The Illustrious

"My relation with Paramahamsa" tentatively the caption flashed in my brain, soon I realized my folly. It is something like a particle or it's fraction looking at high Himalayan mountain trying to talk. He is none other than Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a great saint and one of the illustrious sons of India.

It is just a personal account of my reflections on one evening built up on spiritual straits of my inner personality, but by no means a treatise of philosophy nor even a preamble of spiritual thought. No story of philosophy on this planet is complete without referring to Indian Philosophy. The philosophy which has evolved like tripping vital drops of water from a glacier transforming into broader and wider stream enriched by countless contemplations, inquiry, penance, tapas , renunciation, self awareness, and knowledge, involving hundreds of sages, saints, seers and holy men.None of the texts from heaven made them holy. Spirituality spouting from within made them hallowed. For some it is complex phenomena. For some it is simple self render to almighty. For some it is profound inquiry. For some it is innocent chant. For some it is stringent ritual. For some it is humble hands folding. For some it is rigorous penance. For some it is lavish praise of the lord. For some it is infinite and undefinable. For some it is idol. Some laid emphasis on body. Some viewed it as mere vehicle for salvation. For some it is monism. For some it is dualism. Theists and atheists had respective places in this profound thought process. It has not confined itself into strict regimen. It has mantra. It has tantra. It is sublime. It is ornate. It has all shades and color. It is supremely plain and pallid. It is resonating. It is tranquil. It is dynamic. It is static. It is potent. It is resigned. It is mighty. It is minuscule.

I was handed over a book of his preachings when I was a child of 9 or 10 by my father. It became my favorite reference book, I exactly cannot recollect what made me so tucked to it. His sayings, anecdotes were incorporated into my childhood reading material by myself. Swamy Vivekananda was obvious part of Ramakrishna readings. Divine life society was another part of those spiritual years. In twenties I forsook all my spiritual bindings, barring must ritual part of regular order. Even after years of apathy towards spirituality the I distinctly noticed my yearning for divinely peace in places of worship. Crowds and politics drive me away from enlightened (if there are any) but I cannot camouflage my longing for astral bliss for political correctness.

While heading towards the Mutt, the narrow sideways filled with flowering bushes along green lawns, treading the serene paths gives you positive vibrations. The air feels light and clean. No body seemed to be in hurry. Every thing is in it's place. This is not my first time. But every time I feel the same. They know where to display what hording. Every thing was arranged as if they leading you to a definite goal.

I sat there for an hour in front of huge bronze statue of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa doing nothing. The floor was sparklingly clean. Few persons meditating neither coughed nor sneezed.There existed a pin drop silence except the rumbling sound of the rotating fans. Children below 7 years were not allowed inside meditation hall. By 6.20 sanctum was brightly lit. One person walking like a cat arranged mikes and harmonium away from the statue. The two mikes were placed in equal distance and he ensured that harmonium is placed in center. Two windows doors were opened at 9o degree angle by another person . Sharp by 6.30 half a dozen white clad swamis entered the place. Exactly after five minutes later another group of saffron cladding gurus entered the place.The swami who was sitting very close to the statue offered puja to the statue in Brahminical style, but the way he offered arti and rang the bell holding with his hand was amazingly noiseless.. Exactly by 6.45 prayers started echoing. The tunes were soothing and gentle yet captivating. There seemed to be an orderliness, cleanliness, holiness every where. Monks being orderly is no great deal, but small functionaries acting in such precise and acute manner shows amount of commitment each one had towards the institution. It is not the fear or pay check that make them work. It is the sense of belonging that was working. It tells me that we are capable of delivering good work provided we are motivated.

I walked out of that enchanting Rabindra Sangeet at the end as I have to attend to my domestic chores. I climbed down the prayer hall while every one was still praying. I walked for a while and looked back. The statue of Ramakrishna is visible from the entrance gate of the Mutt. It is world of prayers, world of service, world of relentless good work, world of spirituality. It is an institution which has not lost it's sheen even after the demise of it's founder Sri Vivekananda, rather gone strength to strength. It is a world of monks who still want to spread the message of sacrifice and endeavor for human excellence while maintaining a safe distance from politics and communaism.We modern think religion is poison. But in a country like India religion could be a powerful vehicle for spreading good will among the people. I suppose in our country religion was never looked as a religion like in the modern sense. It was predominantly spirituality which prevailed over centuries which came to be known as religion in today's context. It was supposedly a moral way of living. It was largely aimed at the comprehensive community benefit. Even to day Indians are inseparable from their celestial gods. Each one prefers appealing to his god that suits his aptitude. With the advantage of maneuverable space and breathe, they prefer to be nonchalant and least obtrusive. I wish for more and more institutions like above who could use this phenomenon for a good social cause.