Words of Swami Vivekananda

When I Asked God for Strength

He Gave Me Difficult Situations to face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown

He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness

He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth

He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors

He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace

He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted

He Gave Me Everything I Needed

A moral... on the occation of Swamiji's Birthday

Today is a very significant day. 145years ago great persona has born in the holy land of India. Yes this is the very day when Swami Vivekananda has born in Shimulia, a place in kolkata. He is renowned for his literature in Advayta Vedanta, especially for spreading the divinity of Hindu religion and Indian culture across the world.

This Hindu monk, whos wordings are still applicable to all aspects of life, be it education or something else his sayings are acceptable. Those are the words which lead us towards the spiritual path with perfection.

Today I’ll tell about an incident with a great moral which may not be known to many of us.

It was the time of second war between the European countries, Germany, Italy and the Empire of Japan. A person called Peter was there in the European army as a soldier. Swami Vivekananda was there in Europe at that period of time.

Once Peter has gone to friends’ residence and by his surprise he saw Swamiji has arrived there for a special lecture. From the outside of the room he was seeing Swamiji. While leaving the place Swamiji called that boy (Peter) and asked him to meet him some particular day. On the certain day he came to meet Swamiji and asked to sit. For some moments Swamiji was looking into his eyes. Then slowly he started speaking. He told to Peter “Today I’m going to teach a very special thing”. By hearing this Peter has become very happy and eager to know the lesson which this great Hindu monk is going to teach him.
[P.S. By that time itself he was quite famous in the western countries after his lecture on Vedanta and the aspect of the universal acceptance of Hindu religion in the World’s Parliament of Religions which has held at Chicago.]

Then very enthusiastically he asked “Sir, what is that special thing you’re going to tell me?” Swamiji replied “I’ll teach you to love the Death.”

Hearing thing Peter became shocked. He couldn’t believe this will be the words for which he became so eager. His face has become red in anger. He told to Swamiji in a harsh voice, “Do you know what you are really talking about? Do you know who am I? I’m from a prestigious family. Still I’m young, have such an amount of wealth which are more than enough for my rest of the life. Why should I think of death at this stage itself?”

Swamiji didn’t tell anything. There was only a smile on his face. He just told “May God bless you son! Today you’ll not understand, but one day you’ll remember my words”.

After that incident so many months has passed away. The war has also started in Soviet Union. Millions of military, civilian died because of this war. Everywhere there was the shadow of Death. Even being a military by seeing all these Peter became s scared of his life. All the time he used to think that its only the Death who is knocking his door. He became so depressed that even he lost all interest in his life.

At that time, one night all of a sudden, Swamiji’s words flashed into his mind. Swamiji wanted to teach him how to love the Death. It’s not to accept death by that time itself, but only to face it boldly at any moment of time. To love Death, that whenever it’ll come we would be able to welcome it with bravery, need not to run away from that or not to be even afraid of that (death).

But Peter misunderstood and talked about his wealth & fame, but forgot that at the last none of these will remain.

After so many years, he met with Swami Niranjananada, a swamiji of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur math and shared his experience.

There were tears while describing about the incident by thinking that, perhaps… perhaps he would have listened to swamiji’s words! But it was too late to realizes his own mistake as Swamiji has left his worldly physique long before.

Though its late, but its good that at least he has understood the meaning of Swamiji’s saying and showed his respect and devotion to Swamiji’s words.

A visit to the Belur Math

The Belur Math, which is renowned for the universal center of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The day we arrived there, was pretty hot. You can reach there either by bus or train. From the bus stand it took some 20minutes for us to reach the main temple. On the way to the temple we saw the museum where various things are presents which have been used by Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother &Swamiji.There are even some articles which have been used by them. Next to that building there is the library hall which contains all books related to Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature and also about Vedanta in various languages. Nearby that place there is the head quarter of the monks, named “Sadhu Niwas”.
Even though it was an afternoon in summer we haven’t feel that much hot, as the road which lead to the main temple is full of trees by the roadside. Cool breeze was blowing.
Around 4.15pm we entered into the main temple where Sri Ramakrishna’s idol is situated. The environment seemed so peaceful and calm that we found no intension to leave the place. Anyway after prayer we came out of the temple. Then we’ve gone to see Swamiji and Holy mother Sri Sarada Devi’s temple.
All the temples are so beautiful. In front of Swamiji’s temple there is a lovely garden and also the bloomed flowers have been organized in a great way. Even inside the temple area you’ll find the viridity. Near the main temple there is a place where people can sit and relaxed. And it’s on the grass!! But you’d never feel that, as they are so smooth that it’ll feel like sitting on a velvet cloth. And here comes another significance of this place… holy river Ganga, which flows very near from the Swamiji’s temple.
Ganga, known as “Paapvinashini”, destroys and sweeps away all sins and makes everyone feel divine and pure.
So we sat down by the side of the river to get relaxed. Gentle air was coming and we’re feeling so refreshed. The environment too was very pleasant. It’s also a place where you can cherish the nature.
The river flows between two places. At one side it’s Belur and in the other side there is Dakshineshwar, which is famous for its Kali temple (Mother Bhabatarini’s temple). To reach there we got into a boat, as we have to cross the river. The experience was excellent. It took some 35minuts to reach Dakshineshwar. After reaching we headed for the Kali temple. As the evening aarti has started so there was big crowd near the temple. But somehow we made our way to enter into the temple.
Opposite to the Kali temple there are twelve Shiva temples with twelve different Shivalinga and their different names. Also near the temple there is “Balaram Mandir”. At the corner of the temple there is the room where Sri Ramakrishna has stayed and the Nahabat where Holy Mother stayed and done all her works as meditation, cooking, taking care of guests and all other things.
Just by the river side there is a place called “Panchabati” where Sri Ramakrishna has meditated for a long period and also had all the spiritual realization. Still the great Panchabati tree is present where Thakur (Sri Ramakrishna) and his disciples used to do their meditation and spiritual practices. The place of Dhyana, so holy and pure that even now we can feel the divinity.
It was around 8pm that we finished visiting all the places and started for home… with the blessed thoughts.

home.. sweet home..

It was the month of December, I’m back home after 2yrs, fortunately got a big break after my semester exams. Agartala my hometown, a lovely city. I was dying to see my native after my exams. There are some changes has been made in the city since my last visit, but still its as charming as before. Cool climate (around 8 to 9degree) as it’s the time of December. This is a religious place too. You can see no. of temples in and around the city, such as Kalibari, Siva temple, Lakshmi-Narayan temple, Jagannath temple, Radha-Madanmohan temple, Hanuman temple, Krishna temple and so on. There are also three centers of Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission, which are in continuous service of people and spreading the gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and the teaching of Vedanta.

There is a “Rajbari” named as Ujjayanta Palace (king’s palace), center of the city, which has an enchanting view. You can even mistake that as the Mysore Palace. I’d say its even more beautiful than that. In front of the palace there is beautiful garden also there is a large pond, where no. of ducks is playing all the time.

In the ancient time Tripura’s King, Maharaja Bir Bikram was staying there. At present the Rani is staying there (occationally, as they have three other palaces).

Part of the palace has become parliamentary house. Behind the palace there is a cultural center, named “Town Hall”. Different kind of dance and music program, drama, and play by various well named artists are conducting here. Few steps from here, there is the AIR (all India radio) station “Akashvani”. There are also some music academies present here.

“Sukanta Academy”, a science city center, situated in the central area if agartala. It is a center which various scientific instruments equipped here; also so many science exhibitions are conducting here. It consists of a big Planetarium too and also various model of NASA satellites. About some 5km far from the city, a place called shekercot; there is another science city, named “Arkanir”.

There is some 3 to 4 children’s park near our area. One of them is “Rabindra Kanan”, a wonderful place to visit. Just opposite to that there is “Malancha Niwas”, the place where the great writer, poet and Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore has stayed once. Few kilometers from here there is a Buddhist Temple. Another place is “Nehru Park”, which has a wonderful garden, falls, various games for children’s etc. And one more is “Vivek Udyan”, which is significant for the large statue of Swami Vivekananda in the middle of the park.

Here you will find the people with a friendly behaviour.They’ll be always by your side for any necessity. A big NIT (national institute of technology) campus is situated about some 9km far from the city. Hey I forgot to tell the actual reason for which I was dying to go home and that is my mom’s dish. Ah! Its heaven! So delicious it is. I...i really have no words to describe it. After all these years in hostel and with the food, truly I wanted to have my mothers cooking.

So, this was about my native, in a brief. Still there are so much to tell, but...will tell you in my upcoming blogs, if you want to know.

So, this was my first blog. I’ll be expecting your comments. Please let me know your views.