Reminiscences of Senior monks

CHAPTER 1 - Swami Satswarupanandaji

Swami Satswarupanandaji was the first swami of Ramakrishna Mission whom I ever met. He was an initiated disciple of the Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, and had come from Mayavati (to Indore), where he was one of the editors of the Prabudha Bharata. From him I heard the following incidents about the Holy Mother and others:

  The Holy Mother

         

He came to Holy Mother through Jnana Maharaj, one of the disciples of Holy Mother. In purvashrama (pre-monastic) life  Satswarupanandaji’s name was Sukumar. He was a teacher at Araria, Bihar, near Katihar, where there is a private Ashram. Once he saw a monk coming to that ashrama. He got acquainted with him and with him, came to Jairambati.

He was not impressed by the Holy Mother at the first meeting. However, later he saw his Ishta Devi in her. Mother was standing in the doorway with one hand raised and resting on the door. When Sukumar looked at her, he saw Goddess Kali at her place, and went on staring at Her. Holy Mother noticed it and said, “What are you looking at, my child? What you are seeing is real” (“Ja dekhecho, thik e dekhecho”).

Swami Satswarupanandaji was present and had joined the funeral and funeral procession of the Holy Mother.

In this connection, a conversation with him can be mentioned, which took place during the early days of my visits to him. One day, in the course of our talks, I commented that the youth of the times had bad habits and were on evil ways etc. Suddenly Swami Satswarupananda ji said, “Is it not your ego speaking?” I was taken aback, but after some pause replied, “Yes Swamiji.”  The Swami was delighted and commented, “My boy, you have the great quality of seeing your own faults, your future is bright.”

Little did I know then, that the principal message of the Holy Mother, of whom, he was a disciple was, “Don’t find fault with others. Rather see your own faults.”

 Swami Brahamananda:

Once Swami Satswarupananda ji described the following story.

Once Swami Premananda, out of love and pity for the struggling aspirants at the Belur Math, requested Swami Brahmananda ji, (Raja Maharaj) the then President to bless them and give them at least some taste of spiritual experience, for he knew that Raja Maharaj had the power to do so. Rev. Maharaj went on avoiding, and instead asked Premanandaji Maharaj himself to do so. But after persistent requests by Rev. Premanandaji, Rev Maharaj relented and it was decided that all the inmates should assemble at specific time in his room.

When all had assembled and sat down in front and around Raja Maharaj, he went into a seep spiritual mood (?Samadhi). He then said to the assembly, “Ask what ever you want.” A deep silence prevailed. No one spoke for minutes.

Rev. Maharaj again said, “Any one can ask whatever he wants (and it will be granted.)”

Again deep silence prevailed and none spoke. Revered Raja Maharaj asked once more. But even then none spoke or asked any thing.

Finally, Rev. Maharaj raised his hand, and stretching his fingers in the gesture of releasing something from one’s grip said, “Go (Jah)”, and returned to the normal place of consciousness.  Then turning towards Swami Premananda who was seated nearby, he said, “Didn’t you see, Baburamda, they are all buyers of `lentils’, (Dekh Le Baburam da? Era sab urad dal kharid dar) meaning thereby that all were poor aspirants.

(i)                Swami Satswarupanandaji once said: Once devotional songs were being sung in the visitor’s room at the Belur Math. (Even now this custom of monastic members-- monks  and brahamcharis--  singing bhajans in that room is going on).  Probably spiritual stalwarts like Swamis Premananda, Brahmananda, Shivananda etc. were also there.  One of the monks got up to go out.  Then he saw Mother Kali standing at the window and listening to the songs.    On another occasion, once Swami Brahmandandaji enquired from another learned Swami about the characteristics of a particular goddess, who rides on a crocodile etc.  When he was told that those are the signs of Mother Ganges (Ganga), he said that he had seen her emerging from the waters and going to the shrine of Sri Ramakrishna to make Pranams.

     Swami Shivananda (Mahapurush Maharaj)

Swami Shivananda was (Kamajayi) a conqueror of lust.  Nay, he had the power to bestow the gift of destruction of lust on others.  It is said that he had bestowed this grace on Swami Nirvedananda, due to which the latter’s lust was completely destroyed.  But it also broke down his health.

         

Swami Satswarupanandaji also wanted to approach Mahapurusha Maharaj for this grace but due to circumstances, he could not do so.

Swami Satswarupanandaji stayed most of the time at Deoghar Vidyapeeth, hence he could not come in contact with many direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. He had seen Swami Adbhutanandaji (Latu Maharaj) at Balaram Basu’s House (Balaram Mandir) in room where Latu Maharaj used to stay generally, but did not have any talk with him.

Swami Jagadanandaji

Swami Jagadanandaji was the shiksha guru of Swami Satswarupanandaji.  The latter had studied scriptures from Jagadanandaji while living at our Kishanpur Centre.  Swami Satswarupanandaji told the following incidents about Jagadanandaji.

One day, both were on evening walk.  The sun was setting and the nature had taken a beautiful form.  Swami Jagadanandaji  stopped for a while, looked at the setting sun and said, “Look, how beautiful is the sunset.”  Swami Satswarupanandaji kept quiet.  After a few moments, Swami Jagadanandaji said, “But, this is also Maya!” 

Once while on a walk, Swami Jagadanandaji stopped and asked Swami Satswarupanandaji “Sukumar, what is love?”  He repeated after a few moments: “What is love, if not lust?”  Swami Satswarupanandaji kept quiet.  After a few moments, Swami Jagadanandaji answered himself, “It is Shubheccha” (a feeling of goodwill).

Swami Satswarupanandaji described a mystic experience of Swami Jagadanandaji as follows:-

At that time, the translation of Sri Ramakrishna Lilaprasanga (Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master) was in progress.  Swami Jagadanandaji was doing it with the help of Swami Satswarupanandaji.  The story of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual practice of Vatsalya Bhava and his relationship with Ramlala, the child Rama was being translated.  During this time, one day Swami Jagadanandaji had a vision (?dream) in which he saw Sri Ramakrishna assume the form of a toddler, and Swami Jagadanandaji himself felt as if he was the mother of that Divine Child.  Then the baby child Sri Ramakrishna started sucking at the breast of Swami Jagadanandaji.  Not only this, but in reality, one of the breasts of Swami Jagadanandaji got enlarged and filled with milk.  In the vision/dream, Sri Ramakrishna also said that Swami Jagadanandaji should consult a particular Vaidya by whose treatment the enlarged breast will become normal.  This was done later, with expected result.

Swami Jagadanandaji once commented (as reported by Swami Satswarupanandaji)  that Sri Ramakrishna’s recruitment is not yet complete, meaning thereby that Sri Ramakrishna had included him too in the inner circle of his disciples. 

Jagadanandaji would every day read the newspaper, almost every page of it, (during those days the newspapers were only of very few pages), and every day in the end he would comment: “Oh! Useless!  There is nothing in it!”  He was very fond of Kashmir and dead against Muslims.

Reminscences of Swami Satswarupanandaji himself

          At Indore

I was reading Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga when I first met  Swami Satswarupanandaji at Indore.  Swami Vivekananda has said that one must practice yoga under the guidance of a guru.  I, therefore, requested him whether he could guide me in the practice of yoga.  At this Swami Satswarupanandaji asked me, “Why do you want to practice yoga?”  I was not prepared for this question and in my naïve way, said, “Swami Vivekananda has said that by practice of yoga, one’s voice becomes sweet, memory improved and even one’s appearance improves.  Swami Satswarupanandaji did not smile at my foolish answer and said: “But these can be achieved by other means also.”  I kept quiet.  Then, sensing my discomfort, Swami Satswarupanandaji did not dissuade me further and said he will guide me in yoga.  He asked me to continue to do what I was doing, and to ask if there is any difficulty.

One day, I reported to him that while meditating I went into a state where I did not know anything.  I was reading Raja Yoga and so I probably imagined that I had samadhi.  Swami Satswarupanandaji asked me whether I did not fall asleep and asked me to be careful next time.  He said if it is a real meditative sate, it will recur.  I remained vigilant next time, and found out that such a state had occurred because I had dozed off.

During the early period of his stay at Indore a time came when he decided to leave the place for good.  However there was a boy named Brijmohan (called Bhaiya), who used to stay with him.  When Swami Satswarupanandaji informed of his decision to leave, he started weeping.  This was the end of Swami Satswarupanandaji’s plans to leave.  He continued to remain there for almost four more years. Once for some reason he got angry with Bhaiya.  However, he fasted for a day as a penance for getting angry.

Although full of love, Swami Satswarupanandaji was stern, and uncompromising, hence could not become very popular.  Once at Indore, I was sitting with him and we were talking some spiritual matters, just then a neighbor (?) came there and asked, “If you don’t mind, can I use the phone?” Swamiji replied, “Of course, I mind.”  The gentleman went away.

After staying for about four years at Indore, Swami Satswarupanandaji left and went to Hyderabad.   However, he was in touch with me through letters.  In the meantime, we devotees reorganized ourselves and started the ashram.  I continued to live at home but spent as much time as possible at the ashram.  We re-rented the hall in which the ashram was stated by Swami Satswarupanandaji where three `brahmacharis’ started living.  Later, we decided to shift to the ground floor of the same building, which was more comfortable for living purposes.

After about a year, Swami Satswarupanandaji came to Indore to see what was going on.  We were absolute novices and did not know anything about monastic life and how to live in an ashram.  So Swami Satswarupanandaji framed some rules for the Ashram.  Unfortunately, those rules are now lost.  But, a few of which I remember are as follow:

(a)       As far as possible all inmates must attend the evening Aarti, and must inspire other devotees to attend it.  (Although I was not an         inmate in actuality, I always tried to attend the Aarti, even while employed in the hospital as a doctor.)

(b)      No lady must stay in the ashram at night.

(c)       The inmates must do the duties of the ashram in rotation.

(d)      The last  rules he made was “Rules or no rules, everything will work well if the spirit is there” (I am forgetting the  exact words.)

I was then reading the first Volume (at that time there was only one Volume) of Swami Vivekananda in the West, New Discoveries.  One day, he saw the book and in the last chapter, underlined one sentence.  Later, when I read that chapter, I found it was this: Sri Ramakrishna was the embodiment of Vedas.

Swami Satswarupanandaji left Indore (rather he had to leave due to unavoidable circumstances).  He shifted the shrine to a devotee’s house where regular worship could be continued.

Swami Satswarupanandaji wanted Brijmohan (Bhaiya) to join the Mission as Brahamachari and hence sent him to Nagpur to learn puja.  In the meantime, the parents of Bhaiya arranged his marriage.  When the news was conveyed to Bhaiya, he returned and got married. Swami Satswarupanandaji was very unhappy and disappointed.

It Indore itself, much before my joining the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Satswarupanandaji asked me to memorize Nirvana-Shatakam and  Kaupeen-Panchakam—the two popular stotras of the monks.  These were the first Sanskrit verses which I ever memorized.

Other Reminiscences

As has been said, Swami Satswarupanandaji was stern outside but was full of love within.  We have already seen that due to the love of Bhaiya, he cancelled his departure from Indore and stayed on.  A similar thing happened later at Varanasi, when he was leading a retired life at Varanasi Advaita Ashrama.  He had some difficulties there, and he wanted to shift to a house at Shivala/ Sonarpura, which was the property of the Varanasi Sewashrama.  In the meantime, he went to Allahabad for about a month.  From there he wrote me to make the Sonarpura house fit for him. While I was planning and furnishing it, I wrote to him that if he fell ill at Shivala house, and I being away at the Sevashram, will not be able to take care  of him, that will be doubly  painful for me.  Swami Satswarupanandaji immediately understood and cancelled his plans.

Once, after many years of stay at Varanasi Sevashrama, I wanted to get transferred to some other Centre.  When I asked Swami Satswarupanandaji, he almost broke down and said imploringly, “Please don’t leave Varanasi till I am alive.”  I too, did not ask for transfer.

Swami Satswarupanandaji was a great scholar.  Yet he did not teach me scriptures himself.  Instead, he asked me to learn them from Swami Dhireshanandaji, who was also an erudite Vedantic scholar, because Swami Satswarupanandaji wanted me to get training in traditional Vedantic knowledge.  Accordingly I learnt Panchadashi,  Naishkarmya Siddhi and other scriptures from Rev. Dhireshanandaji.

Twice I went to Hyderabad when he was there - both times, on my way to Bangalore.  Once I was sitting with him under a tree when a young man came and said he wanted to become a monk. Swami Satswarupanandaji asked, “Why do you want to become a monk?”  The young man said, he wanted to be a preacher.  At this Swami Satswarupanandaji said, he could join the Chinmay Mission which trains preachers.  The young man, obviously did not have a clear idea of what to do.  So he said, he wants to serve.  Then Swami Satswarupanandaji said that in the Ramakrishna Mission, he may have to even clear the latrine in hospitals; will he be able to do?  When the young man showed willingness, Swami Satswarupanandaji asked him to go and clean the public latrine close by, which of course, the boy did not do.  At this, Swami Satswarupanandaji mildly advised the boy to go home and serve his parents.  He even said that there was no harm in marriage and the best course for him would be get to get married and serve the parents. When he left, I asked him, why did he dissuade him from becoming a monk? Satswarupanandaji said “Oh, he really did not want to become a monk but only wanted a mandate from a swami to get married!”

Swami Satswarupanandaji was of the same batch as Swami Gambhiranandaji.  He, Swami Gambiranandaji and Swami Bodhatmanandaji (Bhava Maharaj), the first Principal of the Centre, Belur Math, had sannyasa together.  Swami Satswarupanandaji was also the Private Secretary of Swami Madhavanandaji, the then President.  However, Swami Satswarupanandaji had a desire to start a centre in “Central India”, as Swami Vivekananda wanted.  So, he came to Indore.

While he was leading a retired and invalid’s life in old age at Varanasi, Advaita Ashrama, Swami Gambhiranandaji, then President (?) or Vice-President came to Varanasi.  Rev. Gambhrianandaji’s eye sight was badly impaired and Swami Satswarupanandaji could not walk due to advanced Parkinsonism.  Hence Swami Gambhiranandaji, alluding to the story of the lame and blind man, said, “I am blind, you are immobile!”

Once I was talking that Brahmjnana was difficult living in a community life etc. Swami Satswarupanandaji sharply said, “Do you think the Ramakrishna Mission is to make you a Brahamjnani?  It is to make you an adhikari / a qualifies aspirant, for it.”

When once I complained about the sarcastic behavior of one of the brothers, Swami Satswarupanandaji said that, that was his nature and I should adjust with him. This is how he gave me  a guiding principle for my whole life.

Swami Satswarupanandaji had once commented with much annoyance that hypocrite monks who do not follow the code of conduct of a monk and indulge in luxury will all go to hell.

While going to Belur Math for the first time, I came to Varanasi where  Swami Satswarupanandaji was staying (I was at Raipur then).  Swami Satswarupanandaji said a very unusual thing to me: “See the defects of the Swamis at the Math.” I was very much surprised.  He explained:  You will then know what are the evils and defects produced in monastic life and will be able to avoid them.

                   CHAPTER 2 - Swami Yatiswaranandaji

          Probably in 1956, Mrs. R.P. Seth, a devotee of Indore, got her initiation from Rev. Yatishwaranandaji at Nagpur. At her house I, for the first time, saw Swami Yatishwaranandaji’s photo.  This is not the most popular photo of Swami Yatishwaranandaji sitting with hands on the knees and a cap on.  In this photograph he is sitting without cap and with fingers of two hands locked together in the lap.  I was charmed by the facial beauty and serenity.  I did not know anything about initiation/mantra diksha then.

In 1961, (probably), Mahesh (later Swami Pratyagananda) went to Nagpur and got initiation.  I too was to go but due to mental confusion, I did not go.  Mahesh returned in high spirits and described his whole journey with such zeal, that I could not remain sitting and went to Nagpur immediately, only to find that Swami Yatishwaranandaji had left Nagpur, and I was left disappointed.

One year before this, I had gone to Bangalore when my father was there and had stayed  there for a month during summer.  I had also gone to Bangalore Math to meet Swami Yatishwaranandaji.  I was advised by Swami Satswarupanandaji to see him.  But Swami Yatishwaranandaji was then away and I could not meet him.  Somnath Maharaj, Swami Samjnanandaji was doing puja that day and he too had seen me that day.  In Nagpur, although Swami Yatishwaranandaji had left, Swami Samjinandaji was still there during my first visit and he recognized me.

 Initiation  

In 1962, I went to Nagpur for Diksha.  Rev. Swami Yatishwaranandaji used to take personal interview of each candidate before diksha (We used to be rather afraid about this interview and used to prepare for it as for a viva examination!).  During the interview, he asked me whether I accepted Sri Ramakrishna.  I said, “Yes.”  The fact was that I was devoted to Swami Vivekananda but had hardly any devotion to Sri Ramakrishna.  I used to voraciously read the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, but the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishana never inspired me or appealed to me, and I had hardly read it.  (Swami Satswarupanandaji knew this and had asked me to read at least some part of it because during initiation, if I am asked, I might be able to say , “Yes, I have read parts of it.”  He had even suggested that I might read at least those portions where Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) has figured in the Gospel.

That day, after the interview, I thought that it was not true to say that I accept Sri Ramakrishna.  Hence that evening, after evening prayer, when Swami Yatishwaranandaji used to meet devotees, I sought for another interview.  In that meeting, I confessed and said that I “accept” Swami Vivekananda but not Sri Ramakrishna.  At this Swami Yatishwaranandaji immediately said, “Then don’t take initiation…”  Then he added, “I shall be your guru (?) and guide you.”  I had waited for full one year for initiation, and at the very door of it I was being denied.  I broke down and started weeping bitterly in front of Swami Yatishwaranandaji.  He remained calm; did not say anything.  Another Swami took me out of the room.

Next morning, when I came to the Math, others who had come with me: Ravi and Dr. and Mrs. Kher, were sitting for initiation.  I was in a mood of frustration as well as resentment, and as I was sitting on a chair behind the monks’ rooms, Swami Bhaskareshwaranandaji,  the President of the Nagpur Math, and a very great saint came to me, and sat down on a chair near me, and told me thus: “Why don’t you accept Sri Ramakrishna?  You accept Swami Vivekananda.  What has he said about Sri Ramakrishna?  That through the dust of Sri Ramakrishna’s feet hundreds of Vivekanandas can be produced.  Still you don’t accept Sri Ramakrishna?  Then he made a startling statement : “Sri Ramakrishna is not God.  He is the Father of God.”

As luck would have it, Swami Satswarupanandaji came that day to Nagpur from Hyderabad, where he had gone after leaving Indore.  He learnt all about my problem and talked to me thus. He said that at the time of initiation, Swami Yatishwaranandaji identifies himself with Sri Ramakrishna.  Then it is Sri Ramakrishna who initiates.  Thus, Swami Yatishwaranandaji distinctively and clearly feels that he is not initiating and Sri Ramakrishna is initiating.  If, therefore, I do not accept Sri Ramakrishna as my guru, how can he initiate me?  this was a great statement.  I thought what a great blessing it would be to be initiated by Sri Ramakrishna!  I may not accept him as Ishta, but I certainly accept him as the guru.  In the light of this knowledge, the statement by Swami Yatishwaranandaji that he will be my guru and guide  me, even if I don’t take initiation, is significant.

Doubts cleared, I again met Rev. Swami Yatishwaranandaji in the evening and told my decision.  He then initiated me next morning.  I was not given Sri Ramakrishna’s mantra.

Swami Yatishwaranandaji was extremely attractive, a charming personality.  He had a divine attraction.  In me there was a subtle desire to meet him more often, and that had prompted me to go to him on the above pretext.

 With Swami Yatishwaranandaji at Hyderbad

Probably the next year, I went to Hyderabad with Dr. and Mrs. Kher and Ravi.  Swami Satswarupanandaji was then at the old Begumpet Ashram and he had invited Swami Yatishwaranandaji.  So we took the opportunity and went there.  We acted as volunteers at the initiation ceremony which was held there.  Following are some talks I had with Swami Yatishwaranandaji.

While strolling with him, I said I like to do meditation but do not get joy in japa.  He stopped and with his walking stick placed dots in a row over the dust of the path on which we were walking, and said, “This is japa.”  Then, with the tip of the same walking stick, he joined the dots making a continuous line and said, “This is meditation.”

I asked that sometimes meditation is very good and I have a clear view of the Ishtam.  At times it is not clear.  We were sitting facing each other.  He took a cloth and stretched it in between us and said that it is like this…maya concealing the clear vision.

With regard to the  problem of lust, he said, “Develop Atmabhuddhi.”  Then he added, “But it is no joke.”

In the night we, with one of his attendant Brahmachari named Ramakrishna (who later left the Mission) we used to sing songs sitting on the terrace on the 1^st floor.  When he heard it, he enquired about it and when he was told that we were doing so, he was very happy.

 Stray reminiscences of Swami Yatishwaranandaji

There was a devotee of the Indore Ashram named Sadananda Shukla, who often used to visit the old ashram at the Snehlata Ganj.  When we all got initiation and told him about it, he also felt a desire for it.  He expressed it to us, that he might go to Bangalore for it.

       

One day he suddenly disappeared without informing us, or his family members.  His younger brother came to enquire about him.  We told him that he might have gone to Bangalore.  As a matter of fact, he just boarded the train.  During those days, trains were not as fast as now.  It must have taken at least 2-3 days for him to reach Bangalore.  In the meantime, we sent a telegram to Bangalore (there were no cell phones, nor even trunk-call facility was easily available) informing Swami Yatishwaranandaji that he might be accommodated if he reaches the Ashram.  Sadananda Shukla reached Bangalore Ashram in a haggard condition, and hungry.  Initially, he was given a good (affectionate) scolding by Swami Samjnanadaji (Somnathji) and then was accommodated in the Ashrama guest house.  In the meantime, his wife with two of their young children, with his brother hurried to Bangalore fearing that he might renounce the world and become a sannayasin.  Initially, Sadananda was told that initiation is not a thing which can be granted just for asking.  But later Rev. Swami Yatishwaranandaji initialed him, his wife and his younger brother.

When later, I met him at Bangalore, I came to know all these details. There was lot of fun.  But, Swami Yatishwaranandaji  was happy and commented that Sadananda had devotion.  “But he has devotion”, he said.

He used to bless by affectionately slapping the back of the person who was bowing down to him. Once I asked him to bless me  so that I may have God-realization.  At this, he commented, “Blessings are there; blessings are there, make use of them.”

I wanted to join the Mission, soon after doing my MBBS.  But he said, emphatically, “No! Do your M.D.”  When after passing in my M.D. examination, I sent him the information by a letter and he was very happy and blessed me through  Somnath Maharaj.

Once while going to Bangalore by train, I was delayed by almost one day due to railway problems.  Later I learnt that Swami Yatishwaranandaji was restless and worried like a mother and was repeatedly asking, why have I not arrived so long etc.

My father was worried because I was planning to join the Mission and become a monk.  He often used to go to Bangalore on official visits, and took such opportunities to visit the Bangalore Ashram.  During one of his visits, he asked Swami Yatishwaranandaji that he did not want to lose me as his son.  Swami Yatishwaranandaji had replied, “You will not lose him as your son, but he will become a member of a bigger family.”

At Indore, Swami Satswarupanandaji had started the Ashrama, but after his departure it had almost closed down.  We boys, myself, Mahesh, Ravi and one boy named Gajanan Lele, were trying to re-establish it.  We hired the hall, in which it was initially started by Swami Satswarupanandaji,  again, and Mahesh, Ravi, and Lele, started living there.  I too wanted to live in the Ashram, but my mother strongly protested.  When the matter was referred to Swami Yatishwaranandaji, he instructed that as long as my mother was there, I must live and take my meals at home.

Once at Bangalore, Swami Yatishwaranandaji was as usual going to the temple/shrine  at around 8.30-9 a.m. to make Pranams. Somnath Maharaj was with him and one or two other persons were there.  I too joined.  Somnath Maharaj gave the umbrella to me to put it over the head of Swami Yatishwaranandaji, to protect him from sun.  As we were going Swami Yatishwaranandaji noticed something in the sky and pointing at it, asked me to see it.  It was a jet plane flying in a circular way leaving a white trail of steam behind it.  It was a beautiful sight.

In this connection, I am reminded of a reminiscence of one of my gurubhai, Wg.Com. S.N. Kaul.  Both he and his wife were initiated by Swami Yatishwaranandaji.  S.N.Kaul was a short tempered person and often used to  get angry and quarrel  with his wife.  This had made his family life very unpleasant.  One day, in sheer desperation he came to the Bangalore Ashram and asked Swami Yatishwaranandaji to do something so that he might be able to control his anger because it was destroying his family life.  Sometime later, Swami Yatishwaranandaji as usual proceeded towards the shrine.  Kaul joined him, walking besides him on his right side.  Swami Yatishwaranandaji casually placed his right hand on the upper part of his back.  Then, suddenly he touched the centre of the back of Kaul’s neck, the part which was not covered by cloth with the tip of one of his fingers.  S.N.Kaul felt as if a current was passing in his body by the finger and he started fainting.  Just when he was about to fall down, Swami Yatishwaranandaji removed  his finger and Kaul became normal again.  All this happened within few seconds.  Since that day Kaul’s anger gradually started abating.

As is customary, I used to carry some ‘gift’ for Revered Swami Yatiswaranandaji, whenever I went to meet him, at Hyderabad or Bangalore. Once he said that I should not bring probably for seeing that I shall myself become a monk. Once I presented to him a grey coloured woollen shawl. That was the most commonly available colour. While accepting the gift, he commented that it was important to choose the right colour. Pointing to a bright red coloured shawl in his stock, presented to him by a devotee he said that he will have to find only a Tamoguni devotee to give it. (Red colour represents Rajo Gunna).

          Revered Maharaj used to present in his turn a white dhoti to us at the time of departure as a token of his blessing. I used to cherish his rare gift of blessing, and used to wear it during my hours of meditation.

Just as he urged me to continue my studies beyond MBBS, he also asked two more of my guru-bhais to pursue their higher studies. He never encouraged to embracing to monastic life in haste. In one of my letters he had written and underlined, “NEVER TAKE A HASTY DECISION.”

Before going to Bangalore, I used to write to Swami Yatishwaranandaji and seek his permission.  Once I went during summer vacations.  I used to be accommodated in one of the rooms of the Students Home run by the ashram since the rooms used to be vacant during summer vacation.  While returning  I expressed a desire to visit Bangalore again during Dussehera vacation.  Swami Yatishwaranandaji asked Somnath Maharaj whether the Students’ Home would be vacant, then. Somnath Maharaj replied in affirmation.  Then Swami Yatishwaranandaji said, “Even if there are no vacant rooms, he will stay under the trees!”-- almost predicting that I shall become a monk.

I then visited Bangalore again during Dussehra vacation.  After that, while returning when I again expressed my desire to visit again, his reply was not inviting.  He said that all depends upon the will of God.  And, in fact, I did not meet him after that.

During the last days, he was at Belur Math.  I wrote to him that I wanted to meet him.   In reply, he again dissuaded and wrote that doctors have not allowed anyone to meet him, and if I come to Belur Math and if he was not able to talk to me, he will feel very sad.  How considerate he was!

Once I asked him what should I do if I am transferred. (I was then in Government service).  He suggested that I might try and get myself posted at Raipur where there was a private ashram, which was later affiliated.  Accordingly, I did got transferred to Raipur.

I once wrote an English poem and showed it to him.  His comments (I don’t remember now) were not encouraging, although Swami Satswarupanandaji had appreciated it.  That was the end of my poetry.

He once asked whether I knew Sanskrit. I didn’t know much.  He said, “Can you learn?”  I said I shall try.  His wish was fulfilled.  I could learn enough Sanskrit to be able to study scriptures independently and teach them.

Once at Bangalore, Swami Yatishwaranandaji went out for his usual evening walk in the campus of the Ashram itself.  Many, including Swami Aparnananda and myself joined.  At the end of the walk, used to stand on a path of lawn of green grass, bare-footed, removing his shoes.  He did the same.  After standing there for about 10-15 minutes, as he proceeded to put on his shoes, Swami Aparnananda,  himself a senior Swami, bowed down to pick up his shoes and put them in front of him.  But Swami Yatishwaranandaji stopped him from doing so with the help of his walking stick, holding it between Swami Aparnananda and the shoes.  That was a divine sight – love and regard of two great men for each other.

          Swami Aparnanandaji also said this to me about Swami Yatishwaranandaji. He was then staying at the Madras Math, in the room next to Swami Yatishwaranadaji’s room. He said that Swami Yatiswaranandaji use to go to the kitchen during the dinner and bring small quantity of food in a small cup. He would eat it in his room and go to bed at 9.00 p.m. At mid-night Swami Aparnananda would listen to the ringing of the alarm in Swami Yatishwaranndaji’s room and it will be stop by him. Then Swami Yatishwaranndaji will get up and sit for meditation till the mangal arati. He will attend the mangal arati and again sit for meditation upto breakfast.

                                            CHAPTER 3 - Other Swamis

Swami Aparnananda (Satya Maharaj)

I saw Swami Aparnananda first at Indore, when Ihad come to meet Swami Satswarupananda and had lived there for four days.  But I met him more intimately at Delhi in 1968-69, where I was getting training at AIIMS and he had come for treatment and was staying at the Delhi Ashram.  I used to see him at the hospital whenever he was admitted and also met him often at the Delhi Ashram.  Every time, I met him at the Ashram, he used to give me something:  some fruit, sweet etc.

I asked him his reminiscences of the Holy Mother.  This is what he said:-

        I first went to Belur Math with two of my friends.  We crossed the Ganga by boat and reached the Math’s Ghat.  We found that bhajans were being sung in the visitor’s room (which is even now being done).  As we were listening to them, standing on the doorsteps, a Swami came from inside and embraced me.  Then he asked us to go to the (old) shrine and make Pranams to Thakur.  Later we came to know that the Swami was Swami Premananda.

        We then decided to go  to Jairambati and get initiated by the Holy Mother. We three went to Arambag by bus.  There was a devotee of the Holy Mother at Arambag, who used to provide accommodation to devotees going to Jairambati and Karampkur.  We stayed for the night at his house.  Early morning we started on foot for Jairambati with the determination that we won’t take food until we have the darshana of Holy Mother.

        As we approached jairambati around noon, we found three old ladies sitting under a tree on the outskirts of the village.  All were wearing white saris.  One of us, who had met the Holy Mother recognized her from a distance as the lady sitting in the middle.  On spotting us, one of the ladies got up and rapidly came to us and started scolding and said: “How foolish it was on your part to have undertaken this journey by foot without taking any food.  Mother too has not taken anything since morning.  She had been telling all along that three of my sons are coming here.  They have not eaten anything,  How can I eat?  Go! First of all, go to the pond, take bath and then take food.  Afterwards, you may offer your Pranams to the Holy Mother.  We did the same.  Holy Mother and other ladies, and we three all took food together.  The lady who scolded us was Golap Ma.

          One day all three of us were initiated.  One by one each one of us was summoned into the shrine and the Mother gave the Mantra.  I went last.  After initiation, like my colleague, I was filled with great joy.  After that Holy Mother told me: “Don’t see others’ faults.  See your own faults.”

          I was listening to this narrative. I asked him that this is  the Holy Mother’s last message.    Swami Aparnananda replied that this is Holy Mother’s main message and she used to tell this to everyone.

Before meeting Swami Aparnananda at Delhi, I had met him at Bangalore once, during one of my trips described here.  Once at Bangalore, Swami Yatishwaranandaji went out for his usual evening walk in the campus of the Ashram itself.  Many, including Swami Aparnananda and myself joined.  At the end of the walk, he used to stand on a patch of lawn of green grass, bare-footed, removing his shoes.  He did the same.  After standing there for about 10-15 minutes, as he proceeded to put on his shoes, Swami Aparnananda,  himself a senior Swami, bent down to pick up his shoes and put them in front of him.  But Swami Yatishwaranandaji stopped him from doing so with the help of his walking stick, holding it between Swami Aparnananda and the shoes.  That was a divine sight – love and regard of two great men for each other.

Finally, I saw Swami Aparnananda at Varanasi.  He had retired and was living at the Advaita Ashram.  He  was suffering from heart disease and I had the opportunity of serving him as a doctor.  At times, he used to get attacks of heart failure (LVF), and had to be given preliminary treatment in his room and had to be transferred to the nearby hospital later.  Ultimately, he also got stroke and lost his voice.  Being unable to express his thoughts, at times he used to lose temper on even his nearest and dearest persons.  But he never got angry with me.

In fact, he was one person who had totally conquered anger.  Swami Vishwarupananda (RamgatiMaharaj)  who was his very close friend and lived with him for many years once told me after his passing away, that he never saw Swami Aparnananda getting angry.  Both of them had gone together for Kailash-Mansarover pilgrimage.  Even in that hard journey, Swami Aparnanandaji never became angry.  Whenever there was a difference of opinion among them, he used to withdraw his personal  opinion and accept another’s.

                             Bodhatmananandaji (Bhava Maharaj)

          The first Principal of the Ramakrishna Training Centre.  In 1971, I was at the Belur math, being posted in the Belur Math   dispensary as a doctor.  I used to live in the Laggets’ House.  On Sundays I used to go to Rev. Bhava Maharaj (SBO) when he too used to be free and I also, because dispensary was closed on Sundays. 

    

Once I was sitting in his room.  He offered me two biscuits and a little honey in a small aluminum plate (generally used as a cover for an aluminumcup).  While giving, he quoted a sentence from the New Testament of The Gospel, told by St. Peter, “Gold have I none, nor silver, what I have, I give unto thee.”  Then he narrated the story of how St. Peter saying this, had added, “ In the name of Jesus Christ, stand up  and walk.”  He had said this to a crippled beggar, who, stood and had started walking.

I was also the doctor at the Belur Math then, and used to treat all sick monks and brahamacharis.  Once Rev. Swami Bodhatamanandaji got pneumonia and I was treating him.  One day as I went to see him, I saw Swami Hitananadaji, the senior Pujari maharajof Belur Math and a great saint himself, kneeling beside the bed of Rev. Swami Bodhatamanandaji, who was lying down, with great humility and devotion.  It was a divine sight.  One saint paying respects to another.

Incidentally, the puja of Rev. Hitanandaji was a sight to see.  Although the shine-garbha-griha at Belur Math temple is open on all sides, Swami Hitanandaji used to be fully concentrated towards the image of Sri Ramakrishna and one would get the impression that he is totally oblivious of the world around.

Swami Bodhatamanandaji narrated to me his visits to Master Mahashaya, through whom he had come to the Math.  He said that `M’ used to encourage us to go to the Math and see and meet the monks there.  He would say, “ SadhuDarshanamPunyam.  Sadhu at its best when meditating.”  Swami Bodhatamanandaji said that on hearing this, we used to go to the Math early morning to see the monks meditating in the campus, on the banks of Ganga or in some temple etc.

Swami Bodhatamanandaji also narrated to me his reminiscence of Swami Shivanandaji (Mahapurush Maharaj).  He was at Deoghar and Mahapurush Maharaj was also there.  One morning, when he went to his room, he was talking to a Swami of some other Order, who had come to see him, and who was known to him.  Mahapurush Maharaj was telling the Swami, “Last night I had very severe breathlessness.  I could not sleep.  It was so severe that I thought that prana might go away – life force might leave the body (i.e. death may take place).  But, I also thought that nothing would happen to Me.”  While saying this, Mahapurush Maharaj made a gesture of moving the thumb of the right hand in half circle, which is an indication of utter disregard.  While narrating, Swami Bodhatamanandaji showed me that gesture.

Once I was sitting on the chair in front  of his table in the room of Swami Bodhatamanandaji.  I casually said that every thing is Brahman. Swami Bodhatamanandaji was looking outside through the open door.  He commented, “Yes, all are Brahman, but we must remain at a distance from some.” Saying this he pointed to me a big monkey (Langoor) sitting on the opposite end, about 15 yards away.  Next moment, in few leaps, he was in the room sitting on Swami Bodhatamanandaji’s table, facing him and making noises by his mouth.  He was expecting something to eat, which some monks had given him.  I was behind the monkey.  Swami Bodhatamanandaji remained standing, facing the money.  He asked me to go behind and hand him his walking stick.  I did so, and Swami Bodhatamanandaji threatened the monkey with it and he left.  Neither he, nor I was frightened.

           Swami Bhuteshanandaji

Once Swami Bhuteshanandaji came to Raipur for the inauguration of a statue of Swami Vivekananda at Bilaspur (??).  From Bilaspur he with a party of monks and devotees of the Ashram went to Amarkantak by cars.  I was in the party and used to serve him on the way with sharbat made by putting effervescent tablets in water, which were very popular then.  He enjoyed them and whenever there used to be a halt, he asked me to give one such drink to him.  (He was Assistant Secretary of the Mission then).

At Amarkantak, we went to the various tourist spots, one of them being a waterfall called Kapil-dhara.  One had to climb down a hilly track.  Others of the party had already gone down.  He being the oldest was walking slowly.  I was with him.  I enquired whether he was finding it difficult to climb down that hilly track?  He replied, “No, not at all!  I have done enough tracking in mountains.  This is nothing compared to it.  I do not want to show off.”  When I asked where did he go in Himalayas, he said, he had gone and live at Uttarkashi.  I asked whether he had gone to Badri-Kedar.  He said, “No.”  He had lived at Uttarkashi and had done tapasya there, but did not go to these holy places!

He personally described once to me in details how he had taken permission from Mahapurush Maharaj for going for tapasaya, how he prepared for it; went to Kashi, lived at the Advaita Ashrama and did bhiksha; how he later shifted to a place called “Tila”, thence to Uttarkashi.  Thus, he gradually intensified his tapasya, becoming  more and more dependent on God.

Finally, he left his mind free to roam about.  Then he noticed that his mind did not do anything except Ishta-chintan or tatva-chintan.

 He said that it is now, painful to see places where he had done tapasya.  They are all almost destroyed by modernization.

Whenever, Swami Bhuteshanandaji came to Varanasi, he used to sit with the monastic brothers after dinner and discuss spiritual matters, and answer questions.  He liked my questions very much and acknowledged it openly. Once a senior swami from the local Advaita Ashrama asked  Maharaj to tell about his recent trip to Japan. He said, “Wait, Ashok is here, he will ask questions. Then we shall see. After the Questions and answeres he did describe his impressions of Japan.

Once I had gone to Belur Math, when Revered Bhuteshanandaji was the President. All the monks were making pranams, as usual from outside the barrier. He happened to notice me and asked. “Aren’t you Ashok?” I said “Yes, Maharaj” “When did you come?”  “Yesterday.” The Maharaj said: “Yamaraj had said to Nachiketa: ‘Twadig no bhuyatNachiketaprashta’. (O, Nachiketa, may we have questioners like you!) When I used to go to Varanasi, you used to ask such nice questions. Now those days will not come( Due to age and ill health his going to other town was restricted.)

Next time, during such a period of pranams, he again spotted me and commented” Earlier you used to ask such nice questions. Now you don’t ask.” I answered: “ The ambience here is not fit for them.” ( Revered Maharaj used to be in a light mood and used to cut jokes. There was no seriousness.) He immediately agreed to me and said” That is true”

Once some of his close devotees had come from Kolkotta in a car to be with him.  One day, in the above mentioned night class, some of these male devotees also joined.  As soon as Swami Bhuteshanandaji noticed them, he was annoyed and asked “Why are they here?”  The idea was that it was a gathering of monastics. Why should householders be present.  Hence the devotees left.

Then, Swami Bhuteshanandaji, quoting from SrimadBhagavatam, said that a spiritual aspirant must avoid the company not only of women but also of those who associate with women i.e. householders.

Once I was sitting in the office of Swami Bhuteshanandaji at Belur Math when he was the Assistant Secretary.  Just then the Swami in charge of the library came to take the daily newspaper to the library. Swami Bhuteshanandaji jokingly said  o him, “Oh, I have not been able to read it.  Well, Sri Ramakrishna could not touch the newspaper.  We cannot live without touching it.  Let me at least touch it.”  Saying this, Swami Bhuteshanandaji touched the newspaper and gave it to the Swami.

Once while he was describing his spiritual practices in Himalayas (I don’t remember the context), he said, that once he was climbing down from mountains, alone, with very little possessions and totally free from any attachment.  As he sat under the tree, he had a complete feeling, sense of freedom.  I then asked, “Was it the highest, most desired state?”  He replied, “No, Bhakti issuperior.”

Once I asked him : Sri Ramakrishna has advised that we must work with one hand and catch hold of God with other hand and when work is over, we must hold God with both the hands. But Swamiji says, whatever you do you must put your whole mind into it. So what should we do?  Revered Maharaj laughed and said in Hindi “Kako bandou kako nindou dono palada bhari” That means both views are true.

Q: In Vedantic texts like Viveka-chudamani etc. twam pada shodhan is mostly described in detail and not Tat pada shodhan. Why so?

A: Because that is more important and difficult. Tat pada shodhan is already there.

Q: How do you compare your generation with the present generation of monks?

A: There cannot be any question about comparison.

He had advised me to read UpadeshSahasri which I later read.

Once I told him that I often go for tapasya for few months when I live on Bhiksha. Revered Maharaj said in response that living on Bhiksha had become abhyasa (natural )  for him.

Once I asked him: “ In the TC we are taught the Shankar’s commentary on Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. Since in our tradition we accept att the acharyas and the relevance of their philosophies, why are not the commentaries of other acharyas are not taught?”

A: Once you read Shankar’s commentary, you will find that the others are not so deep.

Once I told  Revered Swami Bhuteshanandaji  that Swamiji has asked us to see God in the patient, but  in spite of serving the patients in the hospital for so many  I am not able to see God in them. In reply, Revered Bhuteshanandaji sharply said: “Do you see God in the image?” The idea was that had I really seen God in the image my life would change and I would become a saint.

         Swami Vishwarupananda (Ramgatiji)

He was a great scholar and had translated Shankara’s commentary on Brahmasutras into Bengali with his own comments.  Yet, according to the early tradition of the Order, he too was posted at Varanasi Sevashrama to do service to the patients in the spirit of worship of God.  He personally narrated to me the following incident.

It was his duty to do dressings of wounds of patients.  One of the patients probably had gangrene with an extremely foul smell, emanating from the wound, so much so that it was difficult to approach the patient.  Just then, Swami Saradananda had come to Varanasi, and Ramgatiji placed his problem before him.  Swami Saradanandaji gravely listened and then said, “what can you do?  Pray to Thakur.  I too shall pray.”

Next morning, a miracle occurred.  As Ramgatiji approached the said patient, he did not get the stink at all and was easily able to do the dressing.  After that, he never had any difficulty due to bad smell, even with other patients.

Ramgatiji passed away suddenly.  His dead body was found living on his bed.  It seems he passed away while doing Japa.

        Manik Maharaj

I don’t  remember his Sannyasa name.  He had a big thickened pleura on one side of his chest.  It is a sort of chronic disease,  a permanent defect by which the respiratory capacity of half of his lung was destroyed.

          Once I was called in emergency to see him.  He had developed Pneumonia and was almost unconscious with great respiratory distress.  He was immediately shifted to the hospital and treated with emergency treatment.  I was in my room when I was called with the message that the Swami was shouting and asking for me.  When I reached, I found he was fully conscious and out of danger.  But as soon as I reached, he started scolding me, saying, why did I save him?  Why did I not allow him to die.  After all, he was leading a retired life in the Mission Senior Citizens Home and was awaiting death and Kashi Prapti.  What could I say, except that as a doctor it was my first duty save his life.  Next day, when he had cooled down, he embraced me since he loved me very much, and thus repeated the same thing.

Swami Kailashanandaji

                                     

I first met him at Madras when he was the Head there, probably before joining the Order.  The talk was centred round joining the Order.  In this comment, he narrated an incident of a boy who had joined and was asked to live in a room on the first floor.  After some time for some reason he was asked to live in a room on the ground floor.  Swami Kailashanandaji also used to live there.  The boy left, saying that he has been insulted because he has been told to live on a lower level.

Once I met Swami Kailashanandaji at Belur Math.  I asked him that Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Brahmanandaji have recommended that one must meditate at the dead of night.  But we find it very difficult.  On this, Swami Kailashanandaji said that he had closely associated with mahapurush Maharaj (probably he was one of his Sevaks), and MahapurushMahajraj did not recommend that.  Yes, we must mediate early morning or in the last quarters of night e.g. from 3 to 6 p.m.

          As the conversation went on, Swami Kailashanandaji remarked that nothing is impossible for Sri Ramakrishna.  If he wished, one may be able to mediate at the dead of night i.e. midnight hours.  He further added that we have not come to the Sangha of our own accord.  It is Sri Ramakrishna, who has brought us.

            Swami Yogishananda (Umesh Maharaj)

A senior monk who used to do dressing of outdoor      patients, and attend cases of injury and accidents.  He could         stitch cuts and wounds.  He was also expert in growing           flowers, roses etc. and had won prizes in flower shows.

       Once he commented, “Ashok!  By starting this    Ramakrishna Mission, Swamiji (Vivekananda) has saved       us.  Otherwise, we too would have been sitting under a tree and smoking hemp!”

                Joshi Maharaj     

Engineer Swami who make  the Clock Tower at Sarada Pith. He was  so humble that during the days of celebrations, he would go himself even to juniors and salute them firs.  As long as he was able, he went for Ganges bath daily.  He once got injured by a sharp thing in foot while bathing but did not complain and finally developed and big and troublesome abscess. He had written the Kali Kirtan songs into Devnagri script for himself.

Swami Muktananda (Ban Bihar Majaharaj)

This famous Swami did dressings of patients in the spirit of worship for almost 60 years.  More about him has been described in my book “Health, Medicine and Religion.”

                                     

          He once told me that his father had asked him not to visit home once he became a monk.  He further said that avoid company of worldly people.  You will    not be able to make them spiritual, but they will definitely make you worldly.”

         

                    Ramprasad Maharaj

                   A very senior retired Swami.  He used to prepare jams etc. himself and    pack small quantities in polythene bags and distribute to monks and brahamcharis        who came to make Pranams to him on celebration days.

SrikantaMj.

                   He would as the caretaker/Pujari of Swami Vivekananda’s temple at Belur Math.  Later came to Kashi Advaita Ashram as a retired monk.  I always found him sitting on his cot and reading “Sri Ramakrishna Lilaprasanga” in Bengali, placed on his pillow.  He had heart and esophagus problem.  But whenever I went, he never complaint. I used to visit all Swamis on Sundays to medically check them.  On one Sunday he did not complain though he had some problem.  I too found him ok..  Four days later, I was called in the evening to check him.  He had high fever and his lungs were congested.  I immediately shifted him to ward and treated.  Later I complained that he could have informed me earlier when the problem had first started.  At this, he said, that the body will always have problem. Why should we bother about minor things.  He also said that once Swami Madhavanandaji had asked him, how was he.  At that time too, he had said to him the same thing.  Swami Madhavanandaji had appreciated and approved of this attitude.

Swami Hitanadaji (Pujari Mj. Of Math)

1.     His room used to be spotlessly clean and the did not contain many things. These used to be meticulously arranged.

2.     When once I asked him to teach me puja, he said, you are already doing superior puja, ie. Service of the patients considering them as Gods.

3.     When he did puja it was a sight to see. He was so fully concentrated that it appeared is if  for him except Sri Ramakrishna nothing else existed.

Swami Abhayanandaji (Bharat Maharaj)

I met Swami Abhayanandaji (Bharat Maharaj) in 1966 when for the fisrt time I went to the Belur Math. My parents had also come and I was showing round the shrines etc. in the Math. Later we had planned to go the Dakhineswar and Cossipore Garden house also. I was hen planning to join the Mission and this was known to many senior monks. While we three, myself and my parents were standing with Rev. Bharat Mj. In front of his office Swami Gangeshananda, a very senior monk said to my father half jokingly: “Don’t allow him (meaning me) to become monk.” My father replied: “Who am I to stop him. You should not allow him to become a monk.” Sw. G replied: “Why should we stop him? He is doing a good thing.” Father: “No. It is not a good thing to become a monk”. A heated discussion followed. Some how, my mother pacified my father and we left for Dakhsinawar by boat.

Later when I met Rev. Bharat Maharaj, he made me sit near him and went on talking for a long time, telling me not to join the Mission and not to hurt the parents. He had very close relations with the Nehru family, especially Kamala Nehru, the mother of Indira Gandhi. He know Indira from the childhood, and she used to consult him even when she grew up in spiritual and religious matters. He went on telling many of these things to me.

Later, I did join the Order and came to live in the Belur Math for six months in 1970-71. I used to live in the Legget’s House which was close to Rev. Bharat Maharaj’s office. Since he know me, I used to write his Hindi letters, mostly replies to the Hindi speaking devotee’s letters.

During this period, my parents had built a new house and wanted me to come to Indore for the grihapravesh ceremony. I was then at Belur Math and they phoned me. I refused to go. Rev. Bharat Maharaj’s office was close to the phone booth at the math. He enquired and when I said the whole thing he appreciated my action.

Soon after my Sannyasa in 1980, i.e. the next year my father passed away. It so happened that Swami Abhayanandaji came to Varanasi with Rev. Swami Vireswaranandaji when my mother too had come there. She came to make pranams to the Swamis and I said to them about the passing away of my father. Then, Rev. Bharat Maharaj instructed me to take special care of my mother and see to it that she has no suffering.

Swami Apurvanandaji

Revered Apurvanandaji was the Head/Adyakhya of the Advaita Ashrama Varanasi during most of the period till his passing away, when I was posted at the Varanasi Sewashrama.Most of the time, till he became weak and invalid, he used to conduct the evening aarati and then every day he used to sing one song. I never saw him getting angry.

He had published a book of the compilation of Sanskrit hymns on sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, entitled “Veda Murti Sri Ramakrishna”. I was a young swami then and used to do chanting of hymns. He had noticed it. So he taught me the chanting of one of the hymns in that book in the Bhimpalasi raga and asked me to chant every morning in the temple. When the Secretary Maharaj of Sewashrama came to know of it, he asked me to do chanting at the library hall of the Sewashrama. This is how the chanting started at Varansai sewashrama. Rev. Apurvanandaji also asked me to deliver regular weekly lectures on the same hymn at the Advaita Ashrama.

Swami Vireswaranandaji

Revered Viriswarananadaji was my Brahmacharya and Sannyasa Guru.

I met him at various places: at Raipur, Varanasi and Belur Math.

Before joining the Order, I asked him that the parents are not giving permission, what to do? He replied, “Parents never give permission. You have to join without it.

Once I asked him: How much Japa should I do? I was expecting that he will tell me some number. But he said: You will take the name of God always. He did not say : you should do but “You will do.”

Once at Belur Math I had gone to do Thakur pranams at night just before the closing of the temple, i.e. soon after bhog. At that time Rev. Swami Atmasthanandaji also came and as we were waiting for the shrine to open, Rev. Maharaj jokingly asked me “Are you forgetting medicine?” Just then Revered Vireswaranandaji also came. Rev. A told him that he was asking me whether I was forgetting medicine. I was then in the TC. Rev. V commented: “But you will get back-dated.” I got the hint and from then on I started reading daily regularly medical journal while in the TC.

I drove car with Revered Maharaj in it twice: once at the Math when I drove from the President Quarters to the temple on the day he was to give Diksha. And second time in KahnaKisli forest when he had gone to see the National Park.

Once my parents came to the Math when I was at the TC. The guests staying in the guest house used to meet Revered Maharaj after the night meal. My father neve missed this opportunity, for he used to say that he always learnt some thing new from Rev. Maharaj.

When in TC, all brahmacharins were given opportunity to meet Rev. Maharaj personally and ask personal questions. I too met him, but now I do not remember the questions I asked and his replies.

Rev. Maharaj laid the foundation of the temple at Raipur. I was there then. Earlier it was planned to place a slab on a pre laid stand. However when Rev. Maharaj came, he dais it should be done underground. So immediately the slab was removed and the ground was dug about five feet with few steps to go down.  At the time of foundation laying, a some precious stones(?) /relics were placed on some briks inside. But there was no cement to seal it. I immediately ran to the place where it was and in few minutes brought some cement in  a container.

Swami Rangananthanandaji

     As far as I remember, I first saw and heard Swami Rangananthanandaji in Indore, my home town, when I was a college student at Holkar College, probably in 1957  or 1958. He had delivered a lecture in the open air stadium. I do not remember any thing else.

     Next time I met him at Raipur and Bilaspur. I was then a lecturer. I do not remember the year. Revered Ranganathanandaji had a congenital disease called ‘achlorhydria’ in which no acid is produced in the stomach, which is important for digestion. So to supplement it, Revered Maharaj used to add citric acis to the milk he drank. During this trip, I was his attendant, because I was a doctor. Revered Maharaj instructed me how and how many drops of citric acid should be added to a glass of milk and how to stir with a stirrer. I used to do so at fixed hours and give the milk, so curdled, to him.

At Bilaspur he delivered a lecture on Man Making Education and I remember to have listened it attentively, specially where he explained the “Assimilation of Ideas” as told by Swami Vivekananda. He gave examples from subjects like history, civics etc. and explained what was meant by merely repeating what is read and what it means to put them into practice.

     Incidentally, I was also his medical attendant at Hyderabad much later in 1997 for three months. He had becae unconscious in the bath room due to sudden fall in the blood sugar levels below normal. Hence I was immediately sent as a medical attendant. During this period I had the opportunity to study all his medical records. One interesting thing can be mentioned. Revere maharaj had one more congenital abnormality called intestinal diverticulosis. Diverticula is like a pouch protruding  out of a hollow cavity or canal. It was amazing that innumerable divericulae were present in the whole intestine. The amazing part is that these never caused trouble to him. Or if some problem was created, he had permanently adjusted to it. He had successfully lived with two congenital diseases-- achlorhydria and diverticulosis-- for more than 90 years!!

    

     I had also opportunity of reviewing two volumes of his three volume commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, published by the Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. It was published in the Vedanta Kesari as a Review Article. I Got 25 copies of it which I presented to Revered Maharaj. He was very happy and presented individual copies of it to some devotees as he wished .

Swami Sattwananadaji

I heard the following two stories from Revered Swami Sattwanandaji, who was not only one of the Secretaries of the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, (Sewashrama) Varanasi, but during the early phase of the Home of Service, one of its active workers.

Uttam Vaidya

During the earlier times the monks working in the Sevashrama used to go to the ghats and lanes of Varanasi and pick up any one lying there neglected and serve him/her as veritable embodiment of God. Swami Sattwananadaji related: Once they saw a man with a big wound on the back, but the person was unconcerned about it because he was mentally deranged. The Swamis decided to take him to the Sewashrama for dressing by Revered Swami Muktanandaji (Ban Bihari Maharaj). But the patient wont agree. The monks threatened him that they will beat him if he did not go. Scared, the patient came with them. He was put into an isolated ward, and kept under lock and key so that he may not run away.  His wound soon healed by  dressing, good diet and general care.

Now, the swamis consulted a vaidya regarding treatment of his mental derangement. The vaidya prescribed an ayurvedic decoction of medicinal herbs. These decoctions are generally very bitter in taste and they were sure, their patient would reject it. So the Swamis decided to use force. Two monks with the ready decoction went to the patient. He was made to lie flat on his back. One monk sat on his chest, and clenched his arms. Another monk thrust a spoon into his mouth and poured the medicinal decoction into his mouth. This procedure was continued till the patient started himself cooperating and finally became normal mentally. He could remember his name and other details and that he lived in Balia, a town in Bihar. The monks purchased a railway ticket for him and sent him home!!

Revered Swami Ramakrishnanandaji’s story.

Revered Shashi Maharaj was at Chennai. For some reason the window of is room had to be closed. He asked a devotee to close it. Now, Revered Shasi Maharaj’s suitcase and a bedding over it were kept in front of the window due to which the devotee found it difficult to reach the shutters. Shashi Maharaj asked him to climb over the box and the bedding and close to window. But how could he ‘defile’ the venerated belongings of Rev, Shashi Maharaj by touching them with his feet? In spite of being told to climb over them, he did not.

Then Shashi Maharaj commented: “A time will come when the devotees would revere and worship our belongings but would not obey us or follow our instructions.”

Swami Sattwanandaji’s singing.

Revered Swami Sattwananadaji was a very good singer and was as such recognized in the Ramakrishna Sangha. He used to lead the Kali Kirtan, ie. Songs related to the Divine Mother, during Kali Puja and Durga Puja as well as the songs during the Birth day Celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Maa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda and also of the Direct Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc.  All these were indeed most melodious.

          A special feature of Swami Sattwanandajis singing was that while singing he would sit erect with his head, neck and  back straight and would not move any part of the body except the fingers and if necessary eyes and neck to see the script of the songs. He knew many songs by heart.

          Generally he never sang songs after the evening aarati which is normally done by the monks in our ashramas. Nor did I ever see him lead the evening aarati. However, a special feature was that he used to come to the puja mandap during the whole night pujas on the nights of Kali Puja, Shiva Ratri and Sri Ramakrishna’s birthdays and would sing solo songs which used to be most melodious and enthralling.

          Revered Swami Apurvanandaji, (Holy Mother’s disciple and the Adyaksha of Advaita Ashrama) used to often lead the evening aarati and also sing one song after it every day. His voice too was melodious but the quality of the voice of these two great singers was very much different.

An incident:

          Once a patient of cancer was admitted for which a medicine named vinctistine was prescribed. In those days this medicine was not easily available, but the patient party could get it. Unfortunately the patient died. The patient party donated vincristine to the hospital. Now, another patient needing vincristine was admitted. The patient party was rich and it was willing to pay to the Sewashram for the medicine. When this was brought to the notice of Swami Sattvanandaji, he said: We have got it free and we shall give it free. This was done and we did not even ask the patient party to make any donation in lieu of the free medicine given.

One more reminiscence of Swami Sattvanandaji

Swami Sattvanandaji once told me of an interaction he had with Revered Swami Vireswaranandaji Maharaj when the latter was probably the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission. It was the time when a major change was to take place in the working of the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service (Sevashrama) Varanasi. Earlier, the monks used to do the nursing, sponging of the patients, their dressings etc. Now, paid staff, including nurses, were to be introduced.

           In this context, Swami Sattvananada, one of the old time worker went to Revered Swami Vireswaranandaji and expressed his reservations about such a major change, which would change the very concept of Sevashrama altogether. Revered Vireswaranandaji patiently listened to the views of Swami Sattvananadaji. Then he silently pondered on the whole issue for a long time. After a long silence he commented: “Move with the times”. 

More Reminiscences of Swami Sattwananada

My father had met Swami Sattwananda on a flight when they happen to sit side by side and got introduced to each other. Later a good relationship grew between them. Swami Sattwananada had to go for official purposes to New Delhi, when my father too was posted in the Central Govermnent Health Department. My father would often bring him home for lunch and introduced him to my mother too.

I was then struggling to renounce and join the Order which was being vehemently opposed by my parents. Swami Sattwananda would ask my mother to give up attachment to me, her son. My mother would retort: Why are YOU attached so much to my son?” Swami Sattwananda would say that the Ramakrishna Mission wanted both of them, ie. father and mother too. Much later, when after the passing away of my father, my mother came to live at Varanasi permanently, Swami Sattwananada had amusingly commented to her: “See, I had asked you to come and finally you have come.” After the passing away of my mother, Swami Sattwananada had informed me that when I had joined the Mission at Raipur, my mother had phoned him and said that she cannot live without me and that she was going then to bring me back. Atlthough I did not return to her, she did finally live with me at Varanasi Home of Service for the last seven years of her life.

Swami Sattwananada was also in charge of the small retreat centre at Barlowganj,  north of Dehradun, where Swami Atulanananda (Gurudas Maharaj) used to stay during the summer months. He once invited us (my father, mother and myself) to stay there for a fortnight. This is how I had the rare good fortune of living in the holy company of a saint like Swami Atulananada. I was then doing my training at AIIMS, New Delhi. Unfortunately I do not have any worth sharing memories of Swami Atulanandaji.

Once my father was ill and had to go to Delhi for check up (CT Scan) etc. My mother sent message to Swami Sattvananadaji who was the the Secretary of Varanasi Sewashama to send me to Delhi. Swami Sattwananadaji immideately sent me to Delhi, Similarly at the passing way of my father the message was sent to Sattwanandaji and he sent me to my mother.

Swami Gahananandaji

As far as I remember, I met Revered Gahananadaji when I was only a pre-probationer at Varanasi Sewashram. Revered Swami Bhaswaranandaji (Buddha Maharaj) a very respected Swami, a former Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Varanasi was sick and had to be shifted for treatment to Ramakrishna Mission Sewa Pratishthan. As a brahmachari-physician, I escorted Revered Buddha Maharaj to Kolkata.

I had not gone to Kolkata many times before; so wanted to stay there for a few days and visit some places of tourist interest like planetarium. But when I reached there I found that Revered Gahanandaji, who was then the Secretary of Sewa Pratishtan had already booked my return ticket by a train the very next day. (The idea was very clear—when the work is over, why should a monastic worker waste his time elsewhere?)

Interestingly, just the opposite thing happened much later. I was then a monk and Revered Ganananandaji was the General Secretary. I was at Varanasi Home of Service and had applied for a change. To plead my case, I personally went to the Belur Math to meet Revered General Secretary Maharaj. My request was not accepted and I was asked to return back to Varanasi. However, I wanted to stay on at the Math for three months. As I was enjoying my days at the Math, the Assistant Secretary Maharaj  responsible for  the posting of monastic brothers complained to Revered GS Maharaj about it and asked that I must be sent back soon. At this Rev. Gahananandaji said:”But he wants to stay at the Math for three  months!” In any case, I was not allowed to stay more than one month, in spite of Rev. Gahananandaji’s wish that I should.

As the Secretary of the Chandigarh Ashrama, I had invited Revered Gahanandai twice to give initiation to devotees.  There was one lady devotee at Ambala, who was herself very dedicated to Thakur but her husband was dead against. She used to come to Chandigarh ashram with great difficulty, almost stealthily. She had a great desire to take initiation, and one day came to meet Revered Gahanananandji on one of his visits. Listening to her plight, Revered Maharaj decided to initiate her separately, and at a time when her husband would be away from home and she could in the mean time come to Chandigarh Ashram, get initiated and return before the return of her husband. This proved successful and she was initiated singly. And not with the group of other devotees. He commented and told me “She has great devotion.”

Swami Vedantanandaji

Swami Vedantananda was one of the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Ranchi. Later he was the Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Patna when he had invited me for lectures during public clelebrations. Later, he retired and came to live in Varanasi.

          At Varanasi, I used to go to Rev. Swami Satswarupanandaji, in the afternoon and read out some books to him, which he liked very much and I too hd the benefit of reading some scripture in the presence of a saint. After his passing away, I continued this practice and read out some books to Rev. Swami Vedanatanandaji. We began with Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, folloed by Ramakrishna Punthi, Srimad Bhagavatam, followed by Yoga Vshishtha (Original). At its completion, Rev. Maharaj suggested that since Yoga Vasishtha is a text of Advaita Vedanta, we can take up Mandukya Karika. But, unfortunately, soon after it was started, Rev. Vedantanandaji fell seriously ill and passed away. One of his special quality was that he would forbear all suffering without the least mental depression or anxiety.

Swami Dhireshanandaji

 As mentioned, Rev. Satswarupanandaji had recommended me to study scriptures from Rev. Swami Dhireshanandaji. He was a strict task master, and we had to memorize every day few sholkas from Panchadashi which was been taught and had to write the meaning and commentary on those shlokas. After Panchadasi and Naishkarmya Siddhi, Mandukya Karika was taken up and on completion of the 1st chapter, Aagama Prakarana, Rev. Maharaj stopped and asked us to do ‘manana’, deeply think of what has been taught, for six months, so that it becomes a part of our thinking. 

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