Swamy Vivekananda and *Vigraha-Aradhana* ...( True Stories) !!!

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

Once Swamy Agamananda asked Acharya Sri Narayana Gurudev," What is your opinion about Swamy Vivekananda ? " .

" If this single person Vivekananda was not born in Bharath , today in this country we would not be having a Vedic Culture ( Vaidika Samskara) even for name sake " , Gurudev replied .

That was a period when the British Government using their power and organized religious propagation , was achieving massive conversion of Hindus to Christianity .

Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita , "Whenever there is a decline in Vedic Dharma, there will be an Avatara ( incarnation) to rescue the Dharma" . When the British empire joined hands with Christian Missionaries to root out `Sanatana Dharma' ( Hinduism) , Vivekananda manifested as a Rishi to rescue the Vedic religion .

Swamy Vivekananda traveled all over India to educate both the Rulers and People about Vedic Sanatana Dharma .

Swamy Vivekananda and King of Alwar

Once Vivekananda arrived at the palace of King of Alwar who was an ardent follower of English culture . The King said to him , " I think Hinduism's so called "Vigraha-aradhana" is a baseless supersition . Making an idol from wood or stone , and then kneeling in front of it and praying ! I can't agree with this nonsense " .

There was a picture of King , hanging on the wall . As requested by Swamiji , the King's minister fetched that picture .

Swamiji asked the Minister , " Whose Picture is this ? "

"This is our Maharaja's picture" , replied the Minister.

" If so, I ask you to spit on it " ,

The Minister and others near him were astonished to hear this audacious demand from Swamy Vivekanandan to spit on Maharaja's picture ; and that too right in front of the King !!! .

Vivekanada ordered again to the Minister , "Do as you were told . Anyone can spit on this Picture ".

The Minister and other citizens stood there, trembling with fear . Finally, somehow the minister gathered a little courage and said , " This is our beloved Maharaja's Picture . I will not spit on it . Not only that , even asking me to spit, is a punishable offence".

Swamiji answered with a smile , " This Picture is nothing but a mere piece of paper . It has nothing to do with the King who is standing right here in front of you . This Picture does not move or speak like him . Still , you think that spitting on this Picture is insulting the King ! "

Turning towards the King, Swamy Vivekananda spoke :

" In one level , this Picture is not You . But in another level , it reminds about You . It helps to invoke Your memory in the viewer's mind. So , the same respect they have for You , is given to this Picture as well . This is the reason preventing them from spitting on it . This is also the logic behind * Vigraha-Aradhana* .

None has ever heard about any single Hindu standing in front of the Vigraha and say, " Oh Stone/Wood ! I worship you". Every Hindu is worshipping the same God. It is not possible to limit the *Parabrahman* within the individual mind to worship . Even to think about any particular idea, we need to have a specific means such as it's name or shape. Only with that , we could think about the idea .

Therefore, Bhaktas superimpose their chosen worshippable attributes of *Parabrahman* on a Vigraha . Worshippers of *Nirguna Brahman* , pray by visualizing God within their mind . Those who worship *Saguna Brahman* , see the God outside on the Vigraha . In reality, both these groups are Vigraha-worshippers. The Vigraha enables helps a person to understand God " .

Swamy Vivekananda and Sardar Hari Singh

Because of closely associating with the western educated British people, many qualified Hindus of that time opposed Vigraha-Aradhana . Jaipur King's commander in chief Sardar Harisingh was such a person . Although he had faith in Vedanta , he opposed Vigraha-Aradhana , with tooth and nail .

Even after a prolonged dialogue with Swamy Vivekananda , Hari Singh refused to agree with Vigraha-Aradhana . In the evening , both of them proceeded for a walk . There they saw a Bhajan party carrying a Krishna-Deity , coming from the opposite direction . Suddenly , Swamiji asked Hari Singh to touch him look at the Krishna-Vigraha. Hari singh obeyed it and was stunned by the sight . Profusely shedding tears of joy, he said " What I failed understand even after a marathon debate with you , I realized from a mere touch of you . On that Vigraha , I saw the real Bhagavan Sri Krishna !!!!" .

From then on , Sardar Hari Singh became an ardent practitioner of Vigraha-Aradhana .

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!!

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev