Inspiring Talks of Swami Sivananda
OCTOBER, 1948
2 nd OCTOBER, 1948
INBORN LAZINESS
On our way back from the morning class, Siva noticed that a young boy had spat just outside his room underneath the Yajnashala.
‘Who has cleaned his teeth here?’ queried Siva, with a smile, as usual. ‘If one is capable of doing this in this season he will probably pass urine within the room in winter when the cold wind blows.’
The boy came out of the room and bowed to Siva.
‘Laziness is the inborn nature of every man. This boy is not to blame. It is human nature. But, my dear young man, we are here only to conquer our nature. It must be your second-nature to keep everything neat and clean and to develop good habits, hygienic habits. This is the age for it, too.’
CONSIDERATION FOR THE AGED
Someone then pointed out to Siva that another aged Sadhaka was also irregular in this respect.
‘But, that is a different case. He is aged. He has done a lot of work for the Society, too. Even now he is rendering yeoman service to the cause. Such people must be excused.’
With his usual winsome smile, Siva added: ‘Perhaps I should also be exempted and placed in the same category. For instance, my bowels are very often loose; yet, I have good control. That is because this has become my habit, my second nature.’
ALL DAYS ARE ALIKE FOR THE TIMELESS SAGE
As we moved a little farther, Siva suddenly remembered about Appayya Jayanthi which is celebrated every year at Ananda Kutir.
‘Oh, Venkateswarji, when is Appayya Jayanthi this year?’
‘Swamiji, it is already over—on the 19 th September.’
‘Is that so? But, you did not tell us at all. Everyone forgot all about it. All right: it does not matter. We shall celebrate it on the next full-moon day. Narayanaswamiji, please note it in your diary. Only then will we remember it without fail. We shall read some of Appayya’s works, his commentary on the Sutras, and there can also be discourses on his life, etc.’
This is an indirect mockery of time by one who has transcended Time, Space and Causation. Celebrations of Jayanthis, etc., are for those who still need a rap in the knuckles to rouse them to the true purpose of life, which the great ones have exemplified in their own life. All days are the same: each day is as important as the other. If only we can make every morning a Jayanthi to remind ourselves of our goal, the progress will be greatly accelerated.
(I might here link this up with an evening incident. After the evening Satsang had concluded, Siva was distributing Prasad. To Swami Satchidanandaji, he offered a second helping of the Prasad: ‘It is your birthday: take more.’ As he turned to another Sadhak: ‘Is it your birthday also?’ ‘No, Swamiji,’ came the honest reply. Siva turned to a third: ‘Today is indeed your birthday: what is there, today is everyone’s birthday: every day is your birthday.’)
DOCTOR’S DILEMMA
Let us follow Siva further down, I resume the morning narrative. Pannalalji’s family are going to the Viswanath Ghat for their bath. ‘ OM Namo Narayanaya. Did the doctor come and see the child last night?’ One of the children in the family was sick.
‘No, Swamiji. But the child is improving by your grace alone.’
‘Oh, Venugopalaswamiji, you did not go to Vanaprastha Hermitage last night?’
‘No, Swamiji: I will go now, Swamiji.’
‘Of course, you can go now. But I had asked you to attend to that baby last night itself. And you had agreed, too. You have neglected your duty. It is either laziness or neglect. It is through these that you miss such golden opportunities of rendering service.
‘If I had known that you would not go, then I would myself have gone and attended to the child. This service is greater than all meditation and study. By serving the sick, you directly put yourself in tune with the Infinite. You develop the heart which is the only way to realise the Supreme.’
‘I thought that I need not go at night, Swamiji. So, I neglected it.’
‘When I say: Go immediately, you should not mind whether it is midnight or midday and attend to the patient. Do not think I am finding fault with you: it is for your good only. By such frequent self-analysis, you should try to improve and make yourself perfect. Om Namo Narayanaya, Jai ho ji.’
NO, NOT EVEN YOUR WIFE
‘The essential qualification for a Sadhu is that he should adapt himself to all conditions and circumstances, causing no inconvenience to others. His is the duty to serve: not to worry others. Very few sadhus know what they are and what they should be.’
‘This morning an old Sadhu from Swarg Ashram came here. He was there when I was there, too. He is aged 80 now. Today they did not prepare roti here. There was only rice and Sambhar. But, the Sadhu would not take. He wanted only roti. It seems rice will produce wind. If you allow him, he will lecture to you for half an hour on the evil effects of rice-eating. But he will refuse to be reminded that a very large population in India and the world lives on rice alone.’
‘This is all that he has understood of Sadhana during all these thirty years of Sadhu life. Rice should not be taken: roti alone is good for health and meditation. All their life these people will waste on this one thought of the right food and the wrong food. What is there if one day you do not get your food to your own liking? Even your own wife will not tolerate you for a day if you are so particular about what food you should have.’
‘It is the special duty of a Sadhu not to cause any inconvenience to householders. We are not to be a burden on householders, but to be of some service to them. When will the Sadhu understand this?’
HOME AFFAIRS
‘And, the worst part of it all is—this Sadhu who is adamant in his longing for the roti will not be given anything except rice here! I had to go about here and there asking this man and that cook to prepare a few parottas for the Sadhu.’
‘The Sadhu has his own specifications for the parotta, too: It must be extra-thick: this is a convenient method of escaping criticism that he is a glutton. Instead of taking twenty parottas of the usual size, he will now only take six of the abnormal size.’
‘If I merely tell someone here, nothing will be done. Some cook or some worker will just look up to me with his mind somewhere else, and then forget all about it when he sees my back! And, a few have got the mentality that their will should be done. So, my worry is all the more. I have to sit by the side of the cook and see that the Sadhu is given the parottas.’
NOT IN A THOUSAND LIVES
‘Some Sadhaks here also have that impression that they are living in an Ashram and that one consideration ought to be sufficient to open out the gates of Kaivalya to them. I assure you: even if they live many hundreds of their lives near the greatest saint in the world, they will not improve even a bit. They must themselves exert. Each one must think for himself, act for himself. There have been some Sadhaks here whom I myself trust and put in charge of the affairs of the Ashram: then I myself used to dread to approach them. If, for instance, I go to them and ask them to prepare a little more of what they give me for my food in order that I may give the extra quantity to some one else, I would be refused. What I do on those occasions is to reduce my own consumption and distribute this to the others.’
‘If a Sadhaka gets real Samadhi in a hundred births, that is a very great achievement. God is Perfect: and unless and until all the evil qualities are eradicated and divine qualities acquired to the degree of perfection, there will be no Samadhi.’
A glimpse of the heart of Sivananda. From the above we have an idea of the nature of an ideal Sadhu, how Siva lovingly serves even one who does not rise to this ideal, and the supreme embodiment of patience and consideration that Siva is in the matter of training his own disciples who are given the fullest freedom to evolve in their own way even if it meant trying Siva’s patience severely.
Siva now turned to Sri Rajagopalan who had during the University class in the morning asked for methods of shutting out extraneous thoughts during meditation.
‘Meditation is only the seventh Anga of Yoga. Without first attending to the preliminaries you want to get established in the seventh limb! Is this possible? First get established in Yama and Niyama. This alone is sufficient work for several lives.’
‘Study Gita. Find out if you have developed one hundredth part of one virtue which the Lord has prescribed for all Sadhakas. If you have done even this, you have deserved the human birth. This eradication of evil qualities and cultivation of good ones is such a difficult task that there is no use treating it lightly.’
‘Anyone can write articles. Any one can solve others’ difficulties, so long as the solution is not applied to one’s own self. You can turn out tremendous work. But, these are all faculties. Even singing Kirtan melodiously and inspiringly is the development of a faculty that God has given you. Do not mistake this for the acquisition of Sadhu-qualities. They are entirely different. It is extremely difficult to develop one quality which is necessary in a Sadhu.’
‘Yet, I am not discouraging you all. Go on introspecting and eradicating the evil qualities one by one. You will soon find yourself in the region of perfection.’
‘First get rid of gross impurities. Anger: how many are an easy victim to the grossest form of anger. This fighting nature is inborn in everyone. A Sadhu should completely eradicate this evil. This evil quality has no place in him. Someone here abused him: and R. has gone away. Even if he was an undesirable person, we should not abuse him. That is why the greatest sages prescribed Maitri, Karuna, Muditha and Upeksha for a Sadhu or a Sadhaka. Friendship towards equals, sympathy towards inferiors, admiration and respect towards superiors and indifference toward undesirable persons. When you take Sanyas, you take the vow: Abhayam Sarva Bhutebhyah. Even an ant should not be afraid of you. You give Abhaya (the guarantee of fearlessness) to all. Even the worst of men should not be afraid of you.’
‘Without these qualities, there is only Rupantara-Bheda in a Sadhu. The garb has been changed: but the nature has remained the same. Try to improve yourselves little by little. Be on the alert. So long as you are on the right path, there is no fear: you are sure to reach the goal.’
A rare occasion on which Siva the Jagad Guru raises the Finger of Admonition. The Finger belongs to the Hand of Siva the Loving Mother: and it is raised only when that love expresses itself as stern guidance.
3 rd OCTOBER, 1948
REGISTRAR AT THE ASHRAM
Today has been a very important day in the annals of the history of the Society. The Sub-Registrar of Dehra Dun came to the Ashram for reverently getting the revised Trust Deed of the Divine Life Trust Society registered and signed by Siva. A retired Judge (Sri Gauri Prasadji of Swarg Ashram) was also with us. At the conclusion of the signing ceremony, Gauri Prasadji suggested that if the Registrar found any difficulty in declaring that ‘Swami Sivananda is personally known’ to him, he (the Judge) would help him. Instantly came the Registrar’s reply: ‘I should consider myself unfit to call myself a human being if I could not declare that I personally know Swamiji. Why? The whole world knows him! Can anyone ever afford to deny knowledge of Swamiji?’
The moment the Sub-Registrar came in, he found himself in a valley on every side Siva’s fragrant love enchanting him and enveloping him. He found, not the dismayed respect that greets him in other places, but a brotherly, nay Atmic, love which knows no bounds.
AGE-OLD RELATIONSHIP
As we were going in a car to Rishikesh for the completion of the actual ceremony, the Sub-Registrar revealed himself.
‘Even in my College days I felt myself drawn to Swamiji’s books. They were my constant companions. I went through my LL.B course: and even after I got into the U.P. Service, these books have served to guide me, my daily activities, and to cheer me up, in short, to breathe new life into me.’
‘I have had a great yearning all the time to come to Rishikesh and have Swamiji’s Darshan. Today has been that glorious day: it is a red-letter day in my life. I consider myself most fortunate to have had Swamiji’s Darshan today. Not the Ganga Snan, nor a visit to the holy place as such, nor even the comfortable and enjoyable stay in the Ashram: but, this alone do I consider a great blessing— Swamiji’s holy Darshan and his blessings.’
‘Looking from that angle, I consider even my present appointment a great gift from God: for it was that that enabled me to make the Saint’s personal acquaintance.’
At the Viswanath Bagh, too, the Sub-Registrar could not but feel that he had already been assimilated into divine life: he was one of us, one with Siva. The parting had all the pathos in it: and the ‘stranger’ Sub-Registrar left us, really and sincerely a disciple of Siva. As the Judge Saheb humorously remarked: ‘You came to register a document of the Society: but your name has already been entered in the registers of the Divine Life Society and Swamiji has already registered you as a divine life.’ This is true to the very letter. And, when he left, he had been blessed by Siva with the gift of some of the books, food enough for his soul.
4 th OCTOBER, 1948
TYPEWRITING SCHOOL?
‘What a poor opinion of Rishikesh Sadhus do these people have!’ remarked Siva after a few modern men and women had peeped into the office, made their appearance felt, and left the place.
They threw a glance at the entire office as soon as they entered: they just could not resist Siva’s magnetic personality which compelled them to bow their heads to him: and then they busied themselves watching with keen interest the clatter of typewriters. A gentle lady moved nearer one of the typewriters, gazed intently at the Sadhu adorning the machine’s front—‘What a curious sight!’ she must have thought.
She then moved towards Siva and asked: ‘Do you teach these people typewriting here?’
Siva, obviously in the fullest sympathy with the proud visitor who had perhaps no idea that typewriters could be found in Sadhus’ hermitages, said: ‘No, no. They are all expert typists. They have all been holding high positions in the Government and commercial offices, renounced their jobs and joined this Ashram. They are all past masters in the art.’
Their curiosity satisfied, they turned to the door.
‘Maharaj! Please wait. I will give you something to read.’
The visitors turned back in surprise: ‘You will give me books also?’ They looked at one another. The gentleman, a pure aristocrat unadulterated by an iota of divine qualities, commanded a Sadhak: ‘Then, bring the books quickly: we want to go.’ Vishnudevji handed him with a few leaflets and books. With another (this time more sincere) bow to Siva the party left.
Siva then turned to us and said: ‘They think that Sadhus would be illiterate, good-for-nothing people living on neem-leaves. What a poor conception of this glorious institution they have!’
THE BULL-INMATE PASSES AWAY
‘Swamiji, you have built that Kutir on the very bank of the Ganges. What a nice shed! Is it for meditation purposes? But, in rainy season it will be washed away by the Ganges!’ wondered a visitor seated in the Viswanath Ghat, gazing as he was towards Siva’s Kutir beyond which, on the shores of the Ganges stood a small ‘Kutir’, a humble thatched shed.
‘No, no. It is not a Kutir in the sense that you take it to be. It is indeed a Kutir, yes, and it at present houses an invalid. I shall explain it to you.’
Siva and the visitor went to the ‘Kutir’. What was there inside? An old, emaciated bull in dying condition.
‘My God,’ exclaimed the visitor. He thought of finding a meditating Sadhak there.
‘Yes, you have said it. It is your own God inside the Kutir. It is not meant to be a Kutir for a Sadhak to meditate in: but a Kutir to house an embodiment of God. Don’t you see our God in the bull, too?’
Two Ashramites were there tending to the bull. Like a regular Ashramite this bull was treated. Food, drink, shelter, all comforts, and all attention. And, Siva was particular in his daily visits. It was fortunate enough to have dropped its body just at the foot of his Kutir. The astonished visitor was beside himself when he noticed all this. ‘This for a poor beast, that an emaciated one, which we would long ago have driven out of the house as useless (after having made the best use of its youth).’ Not so with Siva: the bull which had served the divine cause was just as useful and as much an object of his affection and attention as a human being who shares the good fortune.
The bull breathed its last this evening: and under Siva’s directions, was consigned to mother Ganges (as a Sanyasin is) with Maha Mantra Kirtan.
KESARI YOGA
‘Ayiye Maharaj,’ greeted Siva, in this characteristic style, the visitor who stepped inside the office. The newcomer prostrated before Siva and took his seat on the bench.
Siva then gave him a copy of the latest issue of ‘The Divine Life’ magazine and a collection of messages.
‘You are coming here after a long time.’
‘Yes, Swamiji, after eight years.’
‘Have you seen the temple, Bhajan Hall, and Kaivalya Guha?’ asked Siva.
‘Yes, Swamiji, I am just coming from the hillock after having the Dharsan of the various buildings, temple, Akhanda Kirtan Hall and the Mahatmas living there. I am simply amazed at the wonderful work you have turned out in such a short time. No one has even during his entire life-time done such excellent work as you have done. Sitting on the bank of the Ganga, in the Himalayas in this small Kutir, you have simply thrilled the whole world. Swamiji Maharaj, you have got Kesari Yoga which is one of the best Yogas according to astrology.’
‘What is Kesari Yoga?’
‘Kesari Yoge Jato Dhanavan Swakulaadhipo: Grama Pura Nagara Kartha Sahasramaseshu Jeevitam—One who is born in Kesari Yoga becomes rich, the leader of his race, becomes the creator of villages, town, cities, etc., and lives for a thousand months. This is the fruit of Kesari Yoga. When I think of the development in this Sivananda Nagar I am convinced that the effect of Kesari Yoga is fully demonstrated in your case. Your reputation and glory is something marvellous. Wherever we go, we hear of your wonderful work. Everywhere, your books are read.’
7 th OCTOBER, 1948
VIGILANT VIGILANT VIGILANT EVER
‘I told you the other day itself that these account books will be spoilt by rain. They thought that sun had come: so, there would be no rains.’
‘It is the wind that spoils it, Swamiji. If the wind is not there, water does not come in. It is the wind that misdirects the rain.’
‘All right,’ said Siva, smiling, ‘send a petition to Vayu not to blow when it is raining, and thus spoil our papers. Very well, you can now go on keeping the account books and papers in a careless manner.’
By now, the Ashramite had realised the point. ‘No, Swamiji, I did not mean that. I shall have the books and papers removed from near the verandah.’
‘You see: you should always be careful. Some people think there will be no snakes and scorpions in summer. Instead if you are always careful, and take a lantern, you will be safe. As soon as the work is over, the hands should automatically bolt the doors and windows and move the account books and papers to safe places.
Oh, rain! We are grateful to you for you have enabled this torrential wisdom to be poured out to us. Siva’s message of eternal vigilance. How many aspirants often fall a victim to the temptation of considering themselves beyond the reach of Maya’s long arms and in a complacent mood voluntarily walk into her clutches. Even in sunny days (of spiritual glory) Siva would like us to securely bolt the door with Viveka and Vairagya, so that the rain of passions wafted hither and thither by the wind of circumstances might not spoil the record of our divine accounts built up slowly and steadily through many years of hard labour. Even in sunny days Siva would like us to go about with the lantern of wisdom and Mumukshutwa in order not to be stung by the scorpion of lust or bitten by the serpent of egoism.
FALSE ECONOMY
‘I am always careful regarding the very minutest details,’ continued Siva. ‘Several people here used to ask me to send large consignments of books through people who go to the same city from here. Sometimes N., with his keen interest in economy, would suggest getting our books from Calcutta or other places by goods train. What would happen to them? When they reach here, half of them would be soaked in oil, the other half would smell of jaggery.’
‘The other day Pannalal’s friend asked me if I had some books, etc. for him to carry to Pannalalji. I actually had a big parcel of books: but I would not send it through him. He might himself forget it at the railway station, or in the carriage. He might forget to deliver it immediately he reaches Amritsar. And then, he might send the parcel through someone, and thus the books might go astray and never reach the person at all. All this to save a few rupees. I do not allow it at all. Even at the cost of a few extra rupees, I send the books direct to the persons intended and thus ensure proper delivery.’
8 th OCTOBER, 1948
THE EASY CLOAK
‘ OM Namo Narayanaya, Master Saheb. You are not attending the class nowadays? You do not feel it interesting, I think. And, these boards here—they are yet to be painted. I see them in the same condition for the past so many days.’
‘Swamiji, I like always to be in a meditative mood, engrossed in Brahma-Chintan. This study and the lectures and hearing of so many different subjects confuses me. I want to be established in Brahman alone. This work is sometimes a hindrance, too. They all distract my mind.’ S.D. had just returned from a Brahma Chintan class which he had attended, not in the Ashram.
Siva walked a few steps away: then, when he was just in front of S.D.’s room, said: ‘Then why not throw away all these watches and clocks? They are no hindrances to your Brahma-Chintan?’ S.D. had no answer for this.
Through this simple remark Siva had pointed out to all of us, how easily we dupe ourselves and mistake the Preyas for the Sreyas. We often wilfully distort the facts about true Sadhana: look at things from a wrong angle and deceive ourselves and others.
TAMARIND-CURE
An aged Madrassi Sadhu guest was sick. He had been provided with all comforts, a room, medicines and ‘diet’ etc. It was about 11 a.m. and a light aroma from the kitchen which was near the room attracted him out of his Kutir. Venugopalji was requesting him to take rest in the room and not to stir out too much.
Siva was in the office: so was Dr. Sundari who is on a visit to the Ashram. They both heard what was going on outside.
V. came into the office to take Siva’s instructions regarding the Sadhu’s diet.
‘Give him whatever he asks for.’
V. was surprised. This, to a patient who has been down with fever for the past four days?
‘Swamiji, he is feeling restless just at present, because he wants to eat all sorts of things.’
Dr. Sundari took her eyes off the book she had in hand and fixed them on Siva curiously awaiting Siva’s reactions.
‘If you give him good Sambhar, he will be all right.’
People around laughed.
‘I am not joking,’ continued Siva: ‘He is a Madrassi Sadhu. He has long been deprived of his favourite tamarind. When the mind gets its satisfaction, the fever will also subside.’
Dr. Sundari agreed with the wisdom of Siva.
CENT PER CENT PURE IS CENT PER CENT FALSEHOOD
Siva was examining, with Dr. Sundari, some chemicals in the dispensary. ‘Is this good stuff?’ asked Siva of Venugopalji, pointing to a bottle.
‘Yes, Swamiji, it is written on the bottle itself ‘Cent Per Cent Pure.’
‘H’m? Cent per cent pure is cent per cent falsehood.’
What a mystic utterance! Nothing is pure to perfection, to the absolute degree. Only God or Brahman is cent per cent pure, rather purity itself. All else is tainted by Maya or ignorance. Therefore, to say that an object is cent per cent pure is to utter a cent per cent falsehood.
TRANSCENDENTAL EDUCATIONIST
None to approach Siva in this respect.
Sri T.K. Srinivasan, M.A., of Pudukotaah, had written to Siva that he had been appointed professor in the Rajah’s College there and had asked for his blessings. Siva wrote out the letter in his own hand:
Sri Professor Srinivasan, M.A.,
OM Namo Narayanaya.
Glorious Immortal Atman.
Adorations and salutations.
Tat Twam Asi.
Thy kind letter and flowers.
Immensely delight to know you have become a Professor now. It is all Lord’s Grace.
In your class, in the end always talk kindly to the students on the importance of spiritual life, ethical life, ethical discipline, study of Gita, or religious books, service of poor and country and the sick with Atma Bhav or Narayan Bhav. Give a slight, spiritual colouring in your lectures, a little link with Lord, and Adhyatmic matters.
Professors are certainly responsible for the spiritual moulding of students. Make them Adhyatmic soldiers to fight bravely in the battle of life. You can do that. You are spiritually inclined. You are already treading the path of Truth. You are full of spiritual Samskaras.
May Lord bless you with health, long life, peace, prosperity and Kaivalya. May you shine as a dynamic Yogi. May you be filled with knowledge and power to raise the students ethically and spiritually.
With regards, Prem and OM,
—Sivananda
The letter more than amply explains itself.
MY ‘SADANGU’
One particularly remarkable feature in the above letter is the ‘salutations’ portion. Even if the letter proper contains just three lines of ‘what happened to that’ business, it is invariably prefixed with all these: OM Namo Narayanaya, Glorious Immortal Atman, Adorations and Salutations, Tat Twam Asi, Harih OM, etc.
What a curious combination, one wonders. First a Saguna Mantra: then a sudden leap into the Absolute, again, a merciless slaughter of the little ego which is compelled to lie prostrate on the ground, then the lion roars the Mahavakya. First, Siva engenders in himself the Narayana Bhav towards the addressee. Then awakens the addressee to his own real Swaroopa, incidentally meditating himself on the nature of the Atman. Then, Siva’s humility overpowers him: incidentally teaching the addressee also to be humble. Then ….an electric current passes through every nerve-fibre of the addressee—Tat Twam Asi. And, it provides a daily repetition for Siva himself. As many letters are written this way, so much of Japa is done, of these great Saguna and Nirguna Mantras: so often has the writer humbled himself and prostrated to the living and walking Narayanas.
SIVA DINES WITH HIS DISCIPLES
The heading would have made you exclaim, especially if you have had the knowledge of orthodox Sanyasin Mutts, ‘Unthinkable’.
The 8 th of each month had been declared to be a gala-day at Ananda Kutir, the monthly birthdate of Gurudev. Swami Sankaranandaji and Swami Visweswaranandaji conspired to make history. They requested Siva to take his food in the Dining Hall today. To everyone’s surprise, Siva readily agreed.
NOR WILL I
The bell had gone. Leaves were spread. The dining hall was already full. A place had been reserved for Siva. The office block remained vacant. Along with Siva was an Engineer from Dehra Dun who had just come. The Engineer’s party consisted of a few more boys and girls, too. The Swami posted at the gate of the dining hall politely requested the Engineer to wait for the second batch: ‘There is no place in this.’
‘Nor will there be place for me in this. I shall also take food in the second batch with Engineer Saheb.’
The Swami raised himself on his toes to see where this remark came from.
Siva was standing behind the Engineer group. If the Engineer is not given a place to sit, Siva, too, would not sit. Then the Engineer’s group was asked to occupy the ‘Secretariat Block’.
GURU KIRTAN
After the meals were over, Siva sang beautifully the Guru Stothra ‘Brahmanandam Paramasukhadam’. Then others began, too—in the manner adopted at Feasts.
A subtle truth is hidden in this. We were celebrating this as our Guru Jayanthi: and we were thinking that we were paying our homage to our Gurudev. And, in the midst of all this, Siva himself started singing the Guru Stothra.
This visible name and form Sivananda sings the glory of that nameless and formless Truth ‘Sivananda’, the Guru of all. So, Siva feels justified, even from the layman’s point of view, to sit with Sivananda’s disciples on Sivananda’s birthday.
Incidentally, I might mention that I have noticed Siva faithfully following the Kirtan Dhwani: ‘Guru Majaraj Guru Jai Jai, Sivananda Sat Guru Jai Jai’. The Sa-Upadhika Sivananda singing the name of the Nirupadhika Sivananda.
It is difficult for us even to understand this: words, too, fail to describe Siva’s glory. So, let us meditate on Him.
JNANA YAJNA FUND
As soon as the Engineer entered the office, Siva greeted Him: ‘Avoji, Engineer Saheb, Om Namo Narayanaaya.’
The stalwart Engineer bowed to Siva: then shouted at his children: ‘You better go up, see the Mandir and then come back.’
When they had been despatched, he place a hundred-rupee note at Siva’s feet: ‘This is for your grand Jnana Yajna, Swamiji.’
At once Siva called out to Padmanabhanji in Tamil: ‘Bring a lot of books for him.’
After handing over a lot of books to him, Siva said: ‘Take your food here itself. Oh, Vishnuji, arrange for their food immediately.’
‘Swamiji,’ pleaded the Engineer, ‘do not bother about this food. I would like to receive from you some other kind of food—food for my soul. I am still a Grihastha. And, I would like to have from you Upadesh as to how I can lead a perfect Grihasthi life.’
‘Do Japa. Read Gita. Have some Vratas. Observe moderation in everything. Do Kirtan with all your children.’
‘I am already doing Japa and am reading Ramayan. As you have ordered me to do so, I will read Gita also.’
Visibly pleased, Siva exclaimed: ‘Oh! You have already got the key to Moksha. You have only to open it. God’s grace is also with you in full measure.’
Afterwards, the Engineer purchased a number of gramophone records, books, photographs, etc. Handing a picture of Siva to each of his little children, the Engineer said: ‘Swamiji, these are all your future disciples.’ What devotion. And, he is from the aristocracy.
PERFECT MEMORY
‘Swamiji, you might not recognise me,’ started a Sadhu as he met Siva near the dispensary.
‘Oho, how can I forget you? I met you twelve years ago in Naimissaranya: is it not?’
How can he deny? Tongue-tied with amazement, he simply kept quiet. Siva turned to me: ‘That was long ago and I had gone to Naimissaranya on a lecture-tour. And, when I was to lecture at Lakhimpore, this Swami was also there.’
The Sadhu had to brush up his memory.
‘He was eager to lecture,’ continued Siva: ‘and, I took great interest in him and made him deliver a short lecture.’ Turning to the Sadhu: ‘You remember that?’
Still dazed, he replied: ‘Yes, Swamiji. What a wonderful memory you have got!’
Both came in. Then, Siva asked Vishnudevji to give the Sadhu a copy of the Magazine, leaflets, etc. And, he asked him to take the Sadhu and show him round. The guileless Sadhu expressed wonderment at the meteoric growth of the Ashram: he had seen it long ago when it had hardly a couple of rooms.
In the meantime, a few smart gentlemen had walked in. With an air of that bureaucratic superiority, one of them said: ‘Swamiji, we came to have your Darshan here. I am an information office. I had my friends at Hardwar ….’
‘Oh, yes, you have previously come here: I remember.’
‘Yes, Swamiji, that was long ago when I was working in a newspaper office in Lahore.’
‘Oh yes: you saw me in Lahore also.’ Then he mentioned a few names one of which was the information officer’s!
11 th October, 1948
THE CHILD KNOWS
In the Bhajan Hall, the Kanyakas (young girls) were being worshipped in the traditional fashion. It was a sight to see Siva himself doing the ‘Arati’ to these children, placing reverently flowers on their heads and singing hymns in praise of the Mother whose embodiments they are.
A small baby was also in the group. An Ashramite tried to cajole this baby to eat a pinch of ‘Halva’ from his hands. The child stoutly refused the offer, and actually brushed the proffered hand aside. Only from her own sister she would accept it.
A little while later, when all of us had forgotten about this incident, Siva was enquiring of each child what she wanted. And, the baby’s turn came. Siva knelt before the baby and took a pinch of Halva, smiled at it and took his hand near its mouth, which automatically opened for the Prasad.
MY NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI
In the afternoon we had performed the Ayudha Puja by assembling the typewriters, cameras, movie equipment and projectors, etc., near the Diamond Jubilee Hall. Siva also joined us in the worship. After the function was over, Siva stood near the entrance visibly admiring the grand array of machines.
‘Very impressive, is it not?’ Siva was seen saying to Srimathi Liliane: ‘A hundred typewriters here means Nirvikalpa Samadhi to me.’
Oh, Lord. What a queer Samadhi is this. Siva’s realisation consists only of more and more service to humanity. His inner zeal for service manifests itself in the expansion of the organisation. A kow-peen-wallah Sadhu who recorded his thoughts on the inside of used envelopes in 1930 is not in command of an office with ten typewriters rattling his messages fifteen hours a day each. Hundred? Of course, what is impossible for God?
12 th OCTOBER, 1948
MODERN RAMANUJA
‘This will create a Samskara in them: and it may take deeper root now itself or at least in the next birth. Let them all hear the great Mantras. Why make a great fuss about it: say that the initiation will cost the Sadhaka a couple of thousands of rupees, great austerities, etc.?’ said Siva as we were leaving the Bhajan Hall after this morning’s Vijayadasami celebrations. Suddenly Suva took it into his head to repeat, for all those assembled to follow, the Mahavakhyas, Sri Vidya Mantra, Navavarna Mantra of Durga and many others. Siva had introduced this ‘initiation’ that anyone who had a liking for any one of the Mantras may treat it as a sacred initiation ceremony and start repeating the Mantra.
Exactly what Ramanuja did: shouting the Ashtakshara from the top of a temple tower.
ASWAMEDHA SACRIFICE
The Sastriji who was in charge of the ritual Durga Puja gave us all the Prasad, Palika, and sprinkled the Kalasa-water on us all. Siva called out everyone around to receive the holy Prasad.
‘This is equal to one Aswamedha Sacrifice nowadays. This is the greatest ritualistic Yajna that can be performed in these days,’ remarked Siva.
Friends! Take this as gospel-truth. For, as the trusted messenger of God, Narada, says in his Bhakti Sutras, these great ones (like our Siva) alone give Sastra its authority: in other words, they are the progenitors of Sastra, and whatever they say is the truth. The moment the above words came out of Siva’s sacred lips, Durga Puja, in our eyes, assumed the role of Aswamedha Yajna.
NO ELECTRIC-SHOCKISM BUT EVOLUTIONISM
Three pieces of westernised Indian civilisation walked in. In the proud arrogance which the late bureaucracy had left as a scar on the body of this great nation, they forgot even to bow to the great sage.
Of course, respect they had for Siva: for they had brought with them a basketful of fruits, as an offering: only folding the palms and bowing the head in reverence were all unknown to them, by nature.
But, Siva quickly taught them: by his own example. One looked at the other, as Siva folded his palms and welcomed them: and decided the best way is to reciprocate it.
‘You are coming from ….?’
‘Yes, Swamiji.’
‘You talk Tamil like a Mangalorian.’
‘Maybe you are right. We have been living away from our own province for quite a long time now: and so have almost forgotten our mother-tongue.’ The accent, diction, and delivery of English were chaste.
Siva asked Vishnuji to bring tea and fruits.
‘Oh, no, don’t bother.’ The young lady exhibited a bit of ‘manners’. Nor did she mind when it was brought.
Siva then initiated a mild discussion about the language, accents, education, tours of countries, etc.
‘We are just coming from Dehra Dun. We went there to see a relative of ours. Accidentally, we dropped in at the School there: and to our astonishment we found that the Principal there was one of our cousins. Our family is so large, in fact, that wherever we go, we find we have a cousin.’
‘You might claim me as a cousin, also.’ Siva gave a hearty laugh as he said this. ‘In fact, the whole world consists of your cousins. All are your cousins only. We are all children of the same God.’
The young lady looked up, somewhat taken aback at this remark.
And, the discussion went on: all about the world. And, Siva soon found out that the elder lady was doing some social service through an organisation.
‘Please give me your prospectus. You see: many young girls come to me for advice. For instance, yesterday one young girl from Dehra Dun came to me with her mother. She wanted to prosecute her studies in America: to get foreign degrees and then to become a preacher in philosophy. She does not want to marry. She is of a pushing nature, very good in demeanour and of good character. But the conservative mother stands in her way. She is impatient: and in such cases I thought that if there was a good women’s organisation it might take charge of the girls, look after them till they are able to stand on their own legs. S.B. can be sent to America and she will be very useful to the country, too. And this organisation should also build an Ashram for ladies. At present there are no good Ashrams exclusively for ladies. This is a great necessity.’
They all sat spell-bound. Siva later asked V. to entertain them with gramophone records.
Then the gentleman was gradually drawn out of himself: when Siva found there was a little space, he thrust his wisdom-sword deep into this officer. The latent desire in this young officer to learn about Yoga was at once roused up by Siva.
‘Yoga does not mean you should run away from home. Real renunciation means renunciation of the ego and the desires. We must have spiritually educated men and women in this land. This education of arts and sciences will take you nowhere. You see: I have started a Forest University here. Yoga, Vedanta, Karma, Bhakti and Hatha Yogas are all taught here. But very few people would want to join this University for some considerable time to come: no doubt after a real spiritual awakening in India this would become one of the biggest Universities: but it is run on a modest scale, because young men now are eager to become I.C.S. officers.
‘What is there in this ICS? Only slavery. You should desire to become free. That can only be done through the practice of Yoga. You should try to learn Gita, Upanishads, etc.
‘But, Swamiji, we are unable to understand the A.B.C. of these.’
‘For your sake only I have written these in short poems, in simple books. The essence of all philosophies is contained in the Gita. What you do not find in the Gita, you cannot find anywhere else. Gita is a universal scripture for all times.
‘You should practise Sadhana. Only when you are young can you do all this. After sixty or seventy, when all the senses have worn out, you will want God. When you can hear nothing, you will thirst for Bhagavatha Katha: when the eye-sight has failed, you will want to look at good pictures of God or go to temples. Now is the time. Do not lose this.’ And, turning to the elder lady, he said:
‘Social service is very good. But unless it has a spiritual background it will not satisfy your soul. Even after hundred years of social service, you will feel dissatisfied. Practice of Yoga will make you perfect: and it will give you the key to making all social service really a divine service.’
Then Siva asked Radha to sing some English songs. Thus was a slight interest created in the trio for Sadhana. Siva at once gave the spiritual diary, presented many books and pamphlets—there they were fully convinced of Siva’s doctrines. I was watching the whole process with irrepressible amazement.
As they were leaving (after having been shown round the temple, Guha, etc.) Siva bowed and said: ‘Do come again and stay here for some time. I will teach you how to sing all these songs. (He presented a copy of the Inspiring Songs and Kirtans.) I will also teach you Asana, Pranayama, etc.’
Now, they actually prostrated before Siva!
Enrolled!!
All this life-transformation within the short span of a half-hour. Imperceptibly, without making them feel self-conscious. Siva had taken to the very core of their unbelieving heart, the message of divine life, of Sadhana, of the Lord’s name and of the glory of selfless service.
DAUGHTER PARTS FROM FATHER
‘She has a tender heart. She is very pious also. And, what is more: in spite of her education and her service in the hospital for twenty years, she still preserves her modesty. See: she will not travel alone,’ Siva remarked as Dr. Sundari had taken leave of him to return to her place.
As she stood before Siva, tears welling up in her eyes, with a lump in her throat, she presented the spectacle of a daughter leaving her dearly loved father.
13 th OCTOBER, 1948
ROOT TO BRANCH: ALL SAME
It started raining today early in the morning. Everyone thought there would be no morning class. The Ashramite deputed to ring the bell thought there was no use doing so: no one to start the class: no lecturers: nor any students.
Siva was in the Bhajan Hall, all alone.
Sri Araamudan was walking majestically along with a small bucket in his hand: when he noticed Siva, at once he put away the bucket and bowed.
‘No class, today?’ queried Siva.
‘I am just now coming out of the Bhajan Hall, Swamiji. No one has come this morning.’
Quickly, two or three students were collected. They started Kirtan. Some more joined: and the professors also came in.
LAZINESS
Siva had kept silent over the incident, till he came into the office. Quietly he introduced the topic, intending to instruct.
‘I looked out of my Kutir at 5 a.m. It was raining. Then, I waited a little. The rain stopped. Then, I went to the Bhajan Hall to find none there. Everyone thought that I could not come. Then when they all saw me, they started gathering. It is all due to inborn laziness.
‘Even if one man went there, he should start doing Kirtan. The story is told of Swami Ramakrishnanandaji who founded the Madras Ramakrishna Mission that he would deliver his lectures at the appointed time and place whether there were people to listen to him or not. It is because he had such indomitable will that his Satsankalpa is working even now.’
HEAD AND HEART
On Siva’s way back from the Bhajan Hall, S.D. met him and had a few words regarding the attitude towards him of his room-mate, who was disturbing his books and belongings, upsetting his clothes, etc.
‘Masterji, you are daily reading Brahma Sutras and Vedanta. If at the same time, you develop a heart of love also, if he be the smallest worthy a pice, he would very carefully clean it and then hand it over to me. We should learn these principles.’
SIVA’S ESTATE
A visitor evinced a keen interest in a bulky volume on Siva’s table.
‘This is my Address Book,’ said Siva, ‘in which I note down the addresses of all those who come into the divine life fold: editors of journals, professors, headmasters of schools, European and American Sadhakas, etc. It serves me a lot. Whenever a new book is published, it is this book that helps me to send it to various persons who will be benefited by it. These twenty-five years I have gone on maintaining this register. This is the fifth volume.
‘Writing addresses of all Sadhakas is to me a greater form of Sadhana than meditation. This is a form of meditation in which not only we, but others, are also benefited. Meditation is necessary: but, along with that, service also is necessary.
‘Sadhakas there are all over the world who correspond with me regularly. To them a book or a pamphlet or a leaflet sent occasionally will act as a tonic. It will rouse them up to greater effort. I am always fond of reading. And, I advocate reading of spiritual books to everyone. Do not think that it is a waste of time. You keep a thermometer to measure the degree of the cave-dweller’s meditation: no doubt, with the help of Asans, Pranayam, etc., they will try to keep up the meditative mood. But there will be a certain amount of Tamas: and the meditation will not be so vigorous as it would be if they occasionally read a good book: this will rouse up sublime thoughts in them. Nobody should renounce books: no one should give up study of religious books. This is very important. You should no doubt read the Gita, Upanishads, etc., daily: but even these alone will not do, though they contain the essence of all Yogas. They will become stale and monotonous. Besides these, you should study all religious literature that you come across. It is this register that gives such spiritual food to thousands of Sadhakas’.
Apart from Siva’s point of view of helping the individual Sadhaks in their onward march to the goal, we can readily see how very useful such an Address Book is to a huge organisation. In fact, the Address Book is the foundation on which the Divine Life Society has been built. It is Siva’s unceasing endeavour to keep track of everyone who has come into contact with him that has enabled his message to spread throughout the world today. In this the Address Book has acted as a proof of Siva’s patient perseverance: this principle he has kept these twenty-five years: and this ‘ceremony’ he has performed day in and day out for quarter of a century. It is his estate which he has looked after with great care.
INSPECTOR-GENERAL
Not only this: everyday before the packets containing the precious treasure of Siva’s books leave the office, Siva would insist on his checking the addressed himself. New-comers to the Ashram not yet acquainted with certain names of persons and towns are apt to make mistakes. A lot of postage is wasted: more than this, time! And, the risk involved in these packets being lost in transit. All these are obviated by Siva himself perusing the packets.
‘All these are necessary for the organisation,’ Siva would say. ‘And, what is more: when I read the address and handle the packets myself (I feel that I am myself personally handling the books to the addressee. I also read the name of the addressee (Lord’s name) thus it becomes a Japa-Sadhana also.’
Siva does not behave like a few other God-realised souls who neglect to give a proper shape to their noble work. He has seen to it that the mission is firmly established in his own life-time thus enabling thousands of aspiring souls to be benefited.
JNANA YAJNA
Even in building this organisation, however, Siva has the only motive of spreading the knowledge of divine life throughout the world. He does not aim at enriching the organisation with massive structures or properties or estates.
Just imagine this for a moment: the amount which the free gifts of books to Sadhakas by Siva far exceeds the sale proceeds during the same period. One who is commercially interested in building the organisation would have seldom resorted to this: he would naturally have considered the money-value of it all. But, to Siva it is just the other way: he takes the Jnana Yajna value of it. Thousands of aspirants are benefited by the books. What does it matter if we lose financially. God will give up. But, Siva’s mission is to spread spiritual knowledge as widely as possible.
But the Westerners find in this a novel approach. Writes Janis Blazgis of Germany:
‘I am much obliged to you for your suggestive books: ‘Yoga in Daily Life’ and ‘Psychic Influence’ which I received on 5 th September. Indeed I am full of joy for such a rich present, because for a long time I have been thirsting for spiritual food, for practical guide books. Above all, I am deeply surprised in receiving from your Divine Life Society so useful books without any payment from my side. Here, in Europe, nobody will do so.’
Of course, nobody with a material outlook on life will do so: but Siva has the only aim of satisfying the aspirants’ spiritual hunger. These books are to him not valued in rupees, annas and pies but in terms of ‘spiritual food’ for appeasing the hunger of Sadhaks.
14 th OCTOBER, 1948
ASANS ADVERTISEMENT
There were a few visitors, some of them aged, whom Siva wanted to interest in Yoga Asana practice. Quietly he started a sweet Kirtan: the Mittai Kirtan (in Hindi, Mittai means sweet-meats).
As a hint at the Thars, he started with the Mattai Kirtan, as the sweet-meat vendor on the road would sing:
Paisa Paisa Mitta Hai
Garam Garam Mittai Hai
Thaja Thaja Mittai Hai
(The tune is the same as: ‘God is Truth, Govinda’)
The song started with Sirasasan: Vishnuji demonstrated the Asan and Siva sang its glory.
King of Asans Sirasasan
Jawahar roj Kartha Hai
Gandhiji Liked it much
Then Sarvangasan:
Thyroid gland ko Achcha Hai
Long life dene Vala Hai
Then again he reverted to his Mittai song:
Achcha Achcha Mittai Hai
Helath-Waia Mittai Hai
Dr. J.R. Sood slipped into the group: he has a physique equal to that of Siva himself. Seeing him do Sirasasan and Sarvangasan, others (old and young) joined. In a few minutes everyone present had girded up their loins.
From there the party came down to the terrace opposite the Diamond Jubilee Hall. Padmanabhanji was ready with the still and movie cameras. Miss Annabella ran about here and there finding out her mother’s dress for an Asan demonstration. And, Srimathi Liliane first performed alongside Siva himself all the Asans. Then came a group drill, with Dr. Sood in the middle. Siva stood on one side giving the ‘commands’:
OM OM OM
This corresponds to the 1 2 3. At the third OM everyone will be steady in the particular Asan: ‘click’ —there they are ‘immortalised’.
Siva gazed at Dr. Sood’s massive frame: a flash, an idea!
‘Come on: Doctor Saheb. We shall both wrestle!’
Dr. Sood is a very old child of Siva: and he was au fait with Siva’s divine simplicity. The doctor was ready. They stood facing each other: Siva stroked his thighs, in the manner of professional wrestlers and they joined hands. The ‘wrestling’ continued for quite a few minutes: Siva in a masterly way applied the scissor-cross to Dr. Sood who gave in.
In such a jolly way Siva taught us that every form of exercise had its own benefits provided the motive in every case was the maintenance of perfect health to serve humanity, to do Sadhana for God-realisation.
SIVA! THOU ART RUDRA!
A boy had come all the way from South India just to see Siva. Fasting, the tedium of the journey overwhelmed him and he fainted when his object had been fulfilled.
The world slowly vanished before his eyes: a storm raged in his brain and he fell flat beside the chair on which he was sitting.
Siva who had completely identified himself with the boy was moved out of his chair by the storm: and he was instantly by the side of the boy, fanning him with tender affection.
‘Run out immediately,’ Vji was told: ‘Fetch water at once.’ Vji ran out.
‘How many times have I told the people here to keep a bucket of water always ready at hand? What sort of people these are? I have to go on telling them: but there is none to hear me here.’
Not when you insult him on his face, not when you commit heinous crimes: not when you wreck his work: not when you scandalise him: not when you throw dung on his face or pelt stones at him: no, not even if you threaten to trust a dagger into his breast will Siva show the least sign of annoyance or irritability— Service of the Lord in the sick, if you are negligent in this one respect, there the Rudra in Siva manifests himself. We had from Siva’s own lips on this occasion, a glimpse of his own early life, his departure from India and arrival in Malaya, when he, too, felt similarly exhausted. I have detailed this in my book, ‘Gurudev Sivananda’.
We thought the boy had fits: but Siva was sure that it was nothing but exhaustion. Soon milk was brought, water, etc., and Siva went on fanning the boy with his own hands and the boy recovered soon after, to tell his story.
CALLED
The boy belongs to Pattamadai. When he was on the banks of a canal near Pattamadai, Kanadiankanal, he heard someone whisper into his ears ‘ Hardwar’. From that time his mind was in a whirl: he did not have conscious control over his actions: and as though driven by an automation, he took away Rs. 70 from the purse of his father who was away: and entrained for Hardwar. At Hardwar he saw the same man whom he had seen in the vision, obstructing the way: but he evaded him and came to Ananda Kutir, the blissful abode of Siva.
Siva had a heart-to-heart talk with him after he had taken his Ganges-bath and refreshed himself with a good meal. The boy had by this time completely recovered, not only from the exhaustion, but from the effect of the hallucination he had. And, he revealed that he had to answer an examination in a couple of months: and so wanted to go back immediately.
But Siva persuaded him to stay at Ananda Kutir for a couple of days more. ‘Having come here, do Japa on Ganges-bank for at least a couple of days. All this has been for your good only: you have had Ganges bath, and you will do Japa on the banks of the sacred river, too.’
And, the boy had no money to go back. He asked Siva to loan him Rs. 80: readily Siva agreed (to loan to a stranger) and further assured the boy that his father need repay the amount only if he can do so without upsetting the family budget in any way. This is a subtle way of doing charity: for the middle class people would feign reluctance to accept charity, as they would consider it beneath their dignity to do so: and the best way to help them out of their own self-made cage is to offer it as a long and assure them that we do not expect repayment.
DESTINY vs. FREE-WILL
Siva was paying a glowing tribute to Sri Swami Sivaswarupji’s musical talents, Bhav, powers of entertainment, devotion, etc.
‘Swamiji, if you wish you can become a big Katha Vachak: you can build a big Ashram and work wonders. Start doing Kirtan and Katha: then slowly go about on Kirtan Prachar. So many will be thirsting to hear you: you will begin to have many admirers—and gradually a huge organisation will come to be built around you. You have the Kesari Yoga. If you only make a little effort Kesari Yoga will be yours.’
‘No, no Swamiji,’ replied Sivaswarupji: ‘Kesari Yoga is only for you.’ This has reference to Sivaswarupji’s prediction that Siva alone had Kesari Yoga or the luck of building up huge organisations and work miracles.
‘I am of a different type altogether.’ Sivaswarupji concluded.
‘No, Swamiji, you have made a mistake. There is Kesari Yoga for you also: but you have not utilised it.’
‘It is not so, Swamiji. I do not have the Sahana Shakti (power of endurance) that you have. I cannot tolerate criticism. I do not like to be spoken ill of: nor to be scandalised. I want always to be quiet and I avoid the thick of the battle of life. Physically also, I am always ill.’
I could at once see that Sivaswarupji was a seasoned and well-developed Sadhu. He has correctly analysed and found out the one superhuman, nay superdivine quality in Siva. Superdivine because it is said in the scriptures that even Lord Siva got upset when Rishi Bhrigu insulted Him.
Then Siva explained the secret of his own success.
‘I always keep the body in working order. Maharaji, I am not satisfied with walking even: I run for a few minutes daily. I cannot but practise Asans and Pranayam for at least a few minutes daily. These keep my body fit: in spite of several chronic ailments that reside in the body.
‘When you compare me to the other Mahants of several other Ashrams, I am nothing before their learning. Compared to their vast erudition, I am like a shop-keeper compared to a Limited Company.
‘But, it is only God’s Grace that has enabled me to spread the message of divine life so widely today. It is this God’s Grace that has instilled in me the spirit of service. When Sadhus and Sanyasins and devotees of the Lord come to see them, the Mahants will put on saintly airs and remain on their Gaddis: but I will clean their shoes. When a patient is lying sick on the roadside, the Mahant will not even look at him: I will carry him on my shoulders, nurse him and clean his bed-pan. When a needy man comes to my Ashram, I will at once give him some money to satisfy his needs: the Mahant will not even look at him. It is all due to God’s Grace.’
Then Sivaswarupji recollected many past incidents (he has been with Siva since the latter’s advent into Rishikesh.)
‘I remember, Swamiji,’ he said: ‘When you used to serve in Kalikananda Giri’s dispensary and established it as a pucca hospital. I remember how those days you used to sleep on a damp verandah without even a blanket underneath. The Kutir was a dilapidated one and it was renovated several years later. Who could have endured all that and still served like you?’
And, Siva himself recollected an incident which happened during his Swarg Ashram days.
He had been invited by Maharani Sri Sri Sri Devi to her palace. Siva went there: he sang his inspiring Kirtans and stirred their hearts and infused joy in them all. ‘Then the Maharani was trying to persuade me to stay in the palace itself. I did not like the idea: so I quietly slipped out with just two pieces of cloth. It was winter. I wended my way along the Ganges-canal to Meerut, and thence to Rishikesh. On the way at Parikshitgarh I received a money order from Sri Satyanandaji asking me to take a photograph of myself for being printed in a book. I returned to Meerut. On my way back again I could not reach Parikshitgarh before sunset. It was dark: and I noticed a few small huts near the roadside. It had been raining all the time: and I was simply soaked in the rain. I found a cot lying outside and without much ado I made myself comfortable on it. Soon someone woke me up and sympathetically told me that that place was not suitable for human beings to sleep (it was perhaps a cattle-shed) and offered to put me up in a cottage, filled with straw. I slept there in the night and ran back to Rishikesh the next day.’
16 TH OCTOBER, 1948
GO ON WITH IT
Dr. Sood has a genuine difficulty: the very recognition of this difficulty raises him high in the esteem of fellow-Sadhaks, for hundreds of even Sadhakas are obliv- ious of any such difficulty.
‘Swamiji, this time I want to learn from you the practical method of self-surrender. You have told me several times to surrender myself to the Lord, and to take everything as His will. I do so. But some terrible occurrence shakes the faith: after some time I regain my faith, to lose it again in another calamity. That creates a lot of mental restlessness. Swamiji, kindly let me know the secret which will enable me to get established in Atma-Nivedan.’
‘Practice!’ replied Siva, then kept silent for a considerable time. There was a studied suspense when Dr. Sood and all of us around were deep in thought: ‘Repeat the surrender frequently. Pity yourself when you betray faithlessness. Try to live always in Him, by constant remembrance and Japa. Try to check the impulse to swerve from the faith, before it can arise. Gradually, it will vanish altogether: you will be established in total self-surrender.’
MR. A B C DEE
Sri T.A. Sankara Sastri calls himself T.A.S. Sastry in his letter. This amused Siva, who wrote:
‘Kindly always use your full name: abandon this modern craze to shorten it, dropping out the most essential part. Even if you go on signing your full name a hundred times, you repeat your own name a hundred times, that will tantamount to Japa. Sankara! T.A.S. Sastri has just the same significance as A.B.C. DEE! Whereas T.A. Sankara Sastri is an elevating name.’
Then Siva said smilingly:
‘I told Sri M. Srinivasan so. He was signing himself as M.S. Vasan. I pointed out to him that Srinivisan is the Lord’s name, sacred and elevating. And, by cutting it shorter, it loses all its glory. He at once caught up with the idea. But there are even now many V. Iyers and N. Iyers and B. Menons, who have yet to learn the glory of the name that their parents have bestowed upon them.
‘Our ancients were very wise. They called the children by Lord’s names, so that simply by calling out the children they would have several times repeated the Lord’s name. But modern wise men would run away from a most pleasant form of Sadhana, too. What a pity. They want to run away from God.’
21 st OCTOBER, 1948
NO CONDEMNATION
In a letter I had used slightly strong language discouraging a type of postal tuition in Yoga. Siva would not pass it.
‘A Vedantin never condemns. Please take out the offending line.’
All indeed is Brahman: nothing deserves our condemnation, because everyone and everything will evolve into the Absolute in course of time.
UNBEARABLE
A very enthusiastic devotee (who has had some connections with some Sanyasins of another mission who had initiated him) came up with a big question: ‘Can you, Swamiji, find out through your divine vision, the course of my Jiva in previous births, and tell me in what stage of evolution I am, what forces are obstructing my progress, and what I should do now?’
Siva sat immobile for a few minutes: closed his eyes: opened them: then smiled broadly: the visitor looked up anxiously: but Siva kept quiet again!
The visitor probed again.
‘Majaraj, if I tell you of your past births, you will be frightened. So, go on with your Sadhana. Japa, Kirtan, meditation, etc., and try to evolve into Godhead.’
The poor visitor missed Siva’s first warning sentence: and went on insisting his question. Siva laughed: and said:
‘I cannot relate your past lives, Maharaj. You can seek someone else.
(When the visitor was about to leave ….)
But, I can tell you that you can derive no useful purpose by this quest. Apply yourself to Sadhana. You will realise in due course.’
AID TO SEVA
I had gone to Siva’s Kutir for a cup of curd. Presently Siva himself was there.
‘You are taking some medicine?’
‘Yes, Swamiji, and that has to be taken with the curd.’
Someone interrupted and informed Siva that I had not been taking the regular food for a few days past.
‘No, no no. That is no good. You will have to do tremendous work. And, that needs a lot of energy. Eat well: do not have too many restrictions.’ Then, with his characteristic bewitching smile, he added: ‘I do not know how these young men have developed the baby-stomach. You must be able to digest even stones at this age. Look at me. I may have diarrhoea: but I will take some medicine for that and go on eating my normal food. I will never yield to the threats of the doctors. I want to serve: and these restrictions are hindrances to service.’
‘These restrictions are necessary in the beginning to acquire control over the palate. Then, when you know how to convert all your energy into Ojas and to utilise it in the proper channels, you can and you should acquire all the energy you can.’
DEAD? THEN, OFFER TO GANGES
Siva was on his morning rounds. An aged Sadhu was sick, and Siva was in front of the Sadhu’s Kutir. A companion of this Sadhu informed Siva of the latter’s condition and suggested that the patient’s Poorvashram relatives should be contacted.
‘No, no. He himself would not like that. What has he got to do with those people? He is dead to them. What does it matter if he gives up this body now? We shall consign his body to the Ganges.’
The compassion companion was mystified.
And, yet, Siva himself is taking the greatest interest in the quick recovery of the patient.
Siva quickly relieved the companion’s misery.
‘After all, the body has to perish one day. We should always look to the welfare of the inner Atman. The Atman is imperishable. Contact with the erstwhile relatives will spoil the purity of the soul. A last-minute attachment might create impressions which might bring about a re-birth.’
So, Siva suggested that the relatives should not come: the soul is saved thereby. If the element-compounded body dies, it can be offered to the Ganges with Maha Mantra Kirtan.
After a few minutes’ silence, Siva added: ‘Do not worry yourselves. He will be all right soon.’
No wonder: the aged Sadhu is perfectly all right now.
SANKOCHANANDAJI: His Disease and Siva’s Cure
‘ OM Namo Narayanaya, Sankochanandaji Maharaj. You are taking your Bhiksha here nowadays?’
‘No, Swamiji, I prefer to go to the Kshetra. It gives me a good exercise also.’
Siva at once understood that S. was fighting shy (hence the name Sankochanandaji) of taking his Bhiksha in the Ashram. When S. had left, Siva turned to us.
‘See: in S.’s case we have failed. Why does he feel shy to come and sit in the dining hall? Because our behaviour towards him has not been cordial and courteous. He is an old and venerable Sadhu who has led the Sanyas life for the past thirty years. Their very presence in the Ashram adds to its dignity.
‘You should not think that everyone should do the same type of work that you do. Sweeping with the broom alone is not Karma Yoga. God has bestowed various faculties on different people. These should be utilised in the best manner in His service. S. can sing beautifully and thrill the audience with his Bhajans and Kirtans. Can you do it, Balan Swamiji?’
‘No, Swamiji.’
‘At the same time, S. cannot write the thrilling articles and notes that you can. Each one has got a special virtue and qualification. You should, therefore, not have the same yardstick for all.’
‘Even the mere fact that he is a good Sanyasin of long standing should be sufficient to inspire us. One man should take tea to his Kutir: another should give him some fruits and milk: a third one should go with food. Then, he will understand that he is loved here by all. Then he will come into our kitchen of his own accord and take food.’
We resolved to act up to this immediately.
YOU SEE GOD IN ME! I SEE GOD IN YOU!
A Bhakta from Nilakanth, who is a scavenger by birth, has come. He is sitting outside the Diamond Jubilee Hall just opposite the window to the left of Siva, through which and through the window of his eyes, he is drinking the divine form of Siva. Quickly Siva glanced at him and at once invited him to come in.
Rapid instructions: fruits and milk were brought. Siva offered them to the Nilakanth devotee, who rolled himself on the dust of Siva’s feet, uttering ‘Siva, Siva’. He sees his own Ishtam (Mahadeva) in Siva. He prostrates to him again and again: then, he started circumambulating around Siva.
It was a feast to our hungry eyes: this Siva Lila. Quickly Siva too started going round the Nilakanth devotee. One goes on repeating ‘Sadasiva’, the other ‘Radhe-shyam’. Then they feel at each other’s feet. The Nilakanth devotee, himself the very embodiment of humility was greatly embarrassed and astonished. He soon realised that Siva was humility itself.
ANATHARAKSHAKA SIVANANDA
It was nearing 11 a.m. Siva asked Vishnuji to bring some fruits in a bag. After the 11 a.m. closing Kirtan, Siva was leaving the office with the bag. When I inquisi-tively looked up, he remarked:
‘Almasthanandaji wants to see me and desires that I should be with him and talk to him for at least fifteen minutes a day. I am going to his Kutir now, with these fruits.’
What! Everyone here had declared that A. was out of his senses, perhaps out of advancing age. The natural contempt which old age evokes in hot-blooded youth has thus been aggravated by the odd behaviour of A.: no one cared to attend on the old man. Clad in dirty rags, unkempt hair, unshaven beard, uncared-for, A. was roaming about friendless and helpless. Siva, the All-merciful Siva, who sees his own Self in everyone, rushes to the aid of the old Sadhu. Surely God is Anatharakshaka.
MAN, SUPERMAN, SUPERDIVINE
The evening Satsang is in progress. Little Radha quietly creeps into the Bhajan Hall. She had run up the hillock all alone, even without a lantern in the dark night. The highly cultured millionaire’s daughter would not disturb the quiet atmosphere. Yet, the inner urge is irresistible. She knelt before Siva and made her obeisance. Siva opened his eyes.
‘What is the matter, Radha? Why have you come alone in dark?’
The pent-up emotions burst forth into torrential tears.
‘Mummy is in a dying condition, Swamiji,’ sobbed Radha.
‘What!’ exclaimed Siva, deeply moved. The Human Heart!
Siva sank into a profound silence. The heavens stood still. Stillness. A strange thrill in the atmosphere as the sage flew into the Beyond. The tragedy of a sorrowful premonition which had afflicted every heart, melted away in the radiation of the Yogi’s Bliss. The Superman Siva emerged out of the Man Siva.
‘Come: let us go. Do not cry, Radha. Everything will be all right.’
As they were leaving the Hall, Siva asked Vishnuji to do mental Japa of the Mrityunjaya Mantra.
‘Sridhar Swamiji! Please prepare a dose of the stimulant mixture. Also get the smelling salts ready.’
With baby Radha at his heels Siva rushed down.
As he neared the Diamond Jubilee Hall, Siva called out to me from a distance. This was strange. I jumped out.
‘Yes, Swamiji.’
‘Sridhara Swamiji is in the dispensary. Get the medicines. Quick.’ The swift Siva had, before uttering the last of these few words, gone away towards Ram Ashram where the Shamash family were staying. Such was the speed.
With the smelling salts I ran to Ram Ashram to find Siva sitting by the bedside of Srimathi Liliane.
‘Shampoo her feet with liniment turpentine.’
I applied myself to the task.
Then one by one, the stimulant mixture, grape-juice, etc., arrived and Srimathi Liliane completely recovered.
Mr. Shamash then explained that she had fainted away: and her pulse and heart beating had almost stopped. The children were greatly upset: and in utter distress the little one ran up. And, said Mr. Shamash: ‘She might have passed away, Swamiji. But, five minutes ago, she began to breathe normally. Just before you arrived here, she awoke, as from a sleep.’
A few minutes later, Srimathiji was her normal self once again.
The Superdivine Siva had willed life into her.
25 th OCTOBER, 1948
YOUTH AMONG YOUTH
Swami Visweswaranandaji announced in the office that a small batch of Doon School students had arrived at the Ashram. A few moments later marched in smartly uniformed students of all sizes headed by the imposing personality of the stalwart teacher.
Even a very important and urgent message which was lying on his table could not hold Siva’s attention.
In great joy, Siva greeted the Youth. Here and there several Sevaks rushed to provide the students with tea and light refreshments. After speaking a word individually to each student (and, the freedom which the young students at once take, as though unconsciously, with Siva whom they consider as one of their own!) Siva led them all out of the Diamond Jubilee Hall.
‘Do you know the drill?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘But do you know the Upanishadic Drill?’
‘What?’: the boys looked at one another and ultimately at the teacher with a querying forehead, as if to ask: ‘Do you?’ The teacher and the taught, all were eager to be taught by the Great Teacher.
The boys were quickly arrayed in two rows.
‘ OM TAT SAT’ came the Command from Siva. The boys instinctively stood to attention as Siva himself did so. Now starts the drill.
‘Mathru Devo Bhava’
Palms folded at the chest in salutation.
‘Pithru Devo Bhava’
Both hands raised above, vertically.
‘Archarya Devo Bhava’
Hands brought down in one swing along with a nice folding at the hip
As in Padahasthasan and Suryanamaskar.
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’
Palms folded at the chest in salutation.
Attention.
‘ OM Tat Sat’
Then Siva explained the significance of this drill. ‘This is the Upanishadic Drill. The words of command are great utterances of sages in the Upanishads. ‘May your mother be your God. May your father be your God. May your teacher be your God. (Here, the escorting teacher bowed to Siva with a visible sign of gratitude for pleading his case.) May your guest be your God. These Bhavanas are roused up when you repeat these sentences. Slowly your inner nature is divinised.’
Then: ‘Bhaitak’ exercise.
‘SITA’: Fists clenched, fore-arms bent at the elbow and raised, then the entire body lowered assuming a ‘sitting on the heels’ position.
‘RAM’: Normal standing position, but with clenched fists, ready for another round.
‘ OM TAT SAT’: Attention.
After a few such exercises with ‘Sita-Ram’ and ‘Radhe-Shyam’. Siva led the students in a march, with the marching tune:
‘Bhum Bhum Bhum Bhum Mahadeva
Hara Hara Hara Hara Sadasiva
Then Radha (Miss Rose Farida Shamash) did delightful Kirtan and sang and lectured to the students on the essence of Yoga.
Afterwards, Siva let the students demonstrate their class drills. Quickly, a carpet was spread on the terrace opposite the Diamond Jubilee Hall. Here Siva taught the boys Yoga Asanas and explained their usefulness.
Siva then encouraged the boys to sing. One boy sang nice songs. There was then an elocution competition. One of the bright students explained in simple language how spiritual institutions like the Divine Life Society were the crying need of the hour: ‘The Divine Life Society propagates the teachings of the greatest living sage, Swami Sivanandaji. His teachings are published in numerous books, pamphlets and leaflets. The magazine also contains his precious writings. The unique feature in these is the very practical message that Swamiji has for mankind. If all people listened to Swamiji’s call, then and then alone will there be peace in the world.’
The students then formed themselves in two groups and requested Siva to suggest a proposition on which they could debate.
The proposition suggested was—Divine Life is necessary.
This put to test the boys’ creative faculties. It was wonderful how beautifully the boys spoke ‘for’ and ‘against’ the proposition.
Standing in the sun, Siva distributed the Prize-books to the boys who took part in these competitions. The boys and the teacher were then served with tea and fruits and given a hearty send-off.
Siva was highly pleased: for within a brief spell of half an hour he had sown the seed of divine life in the hearts of those intelligent boys—the future citizens of this glorious land. He also presented a lot of books to the teacher for the use of the School Library.
27 th OCTOBER, 1948
SIVA SANKALPA
Early in the morning as the University class was in progress, I suddenly felt a writhing pain in the stomach. Except a queer sense of discipline instilled by Siva’s own stern example on such occasions, nothing could have prevented me from stretching myself in the nearest corner.
When the class broke up, it was yet dark: and Siva could not have even marked the slight trace of this inner feeling which might have escaped the control. I quietly slid into a corner behind the Bhajan Hall pillar, to escape notice.
‘Vishnuji, do you know Nauli?’
‘Yes, Swamiji.’
‘What about Rajagopal?’
‘I know, Swamiji: but I cannot do that,’ replied Rajagopalji.
Siva gave a hearty laugh. ‘Then what knowledge is that?’
What a grand truth in it! We know theoretically and intellectually hundreds of things: but never realise that we have to do them if we wish to KNOW them really.
From behind the pillar I was peeping at Siva’s majestic form rocking with laughter.
‘Can you do Nauli?’ Siva’s gaze turned towards me.
‘Yes, Swamiji.’
‘Oh Vji, come: let us see how you do it.’
Vishnuji demonstrated. Then came my turn.
Inwardly I reflected: ‘With this pain?’ Yet, I could not bring myself to ignore the word or to bleat my inability. When I actually threw away the shirt and started to demonstrate Nauli, I found that my mind had been effectively taken away from the pain to the performance of Nauli. ‘Very good,’ was Siva’s comment. Very good, thought I, too: for the pain which was till then progressively becoming worse disappeared mysteriously.
I am not a tenth as astonished as one might be: for this has nowadays become a natural thing in Ananda Kutir. Whatever Siva thinks or says comes to pass almost instantly.
Sankaranandaji suddenly became ill. In the evening when I was talking to Siva, I asked: ‘How is it that he suddenly became so sick, Swamiji?’
‘It is all right. He will be all right soon,’ Siva blessed.
We could hardly believe our ears: for commonsense would have passed a counter-verdict. What do we know of Divine-Supersense? Siva left the office to go for a walk. I had to go up the hillock: on my way I met Sankaranandaji wrapped in a blanket almost completely well. At night he was able to resume his duties.
ONE SURVIVOR IN A SCORE
A couple of days ago when I visited Hardwar, Sri Gopal Dasji of Lahore, now in Dehra Dun, related to me the following account:
‘Sri Vimlaji was one of the twenty people in her Mohalla at Jammu, who were all affected by the epidemic of cholera. Of the twenty, only Sri Vimlaji survived. The death-roll was terrible. Vimlaji’s case was also very serious. But she somehow survived miraculously. I should say that it is all due to Swami Sivanandaji’s blessings.’ Vimlaji has great faith in Siva.
30 th OCTOBER, 1948
WHAT A BEAUTY
A delightful panoramic view of humanity.
One family of seven members of graded years—from a middle-aged lady of perhaps 45 to an urchin of perhaps five years: but all of them ‘big’ and literally so. Beautifully attired (both sexes) with all the items of make-up that go to the decoration of modern humanity in the cities, the ladies shone in their own glory: but the ‘largeness’ of their features was frightful.
After they left, Siva said, with a broad smile adorning his face:
‘What is this beauty? If the features are not in proper proportion, if a limb or a muscle is overgrown, everything looks ugly. Even the artificial make-up only makes the figure more ugly. I think the Rakshasis of Ravana’s court should have looked like this. What is there in this physical beauty? The Atman is sexless and therefore it is the Beauty of beauties. All else is ugly.’
