LOVE OF NATION: FIRST STEP TO LOVE OF GOD.
It was a lovely evening. The sun was lingering over the Western hills to catch a glimpse of an epoch-making event.
Dr. K.N. Gairola, Health Minister of the Tehri-Garhwal State was addressing a mammoth gathering on the Ganges bank. The local municipality had erected a flag-staff just in front of the Ashram and had invited the Minister to hoist the National Flag. Even during the course of his inevitable political speech, Dr. Gairola made touching references to Siva, to the glory that the presence of saints like Siva brought to the entire State, and the profound spiritual influence that Siva exerted in the people. Even as he concluded his speech, Dr. Gairola requested Siva to give them his Upadesh.
As the flag went up, Siva roared OM OM OM. The entire gathering joined him and it looked as though the powerful current of the Pranava-chanting raised the flag up!
‘Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram
Jai Hind Jai Hind Jai Hind Jai Hind Jai Jai Jai Jai Hind’
….sang Siva and the multitude echoed his Kirtan. Siva has a Kirtan for every occasion!
‘Glory to Mother India. No other nation in the world has produced such heroes. No other nation in the world can claim to have given birth to illustrious saints and sages. No other nation in the world has had among her children mighty intellectuals and great mystics who could rise to great spiritual heights, who could display such intuitive wisdom and who could leave as a rich heritage unsurpassed philosophical treatises. No philosopher in any other land has been able to solve the riddle of creation, the mystery of birth and death and the problem of life itself as effectively as the sages of India have done.’
‘Such a spiritually mighty nation has achieved her political independence also in an unprecedented manner. Thanks to the Apostle of Ahimsa, Mahatma Gandhiji, India has conclusively proved to humanity that there is indescribable Shakti in non-violence. Gandhiji has demonstrated to the world that love is power, that love conquers. Such a demonstration of spiritual power would not have been possible in any other nation in the world. The national leaders in the West must now sit up and think; they must learn the lesson of non-violence; they must abandon at once violence in all its forms. The path of violence leads to destruction; the path of love leads to peace, plenty and prosperity.’
‘Our national leaders are all the trusted lieutenants of Gandhiji. They have sacrificed their all in the cause of the liberation of the motherland. Even though they have not embraced Sannyas formally, they are true Sannyasins at heart.’
‘Patriotism is the first step to universalism. Love of one’s own nation in time leads to cosmic love or the love of God. The main thing is to crush the low, mean-minded selfishness. A selfless servant of the nation will soon become a selfless servant of humanity; he will soon transcend his individual ego and realise God.’
Then Siva sang the Maha Mantra Kirtan. He thanked Dr. Gairola for giving him this opportunity of singing the Lord’s Name. Siva showered his blessings on the Minister: ‘May Lord bless Dr. Gairola and the other Ministers with health, long life, peace, prosperity and Kaivalya Moksha! May God bless you all!’ After chanting the Shanti Patha, Siva resumed his seat.
Padmanabhan was all the time busy on the roof of neighbouring buildings ‘shooting’ the whole proceedings with his movie camera.
Siva then led the minister to the Ashram where the Ministerial party was entertained to tea.
28 th MARCH, 1948
MIRA BEHN AND SADHU ORGANISATION
‘ Om Namo Narayanaya! I am grateful to you for coming. Are you all right?’ enquired Siva affectionately as Kumari Mira Behn came up the Ashram steps on the Ganges bank.
For over half an hour Mira Behn discussed with Siva her Pashulok scheme and the object with which she started it. She also acquainted Siva with the views of Mahatma Gandhiji on the position of Sadhus in Indian society. She thought that there was a lot of work that should be done among Sadhus to organise them so that they could become an integral and useful part of the society. She asked for Siva’s blessings and for his moral support to her plans for organising the Sadhus of Rishikesh.
Mira Behn is a close follower of Mahatma Gandhiji to whose mission she has dedicated her life.
THE ALL-PERVADING SIVA!
‘Wherever I have been, Swamiji, I have found that your name and your soul-elevating writings have gone ahead of me!’ said Goswami Ganesh Duttji, a well-renowned public benefactor of Punjab. Sri Goswamiji had come to pay his respects to Siva whom he has known for a long time. The object of his visit was to discuss with Siva the question of Sadhu Seva (Sadhu reform).
