Swami Vivekananda (The Master Builder of Our Nation)

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IN THE LAP OF HIS MOTHER

 

Soon enough, he installed their images in his prayer room and started

worshipping them in his own way.

 

 

Even from his childhood, Naren evinced great interest in meditation and soon

concentration and meditation became his pastime. His tremendous power to

meditate and concentrate baffled his friends and parents, as he was often seen

sitting in front of his idols, Rama and Sita, lost to the external world. During

this period, he also developed great love for Hanuman, which he had acquired

listening to a Ramayana recital in the neighborhood. He felt an intense desire

to meet Hanuman in person, who reportedly had his abode in banana groves. With

total " Shraddha " , he entered a banana grove nearby and started calling upon

Hanuman to make this appearance. Unmindful of home, food or time, he sat there

meditating on Hanuman. But the tender yearnings of his innocent heart could not

bring Hanuman and he went home disappointed and crying. His mother had to come

to his rescue consoling him.

 

 

FRIENDSHIP WITH COACHMAN

 

Himself physically strong, he has a special liking and admiration for strength

everywhere and in every form. Among those he admired most in his childhood was

his father's coachman. Naren loved his coachman with his big moustache and

turban, majestically going round with a driving whip in his hand, for, in him he

found his idea of strength and power. One of his childhood ambitions was to

become a coachman, and he used to proclaim proudly the same. Yes, coach driver

he did become, but in a different sense. As Swami Vivekananda, he did drive the

Nation's coach out of its ruts and started it rolling along a bright new path to

a glorious destiny.

 

 

NAREN TURNS A SHIVA DEVOTEE

 

The coachman was his friend, philosopher and guide. He was often found engaged

in serious conversation with the coachman and his opinion was of great

importance to Naren. One day, in the course of his talk, the coachman told Naren

that it was not good to marry. He narrated his own personal experience of

married life which was not at all happy and peaceful. He always had quarrels

with his wife and found it difficult to manage and feed his children. Naren was

convinced that a married man had to forfeit his freedom and happiness and only

misery was his lot. Naren listened to this and immediately decided not to marry.

Unfortunately, in his mind, there arose a small contradiction as his favorite

deities Rama and Sita were married. This worried him and upset him so much that

he began to weep. Later, when he confided in his mother about this, she told him

that he could turn his devotion to Shiva in place of Sri Rama. That very evening

he removed the image of Rama and Sita (from his prayer room) and installed Lord

Shiva and started worshipping him. His decision to remain unmarried was

irrevocable like Bhishma's vow and he remained a true brahmacharin throughout

his life.

 

 

Cont.