All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Raising the Anti-Hypocrisy Banner

After completing Vedic studies under his Guru, Swami Dayanand set out for Haridwar to attend the Kumbh Parva there. During his halts on the way, he used to hold discussions with small groups of people about the Vedic Dharma, explaining to them the rationale behind the rituals and traditions and encourage people to follow them. The motive behind going to Kumbh was to meet thousands of people gathered there. After reaching Haridwar, Swamiji put up a small tent and hoisted a flag there on, which read ‘Pakhand Khandini Pataka’ (Anti-hypocrisy Banner). The banner drew instant attraction of a lot of people. Swamiji stood outside the tent and spoke about misconceptions related to idol worship, shraddh, avatars, puranas, rituals etc. He also began to speak about the discrimination based on caste, untouchability, child marriages, sati system, evils of the prevalent marriage system, blind customs, etc. There was extraordinary force in his words and his arguments were sound. He received applause as well as opposition.

Swamiji laid the foundation of an organization called ‘Arya Samaj’ with the help of supporters he found during the Kumbh and thereafter. He traveled far and wide throughout his life. He met with people in all social strata from kings to scholars. Panditji also told Shriram that many people conspired against Swamiji. His death was also a result of a conspiracy. Some people in Jodhpur lured his cook to kill Swamiji by poisoning his food. As behoves a true saint, before his death he ensured that the cook escaped. He feared that if the people got to know about the treacherous act, they would not leave the cook alive. Shriram was listening to this narration with rapt attention. But he did not express any kind of reaction.

Their return journey was spent in discussing about the malpractices of the Pandas in Mathura. This trip, in the company of his father, gave Shriram an insight into Indian philosophy and culture. Although the mission for which destiny had chosen him did not require any external help or assistance, still even a born realized soul like Shukadev had to listen to Bhagavat Katha from his father Vedavyasa.

The indications from the subtle world

The palatial haveli in which Shriram lived housed the families of three uncles and his brothers and sisters. It was a joint family of about 20 to 25 people. The people from the in-laws of the uncles also used to visit them on a regular basis. There was also a constant flow of other relatives to the house. The atmosphere was always full of fun and frolic. Whenever his father was at home, the living room echoed with spiritual discussions in which people from neighbouring villages also participated. After returning from Sahpau’s Bhagavat-Week, one day his father experienced pain in the chest. He was seated comfortably and talking to visitors when all of a sudden, he felt piercing pain in the chest. He uttered the mantra ‘Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ and fell down unconscious. The entire household went into a chaos. Worry and grief replaced the cheerful atmosphere. This incident occurred during the day and medical help was available instantly. Panditji regained consciousness in a little while and in 3 to 4 days he appeared to be normal. Though Panditji recovered, doctors advised him to be careful. They said that he was suffering from heart disease and hence precaution was a must. He should henceforth abstain from travel, do less work and reduce meeting people. Panditji listened to their advice. He did reduce his workload and interaction with people. He began to spend more time in worship, instead. His participation in Bhagavat Katha was also reduced.

Shriram was observing closely the changes that came in his father after his illness. He had seen many people fall ill. He had seen them recover from their illness and lead a completely normal life. They had almost resumed their regular routine life within a matter of a few days.

Drastic change in the attitude of Father

Sriram’s father was deeply satvik and inward-drawn by nature. Even then he underwent a very unique transformation after the illness. It appeared as if he was preparing to wind up all his activities. Before undertaking a journey, one busies oneself in packing up all things in a short time. The behaviour and urgency of his father was also something similar. During those days, his father spent a great deal of his time in marrying off his children, fulfilling the needs of his brothers and sisters, and in satisfying the curiosity of the seekers who came to him.

It was Vikram Samvat 1980 (AD 1923) and the beginning of the month of Ashada. One day, his father called Shriram and said – ‘Sit with me for at least two hours daily for 7 days and listen attentively to what I say’. The ritual of ‘Kshaur karma’ (shaving the head) was done a day before he was to start sitting with his father. He asked Shriram to have one meal per day and take fruits once during this seven-day period. It was also arranged for both of them to sleep on the floor.

From the next morning, his father began to narrate Bhagavat Katha. This was supposed to be a training camp for Shriram alone and others were not invited. He began to explain the story and philosophy parts of Bhagavat such that the syllabus for the day was completed in two hours. His father must have been very well aware of his objective of teaching Bhagavat to his son. But he did not disclose it even to Shriram. Possibly, the intention might have been to introduce the fundamental principles and truths of life as taught in Bhagavat.

What is the fundamental message of Bhagavat? It tells us how to adhere to righteousness even under adverse circumstances. It teaches that one should put in his best to progress in life and lead a life of glad surrender to the will of Almighty. Bhagavat Katha begins with the advent of Kaliyug or the circumstances unfavorable for soul-growth. King Parikshit sets out to overcome the ill-effects of these circumstances. According to Bhagavat, Kaliyug is synonymous with inauspiciousness and inverted order. When Parikshit restrains Kali, he agrees to free Mother Earth from his clutches. But he seeks shelter for himself. Parikshit allows him to stay in four places and later extends it to five places. The first four places where he allows Kali to live are – falsehood, lust, attachment and cruelty. On Kali’s further request, Parikshit allows him to stay where ‘Rajas’ is predominant. Rajas means greed, pomp and show, arrogance and narrow-mindedness. Wherever such evil tendencies exist, they will experience the ill- effects of Kali, namely sorrow and suffering. What should be done to save oneself from sorrow and suffering?  There is only one message of Bhagavat –‘Live a life of self-surrender to the Lord ’. All other methods will only complicate the problems further. When Parikshit had only seven days to live owing to the curse of Rishi Shringi, he did not succumb to worry because he was living a life of surrender. Hence he worked out a plan to make the best use of his seven days of life. The situations developed such that all seven days were spent in spiritual discussions. At the end of Bhagavat Karma, he welcomed death as a welcome guest and celebrated the occasion like a festival.

The father and son savoured the Katha and discussions during the seven days in which both of them spent exclusive time together and, using the Bhagavat as the medium, they discussed many spiritual and philosophical topics. They were submerged in the ocean of knowledge, action and devotion. The eleventh canto of Bhagavat speaks of pure philosophy. In this canto, Bhagwan Vedavyasa explains and analyses various methods of seeking liberation in a poetical and simple language. Philosophical discussions normally become mysterious and serious. For example, scriptures like Vedant, Yog, Sankhya, Mimansa, etc were comprehensible only to highly learned people. In these scriptures, principles of philosophy have been explained like mathematical formulae. The eleventh Canto of Bhagavat explains these philosophical principles in the form of enchanting poetry.

‘I offer you to the Lord’

Even during the seven days of Bhagavat Katha, the routine of meditation of Shriram in solitude continued. A strange incident occurred on the last day, when the Bhagavat narration concluded. The father was telling Bhagavat as though one was reading a story or teaching a lesson to one’s child. No rules and procedures of ‘anushthan’ were followed. Hence there was no yagya or any other ritual on the day of purnahuti (completion). After listening to the Katha, the son asked the father - ‘Dakshina is offered after listening to Bhagavat. What shall I present to you?’ The father kept looking at the lovely face of his son. Shriram repeated the question. Panditji caught hold of his son’s shoulders and enveloped him in embrace and did not answer the question. When the question was asked the third time, the reply came thus-‘Offer yourself’. Shriram replied that he already belonged to his father. He said ‘If your intention is that I offer myself to the Lord; I am ready for that too. Please conduct the Sankalpa to that effect’.

The father made him take water in his hands and take Sankalpa (resolve). He then said - ‘You now belong to the Lord’. After taking the blessing of his father, Shriram went into solitude as usual. After the incident in the cave, he had stopped going to the jungle. Except his mother, nobody knew where he went now. That day, when he went into solitude, hours flew away. He did not return even by dusk. His mother began to worry and asked Panditji as to where he had sent their son. His father was also apprehensive. He remembered the incident in which his son had started to travel to the Himalaya. He asked in a worried tone - ‘Hope he has not gone off somewhere.’ Taiji suggested that they should first search in the Shiva Temple located in Gouri Bagh. It was possible that he was immersed in devotion there. Gouri Bagh was a small garden about a mile from the village. There were some trees of mango, guava and neem. Silence ruled the place during all the twelve months of the year. People used to visit the temple only on Mondays / full moon days and on the day of Shivaratri. Shriram had chosen this place for himself.

In a deep meditative trance

Panditji almost ran to the place mentioned by Taiji. There were two or three people along with him. When they reached there, they saw Shriram deeply in meditation under a tree. Panditji called him but there was no response. Shriram was sitting self-absorbed. He called out three more times but there was no effect. Panditji then tried to shake him up by holding his hands. The moment some pressure was applied, Shriram fell forward. His hands were joined in the posture of prostration. He looked as though he was bending forward and prostrating before someone. Shriram remained in the same posture after rolling forward. Panditji’s face was losing its colour in fear. He repeatedly called his son. He tried to shake him and make him get into a sitting position; but Shriram’s body refused to cooperate. They smelt something ominous and kept a finger in front of his nostrils to feel the breath, felt the pulse and tried to listen to his heartbeats. There were no signs of life. Before they could reach any conclusion, the father let out a shrill cry, leaving the others dumbfounded.

The shriek broke the meditative samadhi of Shriram. He himself got up and before doing anything offered his salutations to his father. This reassured Panditji that his son was safe. He told Shriram that he was terribly afraid about his life. Shriram did not venture to give any immediate reply. After reaching home, father repeated his fear and thanked the Almighty for giving his son back. At that Shriram asked ‘Why are you thanking God? You have already handed me over to Him. Bless me so that I shall always do His work’. Taiji was also present there and she was not very happy with the course of events. She said to her husband ‘What have you taught Shriram? All this scares me’.

Shriram spoke about that day’s experience to his friends after a few days. After having offered himself to the Lord, his being experienced extraordinary peace. When he sat for meditation, it was as though the world receded away from him and he was all alone. He did not have any clear idea of how long he sat for meditation but in that duration, a wonderful discourse happened. Whether that discourse was an inner experience, a dream or some divine vision, he did not reveal. The experience was like a real incident that was taking place. During that experience, he never realized that he was in meditation.