Swami Yatiswarananda As We Knew Him - Reminiscences of Monastic and Lay Devotees Volume One

By Swami Atmashraddhananda

This book released on the occasion of Swami Yatiswaranandaji’s 125th birth year, gives a glimpses of his life and teachings including rare photos of Swami Yatiswaranandaji.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365171727

Book preview

Bangalore

RAMAKRISHNA MATH

P.O. Belur Math, Dist. Howrah

West Bengal: 711 202

India

Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam

BENEDICTORY MESSAGE

April 26th 2014

I am happy to know that Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, is going to bring out a book on the reminiscences of Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj in English which will be released on the sacred birthday celebrations of Swami Ramakrishnanandaji Maharaj on 24th July, 2014.

As we all know Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj was a very respectable monk and also was one of the Vice Presidents of our order. Several years he worked with pioneering efforts in spreading Vedanta in Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Paris, U.K., Stockholm of Europe and many places of USA. He served in succession as the President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Madras and Bangalore for several decades.

Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj was an initiated disciple of Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj, the spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna. He came in contact with Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and many direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Raja Maharaj loved him very much. Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj’s life was moulded by their teachings. He was widely respected for his high spiritual attainments, Yogic insight and deep wisdom. He lived and advocated a well-harmonized spiritual life with love and service. He was a good speaker, erudite scholar, prolific writer and good organiser. At the same time, he was well-versed in the scriptures. He enriched our Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Vedanta literature by writing some valuable books and thought provoking articles. He was a source of inspiration not only to his monastic and lay disciples, but also to a large number of other people in India and abroad, to whom he endeared himself by his selfless love and gracious manners.

Bringing out this new publication will help the newer generation to get acquainted with our holy traditions as well as ideas and ideals of our order and will also help the spiritual aspirants to carve out a road which will take them to spiritual success.

My earnest prayer to Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda to shower their choicest blessings on this new publication and to make it a great success among the devotees of the holy trio.

(Swami Atmasthananda)

President

Ramakrishna Math &

Ramakrishna Mission

श्रीयतीश्वरस्तव:

SWAMI ACHALANANDA SARASWATI

मातेव लालयन्प्रेम्णा पितेव परिपालयन् ।

गुरोः पदं प्रापयद्यझ् तस्मै कुर्मो नमस्क्रियाम् ॥

Lavishing on us the mother’s tender love and the father’s protecting care who brought us to the feet of the Master. Him we salute with love.

विरक्त्या ज्ञानभक्तिभ्यां तपसा गुरुसेवया ।

यतीश्वराभिधां सार्थां वहते प्रणता वयं ॥

By his detachment, knowledge and devotion, by his asceticism and the service of his Guru he made his name literally true—Yatiswara—the Lord of ascetics. To him we bow in reverence.

स्थिताय ब्रह्मणि परे गुरुसेवपरायच ।

पथिने श्रेयसोऽस्माकं नेत्रे तुभ्यं नमो नमः ॥

Firmly established in the Absolute, and still considering the Master’s service the only purpose of your life, you have led us on the path of the greatest good—to you we offer our homage of devotion.

त्यक्ते देहे नदृशोऽपि ब्रह्मभूतश्चयस्स्वयम् ।

पन्थानि भासयन्तास्ते तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥

Having discarded the body he is no longer to be seen; having become one with the Absolute he still remains himself illumining our paths. We salute the preceptor with gratitude.

मात्रे पित्रे देशिकाय परस्मैब्रह्मणे तथा ।

यतीश्वराय गुरवे भूयो भूयो नमो नमः ॥

We prostrate again and again to the Guru Sri Yatiswarananda who was and continues to be the Mother, the Father, the Teacher, and also the Ultimate Reality to us.

श्रीयतीश्वर स्तोत्रः

SWAMI HARSHANANDA

ध्याने परमात्मविषये कुशलोऽप्रमत्तः

दुःखेन तप्तहृदयान् प्रशशाम बन्धुः ।

यस्स्वं गुरुं प्रतिपदं भजति स्म भक्त्या

स्वामी यतीश्वरगुरुर्जयतु प्रसन्नः ॥

Hail to Swami Yatiswarananda, who was an expert in meditation upon the Supreme God, who was ever balanced, who as a friend brought peace to the troubled souls, who adored his Guru every moment with devotion and was ever at peace!

यस्य भक्तिर्गुरौ स्वस्य दैवभक्त्या समाऽभवत् ।

तीर्यते संसृतेरब्धिर्यस्य मंत्रप्रभासतः ॥

श्वल्कयन् यस्य पावित्र्यं शिष्यस्सर्वोऽनघो भवेत् ।

रागद्वेषौ च भो यस्मिन् नाभूतां जातु सर्वथा ॥

नंदयन् सर्वछात्राणामासीद् हृदयपंकजान् ।

ददातु परमां भक्तिं स नो माता पिता गुरुः ॥

May (Swami) Yatiswarananda who was like a father, mother and guru to us grant us great devotion to God!

His devotion to his guru was equal to his devotion to God!

By the power of the mantra he gave, the ocean of samsara can be crossed.

By praising his purity, all his disciples became sinless.

Attachment and aversion never touched him.

He brought joy to the lotus-hearts of all his disciples.

Swami Yatiswarananda

Life of Swami Yatiswarananda

Translated and abridged from

the Bengali book Amritasya Putra

Birth and Boyhood

Swami Yatiswarananda was born on Wednesday, 16 January 1889 in Nandanpur village of Pabna district in erstwhile East Bengal, now Bangladesh, to Sri Ishan Bhattacharya, a Government school master. His natal star was Punarvasu, ascendant Scorpio and lunar zodiac sign Cancer. The babe was named Suresh and re-named Purnananda at the time of rice-feeding ceremony [annaprashana].

The child grew up in the care of his uncle, his father’s elder brother. Suresh, as the young Suresh Chandra Bhattacharya was lovingly addressed, suffered from knock-feet and had to wear iron shoes as a remedial measure which would often induce fever. Consequently, he would have to visit a physician periodically in a palanquin. On one such occasion, en-route to the doctor, a fakir (mendicant monk) prophesied about his future greatness.

Suresh had his early education in different schools in Rangpur, Jalpaiguri and Calcutta as his father’s was a transferable job. After passing his Entrance Examination he enrolled himself in the Presidency College of Calcutta and took up lodging at the Hindu Hostel.

Suresh had a younger brother and two sisters. His brother had by now taken up the study of medicine. His elder sister was called Surobala but it was the younger sister who was very much attached to Suresh. Later she was to die prematurely just before Suresh would renounce home and hearth.

One day Suresh picked up two books from a College Street book store selling old books. They were The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga. He devoured these books and the course of his life changed for good.

Soon he was visiting Belur Math and one festive day he was lined up with other devotees to offer obeisance to a venerable monk of divine personage who radiated ineffable peace and tranquillity. Suresh touched his feet not once but serially a total of ten times! Later he came to know that ‘venerable monk’ was Swami Brahmananda, Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual son.

Influenced by his deep study of Kathamrita or the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Suresh was longing for a definite approach to his spiritual ideal. But he was unsure as to who his Chosen Ideal (Ishta-devata) was—the Divine Mother Kali or Sri Ramakrishna. One night he dreamt that Sri Ramakrishna held him in his embrace and Suresh was merging in Him. His doubts were dispelled and spiritual clarity restored.

Soon Suresh had to shift from Calcutta to East Bengal. On the bank of the Padma river, along with two friends, Suresh informally vowed life-long celibacy. Though the friends could not keep up their words, Suresh resolutely pursued, living a life of chastity.

In Kolkata and Belur Math

In his academic studies Suresh topped the Calcutta University in the undergraduate examination in Sanskrit. At the same time, his visits to Belur Math became more frequent. Often he stayed there overnight, a fact that worried his mother and other family members who feared he might embrace a life of renunciation. When they entreated him to return home, Suresh was adamant enough to refuse to leave Belur Math. Swami Shuddhananda, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, tried to persuade the Manager of the Math, Swami Premananda, so that Suresh might stay on at the Math for good. But Swami Premananda remained unconvinced. He sent Suresh back home. This only increased his determination to renounce the world.

Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna

One day accompanied by a friend, Suresh set off to see Swami Brahmananda. Swami Premananda was also present there. Brahmananda started reading the palm of Suresh’s friend and said that all was well, but there was some hindrance in his path towards God-realization—although, if Thakur willed so, even such obstacles would dissolve. Swami Brahmananda, however, did not read Suresh’s palm. Crestfallen, he thought that perhaps Maharaj had not deemed him fit for future monkhood.

Earlier, Suresh had been introduced to Swami Brahmananda by Swami Shivananda, another direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. These disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, namely, Brahmananda, Premananda, Shivananda and the like at Belur Math exerted great influence on the minds of the educated youth to lead a holy life. Swamiji had entered Mahasamadhi in 1902 but Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi was guiding the destiny of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, residing sometimes at Kamarpukur, sometimes at Jayarambati and, oftentimes, at Baghbazar in Kolkata.

One day at the gate of Belur Math Suresh was greeted by Swami Brahmananda’s personal attendant with the news that Maharaj had said that Suresh would renounce the world. There was no way the aspirant in Suresh could now be stopped. He wrote to Maharaj in Puri and the reply came to Amulya Maharaj (Swami Shankarananda) that if the boy had courage enough, he could join Maharaj in Puri. Suresh waited no more. He travelled to Puri—on a journey of the alone to the Alone.

With Sri Maharaj at Puri

It was 1911. Suresh arrived at the feet of his Blessed Master. Swami Brahmananda told him the following words which left an indelible impression on his mind: ‘Look, if the body and the mind are given to the world destroys everything; but, if given to God, He keeps everything—body and mind—in good condition.’

Once ‘Maharaj’ (as Swami Brahmananda was reverentially and lovingly called) was going by boat to Dakshineswar along with his companions. Suresh was there in the party. Suddenly Maharaj said, ‘It is a great fortune to reside in Dakshineswar even as a dog.’ Flash came the realization that the Guru is one’s all in the spiritual life. Dakshineswar, the scene of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna’s divine play, was the holiest of pilgrimages, its very dust was divine. Suresh’s devotion to Swami Brahmananda intensified and so did his longing for spiritual initiation. In April 1911, Maharaj initiated Suresh.

In October 1911 Suresh joined the Ramakrishna Order.

When Brahmachari Suresh was at Puri, he was once asked by Sri Maharaj to perform the worship of the Divine Mother Jagaddhatri, at a devotee’s (Atal Babu) house. Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj) was the officiating priest (tantradharaka). While performing the Puja, Brahmachari Suresh had been repeatedly entering the meditative state. Each time Swami Turiyananda had to caution him, ‘Meditation is over, now begin the worship’ and thus make him aware of his surroundings. When the worship was over, Turiyanandaji addressed Yatiswarananda thus: ‘It was commendable that you felt meditative while performing worship but meditation can inordinately delay the completion of worship, the offering of food to the Lord and the distribution of Prasad to devotees. Such a delay is highly unwarranted. Do you know what is our ideal? Whenever we wish to meditate, we will dive within ourselves and lock the doors and windows of our mind. And when necessity dictates otherwise, we will leave behind our meditation and peacefully work for the world out of a spirit of service.’ Such was the illuminating guidance Suresh used to get from the early days of his monastic life by the enlightened spiritual souls.

While recalling his days at Puri, Suresh records, ‘One day Atal Babu asked Maharaj, What kind of a monk was one who did not possess occult powers? Maharaj replied, It is easy to cultivate occult powers, but how hard it is to be pure! Attainment of mental purity is the one thing needed in spiritual life.’

Swami Brahmananda

Another day on a festive occasion Brahmachari Suresh and a few others visited the Jayarambati Temple although Maharaj was a little run down that day with pain in his waist. Presuming that Maharaj’s personal attendant would, after all, be there to care and nurse him, Suresh and his companions spent the day at the temple and returned only after dusk. Maharaj rebuked them sharply for their selfish behaviour and finally said, ‘I do not expect anything from you all. I only wish your well-being and whatever I tell you is for your welfare alone.’ Suresh understood that unflinching devotion and loyalty to the Guru are the essential components of spiritual progress.

One night Maharaj feeling undue warmth in his body asked Suresh to open the window-shutters. A novice in this sort of personal service, Suresh did not quite remember to close the shutters after a while. The result was that Maharaj felt feverish the next day. Maharaj not only did not chide him for his folly but affectionately said, ‘Suresh is a mere boy and does not know things well.’ The disciple, repentant and sorrowful, learned for good the lesson that perfected service to the Guru was the key to unlock the treasures of spiritual life.

Early Days of Monastic Life

At the request of Swami Sharvananda, the head of Madras Math, Suresh was sent to Madras by the President of the Order Swami Brahmananda. Before leaving, Brahmachari Suresh begged for some spiritual instructions from his Guru. Maharaj then solemnly gave him, the message of his life—‘Struggle! Struggle! Struggle!’ These words echoed in Swami Yatiswarananda’s ears and pulsated in every fibre of his spiritual being ever after. Towards the close of 1911 young Suresh came to Madras Math to take charge as Manager there.

Five years rolled by in rigorous routine work of administration that left little opportunity for scriptural studies. When Maharaj arrived at Madras in 1916 he straightaway upbraided Brahmachari Suresh thus: ‘Have I sent you here to do clerical work?’ He then severely admonished Swami Sharvananda (the President of the Madras Math) saying, ‘Depriving the boy of all opportunity to pursue his studies, are you intent on making a clerk out of him?’ The affectionate and protecting Guru thus intervened to help his young disciple to maintain balance between active and contemplative life.

Another day at Madras Maharaj said, ‘The habit of study must be made such that that you will feel unwell if you miss it a single day. If the mind cannot remain on a high spiritual plane all the time, it can at least remain absorbed in studies and will not sink lower.’ Maharaj thus directed Suresh to seriously take up study and spiritual contemplation as also to daily recite Vishnusahasranama. Suresh now lived in divine elation, feeling a sort of mystical union with his Guru of unbounded grace.

In those days, Suresh was a trifle averse to reading the battle-portion of the Chandi (Durga-saptashati or Devi Mahatmyam) where violence and death is described. He had thus never read the Chandi ceremoniously before but had restricted himself to only reciting the prayer hymns. On learning this, Maharaj censured him and directed him to recite the entire Chandi ceremoniously at least once a fortnight. Suresh was asked to recite the Vishnusahasranama and the Chandi for three years. He carried out his Guru’s injunction and derived great benefit.

During Maharaj’s stay in Madras, Maharaj’s personal attentdant Vishwa Maharaj (Swami Hariharananda) used to ask Suresh to get good gingili oil for Maharaj from the market. Accordingly, Suresh would seek out the best oil available for Maharaj’s service. Noticing this, Maharaj one day in a lighter mood remarked, ‘Did I send you here to seek for me good gingili oil?’ Taking all rebukes as expressions of love and grace, he felt happy at all this. His Guru stood revealed in his inexpressible love and the disciple felt drawn ever more to his master.

In 1916 Maharaj went on a pilgrimage to Kanyakumari and other holy places of Southern India. He took Brahmachari Suresh also along with him. Constant company of the Guru in these holiest of places filled Suresh with divine fervour and his merciful Master blessed him by giving him his slippers at the end of the pilgrimage. These slippers, bearing the holy dust of his Guru’s feet, were an invaluable treasure for Suresh. He carried them wherever he went. In fact in later days he used to bless his own disciples with these sacred padukas.

Fearing possible self-conceit Brahmachari Suresh used to avoid writing articles or delivering lectures and would even refrain from spiritual discussions. At the Haripada Ashrama in Travancore (now Kerala), one day Maharaj commanded him thus: ‘Tell others what you hear and learn from us.’

On yet another occasion Maharaj said, ‘Why don’t you write an article every week?’ Suresh replied, ‘What shall I write? No ideas seem to come.’ Maharaj then said, ‘Learn to think deeply and you will find that it will be difficult to cope with the onrush of ideas.’ Swami Yatiswarananda followed this advice and thereafter, he never suffered from want of ideas in his prolific career as spiritual minister and thinker—such was the grace of his master.

While at Bangalore, Maharaj one morning showed Suresh a few physical exercises and exhorted him to do them daily. Suresh added these to his own regimen of indoor exercises remembering the words of his master: ‘Physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual progress must go hand in hand.’

Sannyasa and the Life Thereafter

Seven years had passed by since Suresh left home. Maharaj had often expressed his intent of ordaining Suresh into sannyasa. Some of the brother monks advised the young aspirant to pray to Maharaj in advance for sannyasa. The guileless Suresh prayed thus: ‘Maharaj, if you deem me fit enough, do be gracious to grant me sannyasa.’ The affectionate patriarch replied, ‘None can ever be considered fit for sannyasa, however, I will initiate you into it.’

It took place in Madras Math. On the much-awaited holy day, Suresh felt that Sri Maharaj was vibrating with a strange spiritual fervour. The disciple renounced all—his past life, his body-consciousness, his entire temporal entity in the fire of the Viraja Homa and emerged, renewed, reborn, Swami Yatiswarananda. The young sannyasin prostrated at the feet of his Guru. Swami Brahmananda placed his gracious palm on his head and instantly Yatiswarananda experienced a vast Presence which enveloped his Guru, the universe and himself and merged them in an infinite existence. Flash came the realization of who the Guru was. The truth of the hymn dawned on him: ‘Salutations to the Guru by whose grace has dawned the realization of Him who pervades both the sentient and insentient of this universe.’

After nightfall on the day of initiation into Sannyasa, Swami Yatiswarananda, Swami Sharvananda and other monks gathered around Sri Maharaj who seemed to be residing in a high spiritual realm. Yatiswarananda thought that Sri Maharaj would instruct them about spiritual practices when the venerable Guru broke the silence addressing Yatiswarananda, ‘What spiritual practices will you undertake! Go from door to door spreading the word of God. This in itself is a great austerity.’

Then addressing Sharvananda he said, ‘Sharvananda, these days I very much feel the spiritual mood of Sri Ramanujacharya, that of sounding the holy name of God to all and sundry.’ These words surcharged with spiritual emotion bore their way through to the deepest recesses of young Yatiswarananda’s mind and remained ever etched in his memory as a perennial source of spiritual light and inspiration. He, thereafter, dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the acquisition of knowledge and spiritual insight and even started honing up his communication and oratorical skills by taking spiritual classes and delivering public lectures. Much later, though, did he take up the practice of serious writing.

The old building housing the Madras Math was in a dilapidated condition. The monastery had to be shifted to a rented house. Land for the construction of a new building had already been purchased. Yatiswarananda and Sharvananda could not quite fathom how they would build the new house. When Sri Maharaj arrived at Madras he said that he would lay the foundation-stone of the new building and instructed Sharvananda to collect funds and even to borrow some amount for the purpose. Despite all odds, however, before the year was out, the new Math building was ready for use and was soon consecrated by Sri Maharaj.

That evening after consecration, Suresh was performing the Arati of Sri Ramakrishna when he felt that everything around him was filled by a vast Divine Presence. The picture of Sri Ramakrishna and the living form of Sri Maharaj and the assembled devotees all seemed to be throbbing with that Divine Presence. This experience recurred throughout Swami Yatiswarananda’s life whenever he performed the Arati. It was a blessing of his Guru.

At the Madras Math, Suresh had to do various chores which would allow him little time for study or meditation. On his arrival at Madras Sri Maharaj was quick to notice the hapless state of his disciple and urged him to leave Madras for Bangalore. But Suresh was reluctant. Seeing this Sri Maharaj one day said, ‘You fool! Don’t you understand your own interest? There is no need for you to stay at Madras, any more—proceed to Bangalore.’

In Bangalore

Tulsi Maharaj (Swami Nirmalananda), the President of the Bangalore Ashrama, had earlier requested Swami Brahmananda to send Yatiswarananda to assist him, and Sri Maharaj had more or less acceded to it. In the summer of 1917 Yatiswarananda arrived at Bangalore in deference to his Guru’s wish. Here in the tranquil environs of the monastery, he plunged into spiritual contemplation and scriptural study. He also conducted the Sunday classes at the Ashrama.

The late summer of the same year Swami Yatiswarananda contracted enteric fever with burning sensation in his whole body. He was admitted to the Victoria Hospital in Bangalore. At that time an epidemic of influenza had broken out. It was so acute that one morning an old man, suffering from double pneumonia, was in a critical condition and he was admitted in the hospital and was alloted the bed next to Yatiswarananda’s. By evening he died!

Surprisingly, though Swami Yatiswarananda was suffering from great physical pain, his mind was very clear! And he felt no fear of death. However, being unable to bear any further aggravation of physical suffering, he wished death would be a more welcome guest! As he was pondering thus, he had a vision of Sri Maharaj who said, ‘How can you die? You have yet to do so much of Sri Ramakrishna’s work.’ Saying so, Sri Maharaj disappeared. Yatiswarananda was overwhelmed. A new spiritual fervour swept through him as his eyes streamed a profusion of tears in loving remembrance of his Guru. There was no fear of death whatsoever in his mind, rather he had the wonderful repose of a settled peace and spiritual resignation reigning in his being. Thereafter, his recovery was quick.

After spending more than a year at the Bangalore Ashrama, Yatiswarananda set off on a pilgrimage to some parts of south India. During this pilgrimage, while in today’s Tamilnadu, he merged in meditation, on the banks of a river, subsisting barely on the odd alms that came by, a handful of rice or a few pieces of hand-made bread softened by wetting it in water. His emaciated frame glowed with spiritual light as he came to the conclusion of his year-long austerity, rejuvenated in spirit and mind.

Heartily he now left for Bhubaneshwar to see his beloved Guru at the end of December 1919.

The Bhubaneshwar Math was nearing completion when Swami Yatiswarananda arrived there. This Math, so dear to Swami Brahmananda, was often graced by his divine presence. Here Yatiswarananda now spent his time in the blissful company of his master.

After spending a few days in the refuge of his Guru’s divine Grace, Yatiswarananda had to leave for Calcutta (Belur Math) to escort the ailing Swami Gokulananda.

At Belur Math and Darshan of Holy Mother at Udbodhan

It was already a few months that Yatiswarananda was spending happy days at Belur Math. Shortly before Swamiji’s birth anniversary in 1920 Swami Brahmananda arrived at the Math. A wave of bliss flooded the Math premises. The Brahmacharis and Sannyasins used to gather in Sri Maharaj’s living room to meditate and chant hymns. Swami Yatiswarananda too joined this divine company.

Ten years had passed by in Swami Yatiswarananda’s life as a renunciate. Yet, Yatiswarananda had not as yet been blessed with the vision (Darshan) of the Holy Mother in her earthly personage. Now as Yatiswarananda stood at the door of the Udbodhan Ashrama (also called Holy Mother’s house) the long wait was over.

Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

However, Swami Yatiswarananda was apprehensive that he might inadvertently cause the displeasure of Golap Ma, Mother’s attendant and constant companion, who had set up a delicate code of conduct for monastics and devotees. But when the blessed moment came all presumptions were swept away in the Divine Presence as Mother stood in the centre of her room blessing her children. When Yatiswarananda lay prostrate at her feet, her face was partially covered by veil. But when he rose, the veil had been lifted and Yatiswarananda was blessed with the rare vision of Mother’s full face. Mother placed her palm over his head and blessed him thus: ‘May Thakur preserve your sannyasa.’

Never again could Yatiswarananda meet the Holy Mother! But this solitary vision and the benediction thereof remained so deeply engraved in his heart that till the last day of his life he tangibly felt the protective hands of the Holy Mother!

After spending a few days at the Mother’s house at Udbodhan, Yatiswarananda returned to Belur Math. But soon he was asked to proceed to Varanasi to personally attend to the ailing Swami Turiyananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.

In the Service of Swami Turiyananda at Varanasi

Arriving at Varanasi, sometime in May 1920, Yatiswarananda geared up himself to serve Swami Turiyananda with great dedication, even blissfully washing the bed-pan of the Swami. Turiyananda used to say, ‘These lads serve my physical body, and I in turn serve their mental bodies.’ Yatiswarananda had first met Swami Turiyananda in 1911 at Belur Math and it was Swami Turiyananda who had in consultation with Swami Brahmananda named Brahmachari Suresh, Nityachaitanya, when he was sent to Madras Math earlier. To make good the meaning of the name, Swami Turiyananda now spared no means to spiritually guide his beloved attendant. Thus at Varanasi Yatiswarananda came into close contact with him.

Once when Yatiswarananda was massaging the swollen feet of Swami Turiyananda, in a moment of carelessness, his nails peeled off the Swami’s epidermis at places. Pained, the Swami called out, ‘Be a little careful, son, this body has completely rotted for I have not served Thakur and Swamiji well enough. Now apply a little spirit.’ Yatiswarananda was deeply penitent. Despite the utmost care he had hurt a great monk and yet how thoughtful Swami Turiyananda was! Turiyananda’s love for Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda echoed in his ears: ‘I have not served Thakur and Swamiji well enough.’ These few words loaded with Swami Turiyananda’s ineffable love for Thakur and Swamiji overwhelmed Yatiswarananda and gave a new direction to his attitude towards the worshipful service of humanity.

The paternal uncle who with father’s love had tended Yatiswarananda in infancy was now spending his twilight years in Varanasi. The deeply sensitive Swami Turiyananda sent Suresh to pacify his uncle with his service and to seek his blessings for did not Sri Ramakrishna say that one’s spiritual life would be reduced to nought if one’s parents were not pleased? All was well by Thakur’s grace and Suresh bearing the blessings of his uncle returned to the service of Swami Turiyananda.

One day Yatiswarananda remarked that self-surrender was not after all such a difficult feat to achieve. Instantly Turiyananda corrected him saying, ‘True self-surrender is possible only when like the proverbial bird that had set out to fly ashore from the mast of a ship in mid-ocean but then returned weary of the effort, cluless as to where land was, and sat in perfect resignation upon the mast, the yogi having expended all his energy in attaining to the Truth and yet failing to grasp the incomprehensible, sat in perfect resignation in utter dependence upon Providence to show the way.’

Swami Vivekananda

Strange are the ways of these mad lovers of God and stranger their modes of teaching! One day Swami Turiyananda sent Suresh on an errand but the latter instead of scrupulously following instruction acted on his own impulse and incurred the displeasure of the venerable monk. A volley of rebuke followed whereupon beholding Yatiswarananda’s sad face, a strangely tranquil Turiyanandaji consoled him saying, ‘Don’t you feel nervous.’ No sooner had Yatiswarananda gathered his wits on hearing these comforting words than the saint once more embarked on a verbal tirade. Yatiswarananda was dumbfounded at this strange alternation of the Swami’s moods. But, his own spiritual insight made him realize that Swami Turiyananda’s real intention was to help him overcome the obstacles in his spiritual path and could understand that this was only a surface phenomenon. Swami Turiyananda had revealed on another occasion that illumined souls out of compassion scold the aspirants and thus remove the dirt accumulated from birth to birth.

Swami Turiyananda said to Yatiswarananda, ‘Know your brother disciples to be none other than your Guru.’ He also told him, ‘nayamatma pravachanena labhyah [‘This Atman cannot be attained by mere lecturing or sharp intellect’—Kathopanishad]—practice hard, be up and doing now, surely the Lord will bless.’ These words remained imprinted in Yatiswarananda’s mind. Then he referred to the following song of Ramprasad:

‘O my mind, you know not how to farm,

Such human soil went fallow O mind,

Would have reaped gold if tilled well.’

Referring to this song Yatiswarananda enquired of Swami Turiyananda about the concept of the mystic seed-formula. Swami Turiyananda replied, ‘The tree is potential in the seed. Ceaseless self-effacing spiritual practice leads to spiritual absorption, and self-realization then becomes easy to attain. Without dedicated spiritual practice no attainment is possible in spiritual life. He who is calm, pure and self-surrendered realizes God. Realization is the soul of Vedanta and realization is the fruit of hard spiritual labour. The scriptures are but the messengers of the One Ultimate Truth. Whosoever the sportive Lord chooses to reveal the Truth alone can comprehend It. We live only to behold the Beloved, to do His work as an instrument in the hands of Providence. Such a state of utter self-effacement and resignation indeed is the state of the living free’.

Swami Turiyananda

Once during an informal talk with Yatiswarananda, Swami Turiyananda said, ‘Sannyasa is a knotty problem. Those who can freely fall from atop a tree are truly deserving of sannyasa.’

In this way Swami Turiyananda was guiding Yatiswarananda in his spiritual life for a full ten years often by personal contact and often through correspondence.

Swami Subodhananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna held Yatiswarananda in high regard. He used to say, ‘You want to see a real sadhu; then watch Suresh.’ A rare compliment from an illumined saint reveals the spiritual attainments of Yatiswarananda before. He said this on many occasions.

M, or Mahendranath Gupta, the chronicler of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, was fond of young Yatiswarananda. When M was composing his magnum opus he used to be in the company of many a devotee among which numbered Yatiswarananda. From his college days through the following two decades Yatiswarananda frequented M’s house and learnt the Ramakrishna lore in the hallowed company of this blessed disciple of the Master.

Swami Yatiswarananda had also been blessed in meeting Girish Chandra Ghosh, the Bohemian disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and witnessed the profound devotion and faith that a devotee may have for the Master.

Master Mahashay (M.)

Last days with his Guru at Varanasi

When Swami Yatiswarananda was totally engaged in the service of Swami Turiyananda, sometime in 1921, Swami Brahmananda visited the Varanasi Sevashrama and the Advaita Ashrama. From the divine hearts of these two spiritual children of Sri Ramakrishna outpoured a flood of bliss which surcharged the atmosphere of the Ashramas.

One day in response to his Guru’s query about his spiritual progress Yatiswarananda said, ‘I feel as if there is no inner awakening in me. So I do not feel quite at peace with myself. It seems we have been born with some bad samskaras (mental impressions) which prove to be hindrances in our spiritual growth.’ The wise one replied, ‘Do not think that way. Chant the Holy Name in the dead of night. Do Purashcharana (a ritual involving a particular number of Japa). Inner awakening will spontaneously follow.’

Another day, Yatiswarananda approached his Guru seeking inner peace. Sri Maharaj rose from his seat and paced up towards Yatiswarananda and within a short while gave him many spiritual instructions. He told, Yatiswarananda, ‘Your mind becomes restless only because you don’t want to do what I tell you to do.’ Then, placing his palm on the disciple’s head, blessed him from the silent depths of his being and filled the heart of the disciple to overflowing peace.

One morning, however, while serving Swami Turiyananda, Yatiswarananda felt an inner crumbling and a piteous wail emanating from the depth of his being. Tears streamed down his cheeks in an endless flow as he experienced a deep sense of inner resignation to the Divine. He understood that it was the sport of his Guru who was thus graciously dissolving the impediments in his mind and granting him the settled peace of divine submission.

On another occasion Yatiswarananda along with Swamis Shuddhananda, Madhavananda, and some other monks was seated near Swami Brahmananda, after offering their prostrations at his feet. Swami Brahmananda asked Yatiswarananda at the very outset, ‘How are your spiritual practices going on?’ When Yatiswarananda replied, ‘There is much work to do which leaves me not enough time for spiritual practice’. Maharaj corrected him thus: ‘It is wrong to think that there isn’t time enough for spiritual practice because of the pressures of work. It is owing to the restlessness of the mind that one tends to think like that.’ And this opened the flood-gates of Sri Maharaj’s speech as he flowed into a cascade of words replete with spiritual wisdom and divine inspiration.

With great fervour he said, ‘One should prepare the mind by performing work and worship together.’ Those words of practical wisdom of Swami Brahmananda that day have been preserved for posterity in the chapter entitled ‘Work and Worship’ of the book The Eternal Companion. The spiritual instructions were especially addressed to Yatiswarananda. A special bond of love was also forged that day between Swami Madhavananda, Swami Yatiswarananda and the other brother monks. Sri Maharaj said, ‘Just as Madhavananda is dear to me, so are you Suresh and so are all of you here and elsewhere.’

In later life, reflecting on this utterance of his Guru, Swami Yatiswarananda would feel increasingly endeared to all those who were blessed with Sri Maharaj’s love. Sri Maharaj loved Holy Mother’s disciples and his own disciples equally for to him all these were the true children of Sri Ramakrishna and had flocked to fulfil the mission of the Master and Swamiji. Sri Maharaj drove home this point even more emphatically one day when he specifically addressed Yatiswarananda thus: ‘By doing the work of Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji in the true spirit of adoration bondage can never come. Rather, it conduces to spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical wellbeing and enhancement. Therefore, surrender your lot at their feet; offer them your body, mind and soul and be a slave unto them.’

This instruction of Sri Maharaj and others of a like origin and import were spiritual seeds that got planted deep within Yatiswarananda’s mind which in the fullness of time helped him blossom into the perfected sage that he became. These utterances of his Guru became the bulwark of his spiritual life and led him ever safe and secure along the royal avenue of spiritual fulfillment.

Through the devoted service of Yatiswarananda, Swami Turiyanandaji was slowly convalescing from illness. His Guru, Swami Brahmananda now felt that Yatiswarananda should go to Mayavati to take charge of Prabuddha Bharata, the Order’s monthly journal. But he did not expressly say anything to Yatiswarananda. Swamis Shuddhananda and Madhavananda approached Yatiswarananda regarding this but the latter declined.

Shortly after this, one morning, as Yatiswarananda went to offer his salutations at Sri Maharaj’s feet, his Guru said, ‘Look, they all wish that you should go to Mayavati and take charge of Prabuddha Bharata.’ The unhesitant disciple replied, ‘Maharaj, if you order, I will surely go.’ Sri Maharaj was much pleased with this reply and forthwith blessed him. It was settled that he would depart for Mayavati.

Ever since his joining the Order ten years ago, he had been wanting to speak to Swami Brahmananda in seclusion. Something or the other seemed to have always intervened and denied him this opportunity. While in Madras, Swami Brahmananda had told Yatiswarananda that he would take him along with him to Bengal when he returned but later sent him to Bangalore instead. Again, towards the end of 1919, when Yatiswarananda went to the Bhubaneshwar Math, Sri Maharaj could not keep him long there as he had to be sent to Math to accompany an ailing monk. Swami Yatiswarananda thus felt hurt and disquiet within himself.

Mayavati, 1923

Swamis Nikhilananda, unknown, Abhayananda, unknown, unknown,

Vividishananda, Madhavananda, Yatiswarananda (sitting in the middle),

Atmabodhananda, Atulananda

Now when he was in Varanasi in 1921 on the auspicious 59th birthday of Swami Brahmananda, Kali Puja was performed to mark the occasion. Yatiswarananda thought over a plan. He thought that the following evening when all would be busy in the immersion of Mother Kali’s image in the Ganga, he would quietly go to Swami Brahmananda. So did he, and that too without any prior intimation. But when he entered Sri Maharaj’s room he found there Swami Visuddhananda and Peta Puri in the company of Sri Maharaj. The moment Sri Maharaj saw Yatiswarananda, he exclaimed like a child, ‘Look, what a yogi I am!’ Swami Yatiswarananda was given to understand that a little while ago Sri Maharaj had asked Peta Puri to see if Swami Yatiswarananda had arrived, for Maharaj had known all along that he would.

There was unhindered talk between Guru and disciple that day. Sri Maharaj said that earlier, when Yatiswarananda visited Bhubaneshwar, he had a tendency to rove. Hence he promptly dispatched Yatiswarananda to Bengal knowing that this was but a passing phase of his mind. Sri Maharaj wished that Yatiswarananda would quickly get out of this state of mind and settle after getting the necessary experience. The disciple felt humbled at the deep concern his Guru had for him and forged a fresher bond with his preceptor now that his doubts had been dispelled, depression dissolved and mind uplifted by the grace of his Guru.

Perhaps, this was the befitting end to it all for Yatiswarananda never saw his Guru again in the latter’s earthly sojourn. Soon after that eventful day, Sri Maharaj left Varanasi for Belur Math—for good. They did not meet again. But the divine inspiration which he had quickened in his disciple’s heart forever changed the course of the young aspirant’s life as he blossomed into a spiritual personage of deep inner realization.

During Swami Brahmanandaji’s visit to Varanasi in January 1921 Swami Saradananda also had accompanied him. Swami Turiyananda was also there, convalescing from illness. Since May 1920 Yatiswarananda had been his personal attendant. Now, in the presence of the three direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, the Varanasi Ashrama was a mart of divine bliss, a veritable confluence of Jnana, Bhakti and Karma. Young Yatiswarananda drank deep of the eternal fountain of the spirit set aflow by these radiant beings. Thus Swami Yatiswarananda had the rare opportunity to meet five of Thakur’s direct disciples, namely, Swamis Premananda, Shivananda, Brahmananda, Turiyananda and Saradananda.

In obedience to the command from his Guru, Yatiswarananda was preparing himself to take up the next assignment. Thus came to an end the days at Varanasi. Soon Swami Yatiswarananda was off to the heights of snowclad Mayavati—to take up the editing of Prabuddha Bharata, the English monthly published from there.

At Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, and later

Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, cradled in the Himalayas, is a serene, uplifting place. When Swami Yatiswarananda reached there in 1921, he was overwhelmed by the sublime beauty and surpassing tranquillity of the place. Swami Yatiswarananda felt a deep inwardness of Spirit.

He took up the work of editing of Prabuddha Bharata. His days were spent in endless study, writing, editing and tending to every little detail of the magazine.

But it was not just dull mountainous monotony that the monks endured in Mayavati. Often it was interspersed with the spice of practical humour manifesting even at midnight! Like it happened once on Christmas Eve when the midnight gong awakened Swami Yatiswarananda with a start who hurried out of his room to check the time by the Ashrama clock. Finding it to be midnight and not quite understanding how the Ashrama bell had sounded thus at that hour instead of the customary hour of dawn at 4 0’clock, the bemused monk retired to his room—while Swami Vireswarananda and the other members of the midnight Christmas party standing in the distance unnoticed had their heart’s full of innocent delight. Next morning as the news broke even Yatiswarananda broke off with the others in uproarious laughter!

Swami Brahmananda passed away on 10 April 1922 in Kolkata. He was 59. Yatiswarananda got the news in the Mayavati Ashrama. Forthwith flashed memories of his beloved Guru. Bereavement, benediction, blessedness! Three months eleven days later, on 21 July 1922 Swami Turiyananda passed away.

Mayavati, 1923

Back row : unknown, Swamis Abhayananda, Atmabodhananda,

Yatiswarananda, Nikhilananda, unknown

Middle row : Swamis Srivasananda, Madhavananda and Atulananda,

Rebecca and Sarah Fox

Front row : Mrs Cooke, Swami Vividishananda, unknown

Swami Yatiswarananda worked as the editor of Prabuddha Bharata from 1921 to 1924. Soon summons from the plains came as the Belur Math authorities decided to appoint him as the President of the Mumbai Ashrama.

Consequently, the 35 year old Swami Yatiswarananda took charge of the Mumbai Ashrama in 1924. In the beginning of 1925, the President of the Order Swami Shivananda visited the Mumbai Math and laid the foundation-stone at the newly acquired Math premises on 6 February 1925. It was after a long lapse of 15 years that Swami Yatiswarananda met Swami Shivananda. He served him like a devoted servant ever waiting on his command.

On 26 December 1926 Swami Shivananda installed the image of Sri Ramakrishna in the Mumbai Ashrama.

For next two years Swami Yatiswarananda devoted himself to the building up of the Mumbai Ramakrishna Ashrama, making it a leading centre of light and learning in Western India.

March of Events

Towards the end of 1926, Swami Yatiswarananda was appointed as the President of the Madras Math. Here, nine years ago Swami Brahmananda had formally initiated Brahmachari Nityachaitanya into sannyas and the young monk began his spiritual sojourn as Swami Yatiswarananda.

It was at that time that the Brahmachari Prabhu Maharaj joined the Madras Math and had felt instantly drawn to Brahmachari Nityachaitanya. These two young seekers of the spirit grew up into mature spiritual stalwarts as Swami Yatiswarananda and Swami Vireswarananda.

When Swami Yatiswarananda took up the reins of the Madras Math in 1927, there were many administrative and financial challenges facing the Math. He also had to manage the Vedanta Kesari, the monthly which had succeeded Brahmavadin in 1914.

Swami Yatiswarananda was thus totally engaged in diverse activities of the Mission in south India, travelling, preaching and developing the Madras Math. On 7 April 1928 Swami Yatiswarananda was elected as the trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission—at the age of 39.

In November 1930 Swami Yatiswarananda went on a spiritual retreat and around this time among other places he visited Deoghar and spent some days in the green and secluded ambience of the Ramakrishna Mission’s residential school there.

Swami Yatiswarananda (seated on chair, 2nd from right) with other monks

A group photo taken at Ramakrishna Math, Madras before 1933

After a few weeks of spiritual seclusion and with refreshed nerves and spirit, Swami Yatiswarananda returned to the whirl of activity in the Madras Math.

It was during this time, in 1933, that a letter from Herr Wolfram Koch, a wealthy German living in a small town in the Rhineland of West Germany, addressed to the President of the Belur Math arrived. Spiritual earnestness of the devotee struck a sympathetic cord in the heart of Swami Shivananda. Thus the Belur Math authorities decided to send Swami Yatiswarananda in order to meet the spiritual demands of the devotees of Wiesbaden in Germany. His saintly life and vast erudition in Eastern and Western thought made him an ideal choice for the European mission.

In response to Swami Shivananda’s letter, on September 22, 1933, Yatiswarananda left for Calcutta. On reaching Belur Math he headed for the President’s quarters to seek his blessings. Those assembled saw how this aged and infirm monk, whose right side of the body was paralysed and speech lost, drew Yatiswarananda to his left side and blessed him long and deep with the left palm kept on his head.

All arrangements had been made for the grand departure to the West when Swami Yatiswarananda for a moment felt an unsettling emptiness somewhere in his being. But the next moment he was enveloped by an all-encompassing feeling of the Divine Vastness permeating the whole of creation and distance melted away like fine mist before the radiance of the morning sun as Swami Yatiswarananda sailed for Wiesbaden, Germany.

In Germany and Europe

Swami Yatiswarananda came to Wiesbaden, Germany, in November 1933 at a time when Germany was in economic and political turmoil. The socio-political atmosphere was tense following the Great Depression and there was widespread racial hatred that was spitting venom into the psyche of the German masses. In such a frenzied mental climate in Germany descended the serene Swami Yatiswarananda, bearing the age-old wisdom of India.

Work began with Wiesbaden’s devoted band of about a dozen disciples. Swami Yatiswarananda gradually introduced them to the different disciplines of Vedantic thought and guided them in practical spirituality. News spread to surrounding towns and cities and Yatiswarananda was invited there to interact with local devotees. In this way two years went by.

In Germany, Swami Yatiswarananda’s principal help was Herr Koch. He supported Yatiswarananda both financially and materially. There was also Fraulein Emma Wool and a few other devoted ladies who supported the cause. These dedicated souls soaked themselves in the pristine teachings of the Vedic sages and spiritualized their lives for good at a time when the German masses were rushing headlong into the impending World War.

Some thirty years later, Fraulein Emma Wool dispatched a bunch of letters written to her by Swami Yatiswarananda to a disciple of the Swami with the words, ‘Please remember these letters are my everything. Therefore, do return them to me after completion of your work.’ These letters have since been published in the book Divine Light. The content of the letters show Yatiswarananda’s deep concern for his German disciples and the letters are replete with the supreme spiritual wisdom of a saint.

He also started guiding devoted groups of earnest seekers in different Swiss cities, Zurich, St. Moritz, Geneva and Lausanne. These groups were small study-circles where informal talks were given by the Swami to earnest seekers and their spiritual progress furthered gradually. Moreover these centres had been kept interlinked or else work would fall apart. Accordingly, Yatiswarananda made Zurich his headquarters in Switzerland and from there transited to all the centres in the different cities to keep alive the flickering flame of spirituality in the hearts of all the devotees.

The Swami stayed on in Zurich for eight months. Of that the first six months were spent in founding the work, gathering a select group of spiritual seekers who were eager to learn and live by the principles enshrined in the holy texts of the Vedanta philosophy.

On 5 April and 8 April 1937 Yatiswarananda delivered two lectures on Vedanta to an audience of sixty people. Some 15 to 20 of the audience got attracted to the teachings and formed a study-circle to learn from him. The study-circle later expanded to include formal classes, informal talks and question-answer sessions. Till end of June the Zurich work was conducted by Swami Yatiswarananda himself before his spiritual calling beckoned him to Geneva and Lausanne enroute to St. Moritz where he reached by end of July.

Swami Yatiswarananda at Madras Math - before 1933

Swami Yatiswarananda had wished to take a few days’ rest in the serene atmosphere of St. Moritz but his hectic schedule would not allow him such relief. He left for Paris and on the way touched upon Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva once more. In each of these cities the Swami stayed for a few days to activate the movement there before finally reaching Paris.

He settled down in Paris with a small group of spiritual seekers and in his characteristic manner laid before them the secrets of Indian mysticism and the principles of the Vedanta philosophy. One day in one of his classes a lady asked him, ‘Swami, do you not believe that planets and stars can influence the destiny of human affairs?’ The Swami firmly replied, ‘I believe in Him who governs the destiny of stars and planets.’ It struck a deep cord in the hearts of the devotees assembled motivating them to seek the Divine within. He thus look leave of his devotees in Paris while leaving for Hague in December 1937.

In Hague devotees started gathering around Swami Yatiswarananda to form a study-circle. Informal talks, formal classes on the Vedantic scriptures and even a few lectures on the Vedanta Philosophy by the Swami kept the audience enthralled. Four months thus elapsed for the Dutch devotees in a heightened spiritual atmosphere and now it was time for Swami Yatiswarananda to visit London and Paris for a few days before spending the autumn of 1938 from August to October in St. Moritz once again.

Continuous travel and work in the continent had wearied Swami Yatiswarananda and he returned to St. Moritz, the tranquil Alpine resort, to freshen his nerves. At the start of October he visited Zurich and thence returned to The Hague.

Having ministered to the Dutch devotees in Hague for more than a year till July 1939, Swami Yatiswarananda set off for the Swedish capital of Stockholm at the invitation of ‘The Society of Theosophists’. In August 1939, he delivered lectures on the Bhagavad Gita in English to members of the Society which was interpreted in Swedish for ease of communication.

From August 1939 to April 1940 Swami Yatiswarananda preached for nine months at a stretch in Sweden fulfilling the spiritual aspirations of many a devotee, holding aloft the sublime spiritual ideals of Eternal India at a time when Europe was plunged in the cataclysm of the Second World War.

On 3 September 1939, England and France had declared war on Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland. Swami Yatiswarananda was then in Sweden. By April 1940 arrangements had been made for the Swami to leave for the United States of America as the Scandinavian countries were under attack from the Nazis.

At about this time Yatiswarananda heard one day a divine commandment saying, ‘Go to Bergen’. Forthwith the Swami left for this Norwegian port, boarded the first ship for America and set sail on the North Sea. Within hours Norway fell to German army. The German fleet sealed off Bergen and the other Norwegian ports. It was 9 April 1940. The last ship had left the Norwegian shores of Bergen. It carried Swami Yatiswarananda.

Sad with the turn of events and anxious about the safety of devotees, Swami Yatiswarananda crossed the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans to reach the shores of America.

In Philadelphia—America

At first, for a period of 18 months, Swami Yatiswarananda thoroughly studied the work of propagation of the Vedanta in America. Swami Prabhavananda, a brother-disciple of Swami Yatiswarananda, was then the head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. When Swami Prabhavananda took a brief leave of six months due to illness, Swami Yatiswarananda had to take charge of the Centre. Vedanta classes and lectures carried on as before.

Swami Yatiswarananda - 11 February, Nerotal

Later Swami Yatiswarananda travelled to New York where Swami Bodhananda and Swami Nikhilananda were ably conducting the Vedantic work in New York. In December 1942 Swami Yatiswarananda prepared to commence his work of propagation of the Vedanta in Philadelphia while maintaining his connection with the twin Centres of New York.

In December 1942 on 1808 Pyne Street, Swami Yatiswarananda started the Philadelphia Vedanta Centre with the help of a few devotees. Located at the estuary of the Delware river, Philadelphia is an important port and industrial centre of America.

Now the 53-year old Swami Yatiswarananda stood in his place, mature in spiritual wisdom and pouring forth his knowledge into the minds and hearts of earnest seekers. Work at the Vedanta Centre began at least two hours before sun-rise. Meditation, spiritual discussions, readings from the scriptures and their analyses, question-answer sessions and elucidation of the finest points of Vedantic discrimination, all these formed part of the routine of the Vedanta Society. Swami Yatiswarananda poured his heart out to enliven this centre.

Of course, Swami Yatiswarananda remembered his ardent friends and disciples in Europe. He was ever praying for their physical and spiritual well-being. Whenever news—tragic and appalling—came from distant Germany undergoing unthinkable distress and suffering in the World War, he felt pained. To a grief-stricken mother who had written to Swami Yatiswarananda, he wrote,

‘Pray that the departed soul may have a higher destination. In this theatre of life each one has but to play his part. One party of actors depart only to be replaced by another party. . . . Whenever the thought arise that you have none to call your own, ever remember that He is there ever for you. Also, forget not to read the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna daily.’

Receiving this letter the grief-stricken mother found solace.

In this way six years passed by. The people of Philadelphia became acquainted with the Vedanta philosophy. However, Swami Yatiswarananda was now hearing the call of his motherland. He thus decided to return to India via Europe where he would halt for some time to meet his disciples. As there was no one who could conduct the services at Philadelphia in his absence, Swami Yatiswarananda had to shut down the Philadelphia centre after building it up for six years. In later years he would recall in a lighter vein, ‘I created, preserved and destroyed the Philadelphia centre; all three I did.’

Swami Yatiswarananda in USA

Swami Yatiswarananda left Philadelphia for New York. On 7 July 1948 he boarded the ship from New York port for France.

Towards India

After nine long years of spiritual ministration in the United States of America Swami Yatiswarananda turned towards Europe enroute to India where awaited his arrival with eager expectancy his long-lost disciples of war-ravaged Europe. France, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden—these were to be his halting places. Swami Yatiswarananda chose the ‘Centre Vedantique-Ramakrishna’ of Gretz in France to be the centre of his second stay in Europe.

He was among familiar faces of his old devotees in Paris. Ten years had elapsed since the World War had separated them. From Paris Swami Yatiswarananda visited Zurich, Wiesbaden, The Hague, Hamburg and Stockholm before returning to Paris. In this way for six months Swami Yatiswarananda revisited these European cities, filling up the empty souls of his war-ravaged students with fresh hope.

An interesting conversation took place between a lady devotee in Holland and Swami Yatiswarananda:

Lady: Why must I remember the name of God so often?

Swami Y: How often do you remember your body?

Lady: Oh, that goes on throughout the day.

Swami Y: Imagine then, how often you will have to forget your body to harmonize your spiritual life. The mind which is bound in this body tends to forget the Lord, ever busy with the body, thoughts of the Divine elude the mind. Therefore, mental chant is the highest; next in line is chanting counting the numbers on the fingers. Lowest is chanting on beads. The mind must be concentrated through habitual spiritual practice which will culminate in God-realization.

In the month of November 1948 Swami Yatiswarananda visited Sweden. After nine and half years he once again met his old devotees and disciples.

While in Stockholm, Swami Yatiswarananda delivered a lecture at the Theosophical Society. Ten years earlier it was this Society that had invited Swami Yatiswarananda to Sweden.

Having re-established his lost links with his European friends, devotees and disciples and having drawn many a new devotee to the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement, Yatiswarananda had spent nearly seventeen years in Western Europe and USA teaching Vedanta. But Swamiji was a ‘true teacher’ in the sense that the ‘learner’ in him was ever awake to absorb the best in the entirely new situations he was placed in. Enrichment of his experiences in the West enabled him to adopt some of the noblest aspects in that culture. For instance, while in the West he became interested in the ‘Sunday Schools’ and their efforts for promoting religious and moral ideas among the young. One of the strong pulls which made him return to India in 1950 was his desire to work for the young and help in training them to be worthy citizens of a free country (India had achieved political independence in 1947). Later, when he was placed in charge of Banga­lore centre, he got the novel idea of starting—Vivekananda Balaka Sangha—which was ‘An Experiment in Character-Building for the Young’.

Swami Yatiswarananda now prepared to sail for India. He left Sweden for Paris from where he would board the ship for his beloved motherland.

Back to India

Swami Yatiswarananda arrived a few days after India became a Republic on 26 January 1950. He was overwhelmed on stepping into the hallowed precincts of the Belur Math in February 1950. In May 1950 Yatiswarananda wrote to his Swedish disciple Ashid Angstrom, ‘I am in great bliss in Belur Math. Its very air is surcharged with the highest spiritual current. The mind naturally feels inclined to rise to a higher plane here. You will find great joy if