1 TheVedanta Kesari May 2019 1 The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta 1 A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly `15 May of the Ramakrishna Order since 1914 2019 2 PRIVATE LIMITED Regd. Off. & Fact. : Phone : 04172 - 244820, 651507, Plot No.88 & 89, Phase - II, Tele Fax : 04172 - 244820 (Manufacturers of Active Pharmaceutical Sipcot Industrial Complex, E-mail : [email protected] Ingredients and Intermediates) Ranipet - 632 403, Tamil Nadu. Web Site : www.svisslabss.net New Postal Cover Golden Jubilee Celebrations: Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Smriti Mandir, Khetri The Postal Department released a special cover to commemorate 85 years of Mahatma Gandhiji’s visit to Poonampet, Coorg District, Karnataka, and his stay for a night at Sri Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, Poonampet. The cover carries a photograph of the ashrama and Gandhiji’s message in the ashrama’s Visitor’s Diary COVER STORY ‘Would to God that all men were so constituted that in their minds all [the] elements of philosophy, mysticism, emotion, and of work were equally present in full! That is the ideal, my ideal of a perfect man’ declared Swami Vivekananda. May Bhagavan Buddha, Sri Shankaracharya, and Sri Ramanujacharya whose birthdays we celebrate this month bless us that rooted in Dharma, we surrender at the Lord’s feet and discharge our duties with an awakened mind Editor: SWAMI MAHAMEDHANANDA and heart. The Cover Page is an attempt to present this idea. Published by SWAMI VIMURTANANDA, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] 3 106th THE VEDANTA KESARI YEAR OF PUBLICATION A Cultural and Spiritual Monthly of The Ramakrishna Order MAY Vol. 106, No. 5 2019 CONTENTS ISSN 0042-2983 11 13 Reminiscences of Sargachhi Sukesaa: A Less Known Seeker of Swami Suhitananda Truth from a Popular Upanishad Jayaraman M 52 FEATURES 16 7 Dakäiëàmùrti Stotra Golden Jubilee Celebrations: 8 Yugavani Life in the Kingdom of Heaven Ramakrishna Mission 9 Editorial in Indian and Western Thought Vivekananda Smriti Mandir, Gopal Stavig Khetri 27 Vivekananda Way 34 Pariprasna Swami Vivekananda’s Visit to Gods of the Vedas 40 Book Reviews Shillong Lakshmi Devnath 46 The Vedas: An Exploration Asim Chaudhuri 48 Topical Musings as d e V 50 The Order on the March e h T 46 21 Mapping Actions The Thirst for to Fire Sacrifice God is Religion Swami Satyapriyananda ? on gi li e R s i t a 32 38 h 43 W Editor: SWAMI MAHAMEDHANANDA Published by SWAMI VIMURTANANDA, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed by B. Rajkumar, Chennai - 600 014 on behalf of Sri Ramakrishna Math Trust, Chennai - 600 004 and Printed at M/s. Rasi Graphics Pvt. Limited, No.40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600014. Website: www.chennaimath.org E-mail: [email protected] TheVedanta Kesari Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004 h(044) 2462 1110 e-mail: [email protected] Website : www.chennaimath.org Dear Readers, The Vedanta Kesari is one of the oldest cultural and spiritual magazines in the country. Started under the guidance and support of Swami Vivekananda, the first issue of the magazine, then called Brahmavadin, came out on 14 Sept 1895. Brahmavadin was run by one of Swamiji’s ardent followers Sri Alasinga Perumal. After his death in 1909 the magazine publication became irregular, and stopped in 1914 whereupon the Ramakrishna Order revived it as The Vedanta Kesari. Swami Vivekananda’s concern for the magazine is seen in his letters to Alasinga Perumal where he writes: May 2019 ‘Now I am bent upon starting the journal.’ ‘Herewith I 4 send a hundred dollars…. Hope this will go just a little in starting your paper.’ ‘I am determined to see the paper succeed.’ ‘The Song of the Sannyasin is my first contribution for your journal.’ ‘I learnt from your letter the bad financial state that Brahmavadin is in.’ ‘It must be supported by the Hindus if they have any sense of virtue or gratitude left in them.’ ‘I pledge myself to maintain the paper anyhow.’ ‘The Brahmavadin is a jewel—it must The Vedanta Kesari The Vedanta not perish. Of course, such a paper has to be kept up by private help always, and we will do it.’ For the last 105 years, without missing a single issue, the magazine has been carrying the invigorating message of Vedanta with articles on spirituality, culture, philosophy, youth, personality development, science, holistic living, family and corporate values. Over the years, production and PERMANENT FUND publication costs have gone up manifold. A non-commercial magazine like this can To become self-supporting continue its good work only with the To establish the magazine on firm financial generous financial support and active footing please contribute to the Permanent assistance of well-wishers. Hence, we appeal to our readers and Fund. admirers of Swamiji to support us by donating Names of the donors will appear in the to the following schemes: magazine. 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Dakäiëàmùrti Stotra Sri Shankaracharya Verse 5 देहं ꥍ섾णमपीꅍ饍섿य섾णयꅍप चल섾ं बुꅍ㔧ं च शू饍यं ꅍिदुः स्तीब섾ल섾饍㔧जडोपम섾स㔤िहꅍमꅍि 땍섾饍ि섾 भृशं ि섾ददनः । म섾य섾शꅍ鄿ꅍिल섾सकल्पिमह섾वय섾मोहसंह섾दिणे िसम륈 �ीगु셁मूि㔤ये नम इदं �ीदꅍ�ण섾मूि㔤ये ॥ ५ ॥ 1 5. (Some) disputants who2 can be compared to women, children, the blind, the dull-witted (and so voidon), 3being extremely deluded, think that the body,Ś ī May 2019 Dakthe vitalṣiṇā airs,ū the senses, the fickle intellect and the are4 the Ātman.