharaja was westernized in his views. He asked Swamiji, rather mockingly, as to why an able bodied young man and a scholar, he was leading a vagabond's life. Swamiji asked him curtly: “why does he spend time in the company of westerners and go on shooting excursions at the expense of royal duties”. Maharaja, though taken a back, replied “I cannot say why, but I like it”. Swamiji said, “That is the very reason I wander about as a monk”. One day, the discussion with the maharaja turned towards idol worship. Maharaja, being westernized, did not believe in idol worship and he even ridiculed it. He told Swamiji, “I've no faith in idol worship. I cannot worship stone, wood, metal like other people. Does it mean that I shall fare worse in the life hereafter”. Swamiji, tried to reason with him and tried to explain to him that when Hindus worship idols they are not worshipping the stone, but God alone, which they see stone as a symbol, representation of God. Maharaja was not convinced. Swamiji, asked the Prime Minister (Dewan) who was present, to take down the picture of Maharaja that was hanging on the wall. He asked the dewan, “Whose picture is this?” The Dewan answered, “It is our Maharaja's picture, Swamiji”. Swamiji commanded Dewan that he should spit on the picture. Dewan was trembling and he glanced from the maharaja to the monk and from Monk to the Maharaja, not knowing what to do. Swamiji would not let him away, he urged him to spit on the picture because as maharaja put it, it is just a piece of paper. Dewan, finally cried out loud, “Swamiji, how can you ask me to do this? This is picture of our beloved Maharaja. How can I spit on his picture”. Swamiji said, “Your Maharaja is in front of you in flesh. He is not present in this picture in person. This picture does not move, speak or behave the way Maharaja does. Yet you refuse to spit on this picture because it you see shadow of Maharaja's form/figure. Indeed, you consider spitting on the picture is insulting the prince himself”. 5 He turned to the maharaja and continued, “Maharaja, See your Dewan's behavior. He knows that you are not there physically in the picture. Yet your likeness in the picture brings the same feeling of respect to the picture that they have for you. That's why he could not spit on the picture. It is the same with devotees who worship stone, metal or wood pieces. There is likeness of their god and the image brings them close to their god and they are not worshipping the stone or wood as such. Maharaja understood Swamiji’s point and with folded hands he told, “I must admit that according the light you have thrown on image worship, I have not met anyone who worshipped the stone or wood or metal. I did not understand the meaning till now, you have opened my eyes”. 6 Swami Vivekananda Stories Wandering Monk – Meeting with Maharaja of Khetri Swamiji went to Jaipur, Ajmer, Mount Abu in the western part of India. In Mt. Abu he accepted the hospitality of a Muslim official. Some of his Hindu friends/hosts in the city frowned on this behavior. Swamiji told them that as a sansyasi belonging to highest order of paramahamsas, he is above caste. His conduct in dining with Muslims is not in conflict with any Hindu scriptures. There are many such instances that Swamiji spoke his mind with total frankness and without fear. Swamiji also learnt from everyone, even from the lowliest and the lost. At Mt. Abu, he also met Maharaja of Khetri, Ajit Singh Bahadur. He became one of his devoted disciple and greatest supporter. Majaraja accompanied Swamiji to Jaipur. While in Jaipur, maharaja was being entertained one evening by a professional dancer. Swamiji was in his own room when the music started. Maharaja sent a word to Swamiji to join him for the music and dance program. Swamiji replied saying that as a sanyasi he could not agree to such a request. The singer was deeply hurt by this and she sang of Suradas, great saint and devotee of Vishnu. This was as if that singer was inviting Swamiji with devotion. Swamiji was completely overwhelmed. The woman and the her meaningful song reminded him that same divinity dwells in every one, high and low, rich and poor- in the entire creation. He could no longer ignore the request and he entered the hall where the music was being played and took his seat. Later on, speaking of the incident, Swamiji said, ' that incident removed the veil from my eyes. Seeing that all is manifestation of One, I could no longer condemn anybody'. Swamiji spend considerable time in the Gujarat. He visited Ahmedabad and refreshed his knowledge of Jainism. He met Babu Haridas Viharis das the prime minister of Junagadh and he emphasized the need for preaching the message of Hinduism in the entire world. He spent eleven months in Porbandar, and especially enjoyed the company of the Prime Minister Pandit Sankar Pandurang. Prime Minister was a Sanskrit scholar and was engaged in translation of Vedas. He was impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of Swamiji and encouraged Swamiji to visit the west. He told Swamiji, “You ought go west. There people will understand you and your work. You can give them an enlightening interpretation of Hinduism”. He also encouraged Swamiji to continue the study of French since it might be useful in future work. Swamiji, by this time, was already thinking about visiting the west. He thought, appreciation of India's spiritual heritage by the powerful and prosperous west, might give the Hindus confidence in their own heritage.