The Shastras, the Guru and the Motherland—are the three notes that mingle themselves to form the music of the works of Vivekananda, says Sister Nivedita in the introduction of Swami Vivekananda’s works with title “Our Master and His Message.”
Motherland—Swamiji’s motherland is one of the three notes. Wandering through this motherland he learnt many things and also he taught much.
I am glad to know that monks and devotees of Gujrat have been celebrating 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s visit and particularly those places sanctified by his stay and intends to bring out a souvenir as a part of the conclusion of the celebration.
Swamiji’s sojourn in the state of Gujarat is important in many respects. At Junagarh he came to Dewan Haridas Viharidas Desai with a letter of introduction from Thakore Saheb of Limbdi. Many friends of the Dewan and all of them enjoyed those talks with Swamiji. One among them was C.H. Pandya who looked after the Dewan’s office. From the letters exchanged between Dewan Haridas Viharidas Desai and Swami Vivekananda, it seemed that they loved each other closely but Swamiji’s love to Haridas Viharidas Desai was like a nephew’s love to his uncle. We have mentioned Swami Vivekananda came to the Diwan of Junagadh with a letter of introduction from the Thakore Saheb of Limbdi.
At Limbdi, Swamiji was friendly with the Thakore Saheb. Thakore Saheb had gone to England and America and he understood that Swamiji’s modern way would be appreciated in England and America.
Swamiji often begged from door-to-door and at night would take shelter wherever he found without much security. But once he unfortunately was cornered into such a place where he had to spend the night. On enquiry, the Head Priest told him that he had a magnetic personality which was due to his observing celibacy. To gain them occult powers, Swamiji will have to break his vow of celibacy. Swamiji was flabbergasted. But he outwardly did not show it. One boy would come to Swamiji often. On a broken earthen pot with a charcoal he wrote to Thakore Saheb of Limbdi of his danger. Thakore Saheb was like a king at Limbdi and he sent some of his guards who rescued Swamiji. This incident made Swamiji choose his night shelter with caution. This was why Swamiji went to Junagadh with a letter of introduction.
Swamiji’s meeting with Shankara Pandurang Pandit was the most rewarding for Swamiji and also to Shankar Pandurang. Swamiji climbed the famous Girnar mountain where there are many Jain, Buddhist and Hindu temples of which that of Goddess Durga with eight hands sitting on a tiger and temple of Dattatreya are famous. The Swami got engaged in tapasya for some time when his necessities were supplied by Diwan Haridas Viharidas Desai. Swamiji wrote him a letter of thanks and signed it as Swami Vivekananda. To others he would use such names as Satchidananda.
I am happy to remember some of the incidents which happened in the life of Swami Vivekananda at Gujrat and we feel happy expecting that some important incidents hitherto unknown in the life of Swami Vivekananda would be revealed in the Souvenir likely to be published soon.
Yours affectionately
in Sri Thakur, Maa, and Swamiji,
Swami Shivamayananda
Vice President
Ramakrishna Math and Mission
15 February 2019
Swami Nikhileswarananda
Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot
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