Swami Vivekananda (The Master Builder of Our Nation)

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ESTABLISHMENT OF RAMAKRISHNA MATH AND MISSION

Swamiji was a true leader. He was not satisfied with riding on the passing waves of popular enthusiasm. He was a sound organizer and strove to turn this mass enthusiasm into something solid and lasting. By yoking for the first time, monasticism to social service, he created history. The two organizations - Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission - were meant to perpetuate this new message of his Master to posterity. His originality lay in applying his Master's teachings to the problems of national life and in making the Hindu Order of sanyasins as an example to the lay public not only in religious and spiritual attainments but also in the field of social service and relief activities.

 

A NEW TRADITION IN SERVICE

Traditionally, Hindu monks are not supposed to do involve or interest themselves in any secular activity, including social service. Swamiji's stand that 'Service to humanity is service to God', was a departure from this traditional, accepted approach. There was many a dissenting murmur from several of his brother disciples. However they could not for long resist Swamiji's passionate appeal calling them for the service of the Daridranarayanas.

 

Discipline is part and parcel of responsible citizenship. Chaos is the result of indiscipline. Swamiji, who was purity personified, was a strict disciplinarian. In fact, when he was in the West, some attempts were made by certain people to tarnish his image by trying to cast some slur on his character. It was but natural that when he took up organizational work, he expected his 'gurubhais', other brother disciples, to be spotlessly pure and perfectly disciplined. The following incidents show what a hard task-master he was.

 

AS A TASK MASTER

One day, it was raining heavily. As per Swamiji's instruction the Brahmacharis were collecting the rain water in a few bottles to be used as distilled water when a need for it arose. But two of them (One was Swami Achalananda) committed some mistake. Swamiji admonished them so severely that they both began to tremble with fear. In the tremble, the bottle from the hand of Swami Achalananda fell to the ground and broke. Swamiji was unsparing when it came to indiscipline. It should however be noted that on seeing the pitiable manner in which Swami Achalananda was trembling, the Swami at once cooled down and said: "My son, you have become nervous. Go to my room. You will find there a medicine in a bottle on a table. Take it, it will make you sleep"

 

By temperament, Swamiji was very tender and forgiving moderate and gentle. If and when the occasion demanded he could be strict and severe too.

 

A STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN

At the Math, Swamiji was very particular that every brother monk should be regular in practicing meditation, the hour for the same being fixed at 4:30 a.m., the 'brahma muhurta', the most auspicious time for spiritual practices. The sanyasins strictly obeyed Swamiji's instructions. Swamiji would not bear with defaulters whose punishment was to go for 'madhukari', getting the meals for the day by begging. It seems that once even some of the senior monks were subjected to this punishment much to his own anguish. However, after ordering them to go on 'madhukari', Swamiji felt so miserable that he coolly left the Ashram and went to Calcutta. Next day, however, the reunion of the chastiser and the chastised had not the slightest tinge of bitterness as everyone took it in the right spirit, his gurubhais having enjoyed the experience of the previous day. Later, Swamiji himself introduced harsh 'punishments'.

 

Through his most powerful lectures, through his newly established Ramakrishna Math and Mission with its unique motto "Atmano mokshartham, jagathitaya ca" - for one's own salvation and for the good of the world and through the transformation of a large number of Indian and Western disciples and devotees, through his personal percept and examples, Swamiji literally changed the course of India's destiny. The nation which was on the brink of a great depression was suddenly woken up and found itself back in the stream of international life. Her isolation of centuries was over. Interest was awakened a new India and all that was Indian, especially her deathless ever-relevant Vedantic principles.

 

The Western world which had never been exposed to such a profound and practical wisdom stood aghast in wonder at India's great contributions not only in the field of spirituality but in all other fields of human endeavor. Most astounding of all, the Western scientific world's search for an answer to the bewildering complexity of the phenomenal world was introduced to the ultimate truth of Vedanta - advita - by Swami Vivekananda with the result that modern science has since then started knocking at the doors of Indian Philosophy.

 

All this was made possible by Swami Vivekananda in a short span of less than nine years! His mortal frame could not take any more strain. Soon after his return from a second trip to the West, he started getting ready for his final departure. By that time he had the satisfaction of establishing the twin Organisation of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission with its headquarters at Belur near Calcutta in their own land, from where the country was getting flooded with his Master's ideas. The divine consort of his Master, Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother, was continuing her most significant yet silent work of inspiring and guiding hundreds of men and women to lead a spiritual life in tune with great ideals of his Master. There remained nothing more for him to achieve through his person. He was confident that the truth and strength of his ideals would continue to express themselves through millions and slowly and steadily the dream of his beloved Motherland's rejuvenation would start and his Master's work would go on unhampered.

 

On 4th July 1902, Swamiji chose to leave his earthly body in his favourite room, facing the Ganges in the Ramakrishna Math at Belur. A great karmayogi that he was, he had this to say of himself anticipating death.

 

"It may be that I shall find it good to get outside my body, to cast it off like a worn our garment. But I shall not cease to work, I shall inspire men everywhere, untill the world shall know that it is One with God" This is how the great French Author Romain Rolland describes the event of Swamiji's passing away.... "He was less than forty years of age when he lay stretched upon the pyre.... But the flame of that pyre is still alive today. From his ashes, like those of the Phoenix of old, has sprung anew the conscience of India.... the magic bird.... faith in her unity and in the Great Messages, brooded over from Vedic times by the dreaming spirit of his ancient race.... the message for which it must render account to the rest of mankind".

 

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