Sivananda's Personality-94.

14/01/2018
Sri N. Ananthanarayanan

Another incident bears out vividly that the Master was the very embodiment of his saying: "Bear insult, bear injury."

In April 1953, a Parliament of World Religions was held at the Ashram. Major-General A.N. Sharma, an admirer of the Master, was an important personality at that time. He was a London trained cardiologist and had his residence in the Defence Colony, Delhi. He had very good contact with most of the Embassies.

So through his help, Swami Paramananda managed to get Buddhism represented by the Thai Embassy, Islam by the Afghanistan Embassy, and Christianity by some other Embassy. Mahatmas and eminent people were also invited. The parliament was inaugurated by Sri C.P. Ramaswami Iyer.

At that time there was the Atma-vijnana Bhavan, run by the Kalikambliwala Trust of Ramnagar, Rishikesh. A Swami residing there permanently was also invited. Except for one or two speakers who spoke in Hindi, all read their papers or gave talks in English. The Master also spoke in English, which was the common language at this parliament.

At one of the sessions it was the turn of the Ramnagar Swami to speak. He was a stout, forceful and aggressive personality. He started thundering in Sanskrit and went on for about fifteen minutes. To make sure that all would understand him, he afterwards switched over to Hindi. In his forceful, thundering speech, he abused the Master outright in the presence of about a thousand distinguished people.

He said, "It is utmost foolishness, a big blemish, and an action quite contrary to Hindu religion and tradition for a Sannyasin staying in Uttarkhand on the banks of the holy Ganga to speak in a foreign, alien, polluted language." Like that only he went on.

He did not speak on religion nor even on any particular subject. It was a direct tirade against the Master. The Master was regarded with such high reverence by all, that within a few minutes the whole audience became restless, and some of the invited Mahatmas were also scandalised by the speech.

A few people from the audience even went to the wings of the stage and sent word to Swami Paramamanda, "This speech must be stopped. If necessary you should even call the police to forcibly remove this man from the stage, or cut off the microphone connection."

Swami Paramananda was fuming with rage, but Swami Narayanananda kept quite cool, saying, "Nothing doing, absolutely nothing. Gurudev will be very much displeased if we do anything like that."

So the persons suggested, "When the Mahatmas speak later on they should refute this Swami."

After the Swami had spent all his force panting and fuming, he resumed his seat. Before anything could be done, the Master immediately got up, went to the microphone and said in Hindi, "We are most grateful, most thankful to the honoured Swamiji Maharaj for having told us the right thing. Sanskrit is the Devabhasha, the divine language.

There is no other language in the whole world equal to Sanskrit. Verily all religious discussions should be in the Devabhasha. We congratulate him on his command over the Devabhasha. Hindi being the national language is next to Sanskrit in importance. His suggestion is indeed very, very correct and timely. We are most grateful to him for giving us this valuable advice."

The Master went on praising the Swami and expressing gratitude and thanks!

It was as though a fully inflated balloon was pricked by a pin. All flight was taken out and this Swamiji was hanging in the air. He felt most uncomfortable. He had expected some applause, some reaction. Both of these would have satisfied him. But nothing came. Instead, it had a judo-like effect—a fellow comes with full force to hit you, and you just step aside and the charging fellow falls, due to the force of his own vehemence.

During the entire fifteen minutes that the Swami was holding on, the Master’s face was absolutely calm and serene. There was not a single ripple or ruffle on his face. He was seated like a Buddha, completely unperturbed and serene.

One felt that this was what Lord Krishna referred to when He spoke of the Sthitaprajna—man of calm mind—in the Bhagavad Gita.

Once, a Swami came to the Ashram to stay for a few days. No sooner was he admitted than he began quarrelling with everyone for fruit, milk and other necessities.

The Master’s office was above the old kitchen. One day, the Swami was in the kitchen, fighting and making a lot of noise. He then came up to the Master. In a fit of rage he broke his rosary into bits and threw them at the Master’s feet. Then, uttering abusive remarks about the Master and the Ashram he walked out.

The disciples seated in the office were stunned. They were boiling within but could not express their feelings.

The Master was all the while absolutely unperturbed and calm, with the usual beatific smile on his face, as if nothing had happened.

Except compassion, the Master had no other feeling for the arrogant Swami. Without a word the Master taught the most important lesson which he proclaimed all the time: "Bear insult, bear injury."

Next :- He demonstrated the teachings of the Gita and Upanishads in every action of his daily life.

To be continued ..

Swami Sivananda