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

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 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365171956

Book preview

Math

‘Well, I Am Alright!’

DR P K BHASKAR¹

My coming in touch with revered Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj has to be seen through the association which my family has had with the Ramakrishna Movement. It would be, therefore, appropriate to mention it first.

My father, late Sri Kodandapani, had the blessed fortune of seeing Swami Vivekananda during his triumphant visit to Madras in 1897. My father was six years old then and was carried by his father on his shoulders to the procession in which Swamiji was brought to Ice House. He saw Swamiji somewhere near Chintadripet, a place close to Marina Beach in Madras. Later, during forties and fifties, many senior monks of the Order like Swami Aseshanandaji, Swami Asanganandaji, Swami Sarvajnanandaji and others visited my father to ask how Swamiji looked like! Of course, my father had his dim memories of Swamiji and he used to share it with them. ‘Yes, I remember Swamiji—he had long hair,’ a reference to the fact that Swamiji did not shave his head, as it is custom with monks, during his stay at West and came to India with long hair.

My father worked in the Binny & Co. Shipping Agents, and would come to Mylapore Ramakrishna Math every Saturday. He worked as a volunteer when the pedestal for Sri Ramakrishna in the Mylapore Old Shrine was being set up. He was also associated with Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home through the Kripa Amateur Party, the singers’ group that would go to Malaysia and Singapore for music-performances in order to raise funds for the Students’ Home. My elder sister and her husband were initiated by revered Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj. In our house, therefore, we knew nothing but celebrating the birthdays of the Holy Trio as the days of festivities and celebration.

It was with my father that I first came to Math. I was ten or eleven year old then. In those days, I would visit the shrine and also used to work as a volunteer in the Ashrama and was removing the plantain leaves after the devotees’ feeding.

In 1959, when I was 21 years old, I had the good fortune of coming in touch with revered Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj. I do not remember having been suggested by anyone to take initiation. I felt interested and when I requested for initiation, I was asked to come on the previous day of the initiation for a personal interview with revered Maharaj. When I came on that day, Maharaj asked me some simple questions as to whether I had read the lives of Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji.

On the day of initiation, we were only four aspirants. We were asked to come after taking bath, and without eating anything. There was no dress code specified. I remember having brought flowers and fruits but no Pranami (money) for offering to the Guru! We were initiated in the corner room in ground floor of the ‘Holy Mother’s Centenary Annexe 1953’ in the Mylapore Math. That room is now used for computer work. We were called one by one. Revered Maharaj gave me the mantra and explained its meaning. The initiation took place around 10.30 in the morning.

My later associations with revered Maharaj were mainly in the form of my short visits to Bangalore Ashrama where he used to reside (in the stone building – Sri Ramakrishna Centenary building ). Whenever I would go there, I would often walk with him from his room to the temple in the morning or evening. He would make Pranams in the shrines and return. I would accompany him back to his room.

Swami Yatiswarananda

(photo taken in the West)

On one such visit, revered Maharaj expressed that my frequent visits to Bangalore were not required because I used to make enquiries about his health too often! Once I stayed in Bangalore a bit longer with a friend of mine who hailed from the royal family of Vijayanagara. I also introduced a wealthy friend to revered Maharaj. As I was spending much time with my friends at Bangalore Ashrama, revered Maharaj desired that I should go back to Madras and expressed that I can spend my time more meaningfully at Madras. That was a timely piece of advice!

Once I asked him whether I should join the monastic order. He replied, ‘Who asked you? Tell me the name of the sadhu who asked you? When the call comes, then you can join.’ And ‘the call’ never came!

Swami Yatiswaranandaji’s book Adventures in Religious Life had just been published then. I used to purchase several copies and present them to my friends. I would request for his autographs and he would mostly write, ‘May the Almighty purify your mind, protect you, guide you and bless you. Om.’

I once had a doubt whether I could offer flowers to revered Maharaj’s picture as he was my guru. But there was a conflict in my mind: we offer flowers only to persons who are no longer alive. With great hesitation I approached him and said that since I have a picture of him, whether it was all right for me to offer flowers to his picture. He asked me, ‘Why do you keep my picture?’ I just blurted out that I must have his picture. He kept silent for some time and then said, ‘You can offer flowers.’

As I had just become a doctor, I used to take extra interest and inquire about his health. He did not approve of it. He would say, ‘Well, I am alright!’ but still I would ask him about his health quite often. On one such occasion, when I went to his room, he was sitting on his cot and I asked him how he was keeping. In response, he got up with a short jump, drew his dhoti up to his thighs, and patting the thighs with hands as wrestlers do before wrestling, and he said to me, ‘I am doing well. See, how strong I am! Touch, and see, how strong I am.’ That was the end of my frequent inquiries.

I remember during his last visit to Madras, when he was on his way to Belur Math, I met him. I asked him if he was interested in going to Marina beach. He agreed. I asked my friend Ramnath Pai to get his car and they drove to the beach and I followed on my scooter. Revered Maharaj sat seriously in the car. When Ramnath reached the Beach, he went in front of the Ice House (now called Vivekanandar Illam or Vivekananda House). There is a statue of Swami Vivekananda (unveiled on the occasion of Swamiji’s Centenary, 1963) next to the Ice House. Ramnath just drove past it. But revered Maharaj wanted to bow down to Swamiji’s statue. So asked for the car to be reversed. Ramnath Pai reversed the car and revered Maharaj quietly bowed down to Swamiji from the car itself.

Later, we halted the car at the beach. Revered Maharaj came out, walked just a few steps and stood there. ‘Take me back to the car,’ he soon said. He was too sick to walk. We simply followed what he said.

Next morning, we went to the Madras Airport later to see him off. I bowed to him there. I felt this was last time I was having his Darshan and later I told this to Swami Sarvajnanandaji of Natrampalli Ashrama with whom I used to share many things.

Swami Yatiswaranandaji passed away a few months later.

One thing that I fondly remember about him is that he always insisted that one should be first a gentleman and then spiritual. He always insisted that we be gentle and dignified in whatever we do. He never gave any set of do’s and don’ts but his emphasis was always on being dignified and noble in our conduct. Punctuality and care for others was his hallmark.

His books have much to ponder over. The more I read them now, the more I understand the depth of their meaning. It gives a feeling of spontaneous joy and peace to read them. His books have given new meaning to my life, profession and spiritual pursuit.

—Contributed at the request of Editorial Team

1. A devotee from Chennai and a dental surgeon by profession.

At His Sacred Feet

BINDIGANAVILE NARAYANASWAMY¹

Sri Shankaracharya says in his Vivekachudamani: ‘Three things are very rare and are possible only by God’s grace: a human birth, the longing for liberation, and the protecting care of a perfected sage.’ Fortunately I had all the three by the grace of God.

I was introduced to Swami Vivekananda’s works by my English teacher Sri K.V. Srinivasa Tatachar when I was in high school at Kolar. He was an ardent admirer of Swami Vivekananda and made me read Lectures from Colombo to Almora and Letters of Swami Vivekananda to know the Indian ethos.

When I came to Bangalore in the year 1963 to pursue higher studies, I came to know about Ramakrishna Ashrama at Basavanagudi and went there one day. I found the atmosphere very serene and spiritual. I went to the temple and sat there for a few minutes.

I began visiting the Ashrama whenever I found time amid my studies. One day Swami Jagadatmanandaji, who was then a Brahmachari, talked to me and asked about me. I introduced myself to him. He spoke about the activities of the Ashrama and told me how any seeker could become a monk of the Ramakrishna Order. Thus we became acquainted with each other. He was the only one known to me in the Ashrama, and I used to meet him occasionally.

Swami Yatiswarananda

After a few visits to the Ashrama, he told me about Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj (hereafter Swamiji), and took me to him one day. Swamiji enquired about me and asked me to come more often. He was very kind and soft-spoken. I was very much impressed by his personality and his sweet words.

As I visited the Ashrama more frequently, I began to feel that Swamiji was closer to me than anyone else in the world. He was fond of quoting the above verse of Vivekachudamani and said that I was fortunate to have all the three rare things.

Unfortunately, I have not chronicled my visits to the Ashrama. Hence whatever I narrate now are my random thoughts about Swamiji.

One day he told me to study the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna: The Great Master, the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and some books on Holy Mother. Whenever I found time I started reading these works. They opened up a new world before me and gave a new direction to my life.

The Swamiji would often talk about his Guru, Swami Brahmanandaji. He said that the Guru and the Ishta are one and the same, and one who has seen the Son has seen the Father too.

One day when he was with some devotees, he said, ‘The whole world is suffering because of ‘ego’. Remove ‘e’ from ego, and the alphabet ‘d’ [i.e., God] gets suffixed to it automatically: When the ego is killed, God enters there. But it needs steadfast practice to eliminate the ego. This is possible only by God’s grace.’ And he repeated what his guru had told him: ‘Struggle, Struggle, Struggle.’

Another day he said to some devotees: ‘You may be able to comprehend the greatness of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda with some effort. But it is impossible to understand Holy Mother. She was very simple, practical and yet incomprehensible. She mixed with everyone, yet she was beyond anyone’s grasp. Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Maharaj said that she is the living Durga. The best thing is to cling to her like a little child to its mother.’

On another occasion he jokingly told some young boys: ‘It is very easy to own the spiritual kingdom of Sri Ramakrishna. But the only condition is you should shave your head.’ For a minute or so he became very grave and said to himself: ‘Who is there? Who is ready to tonsure? It means destroying one’s ego.’

On another day he told some youngsters: ‘Swami Vivekananda wanted the Ramakrishna Order to be the spiritual hub of the entire world. He gave the least importance to the aspect of work. He wanted great rishis to come from this Order. So spend more time in Japa and meditation and think of the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swamiji.’

One day he said to some devotees: ‘Do you know, there is a Loka [realm] known as Sri Ramakrishna Loka, where the Holy Trinity is sitting, like Vaikuntha and Kailasha? When a devotee or Sannyasin of the Ramakrishna Order goes there, will they ask who he is? The person may say that he has built hospitals, educational institutions, and temples, in their name. But the Holy Trio will reject him by saying that he did all that to boost his ego, and not for their sake. Therefore be careful before launching any project. Examine whether the project is to boost your ego or to serve the divine Trio.’

On another occasion he said: ‘If there is one word that sums up Swami Vivekananda’s message, it is fearlessness. The whole world is in trouble because of fear. To be fearless means to be morally and spiritually strong. If you want to be upright, be fearless.’

One day he asked me if I did Japa and meditation. I told him I was not aware of those things. Then he asked me what I did in the temple. I told him that I sat in the temple just looking at Sri Ramakrishna and experienced peace. He told me that it was nice to look at Sri Ramakrishna as Holy Mother once said: ‘ Looking at the picture of Thakur is more than enough.’ But he also told me to get initiated and do Japa. I told him that I did not have sufficient time or a secluded place to do Japa regularly. He kept quiet.

After a few days he asked me again if I was interested in receiving initiation. I was silent. He told me that he would initiate me if I were interested. However I did not say anything.

As days passed, I lost interest in studies and was absorbed in studying the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. When I told him that I had lost interest in my studies, he scolded me tenderly and told me to be more serious in my studies and pass my exams.

As what Swamiji said about Japa and meditation was lingering in my mind, I approached him one day with a request to bless me with initiation. He looked at me for two or three minutes and went into his room and brought the holy sandals of his guru and touched my head with them. He said that was the initiation and that he was not my Guru, but someone else. However he said that there is only one Guru and that is Sri Ramakrishna.

In my two years of association with him, I had the privilege of being moulded by him. Whatever good qualities I have can be attributed to him.

One day I told Swamiji that I wanted to join the Ramakrishna Order. He gravely: ‘It is good that you want to join the Order, but you must first complete your studies. First become a graduate. Remember that the Brahmacharis and Swamis you see in the Ashrama are not the replica of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. They are also imperfect souls who have come here to become perfect. It needs a lot of struggle and practice. When you join the Order no one will care for you as your family members do. At the most they might sympathise with you. So you should be prepared to be alone in spite of the company you will be in. Accept Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swamiji as your refuge. Do not forget the goal. Struggle, struggle—that is the only key to spiritual progress.’

As his health deteriorated, he was shifted to Calcutta in December 1965. I could not see him at that time. Later I came to know that he had attained Mahasamadhi in Belur Math.

In June 1966, after completing my graduation, I joined the Ramakrishna Order at Shillong and was under the tutelage of Swami Bhavyanandaji Maharaj. I received initiation from Srimat Swami Vireswaranandaji Maharaj at Jalpaiguri in 1967. When I told him that I was to be initiated by Swami Yatiswaranandaji, he told me that the real Guru is Sri Ramakrishna and human Gurus are his instruments. He told me to consider Swami Yatiswaranandaji also as my Guru and offer salutations to him before beginning my spiritual practice. Because of ill health I left the Order in December 1970. The teachings of Srimat Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj and Srimat Swami Vireswaranandaji Maharaj are the only solace in my life.

—Contributed at the request of Editorial Team

1. A devotee from Bangalore, B Narayanaswamy has translated many Srivaishnava texts into Kannada.

A Truly Divine Advice

E V N CHARI¹

I joined the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, as a volunteer in June 1957 when I came to Delhi on a UPSC selected appointment as a Senior Stenographer. At that time, Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj was the Head of the Delhi centre, and the great Swami attracted me through his love, care and affection for me as I used to go to the Temple every evening without fail for doing Japa of Gayatri mantra. Slowly, I became close to him and I started learning so many things by merely working and sitting at his holy feet.

In 1958, Srimat Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj came to Delhi Ashrama for giving Diksha to many aspirants. Even some of the volunteers of the Ashrama were to take Diksha from him at that time. I also thought I should get initiation from him. When I expressed my sincere desire to get initiation from him, Revered Ranganathanandaji Maharaj flatly refused on the ground that I was still a raw hand on the spiritual side and I was still to study many books of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature, specially the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, and in his view I was not yet ripe to get initiation. He, however, promised to get me initiated after I became mature enough to take the initiation. I reconciled myself with his view and kept quiet.

Later, on that evening when I went to Revered Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj along with my co-volunteers to offer Pranams, I felt as though I was virtually in the Divine presence on seeing his smiling countenance and graceful demeanor. At my turn I offered Pranams to this great Swami and while I was doing so, I virtually started weeping and on noticing tears in my eyes he enquired what was the matter. I told him that I very much wanted to get Diksha (initiation) from him, but my fate was going to be otherwise. He so kindly lifted me with both hands and said, ‘Don’t worry. Thakur would not leave you without initiation. At the appropriate time you will get it.’

This proved to be true. Sri Thakur blessed me with initiation through my Gurudev, Srimat Swami Vishuddhanandaji Maharaj the next year. So, I am totally convinced that whatever great souls like Yatiswaranandaji utter from time to time, it will come true.

—Contributed at the request of Edition Team.

1. A devotee from New Delhi.

In His Holy Company

DEVASHIS MUKHERJEE¹

Introduction

As a child I had the rare privilege of receiving the blessings of revered Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj (hereafter referred to as Revered Maharaj) and spending some memorable time in his holy company.

Both my parents, my father late Sri Amarendra Nath Mukherjee and my mother Srimati Uma Mukherjee were blessed with initiation by Revered Maharaj. Along with them, there were many instances when my sister and I were fortunate to be in the presence of Revered Maharaj. I was about four years old when I first had his Darshan and not yet twelve when he left his mortal body. In between were many moments which remain fresh in my memory after all these years. This reminiscence contains many instances which I remember rather clearly and it also contains descriptions of events which I have heard time and again from my parents.

Arrival at Bangalore

Sometime around 1953, my father came to admire the Ramakrishna ideology. He started frequenting a Ramakrishna Ashrama in a place called Sinthi (near Dum Dum and the Calcutta airport). He was then employed as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer in the Indian Airlines. The visits to the Ashrama soon became regular and frequent and he gradually came in close contact with the monks at the Ashrama. After about four years, my father received a new job offer in the Civil Aviation Department of the Government of India. His first posting, however, was to Bangalore. This made him very sad because taking up the new job would mean living away from his parents and family.

When he shared this feeling with the monastic head of the Sinthi Ashrama, the monk immediately replied: ‘You are very fortunate; you will have the opportunity of having the holy company of Swami Yatiswaranandaji—a great monk of our order. Make full use of this opportunity!’ Soon thereafter we moved to Bangalore.

Early Memories

My earliest memory of Bangalore is that of going to the Ashrama in Basavanagudi with my father; either with him on his bicycle or in a tonga (horse-drawn carriage), driving through a long quiet road with tall trees on both sides. I would, sometimes, sit with my father in the lecture hall where Revered Maharaj gave his spiritual discourses in English. Although, I did not understand anything that he said, the memory of his serene presence still lingers.

I was particularly fond of the evening Arati vesper service and the Ramanama Sankirtan, where I could join in the singing. On one such occasion as we were about to enter the temple just before the evening service, a Brahmachari stopped us saying ‘Children below 8 years are not allowed inside the temple during the arati.’ This came as a surprise to us because I had earlier been allowed on many occasions. My father, then asked the Brahmachari whether he would let us in if we had the permission from Revered Maharaj. When he said ‘Yes’ , we went together to the office of Revered Maharaj to seek his permission. Maharaj heard my father patiently and then with a smile replied: ‘If I permit you won’t I have to permit everyone else?’ My father immediately understood and the two of us went back to the temple and sat in the corridor that runs around the temple hall and joined in the singing.

As the Arati service was going on, we noticed that Revered Maharaj came towards the temple. He walked past us saying nothing. The next time when we were readying ourselves to be seated in the same spot in the corridor, the same Brahmachari came to us and told my father: ‘It is alright, both of you can be seated inside.’ We were never stopped again.

Swami Yatiswarananda at Bangalore

How My Parents Got Initiated

Within a month or two of my father’s association with the Bangalore Ashrama, Revered Maharaj had asked him to talk to Somnath Maharaj and fix a date for an interview. My father then did not have any inkling of what it meant. About a year and half later he felt the urge to receive initiation from Revered Maharaj. One evening he went to the Ashrama to request Maharaj about the initiation. He was late in reaching and Maharaj had already sat for his evening meditation. He waited till almost, dinner time when Maharaj came out and heard him. My father wanted initiation just for himself which surprised Maharaj. When he asked him, ‘Why? What about Uma (my mother)?’ , my father replied: ‘Maharaj, she is perhaps not ready for it yet.’ Pat came the reply: ‘How do you know?’ and my father had nothing to say. Maharaj, then, instructed that an interview be arranged for my mother.

My mother had a one-on-one talk with Revered Maharaj. On the day of the interview—even my father was not present. Revered Maharaj asked her what she thought of Sri Ramakrishna and she poured her heart out telling him of her devotion for Sri Ramakrishna. She felt as if time stood still and had no idea that almost one hour had passed in conversation. At the end Revered Maharaj suggested that both of them should receive their initiation together. Soon, they were blessed with initiation.

A few days later, one evening, just before sunset, as my father stood next to him, Revered Maharaj gripped his upper arm firmly and suddenly said in Bengali:

‘Samsare Thakte Gale, Jhar-jhapta Ashbei Ashbe; Kintu Namer Shekol Dhore Thakle, Bhasye Niyee Jete Parbe Na, Parbe Na.’

[‘When you live a householder’s life, storms and turmoil are bound to come; but if you hold on to the chain of the Holy Name it will never be able to sweep you off your feet. Never, never!’ ]

He spoke the last words [parbe na parbe na], ‘Never, Never’ , in a sing-song voice and my father was overwhelmed by the power and conviction of those words.

From Bangalore to Dum Dum

Soon, our days at Bangalore came to an end, when my father was transferred to Calcutta. As a parting advice Revered Maharaj told him that he should make it a practice of reading a few pages from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, every night, before bed-time. He even suggested that he should read it aloud so that all members of the family including the children could listen. On his first visit to Calcutta after our Bangalore departure, when we met Revered Maharaj he asked my father whether he was reading as he had advised. Unfortunately, my father had not yet purchased the books and Maharaj was not pleased to learn this. When the same lapse was discovered even on his second visit, Revered Maharaj had to severely scold my father. ‘How can you hope to make progress in spiritual life if you do not listen to what I say?’ he said with obvious annoyance.

The scolding did the trick and my father soon bought the first two volumes of the Gospel in Bengali and started reading to us from the book every night at bedtime. He continued this practice for many years. I and my family too continue with this practice as regularly as we can even today. This simple habit has resulted in a lifelong love and reverence for the Gospel in all the members of our family.

In Calcutta

In Calcutta, we lived in a place called Dum Dum very near the airport. Every time Revered Maharaj visited Calcutta we would meet him at the airport, both, to receive him and see him off. It did not matter at what time of the day the flight was. At the airport, there would be very few visitors and we would have the opportunity of having personal talks with Revered Maharaj. He would make it a point to bring a few large bars of Cadbury’s chocolate for, us, children. After we offered our Pranam, he would ask Somnath Maharaj to bring them out and distribute them to us! Sometimes, when there were other visitors, we broke the chocolates into small bits and distributed them to everyone as Prasad and we could see that Revered Maharaj appreciated this very much.

A couple of years after moving to Calcutta, my mother was diagnosed with a serious lung-infection. Doctors were not sure whether it was tubercular and all were worried. When Maharaj came to know of this, he wrote to my mother: ‘Follow the instructions of the doctor meticulously. All will be well by the grace of Thakur.’ My mother did, indeed, follow these instructions faithfully. She used to be mortally scared of injections but the treatment required her to take injections almost every day for several months. She underwent the ordeal only because Revered Maharaj had advised her to do so. The infection did not turn out to be tubercular and my mother recovered completely after a prolonged treatment.

When Revered Maharaj next visited Calcutta, it was the peak of winter and his flight was to arrive quite late in the evening. Maharaj specifically, instructed my mother that she and the children were not to come to the airport to receive him because of the cold. My mother was not pleased with this and was adamant that she would go to the airport ‘come what may’ ! On the day of his arrival, however, the weather suddenly turned to a severe cold wave, like never seen before. There was such thick fog all around that my mother finally decided that she will not go to the airport. When Maharaj heard about this from my father he was quite unmoved and simply said: ‘Of course she must follow (my) instructions’ (katha shunte hobe boiki)

Memorable Events at Barasat

When Revered Maharaj visited Calcutta, he would stay in Belur Math or sometimes in the Institute of Culture at Gol Park. We sometimes visited him in the evenings – particularly when he was in Gol Park but these visits were not very frequent or regular. After a couple of years of our stay in Calcutta, Revered Maharaj became the Vice-President and during his visits to Calcutta he would travel to various branch centres for initiating devotees.

One such branch centre was in Barasat—the place of birth of Mahapurush Maharaj (Swami Shivananda), which, was quite close to the place we lived. Revered Maharaj would visit Barasat for two or three days at a time. During those periods, we would visit him during the evenings on working days. On holidays, we sometimes spent the entire day in the Ashrama premises. The temple of the Ashrama was quite new then, but everything else about the Ashrama was very modest and humble. The surroundings were completely rural with greenery all around.

I particularly remember one such visit of Maharaj to the Barasat Ashrama. Perhaps, it was in the year 1964, during the Tithi-puja of Sri Ramakrishna. There were three days of festivities at the Ashrama which fell on a week-end. We spent the first two days at the Ashrama. Revered Maharaj was very happy to see that a large number of devotees had assembled. On the first day, after the initiation ceremony, when the devotees queued up to offer their Pranams, Maharaj decided to bring out the footwears of Revered Raja Maharaj (Swami Brahmananda)—holy relics that he carried with him. As the devotees bowed down to offer their obeisance, he touched the relics (wrapped in a saffron cloth) to their heads.

On the second day, a very touching and memorable incident took place, the memory of which still makes me wistful. My family and I were amongst a small group of devotees who were seated for Prasad (lunch) in a small room adjoining the living quarters of Revered Maharaj. There was a curtain—about six feet high which separated us from his room. We were having our Prasad when first a bowl of rice pudding (payasam) was sent to us by Maharaj as his ‘personal Prasad!’ This was indeed rare, for Revered Maharaj, almost, never encouraged devotees to personally deify him.

As our meal was coming to an end, we noticed that Maharaj was trying to lower the curtain to have a look at us. Soon, Somnath Maharaj deftly lowered the screen and held it firmly at a lower height and we all could see the smiling face of Revered Maharaj looking at us, having our food. There was such love and bliss on his face that each one of us felt truly blessed. The memory of his smiling face remains indelible in my mind even today.

The third day of the visit fell on a working day and we could not go to the Ashrama in the morning. My father, after coming home from office, toyed with the idea of going to the Ashrama and then decided against it. He kept himself busy with some gardening work. As he was working in the garden, suddenly, a strong urge came over him to visit the Barasat Ashrama. Immediately, he changed his mind, called us children from the playground and within ten minutes we were on our way. We realized that we were very late. If we did not reach by the time, the Sandhya Arati would be over and we would miss the chance of having the Darshan of Revered Maharaj.

All of us, including my mother, literally ran to the bus stop which was about 250 meters away. Just as we came to the bus stand, a bus for Barasat arrived. It turned out that it was a special express bus and it carried us to the Ashrama without stopping anywhere on the way in about half the usual time. Even as we ran towards the temple, we were apprehensive because we did not hear the strains of the Arati.

We were surprised when we reached the temple, for we found that the entire hall was full of devotees seated on the floor, waiting for Maharaj to commence his discourse. Revered Maharaj was already there, seated on a chair. He started his talk as soon as we took our seats. He spoke of his Reminiscences of Mahapurush Maharaj in Bengali. For about an hour or so we were transported to a divine world! I have never seen this talk of his in print. Perhaps it was not recorded and has been lost forever. I remember only two tiny bits of his reminiscences, which are as follows.

1. When the Revered Maharaj was a Sannyasin in the Madras Math, he had once come to the Belur Math on some official work. Once the work was accomplished he had to return to Madras, but he wished to linger a few extra days in company of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. One day Mahapurush Maharaj asked him: ‘When are you planning to go back?’ Maharaj replied: ‘I was to go back tomorrow, but it happens to be asleshya magha (a very inauspicious day for undertaking a journey). So, I am planning to postpone my going by a few days.’ Mahapurushji immediately said: ‘What are you saying! When you undertake anything for Thakur does tithi and nakshatra matter? Proceed taking the name of Thakur and all will be well.’ Maharaj left for Madras the very next day as was planned.

2. When it was decided by the Order that Revered Maharaj was to go the West for preaching Vedanta, Mahapurshji was lying semi-paralysed after a cerebral stroke. He had lost the use of the right side of his body. He had also lost the power of speech. When he heard the news about Maharaj, he wished to see the young Sannyasin dressed in his three-piece suit. So, one day Revered Maharaj dressed in his western attire, shyly, entered Mahapurushji’s room and offered his Pranam. Seeing him in his smart western dress Mahapurushji was ecstatic! He lifted his left hand and touched the head of Maharaj as tears rolled down his cheeks.

As he narrated this incident, revered Maharaj almost choked with emotion and paused for a while. When he resumed he said: ‘tini to amader manush mone korten-na, bhabten swarga theke neme esechi.’ (‘You see, he never considered us to be ordinary mortals. He believed that we had descended from the heaven.’ ) He said these words with such reverence and love that I remember the music of it to this day.

After the talk as we were offering our Pranam, he asked my father: ‘You heard the whole of it didn’t you?’ (‘shobtai to shune choo?’) When my father said: ‘Yes,’ he said with a smile: ‘I was telling Somnath, what a pity, Amarendra could not come!’ (‘tai ami Somnath ke bolchhilam, taito Amarendra elo na.’)

A few months prior to the above incident, Revered Maharaj had once been to Sikra Kulingram – the birthplace of Raja Maharaj. We visited the place on the day of his visit but had reached there in the afternoon. After reaching Sikra, my father found out that earlier in the morning, Revered Maharaj had enthralled everybody with his Reminiscences of Raja Maharaj. This naturally saddened him. Later when he met Maharaj, he too expressed sadness saying: ‘What a pity, you could not be here in the morning.’

My parents quite firmly believed that they could savour the reminiscences of Mahapursh Maharaj at Barasat only due to the grace of their Guru. The manner in which we reached the Barasat Ashrama that day and had the fortune of listening to the talk was only possible because Revered Maharaj especially wished it to be so.

A Visit to Our Home

On one occasion perhaps in 1964, Revered Maharaj was returning to Bangalore from Calcutta. Many devotees had gathered at the airport to see him off that morning. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed because of some technical snag and the delay progressively increased. Revered Maharaj, seated on a chair, all this time, started finding it increasingly uncomfortable. His feet started swelling up and he was in obvious pain. As a remedy, my father (who was an employee of the Civil Aviation) was able to obtain permission for him to use the VIP lounge where he could rest with his feet up on a sofa. But the remedy had come rather late and we, along with Somnath Maharaj, were all very sad to see Revered Maharaj suffer so much. Revered Maharaj, however, bore the pain without a word of complaint and with a smile on his face all the time.

During the next visit of Revered Maharaj, my father was brave enough to suggest to him: ‘Maharaj, it was so inconvenient for you last time due to the delay in the flight. But this time when you return, please come to my home first. I live very near the airport and you will be able to board the flight just on time in case there is any delay. We, too, will feel blessed if you agree.’

Incidentally, there were many devotees around when my father made his suggestion. Maharaj brushed aside the suggestion with a firm: ‘No.’ Luckily, however, Somnath Maharaj was present when the conversation took place. A few days later he contacted my father and told him: ‘If you are sure that it will not be inconvenient for you, I would like to convince Maharaj to accept your suggestion. But you must wait until I tell when to approach him again.’

A few days later we were in Barasat Ashrama waiting our turn to offer Pranam when Somnath Maharaj came to my father and asked him to go to the end of the queue and be the last ones to offer Pranam. When it was our turn to bow down to Revered Maharaj, there were no other devotees around. This time, when my father made the same suggestion to Maharaj, he turned smilingly towards Somnath Maharaj and said: ‘era sob eto kore bolchhe jokhon, ta hole tai hok. Tomra kono rakomer arombar korbe na kintu’ [‘Now that all of them are in favour of this, let it be so. But make sure you do not go overboard with arrangements.’]

On the blessed day, Revered Maharaj set foot in our house. Accompanying him were Swami Kailasanandaji and Somnath Maharaj. We lived in a small government quarters those days. There was a shrine room which had been beautifully decorated. There was a small gathering of only about 25-30 people from amongst the neighbours, relatives and friends.

As Revered Maharaj entered the house, he was led to the shrine room. He stood at the door with eyes closed and folded hands. He, then, told my mother who was standing next to him: ‘What have you done? You have organized a festival.’ (‘korechho ki? eto utsav kore phelechho.’) He then asked Somnath Maharaj to offer his Pranam and both Somnath Maharaj and Swami Kailasanandaji went into the shrine room and prostrated themselves. Revered Maharaj himself did not enter the shrine room—perhaps because his own photograph was there on the altar. My mother had kept a plateful of Sandesh ready which was offered to Maharaj. He touched the plate and sanctified the sweets. He and Swami Kailasanandaji rested for a while in the bedroom.

Before departing for the airport Maharaj sat on an ordinary cane chair in our veranda and blessed all those who had gathered as they offered their Pranams to him. He asked Swami Kailasanandaji to sit next to him on a chair and accept Pranam of the devotees, but he politely declined and stood next to Maharaj instead and accepted Pranam. This was the culmination of our good fortune. Alas, there would not be another such opportunity, for, in 1965, my father was transferred to Madras and Maharaj’s health too soon took a turn for worse.

Last Darshan in Madras and Bangalore

During 1965 we had the opportunity of having the Darshan of Revered Maharaj on two occasions. The first was in Bangalore when we all travelled from Madras and stayed for a couple of days in an inexpensive hotel and visited the Ashrama to be in his company. The last was at the Madras Math when he was on his way to Belur Math. On both the occasions we found him completely indrawn. He did speak to us lovingly but it was obvious that his mind was in a distant meditative state. His health had deteriorated completely.

In Bangalore, we were mute witness to a very unusual event. We were waiting a little away from outside the main temple. We watched as Revered Maharaj along with Somnath Maharaj and one other senior sadhu went into the temple. After some time as they were returning and coming down the steps, Revered Maharaj suddenly lost all outer consciousness. His walking stick fell with a loud noise and his body started falling like a log. Somnath Maharaj, who was right behind him, immediately held him firmly and arrested his fall. Maharaj recovered within half a minute and all seemed well as he was made to sit on a chair. After a few minutes he was well enough to talk to us.

Abiding memory

I shall end with an incident which I do not remember myself but have heard many times from my parents. One day Revered Maharaj was standing along with a few devotees in the open grounds of the Bangalore Ashrama. There were a few children, too, who were present. While talking to the devotees Maharaj said: ‘You see, I do not have a lot of expectations from you grown-ups.’ And then pointing at us children he added: ‘But from them, I expect a lot.’

Sometimes when I think of Revered Maharaj, I wonder, perhaps, I have not lived up to his expectations. But then, I remember his loving smile, his serene face and the mind fills with joy. About fifty years have passed since I last had his Darshan. The impression that remains is that of his presence.

Whenever we were in his company we felt peaceful, happy and a sense of holiness; the memory of which makes us feel blessed even today.

—Contributed at the request of Editorial Team

1. A devotee from New Delhi.

His Watchful Eyes and

Compassionate Dealings

DR DILIP SEN AND MRS APARNA SEN¹

It was December, 1963. We were living in Asansol in West Bengal. A phone call came from the Ramakrishna Mission there telling us Swami Yatiswaranandaji was due to come to Asansol.

My husband, Doctor Sen was asked to accompany Maharaj on his evening walks. There was an abandoned airport between Asansol and Durgapur, and it was there that my husband would take Maharaj every evening for a walk.

It so happened that one evening, Dr Sen took our son along to the Ashrama. He was 5 years old. Maharaj was happy to see him and asked him his name. He said: ‘My name is Prateep Sen’. Maharaj asked Dr Sen what ‘prateep’ meant. Not knowing the meaning, Dr Sen said that there was a certain king by that name, but he did not know the meaning of the word.

Maharaj called for the Ashrama’s librarian—who was also a Swami—and asked him the meaning of the word ‘prateep’. The Librarian Maharaj, too, did not know the meaning. Maharaj then asked Dr Sen to find out the meaning and come the next day at the same time.

The next day Dr Sen went to the Ashrama without having known the meaning; he had been busy the whole day. However, the Librarian Maharaj told him the meaning of the word on reaching the Ashrama. As soon as he entered Maharaj’s room he was asked the meaning of ‘prateep’. Dr Sen replied, ‘Prateep’ means ‘opposite; reverse’. Swami Yatiswarananda then said: ‘It will not do to keep this name. Whom will Prateep oppose? His father Dilip Sen? No, you can’t keep this name.’

The Asansol Ashrama Swami (who had phoned us earlier) had in that conversation reminded us that we had wanted to take Mantra-Diksha. Now, Swami Yatiswaranandaji was here and the day of Diksha was almost upon us. In those days the number of people taking Diksha was not large so there were no queues. But the whole process of Mantra-Diksha itself took three days.

It was customary to have read books on Thakur and Ma and fill in a form stating which books one had read. Maharaj would then interview those wishing to take Diksha.

We wrote we had only read Part 1 of the Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamitra. Maharaj remarked: ‘You have studied so many things, and this you have not read?’ ‘It is a very difficult text!’ we said. Even though Maharaj was stern, we were never afraid of him. ‘Very difficult!’ he echoed. This was on the first day. On the second day, there was a discussion. Maharaj explained how to do Japa and showed us the method. The third day, Maharaj granted us mantra Diksha. After Diksha was over, each newly initiated person was called separately and asked if that person had any questions or doubts.

That day, the following incident took place. There was another lady there but she had no sindoor² on her forehead. Maharaj addressed her and asked: ‘Why have you not put sindoor on, Mother?’the lady kept quiet... then looking in my direction, Maharaj told her to ‘wear a small bindi³ like she does’.

We would daily go to the Ashrama and do Pranams to Maharaj. He would be happy to see us. People would bring food for Maharaj. We were young and foolishly thought, ‘Why do they bring so much food?’ Now, I feel [the opportunity to do a little service to my guru had presented itself] why did I not take some food for him?’

My daughter was born a month and a half after my Diksha. One day Maharaj said to me, ‘You need have no fear. You have got such a [nice] husband; you need have no fear.’since my daughter was born on the day of Saraswati Puja, she was named Mahashweta. We wrote and told Maharaj about it. He replied, ‘Whichever name you choose, I will be happy with that name.’

I knitted a sweater and sent it to him.

A year later, in December of 1964, we went to Calcutta and visited Belur Math.

There were signs posted which announced that Swami Yatiswaranandaji was in Belur Math. We were surprised to see him as we had not expected to see Maharaj, who was based in Bangalore, at Belur Math. We went and stood in line to have his Darshan. Swami Yatiswaranandaji’s secretary, Swami Samjnananda (Somnath Maharaj), was happy to see us and said, ‘Do not write so many letters,’ for he would have to write down the replies!

As soon as we entered Maharaj’s room he saw us and started laughing. We too laughed. Why we laughed we do not know, we just laughed out of happiness!

My son had come along with us and Maharaj patted him affectionately. Then, all of a sudden, he asked: ‘Why have you not brought your daughter?’

I replied saying she was very young and Belur Math was far away from south Calcutta where we were staying, so we left her behind.

Swami Achalananda, Swami Sastrananda, Swami Yatiswarananda and devotees

Maharaj said, ‘Bring her at ten tomorrow morning.’

He then talked to us devotees—the whole room was full—on how Thakur wanted householders to lead their lives.

We went to Belur Math the next day. But we knew very little about what should be done when one visits Belur Math.

So, as soon as we got there, we parked the car near the office (what is now the old office) and went straight to see Maharaj. We did not know that the correct way is to always first offer Pranams to Thakur in the temple and after that go to Maharaj.

Just then, we saw Maharaj with a group of Sannyasins and Brahmacharis going to offer Pranams to Thakur. Seeing us, he said, ‘You’ ve come.’ On seeing our daughter, he said: ‘Saraswati, you have come!’

Telling us to go and sit in the room, Maharaj went to offer his Pranams to Thakur. On his return he first spoke to a few Sannyasinis from Sri Sarada Math who was there too.

Maharaj asked me to put Saraswati down on the floor and she started to move towards him as did my son. Maharaj patted both with affection and said to my daughter, ‘What shall I give you to eat?’ He then asked Somnath Maharaj to bring some glucose. My daughter had not had anything sugary till then, but she took the glucose happily.

‘Very dynamic! Look after her carefully’, said Maharaj.

Before leaving, we offered Pranams to Maharaj. He remarked: ‘The world is round. Surely we will meet again. Write letters.’

A month later, we decided to go and live in Patna with my mother-in-law as she was living on her own after the death of my father-in-law. We wrote to Maharaj informing him of our decision and telling him my husband would resign from his government job.

Maharaj approved of the decision, writing, ‘Start private practice; this is how you will serve the people and the country.’

As soon as we got Maharaj’s reply, without any further delay, we moved to Patna. We could not meet Maharaj before moving. We were not in a position to visit him in Bangalore; so we communicated through letters. Once he wrote, ‘When you are travelling do your worship and Japa mentally’.

In this context, let me mention an incident. Our move to Patna involved much packing and we were very busy. The children went to play next door in the government quarters. Suddenly, I heard our daughter cry and immediately ran over to see what had happened to her.

The other kids said she had fallen off a chair. I looked to see where she had got hurt but she seemed all right.

We started for Patna that very day, staying the night in Deoghar. My husband was carrying our daughter in his arms trying to lull her to sleep when he felt her head and exclaimed, ‘What’s this?’there was a soft swelling on her head.

On reaching Patna, we immediately took her to a doctor. The radiologist who X-rayed our daughter said, ‘Dr Sen, I have bad news for you; your daughter has fractured her skull.’ However the attending surgeon, a doctor of repute, thoroughly examined our daughter and then said to my husband, ‘Dilip, you are very fortunate. The child has suffered a fracture, but the hemorrhage has been external.’the brain had not been affected.

It was then that we remembered Maharaj’s instruction to be cautious in looking after her. We also wondered why he had asked us to bring her to see him—for that was the last time we saw Maharaj before he left his body. Our daughter has indeed been very dynamic.

During his walks around the abandoned airport in Asansol, Maharaj would say: ‘Whatever you do you must do sincerely. And you need not seek any reward; that will be granted to you. You are a pathologist; carry out your examinations sincerely. If things still go wrong, that is not in your hand; that is destiny. Do it sincerely, things will be all right.’

Maharaj would say, ‘Japa and meditation should be done first thing in the morning. Wash your hands and face, change your clothes, and then go straight to your shrine to do your Japa and meditation as I have shown you.’

Maharaj would say very little, but his words were full of love and affection. I did not spend much time with him, yet whenever I did, I found him to be a very soft, gentle person.

Swami Yatiswarananda—group photo at Delhi Ashrama

Maharaj did not like to be garlanded nor did he like devotees to place flowers at his feet. In Belur Math, a devotee tried to put a garland around him. He was annoyed. Pointing to the temple, he said that if the devotee wanted to offer garlands he should offer them to Thakur in the temple. But, having said that, he began to talk laughingly and affectionately with that very same devotee and soon the devotee forgot all about the scolding he had received in front of so many.

Maharaj did not allow anyone to touch his feet. But on the day of Diksha, after initiating the devotees, he would first touch their heads with the ‘khadam’ ⁴ that were worn by [his guru] Swami Brahmananda. These were wrapped in polythene to protect them and only after this was done were the newly initiated were allowed to touch his feet.

Maharaj would say, ‘Whatever work you do, take it to be an assignment given by Thakur and do it with utmost devotion. Don’t think of the result. You will surely get the return in one form or the other.’

The job that I resigned was a senior Class I service of the Government of India. If I had stayed on I would have been the Director General of Health Services for at least 8 years. And then I would have proceeded to the WHO. When I resigned from that job to be with my mother in Patna, people said I was being foolhardy. But I never regretted the decision. I remembered Maharaj’s words; ‘Whatever you do, do it sincerely’. I would think, even if I get ten calls in a day that would be enough. Then things slowly took the present shape. When I set up my pathology practice in Patna, pathology was in a very rudimentary shape in Bihar. My colleagues tell me that if now pathological studies have made major advances in Bihar it is because of me. But I know it is Thakur who got that work done by me. And Maharaj’s instruction, ‘Whatever you do, do it sincerely’, was the reason behind my success.

Swami Yatiswaranandaji evoked spontaneous devotion. One felt like sitting and hearing him. Second, in his presence one felt, ‘No, talk required’, one only felt like listening to him. He had a smiling countenance and while speaking to an audience in his room, he would look at each and every person present giving each the feeling that he or she was being personally addressed.

He would say, ‘It often happens that you are not able to do your daily Japa and meditation properly in your shrine because the mind is restless; but you have the whole day left, you can do mental Japa even during your work.’

We received his guidance on how to conduct our lives. Sometimes we wonder how our lives would have been if we had not met him.

—Based on an interview by late Swami Tadgatananda along with Swami Satyaswarupananda (now in Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi) and translated from Bengali by Ms Anila Gupta and others.

1. A doctor-couple closely associated with Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Patna in Bihar.

2. Sindoor: Vermillion coloured powder put on a woman’s parting to denote she is married and her husband is alive.

3. Bindi: A dot made of vermillion coloured powder in the middle of a woman’s forehead. In some parts of India, this too means the woman is married and her husband is alive.

4. Khadam: Wooden slippers.

Remembering Swami Yatiswaranandaji

DEVOTEES AND DISCIPLES

A Compilation

Compiled from Vivek Manjusa and other sources

His voice still rings in our ears. ‘Move forward’ was his Mantra. His love and affection are beyond words. ‘What next?’ was his repeated enquiry.

He was ever active and never failed to enquire about welfare of all persons known to him. He was pure at heart and led a highly disciplined life. His attraction was such that all of us would be spending most of our time in Ashrama, making it a second home for us.

Once in a way, an opportunity was coming in my way to take food to his room. It was interesting to note that he would not only drink ‘Payasam’ (porridge) which was offered to Sri Ramakrishna fully but also pour later a little amount of water