An Everlasting Memory of Affection and Concern

AN EVERLASTING MEMORY OF AFFECTION AND CONCERN

AN EVERLASTING MEMORY OF AFFECTION AND CONCERN

Swami Brahmanandaji has said in the Eternal Companion (p.

227): ‘Blessed are those who have received the grace of an illumined guru. The guru shows the way to the other shore, and removes all the obstacles.’

I am really blessed to have such an illumined Guru in revered Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj. It was he who laid me foundation of my spiritual life at the Ramakrishna Ashrama in Bangalore.

It is a thrilling experience for me to recollect the formative days of my spiritual life.

First Meeting In 1953, after finishing my college education in Hassan [in Karnataka], I came to Bangalore for graduation and joined the Central College. I was searching for a room to stay and continue my studies. It so happened that I got a room in a house at West Anjaneya Temple Road, which was at a walkable distance to the Ramakrishna Ashrama at Bull Temple Road.

I used to go to college in an auto-rickshaw, but return to my place on foot. One day, as I was returning from the college I saw the signboard of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama. The next morning, I went to see the Ashrama. I entered the Ashrama premises and was very happy to see the grand landscape. The campus was full of greenery with mango and other trees. The mango trees were full of mangoes that were of easy reach by one’s hand. There was a special fragrance in the air. I was simply fascinated by the place. As I walked the Ashrama grounds, I felt tremendous inner joy at the sublime beauty of nature.

Then I saw the nice-looking Ashrama cow, lying happily on the lawn and chewing the cud. I was overwhelmed and stood there for some time watching the cow. Later I learnt her name - Tyagi!

It was around 10:30 in the morning. I was about to return to my room. Then I saw a Brahmachari (Br. Raghunandan, now Swami Prabuddhanandaji, the head of Vedanta Society in San

Francisco) coming out of the office building (the present Vivekananda Balaka Sangha building) towards me. He was opening the office and on seeing me, greeted me. We spoke for a few minutes. I told him that I was now going back to my room. He insisted that I should meet Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj, the president of the Ashrama.

Just then Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj came out of his room. Brahmachari Raghunandan introduced to Swamiji. Swamiji welcomed me with a gentle smile, and kindly enquired about my health.

For the first time, I felt inexplicable joy. I felt a sense of calmness in his Divine Presence. I had never experienced before such sweet and affectionate talk.

Swamiji said with a smile: ‘Please attend evening prayers every day and come to the Wednesday classes meant for college boys. I conduct a class for college boys on Wednesdays. Now you may go.’ I agreed and took leave of him by touching his feet and offering my Pranams. Swamiji then gave me Prasada of two coconut balls. I was in a very happy state. Thus, the first lessons on spirituality began.

I started to walk towards the gate of the Ashrama.

Brahmachari Raghunandan by now had gone inside the office. Swamji called me back. He took me inside his first room, closed the screen of the mesh door. He looked at me very closely and with full of love, asked tenderly, how many brothers we were. And he expressed clearly that I must come away to Sri Guru Maharaj, meaning that I should take to monastic life. ‘You must join the Ashrama. Now go back and finish your college studies. Attend my classes on Wednesday.’

I was surprised and felt a kind of intimate relationship with him, which I had not experienced even with my parents.

Initiation Swamiji used to conduct classes for the college students on spiritual life. I did not know anything about Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother or Swami Vivekananda.

I started coming to the Ashrama daily, and began to attend evening prayers and Swamiji’s classes on Wednesdays. His classes were practical and impressive. He was explaining the

transforming power of Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature, the purpose of great Incarnations, and the glory of spiritual life.

After a few days, Swamiji himself called me and said that he would initiate me (i.e., give me Mantra-Diksha). He gave instructions about spiritual life and himself fixed the date for my initiation. After initiation, he blessed me profusely and offered me to Sri Ramakrishna. All this happened in 1953. From then on I was more and more fascinated about the monastic life. God’s grace and my guru’s blessings lifted me up from the mire of worldly life and I finally joined the Ashrama in 1956.

Joining the Ashrama After graduation, I was ready to join the ashrama as per the wishes of my Gurudev. My frequent visits to the Ashrama and regular contact with revered Swamiji pushed me to take to monastic life to the wonder of my parents and even myself.

Swamiji told me to join the Ramakrishna Math, Madras.

Everyday, he checked the weather condition in Madras from the daily newspaper The Hindu. It was April-May. Madras is very hot especially during these months. There was no indication of the heat subsiding in Madras. Finally, Swamiji instructed me to join Bangalore Ashrama itself. Swamiji’s extraordinary motherly divine love, affection, and innate courtesy was apparent in his every action.

After the final examination, I could not stay at home even for a day. The next day, at 6.00 a.m. I came away to the Ashrama for good. Swamji blessed me by keeping both his hands on my head. I joined the Bangalore Ashrama in the month of May 1956, on Buddha Purnima day. After one year of my joining, Swamiji told my (identical) twin brother Ram [later Swami Devarupananda, now deceased] also to join the Bangalore Ashrama.

Love and Affection Personified

My monastic life in the Ashrama started under the loving care and guidance of Swamiji. I was like a child that was with its mother. He was always serene, cheerful, and meditative.

I had the rare privilege of serving him (I was the kitchen Bhandari then). Every day I would carry Swamiji’s breakfast at 8 a.m. from the kitchen to his room. He would very affectionately and smilingly greet me and open the door. Out of his pure heart, he would tell me to finish my breakfast before serving him.

One day Swamiji touched my chest and said, ‘Are you not wearing warm clothes? You need a sweater. ’Swamiji took out one fine sweater from his cupboard and gave me a sweater which he himself was perhaps using. He asked me to wear it immediately. I was overwhelmed by his extraordinary motherly love and affection. Everyday Swamiji would come to our work areas and inspire us with his admiring smile. I could feel tremendous divine attraction in his presence.

Whenever anybody fell sick, he would personally come and kindly enquire about his wellbeing and would ask him to take proper medical care.

Once when I as at Belur Math I contracted jaundice. I was very nervous on account of that. But I was energized and felt happy when I received an affectionate letter from my Revered Maharaj. He had written in that letter to pray to Sri Guru Maharaj and surrender to Him completely. And he made all arrangements for my treatment. Hearing about the improvement in my health, he again wrote to me. In that he told me to keep my physical, mental and spiritual livers (!) in perfect condition. Those loving letters from him always had a soothing effect on me.

Importance of physical Exercise He would ask whether we were taking regular physical exercises. He was very regular in his daily routine. Even when he was unwell he never stopped taking physical exercise.

Sometimes, even while teasing us and in making fun, he would give the most precious instruction. I was very sensitive to cold,

and would put on all warm clothes as soon as I came out of the shrine after worshipping Sri Ramakrishna. Once seeing me coming out of the shrine, he remarked with a smile: ‘See! Cold is hanging on the roof there; it will pounce upon you. Go quick! And wear warm clothes.’ It stirred my conscience. From that time onwards, I started bathing in cold water and stopped wearing warm clothes. Thus, I was able to overcome my super-sensitivity, which helped me very much during my two-year training in Belur Math.

Importance of Worship Swamiji laid great emphasis on the worship of Sri Ramakrishna. As long as it was possible for him, he himself offered worship to Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi on the Holy Mother’s Rock.

When he was not able to walk up to the Rock, he told me to offer worship to the Mother on his behalf.

Swamji told me to perform worship of Sri Ramakrishna in the Ashrama shrine. By his grace, I was able to follow his instruction and offer daily worship to Sri Ramakrishna till about three years back, when I was 78.

Subsequently, Swamiji told me to work in sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthi Mandiram under Swami Prabuddhanandaji, who was the warden of the Mandiram. I worked in the Mandiram for six years.

His Sense of Humour Once Ram [Swami Devarupananda] and I were walking in the Ashrama. Swamiji wanted us for some reason. Since we were identical twins, he could not really identify who was who. He called both the names: ‘Ram, Lakshman, come here.’ He then laughed loudly taking great delight in our identical appearance.

When the devotees would come to meet him, he would call both of us and take great joy in introducing us to them. The devotees would be wonderstruck at our identical appearance.

Many interesting situations would arise due to our identical looks, and Swamji would laugh heartily and take great delight in them.

His Inspiring Words Many times, he assured me that I belonged to Sri Ramakrishna and the sins of the world would not touch me. This would fill my heart with inspiration and make me peaceful. He told us, ‘Fill up all the idle moments with this attitude. Then work will not become monotonous, but will become worship. With this awareness, any work can be accomplished efficiently.’

Importance of the Study of Scriptures Swamiji wanted all of us to study and understand our sacred scriptures, and to do Japa and meditation regularly. He would tell us to always maintain a spiritual mood.

Every Monday we had a reading class with Swamiji at 9:15 P.M. In those classes, he would give the most valuable instructions on the passages that were read.

He liked my chanting of mantras and encouraged us Rama and me – to learn the Vedic chanting. He even appointed a teacher to teach us the Vedas.

Vision of Sri Ramakrishna Swamiji had a vision of Sri Ramakrishna in ecstasy (standing pose). Hence in the prayer hall of Bangalore Ashrama he installed a photo of Sri Ramakrishna in ecstasy facing the main shrine.

Before taking up any assignment, Swamiji would seek approval of Swami Brahmanandaji in meditation.

Whenever any devotee would seek initiation, Swamiji would first see the Ishta (Chosen Deity) in the devotee’s heart and then initiate.

A personification of Divine Virtues

He was endowed with many divine virtues, such as pure love, sympathy for others, broad-mindedness, seeing all as manifestations of Sri Ramakrishna, and sterling devotion to Sri Thakur and his divine Cause. Everyone who came in contact with him has been immensely blessed by him.

May His Divine Life and invaluable instructions inspire us forever!