India - A Magnificant Search Light

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

India – a magnificent search light

Having returned from India a few times now, I have mentally prepared myself to the one question that many put forth upon meeting me on arrival. Has India improved in any way? I think what people fail to realise is that at face value India is like any other country with its multi-faceted challenges.

Yes, there is crime, suicide, poverty, etc. but also enormous development and economic improvements. Essentially, India is hard at work trying to meet the demands of its population like other developing nations of the world. But what is that ‘X-factor’ that attracts millions of people to her shores annually.

Deep in the heart of India runs an artery of spiritually oxygenated blood that pulses at various points with immense energy. These oases release energy of cosmic proportions giving much solace and peace to thirsty aspirants. It’s no wonder then, that despite the long arduous journey, millions of children answer the calling of Mother India to be suckled with her eternal amrith of ananda.

I consider myself blessed to have shared that soil with Gods, Saints and Sages who have done immense tapasya and sported many leelas on the vast geography of Bharat. She definitely presents herself as a magnificent search light under whose illumination one is able to find the self within the context of this creation.

My pilgrimage always starts with a visit to my Gurustan to pay my respects and make pranaams to my Guru. For this, I find myself in the heart of Kolkata the former capital of the British Empire. This state, acclaimed for producing Nobel laureates and world class thinkers, can consider itself most blessed for being host to The Holy Trio (Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda); Mother Kali and Ma Ganga. Kolkata is a sangam of spiritual consciousness. My first Shivarathri on the bank of the Ganga painted a new scene of tranquility and peace against the backdrop of my turbulent mind.

It was within this solitude that I understood the grace that flowed in these special oases that helped connect one to the super highway of spiritual consciousness. But that is just what it is, a junction or interchange. There is ultimately more to the journey than just the physical presence in a particular place.

The answers for these types of questions come to those who are brave enough to veer of the conventional framework of thoughts and ideas and latch onto inspirations from great thinkers like Swami Vivekananda in establishing your own idea, based on your experiences, devoid of weakness and superstition.

Golden Dome at Tirumala

It was at Thirumala, the earthly abode of my father Narayana - the all pervading one - that I collected the idea that the means to the ultimate goal is a process of evolution. Like the different avatars punctuate the journey from Thirupathi to Thirumala, I realised that my journey was to evolve to any understanding beyond this material existence. Through this material form, I could only perceive the Lord created out of the material elements. How can I see Narayana as He pervades this creation? With the limited faculties, the limitless cannot be seen.

My next port of call allowed me to munch on this revelation: Thiruvannamalai - the abode of Shiva and the home of the Arunachala Mountain. Here, hundreds of pilgrims, and thousands during special days circumambulate this mountain as a sadhana. This is known as girivalam. I undertook this girivalam at 04:00am, completing the 14,4km route with much contentment.

Mount Arunachala

It was during these 3,5 odd hours of sadhana, visting the 8 asta-lingams consecrated by Sage Agastyar and reflecting on the mythology that Shiva appeared here as a column of limitless light, I realised that my journey to Narayana has to be undertaken in the limitless form. This was a difficult task considering my name is not Mahadev.

Passing through Madurai and taking the dharshan of Mother Meenakshi in Madurai, I finally found myself at Kanya Kumari, a beautiful fishing town found at the cape of India and the home of Mother Kanya Kumari. However this place rose world fame after the great monk Swami Vivekananda graced its shores and meditated upon a rock, which legends say was the same rock the Mother did tapasya to Lord Shiva, for 3 days and nights.

Vivekananda Rock at Kanya Kumari

This sangam of 3 seas also plays host to a unique phenomena, where one can witness both sunrise and sunset in the same town. Hundreds gather each morning and evening with cameras and eagerness on their faces to watch Surya ride his chariot above the horizon and return to rest after a days work.

It was here that I myself after some contemplation understood with vast India behind me that as the sun rises and sets at this one point, that we are all created of that same divinity. As Surya Bhagawan rises in Kanya Kumari and sets in Kanya Kumari, that we all have come from God and will have to return to God. When Swamiji said “arise the sleeping millions to the divinity they are”, I understood, that in this form of mine there is a formless, and I am that formless that merely occupies this body. Shivoham - I am Shiva - pure , eternal and full of bliss. It is only because I identify myself with this body that I encounter all the limitations of world.  As Swami Vimokshananda so aptly deduced during His discourse at the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple a week back; life is this journey where many have embarked without the slightest knowledge of the destination. But with the knowledge that I am divine, and that I am Shiva, I know that my only home is Kailas. Thanks to Mother India for shining the light of knowledge on me.

 With love and prayers always

Yogan 

The Fragrance of Life

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Right up until I placed my head on my pillow last night, a cloud of uncertainty with regards to today’s topic hung over my head. This overcast condition left me rather confused, as usually by Thursday I would have had some inkling on the topic of discussion. Never to disappoint though, Swamiji lifted these grey clouds with a breeze of inspiration.

Alighting from my deep slumber in the early hours with the peculiar thought of flowers, I realised that it was my brief. At that moment, it was essentially a higher grade assignment - the daunting task of writing an entire blog on flowers. Indeed, we all realise that Hindus have utilised flowers as a significant part of their rituals and worship. Flowers adorn murthis, frames and doorways of temples and homes. On a basic extraction of the idea, we can allude that they contribute to the visual and scent stimulation of our senses, placing us in a good mood to begin worship.

During this month of Thai, many of us would have had a visual feast in the versatility of flower decorations especially during the Kavady period which has an unusual thirst for its use. I am still immersed in the beauty of the alangaram of the Divine Mother by our temple priest  on the final Thai Friday prayer. The wonderful array of flowers carefully selected and strung in the most exquisite garland for the Mother invokes such adoration and admiration in one’s pooja.

But I fail to believe that the significance of the flower in pooja is limited to just these two applications. Upon tapping on Swamiji’s door for a deeper significance; at once a flow of thought gushed upon me. In continuing the stream of ideas from last week on the important and wonderful festival of Maha Shivarathri, I recall an interesting mythological story that can provide a different dimension to our quest.

Once in the heavens, after creation, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were having an argument. The argument centred upon who was greater than the other. In the midst of this intense argument, a huge column of light appeared which had no beginning or end. The brilliance of this light was phenomenal. At once, Lord Vishnu saw a solution to the predicament that arrested them both. He suggested that they set out in two directions in search of the beginning or end of this light and the one who returns victorious, shall take the title of being the greater one.

Instantly, Lord Brahma became a swan and started upwards whilst Lord Vishnu became a boar and went downwards. As time passed, their endeavour become futile as the expanse of light seemed to progress towards infinity in both directions, and with fatigue and irritation digging at Lord Brahma, He was about to end His mission when He caught glimpse of a ketaki flower falling down. Upon enquiry, it relayed to Him that it adorns the head of Lord Shiva and had fallen from His head.

At once, a devious plan was conjured in His head. He convinced the flower to lie to Lord Vishnu that He had been to the top and had brought the flower as proof of His conquest. The flower  agreed and they both descended to Lord Vishnu and relayed the above tale. Lord Vishnu simply refused to accept this, and in that instant the light took the form of Lord Shiva and proclaimed that for being so devious Lord Brahma shall not be worshipped on earth as famously as the other Gods and that the ketaki flower shall not be utilised in worship.

Tree in full Bloom

We are all essentially like flowers on the tree of creation - beautiful and fragrant in our own way. Like the ketaki with a golden complexion, we all radiate with unique divine qualities. The other day, I was driving past a beautiful avenue of trees in full bloom which surely would have attracted a glance from every passerby. Yesterday as I drove past the same way, I noticed how half of them have wilted and dried up.

We too have a limited lifespan on this earth. We could choose to be attached to the world and die like the flowers on the tree; or like some flowers utilise our life in the service of the Lord by adorning His body and bringing  joy and cheer to the sick and sad. Intrinsically, the flower is a very selfless being - it does not discriminate between anyone and equally releases the same fragrance and beauty to whoever comes into contact with it.

Keta of the word Ketaki means desire in Sanskrit. When one is overwhelmed with desire and greed in this world; examples abound where people have compromised their intrinsic divine qualities like truth, love, compassion and righteousness with aim of meeting their desires. Shocking as it may be, some have even murdered their family and friends for wealth.

A Shiva Lingam Adorned with Flowers

As beautiful and famous as you may be, when you neglect to uphold the basic values of being a human being, you are not worthy to be of use for the Lord. Allow yourself to be detached of the world and yet living in the world. Selflessly give your beauty and fragrance of love, truth, compassion and righteousness to God and all His creation.

May you become a flower worthy to adorn Lord Shiva on the auspicious night of Maha Shivarathri is my sincere prayer.

With Love and Prayers always

Yogan

Society- Boon or Bane

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Man has often been referred to as a social animal arising from his obsession to mingle and be in the company of others.Mass use of social networking sites and the unprecedented boom in the telecommunications sector give overwhelming evidence in favour of this theory. This inclination has given rise to an order which has made societies the superior vena cava of existence.

The sense of community and support system derived from such a platform has lent many positive thoughts and elements to one’s development, but it may have also been the greenhouse for many of the base characteristics bearing fruit now.

On a broad level though, the mass mobilising and solidarity within the framework of a community has sparked many a revolution and renaissance over the years. This collective is virtually underestimated and underplayed in its ability to significantly influence the mental and psychological tendencies of an individual.

We have become trains on the rail tracks of society and you have to conform to the tracks for fear of being derailed. This fear has compromised the intrinsic value system of many and has shifted the moral baseline out of existence.

Public school offers a mosaic of experiences to people; and young malleable minds often take a beating from bullies – pretentious, wealthy and ego-inflated bodies which have tempered them into the persons they are now. The root of envy, hatred and jealousy can often find their source from experiences in the early impressionable stages of our life. This continues even in the grown-up stage when as adults, one is unable to stomach the progress of another; becomes jealous; and develops envy and hatred whilst becoming extremely competitive to keep up with the “Jones’s”.

It was a wonderful editorial written by Chief Editor Siva Naidoo in the local tabloid The Makhulu News that touched on how parents should get more involved with the schooling of their children. Parents often think their jobs are done simply by getting the child to the school. However, placing a child unshielded within the environment of a school can either make or break their personality. The child should be equipped and shielded with the DNA of our dharma which comes with a matrix of core values and morals that define him a human being. Often without this configuration, man only has a human body but behaves like an animal.

Nataraja- Shiva in Motion

February is often celebrated as the month of love, playing host to Valentine’s Day. Many shopping malls and town squares turn red, adorned with hearts and icons of love. In the midst of this great jamboree of love, rises a festival like an edifice of hope that sheds inspiration for our problems.

The great night of Shiva, Maha Shivarathri takes centre stage across all three worlds, paying homage to the great Lord Shiva. Normally steeped in deep meditation and at times raged with fire and dance as Rudra and Nadaraja for the benefit of His devotee and the universe.

Maheshwara as He is also commonly known gives us two techniques to interact with society so that we may live in community with much pleasure.

Lord Shiva drinks the poison

When the churning of the ocean took place, many good things came out and were taken by the devas. But when a pot of poison came out which was detrimental to everyone and nobody was willing to take it, they all summoned Lord Shiva through prayer. Shiva, who is always there at His devotee's side in times of need, willingly drank the poison, and that remained in His throat which became blue, hence the name Neelakanta (blue-throathed one).

The Lord demonstrates through this action, that society may churn out many good and bad things. People may praise you or hurl abuse at you. We should all be Yogis, or as Shree Krishna in the Bhagavat Gita says “stithaprajnas”. We should not be moved by good or bad. We must maintain a neutral stance. And like Lord Shiva, never digest the poisons of society - take it and hold it in the throat so that our well being is not affected.

In another incident, Daksha the father of Sati alienated Himself from her because against His wishes she wanted to marry Shiva whom He regarded as a dirty ascetic roaming aimlessly in the company of ghouls and goblins.

He was performing a huge yajna and with intent excluded Shiva and Sati from the ceremony. Sati felt a huge urge to attend this powerful prayer. She consulted Her husband on the matter and He gave the advice that one should not attend a function if you were not invited. Disregarding His advice, She attended anyway. Upon arrival, She was livid to see how Her husband had been humiliated and disrespected, as all the other Gods and Goddesses were there except Shiva.

Unable to handle this, She immediately threw herself into the fire, killing Herself. This episode teaches us a very important lesson. We should never force ourselves into any circle of friends or social circles where you are not welcome or not invited. In doing so, you will need to comprise your values and principles to fit in and ultimately will only lead to your own pain and suffering.

If someone or people don’t want to interact with you or people speak ill of you, be like our great Shiva Perumaan, take it all with a smile and keep it in your throat. Never degenerate to hate, envy and other base values. Show love and compassion always. Find joy and peace within yourself. Become your own best friend.

In this month of February, may we prepare ourselves with care to affix our personalities with the qualities of Shiva and utilise this practically to make our existence auspicious and sublime is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Maya(illusion) the reigning Queen of Kali Yuga

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 
Nothing deals you a blow of reality than a visit to the high care trauma ICU of a hospital. As you make your way through the brightly lit corridors taking extra caution not to soil the sparkling floors which reflect your image with utter brilliance, you are suddenly greeted by a battlefield  populated by various contraptions and aids, as patients lay fighting for the opportunity to live another minute.

Standing at an angle with the vantage of being able to view a number of them at a glance, the scene pours confusion over my thoughts as I am unable to distinguish if any of them come from a wealthy home or disadvantaged background; have a higher education or are illiterate; or even what religion they belong to for that matter. They have all been reduced to a mere hospital gown devoid of any attributes and consciousness of the outer world, feeding off a mere saline solution.

In the hands of the best physicians and most modern equipment, the power of the divine stamps its authority as in an instant a living being becomes a mere corpse. All your status, accumulated wealth, estates, degrees, awards, friends and family vanish as you enter the kingdom of Yama Raj, and the only commodity of value is your impressions of the life that you have lived.

Oh what a fool I have been to have wasted this human birth in the pursuit of all things which have no value. I have been trapped in the clutches of the enchanting queen Maya where all things are transitory - garlanded with anguish, pain and suffering.  Yet all that earn great interest in the kingdom of God I heed not even an ounce of attention. This is the regret that will hijack your mind at the reception desk of Yama Raj.

Master Sri Ramakrishna said in the Gospel:

Worldly people wander about the four corners of the earth for the sake of happiness. They don’t find it anyway, they only become tired and weary. Through the attachment of lust and greed they only suffer misery. But what is there to enjoy in the world, the pleasure is only transitory. Take shelter in God and pray to Him with a yearning heart; He will surely listen to you and He will help you out this cycle of misery.

Lord Murugan

Yesterday, devotees of Lord Murugan would have descended upon temples throughout the world with intense bhakti and sincerity to commence the festival of Thai Poosam. In what can be described as a mass demonstration of devotion to Lord Murugan, devotees adorned with the patta (insignia of Shiva), will carry the kavady from a specified location back to the temple. This festival which features mainly amongst the Tamil speaking community has now attracted the attention of devotees across language and race barriers.

Here in South Africa, we find that devotees carry the kavady  during three occasions ie: Thai Poosam, Panguni Uttaram and Skanda Shasti, and as much as devotees derive immense benefit from this ritual, like being cured of ailments or attaining success with business ventures etc., I find that this practice teaches and prepares us for the reception with Yama Raj.

Kavadies in preparation

A brisk walk around the ground where the procession commences provides the mind with a feast of images, sounds and scents. The fragrance of the freshly cut flowers vary from carnations,roses, marigolds and wild flowers - an indication of the financial status of the various devotees. The kavadies also don’t escape the touch of pride as they range from intricately carved solid exotic woods to a plane bamboo pole adorned with milk at either end.

The boisterous screams of Haro Hara by the priests signal the journey back to the temple. Dodging the thorns, gravel and heat, the barefoot devotees, amidst the devotional singing and chanting make their way to the temple carefully balancing the kavady on their shoulder. 

At the temple, officials receive the devotees and immediately remove the milk from the kavady which is taken to the inner sanctum of the temple and is used to bathe the deity of Lord Murugan which is termed the abishegam. This act concludes the ritual and brings much delight to the devotee.

Close analysis and careful attention reveals that upon arrival at the temple, the kavadies are not allowed in the inner sanctum. It is only the milk which is received. Ironically, although much effort and resources were put into the kavady, Lord Muruga does not see the type of kavady that brought the milk to him, He only gets to feel the milk. He appreciates and receives the cool milk which has not been spilt and soiled, that which has been brought to Him with much care and sincere devotion.

In the world ruled by queen Maya, we pay so much attention to the body, wealth accumulation, degrees and status, yet like the kavady, it never enters the spiritual world. It is discarded at an instant. That which we fail to nurture and nourish in actual fact is what matters. Like the milk which adorns the kavady and is transported with utmost care for His abishegam; our consciousness and mind should be carefully prepared throughout our life so that it will be worthy of abishegam to the Lord.

Live a life of selfless service, purity and devotion always. Your life is like a long kavady procession. Engage every moment in thoughts of God, and every action as an offering to Him. Ensure that your mind and consciousness are not tainted and soiled by the impurities and trappings of this world. Immerse yourself in His love alone, and then alone can you stand at the desk of Yama Raj with a big smile.

May we be free from all our bondages like the cucumber severs its bond with the creeper and attain peace, bliss and abstention from birth and death is my sincere prayer. Urvārukam iva bandhanān mrtyor muksīya māmrtāt.

With love and prayers always.
Yogan

Vivekananda-An oasis in this dark age

||Sri  Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya 

Swamiji

It filled my heart with unspeakable joy to immerse myself into the bhav of our most revered Swamiji over the past two weeks. Thinking and speaking about Him nourishes the intellect and mind with undiluted inspiration to the point where any activity becomes mere child’s play. This week, we shall bring to a close our 3 part series dedicated to the glorious life of the giant amongst men, that was Vivekananda.

If one had to distil that fundamental instruction or teaching from Swamiji that stands out as the Gita of His works, that would be nothing else but to manifest the potential divinity within us. In identifying with the limitations of this body and the worldly conditioned mind, man projects meekness, fear, mediocrity and inadequacies. Like Arjuna, we surrender or contemplate defeat before the war even commences. In the same way as Shri Krishna warned Arjuna, that sort of behaviour is unbecoming of a warrior. Swamiji warned us that weakness, fear etc. are unbecoming of the divinity we are.

I would easily say it has been over two months since I visited the ocean - definitely an intrepid journey with the knowledge that the tourists have handed back these recreation spaces to the natives of the coastline. The heat and humidity had no chance of capturing my attention as the mere sight of the mighty ocean reconfigured my mood instantly to serenity and coolness.

As I gazed into this vast vista of infinity, my thoughts gravitated to drawing a similarity between the ocean and ourselves based on the profound message of Swamiji mentioned above.  I was deeply intrigued as to how the mighty ocean was ignorant of its potential and was simply satisfied with fulfilling the desire of the shore with recurring small waves. Yet in an instant that very ocean had the capability of flooding the entire earth right up to the Himalayas.

Likewise, ignorant of our divinity we are all preoccupied with insatiable desires and have enslaved ourselves with body and senses just like the ocean is enslaved by the shoreline.

During this month, thousands of pilgrims would have descended on Sabri Malai in India to receive dharshan of Lord Ayyappa, said to be the creation of Shri Hari and Shiva. The demon Mahishi, sister of Mahishasura who was vanquished by Mother Durga during Navarathri started to wreck havoc in the heavens, in revenge of her brother.

Having received the boon from Brahma that  one born of a man and man may vanquish her; she paraded the kingdom of the Gods callously with the incorrect perception of her invincibility. However her boon turned into a fallacy when she met death through the hands of Lord Ayyappa.

Yes indeed this may sound bazaar, but Swami Vimokshananda has always cautioned us against taking mythology literally. These mythologies are highly pregnant with profound philosophies that assist us in our journey to God realisation. It is therefore imperative that a detailed study and analysis of the mythology be done so that we may unpack the underlying philosophy.

The death of Mahishasura and the revenge by his sister Mahishi represent desires. It proves repeatedly that it is impossible to satisfy desires. The moment we get rid of one another is waiting to take revenge upon us.

Lord Vishnu is representative of preservation and Lord Shiva of dissolution. The convergence of these two powers results in constructive destruction.  Sri Ramakrishna said in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna that the only desire that one is allowed to have is the desire for God. All other desires are detrimental to our wellbeing.

Therefore, in taking the constructive destruction approach one should start to dismantle all other desires one by one and reconstruct them to a yearning for God. In that way, no void is created for more desires to disrupt your mind. All desires must be for God alone.  The Master then declares confidently that for him, who has a burning desire and yearning for God alone, the vision and realisation of God is certain.

The removal of desires from the mind is explained by Shree Tulsidas in the Hanuman Chalisa “Shri Guru charan saroja raja nija mana mukur suda” - Cleaning the mirror of our mind with the dust of the Guru’s feet, allows the ocean of divinity that was enslaved within to rise to the Kailas (the abode of Shiva in the Himalayas).  The rising of this divinity is representative of the spiritual progress of the aspirant; the point where the divine ocean and Ganga become one. This Jiva Athma becomes one with Paramathma, is representative of one being immersed in Satchidananda or Brahman (eternal peace).

And that was Swamiji’s mission: to work until every atman journeys back to that state of eternal peace. He has made so many sacrifices, one of which was His own liberation for the sake of the millions of atmans. The least we can do is dedicate a fraction of our lives to His work.  Free the trapped atmans from the bondage by spreading Swamiji’s teachings magnanimously; share His message far and wide; let all be inspired by His words. He came not just for Hindus but for the freedom of all creation. Swami Vivekananda’s books are ideal gifts to youth on birthdays and even to adults.

Let us all become conduits and amplifiers of His voice and message in this age of Kaliyuga is my sincere prayer. “Arise and awake the sleeping millions, as it’s time to go home”.

Jai Swamiji Maharaj Ki Jai!!!

You Tube videos and audio clips:

Chicago Speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUzKoIt5aM 

Swamiji’s Life In Pictures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntwFFlzecA

Swamiji’s Quotes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gryu_7zVIhg

Bhajans

Yesudas Bengali Nahi Surjo Nahi Jyoti-Vivekananda Bengali Song by Dr KJ Yesudas and Salil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URVbGOfXDOM

Books:

Complete works of Swami Vivekananda

Selections from the complete works

Talks with Swami Vivekananda

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Shree Ramakrishna The King Maker

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

The drive to ashram was an immensely restless one... impatience smothered me as I could hardly wait for the commencement of the thithi pooja of Swami Vivekananda, undoubtedly a king amongst men.

The morning was beautiful - the gentle breeze teasing the atmosphere before the heavenly grillers were switched on; the moving trees launching the birds in all directions like confetti being strewn in celebration of Makara Sankranti (Sun moving into the Capricorn constellation).

As I drove towards the Veeraboga Temple on my way to ashram, I caught a glimpse of daybreak, as the sun slowly released itself from the grip of night. The air was perfumed with incense and overpowering smoke emanating from the log fire that was placed under a clay pot in which white rice was being prepared.

As the contents of the pot started to boil over, the mantras being chanted by the priest were suddenly disrupted with loud screams of “Pongal oh Pongal”. By this time, Surya (sun) had made a prominent display on the horizon.

Surya Pongal is a festival celebrated by mainly South Indians, and pays homage to Lord Surya for His grace and blessings, allowing them to harvest a bounty. Similarly, on different days, homage is paid to the cow, ancestors, etc. for their contribution to the agricultural success of the community.  Agriculture formed the backbone of Indian civilisation, providing abundantly for the country’s sustenance.

After India was conquered and colonised, many lost their land and became slaves to the empires, leading to the poverty and degradation of the masses of India, who at one stage were self sufficient through agriculture.

Pic of Swamiji at HQ Shrine Durban

Upon entering the shrine at ashram, devotees were greeted by the most outstanding and majestic picture of Swami Vivekananda - simply decorated yet it accentuated his regal personality - His eyes and posture displaying his determination and burning desire to ameliorate the suffering and pain of mankind.

At once, one is directed by the inner voice to bow and make pranams to Him, the king of renunciates, who is verily satchidananda, who has come to remove our miseries. When looking at this picture, at once, all your fear is removed, knowing that He has the power to eliminate all your miseries.

In continuing our account on the life of Swamiji, we shall commence with that epoch-making moment when Naren came into contact with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa which will be recorded not only in the annals of Hinduism, but in the annals of history as a relationship that cut a new path as far as Guru-Disciple relationships are concerned. At this point, I recall in the talk that Swami Vimokshananda delivered in Tongaat the previous Sunday, where He quite clearly explained that Him coming to that function or one going to a particular temple was by the grace of that deity alone. Without the call or permission of that deity, one will not be afforded the opportunity to visit.

This first meeting of the young Naren and his Master then, was in no way an accident, but clearly the start of the most beautiful divine play for which the stage was being set.

It was at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna that Naren was delicately and purposefully moulded for the task of freeing mankind from the yoke of suffering. It is beyond the imagination of man to understand how a persona like Swami Vivekananda emerged out of the hands of an unlettered Brahmin from Calcutta. When Master on His death bed allayed Swamiji’s doubts by proclaiming that He who came as Rama and Krishna has come as this Ramakrishna, it was only then that Swami Vivekananda Himself truly understood the incarnation of Sri Ramakrishna.

In His talk today, Swami Vimokshananda clearly illustrated how Master created the restlessness in Naren -who loved to immerse himself in meditation- to do the divine work of the Mother. Master said to Naren that He holds the key to His nirvikalpa samadhi (union with god consciousness) and will realise it to Him once His work is done.

Swamiji Himself proclaimed Himself as a product of Master. He said: "A particle of dust from His blessed feet could have created a thousand Vivekanandas".

After planting the seed of His mission into Swamiji, Master entered mahasamadhi. At once, the powers of Master began to work in Swamiji and He started to wander India as a monk. Having felt the pangs of hunger and poverty after the death of His father who carelessly spent their wealth, Swamiji’s sincere and genuine empathy with the downtrodden of India started to churn His heart.

Having walked the length and breadth of India, every molecule of being was focused on the rejuvenation of India, to restore the dignity of the people. Every muscle and thought was utilised in the plan to free the masses of India from their plight.

It was at the southernmost tip at Kanya Kumari, where He mediated for 3 days and nights that the realisation came to Him that He must go to the west to bring back resources and best practices for implementation at home.

His travels to the west brought Him face to face with how education had the ability to develop a country and emancipate men and women from poverty. His approach broke through all forms of discrimination that shackled India at the time. His work in reform touched lives beyond caste, religion and gender.

Swamiji commanded India’s children to “arise and awake” inspiring them to the core of their beings to empower themselves and restore their dignity. He implored on all to perform Daridra Narayana seva,  ie. to worship God, by serving the sick , feeding the hungry and educating the illiterate. “That is true worship”, He proclaimed. In one of His most powerful quotes, He declares: “So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them”.

Swamiji contributed immensely to the freedom of India, and today as we celebrate Makara Sankranti, when that makara jyothi was seen from the Sabari Malai Hills, we know that jyothi is none other than Swamiji who continues to inspire millions to manifest the divinity already present in man. If we can all aspire to be a speck of what Swamiji was, the world will be a divine place to live.

Like the overflowing pongal pot, let prosperity reign and let our spiritual consciousness rise and merge into the supreme consciousness is my sincere prayer. Happy Pongal, Makara Sankranti and Vivekananda Jayanti to all.

With Love and Prayers always

Yogan

Feel my children, feel; feel for the poor, ignorant , the downtrodden; feel till the heart stops and the brain reels and you think you will go mad - then pour the soul out at the feet of the Lord, then will come power, help and indomitable energy.  Have fire and spread all over. Work!!! Work!!! Work!!!

Swami Vivekananda

Vivekananda- A Spiritual Comrade in the struggle for Moksha

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 
This weekend, all roads lead to Mangaung. The African National Congress has rolled out the red carpet to all veterans, comrades, friends and members to the centenary celebrations being held in Bloemfontein. The African National Congress is labelled as the oldest liberation movement in the continent of Africa.

I was blessed to witness the liberation of South Africa from institutionalised racism to a non-racist, non-sexist, united democracy. Indeed this process was not devoid of casualties as many lives were taken, amidst the intense conflicts between the security forces and comrades. To date, many families still bear open wounds, failing to reconcile the conditions under which their loved ones were slain.

The iconic product of the struggle Dr Nelson Mandela, represented the ethos and intentions of the founding fathers of the ANC in 1912, when upon his release from Robben Island after 27 years of imprisonment for political activity against the then government, led the reconciliation process in South Africa burying all pain and suffering he met under the oppressive regimes. He used humility and love of all South Africans as his glue to carefully patch a bruised and battered country back to health.

As much as we understand remarkable progress made in our new found democracy, we equally understand it is a work in progress riddled with various obstacles and challenges. In that breath we salute the founding fathers and all those who sacrificed their lives so that we can live the way we do.

The removal of this political yoke of oppression paves the way for us to now be able to concentrate on another liberation struggle that has been waging war on us since creation. The liberation of our atman from the repeated cycle of birth and death which has robbed us of that truth and eternal   bliss collectively termed satchidananda - the realisation and understanding of our true nature.

Unlike the political freedom where the opponent is palpable and tangible -inducing strategies like defiance campaigns, arms struggles and mass mobilisation- this proved very effective in eradicating the threat. The enemy in the spiritual struggle for freedom is very elusive and covert.

It does not utilise kshatriya codes of conduct in warfare but exploits our weakness for base sense satisfaction and greed, and attacks when you most vulnerable.

In this spiritual movement, towering leaders took centre stage in order to help us win this war. Personalities like Rama, Krishna, Chaitanya, Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda, Ramana Maharishi and Sri Paramahansa Yogananda to name just a few that surface this instance at the top of my head.

They all have contributed immense thoughts, philosophies and methods that can assist a spiritual aspirant free him/herself from the attachment that bonds us to this manifest world. But for the next three weeks as an offering to the Great Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of His 149^th Birth Anniversary, I would like to try and showcase this towering spiritual freedom fighter’s life.

Born Narendranath Datta in Calcutta  to Viswanath Datta and Bhuvaneswari Devi  on Monday, 12^th January 1863. Little did his countrymen realise that the one who would shift and raise Indian thought and thinking into a new era had arrived. A force greater than a thousand tornadoes was about to swipe through the spiritual landscape of a country that had been thrown into decay and darkness by various exploitative forces.

As a child, Naren was extremely naughty and displayed behaviour like other children, like teasing his sisters and taking affection to pets. However his mother realised that her naughty son could not be taken away from his mischief in the conventional way. She found that pouring cold water on his head whilst chanting the name of Shiva worked perfectly in quietening him.

Naren took a great liking to monks and would gift them anything in his possession out of pure love. He had even indicated that he would like to be a monk. His mother’s heart would sink at the thought that he will perhaps follow the footsteps of his granddad(a sanyas).

As Naren grew up his phenomenal abilities of learning and memory retention were noticed. Whatever he undertook to study, he would master. From an early age, he never took anything at face value and always questioned - a characteristic we find even in his adult life.

Apart from his academic talents Naren was endowed with a melodious voice and had a great flair for physical exercise and games. He would never lay idle - he would go to gym, ride his pony or even entertain his siblings with stories.

In the midst of all his intense activities, he had a great attraction for meditation which intensified as he grew.  His meditation was so intense that once a cobra entered the room where he and his friends were meditating. All sprung to their feet and left screaming to their parents for help. But Naren didn’t even realise a snake was there when he was questioned about it later.

As he grew, Naren showed immense strength and fearlessness, and his life was underpinned by truth. He was always cheerful and joyful and showed vivid signs of leadership when he used to proclaim to be samrat - king amongst his playmates.

This tries to encapsulate the early childhood of Swamiji and I do pray for His forgiveness as even 30 volumes will not be able to do justice to the personality He was. In this attempt, I merely try to sketch some parts of His life so as to inspire you to read His life if you haven’t.

Next week, we will continue with His meeting with His Master, Sri Ramakrishna and His life as a wondering Monk. May Swamiji’s life be an inspiration to you is my sincere prayer.

With Love and Prayers

Yogan