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TATTVA
DARSANA Quarterly
IN THIS ISSUE
Editorial:
Devotion to Guru and Guru Parampara - Sadhu Rangarajan 2
Messages 6
Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s Constant Guidance - Sadhu Rangarajan 8
TATTVA DARSANA completes Thirtyfive years - Editor 15
Memory of A Sadhu’s Presence - Neil Ramphal 17
Changes to Names of Towns and Cities - Dr. Thillay Naidoo 21
Books--Glimpses of A Great Yogi - Foreword by Truman Caylor 25
News and Notes 28
Front Cover:
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR &
SADHU RANGARAJAN
October-December 2018 Vol. 35, No. 4
Editor: Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan
Inland: Life Rs.1125; Annual Rs.60; Single Copy Rs.15.
Foreign (Air Mail): Life US$ 300; Annual US$ 20; Single Copy US$ 5
Office: Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram, ‘Sri Bharati Mandir’,
Srinivasanagar, Kithaganur Road,
Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036.
Phone: 91-80-25610935 Mobile: 94482 75935
E-mail: sadhu.rangarajan@gmail.com;
Website: sribharatamatamandir.org
2 TATTVA DARSANA
Editorial
DEVOTION TO GURU AND GURUPARAMPARA
Devotion to the Guru is often expressed by adoring and worshipping
His form, garlanding His idol or picture, chanting His name and holding
bhajans in praise of Him. However, true devotion is not in these
external demonstrations, but in absolute faith in and acceptance of every
thought, word and deed of the Master as Divine. Gurur Brahma, Gurur
Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara—Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheshwara, the Ultimate Reality—is the firm conviction of every
devout Hindu. Since times immemorial, all the sects, sampradayas and
religious groups including Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism which are
part and parcel of the Hindu or Sanatana Dharma, have accepted the
concept of Guruparampara—the lineage of Gurus from the Supreme
Divine. Guru parampara as a representation of lineage is a unique
tradition in the world in which a guru passes on his or her
acquired knowledge to a chosen shishya or disciple. Along with
knowledge, the Guru also energises the Shishya with the Divine Power
which has come down to Him from His predecessors and which He has
enhanced by His own sadhana. Bhagavan Sivananda calls this Shakti-
Sanchar.
Great Acharyas like Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva have established
maths and installed their shishyas to continue their lineage that has
originated from the great rishis. Buddha is an avatara of Vishnu and
Rishabhadeva, the first theertankara of the Jains is a rishi of Rig Veda.
Sikhism is an offshoot of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya spread by
Ramananda and Kabir in the north and Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs
is a compilation of devotional hymns of Hindu saints belonging to the
period of Bhakti movements in Northern India. Though all acharyas
trace their lineage from the ancient rishis who proclaimed, ekam sat,
viprah bahudha vadanti—the Ultimate Reality is one, men of wisdom
call It by different names—in the course of centuries of its existence,
Hindu race has forgotten this great truth and has faced disintegration
due to disunity and mutual recrimination springing from ignorance,
jealousy, urge for domination and superiority or inferiority complexes
of the later leaders and followers of the sampradayas or institutions.
October-December 2018 3
Shankara who systematized the six great religious streams—Shaivam,
Vaishnavam, Shaaktam, Gaanaapatyam, Kaumaaram and Souram—and
sang hymns in praise of all the deities was condemned as pracchanna
baudha—a Buddhist in disguise and a nihilist as he proclaimed that
God, world and soul are ephemeral truths whereas Brahman alone is
true in the transcendental plain. In later days, even the followers of the
different maths set up by Shankara could not see eye to eye and were at
loggerheads. The Vaishnavite followers of Ramanuja were divided into
ten kalai and vada kalai who fought a court case up to Privy Council in
London during British rule in India to determine whether the naamam
or religious mark to be put on the forehead of the elephant of
Kanchipuram Varadaraja temple should be ‘Y’ or ‘U’. They came to fist
fight against each other in a temple procession at Tiruvallikkeni on the
issue whether the hymns in Sanskrit or Tamil are to be sung.
Differences of opinion among the mutt heads of Madhva Sampradaya
have also come to public domain. All these differences and
disintegration among the followers of one and the same acharya has
nothing to do with religion or devotion, but are all products of crass
selfish and materialist urges, struggle for possession and domination
and mutual hatred among the followers. Even religious institutions and
organizations that have come into existence in the modern period have
found split and division due to the urge for domination and mutual
jealousy among those in authority. No greater insult could be sprung on
the Gurus and the sacred institutions that they have established than
disintegrating and destroying the mission of the Great Masters by the
spurious followers who exploit the name of the Masters for their crass
material interests and selfish urges. If only the devotees had any respect
and regard for the Gurus and the Guruparampara, these internecine
quarrels and squabbles would not have sprung up. Not only religious
institutions in Bharat, but all religious movements and institutions that
have sprung up in different parts of the world like Christianity and
Islam have also faced disintegration in course of time.
Religion is that which links man to his creator and spirituality is the
pathway to realize once oneness with the Divine. However, when
religion is institutionalized and reduced to a bundle of rites and rituals,
blind and superstitious beliefs, customs and practices and directed by
leaders who are more interested in material acquisitions and power, it
becomes an instrument of division and disintegration in the society and
deterioration of the whole mankind. Addressing the Parliament of
4 TATTVA DARSANA
Religions at Chicago, Swami Vivekananda, the Patriot Monk of India,
proclaimed: “Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant,
fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled
the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood,
destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not
been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more
advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope
that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may
be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword
or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons
wending their way to the same goal.” The great rishis of yore
propounded the ideal of vasudaiva kuthumbakam—the whole world is
one family. How can this be achieved if people belonging to different
religions, societies and nations do not realize that they are all children
of one Father. My Deeksha Guru, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar used to
proclaim day in day out: “My Father alone exists, in the past, present
and future! Nothing else and nobody else!” If this thought takes deep
root in the heart of each and every human being, then that is the
culmination of all religion and spirituality. Our ancient rishis wanted the
children of Bharatavarsha to spread this ideal in every nook and corner
of the world and thereby install Mother Bharat as the loka guru—the
preceptor of the whole world.
Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s centenary is now celebrated all over
the country and abroad by His devotees. Bhagavan never wanted to
create a cult or sampradaya or a mission or math after Him. His Guru—
Papa Ramdas whom He used to refer always as “My Father”—initiated
Him into the sacred mantra, Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, and
wanted Him to spread it. Bhagavan in turn chose this humble writer as
His disciple and initiated him, turning him into a sadhu and His
instrument to spread the work of His Father everywhere. In the eighties,
when some youth wanted to set up an association named after Him, He
gave them permission on condition that they would launch a world
movement to spread Ramnam Japa Yagna started by His Gurubhagini,
Mataji Krishna Bai of Anandashram, and commanded the youth to work
under the guidance of this sadhu. Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth
Association was inaugurated by one of His ardent devotees from United
States, Sri Lee Lozowick of Hohm Community of Arizona, as a wing of
Sister Nivedita Academy at Chennai, on December 8, 1988. By the
grace and blessings of Bhagavan, this sadhu has travelled all over the
October-December 2018 5
country and also gone to various countries fifteen times in the last three
decades spreading the message of Bhagavan. Bhagavan wanted this
sadhu to be physically present by His side only on certain occasions
when some thoughtless acts of some of those who claimed to be His
devotees created some crisis and Bhagavan wanted this sadhu to be His
instrument to set things right, but He always assured this sadhu that He
would be with this sadhu every moment wherever this sadhu would be,
and this sadhu would be in Him all the time.
To all those devotees of Bhagavan inside the country and abroad who
have been showering their respect and regard to this sadhu as the
disciple of Bhagavan, we make this humble appeal: Respect all
devotees of Bhagavan as His children. Do not make any distinction
among them. Strive to create unity and brotherhood among the children
of Bhagavan. A hundred institutions, temples and satsang samitis may
spring up in His name inside the country and abroad, but there should
always be the realization that all are His instruments to spread the
universal message of the sages and seers of this sacred land of
Bharatavarsha—vasudaiva kutumbakam—the whole world is one
family. This sadhu is proud to belong to a great Guruparampara in
which Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Papa Ramdas are his Guru and
Paramaguru respectively. We are all children of the great Vedic Rishis
of this Holy Land of Bharatavarsha. Whenever this sadhu was in the
presence of Bhagavan in the midst of His devotees, and whenever some
important function was taking place in the Ashram, Bhagavan used to
command this sadhu to make speeches and He would always like this
sadhu invoking the Guru parampara:
“Veda rishaya samaarabhya, Vedaantaachaarya madhyamaah,
Yogi Ramsuratkumara paryantam, Vande Guru paramparaam”
--“Salutations and adorations to the great lineage of preceptors of the
holy land of Bharatavarsha, beginning with the Vedic Rishis, through
the great Vedanta Acharyas up to my Deeksha Guru, Yogi
Ramsuratkumar Maharaj!”
Aum Namo Bhagavate Yogi Ramsuratkumaraaya!
Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram! Vande Mataram!
6 TATTVA DARSANA
MESSAGES
The glory of Hindu religion is in its ability to take each aspirant to the
Highest Truth, guiding him through the roadmap of Scriptures to attain
the Self. Any religion has a purpose and meaning only when it solves
the most difficult problems in the easiest way. The Hindu Scriptures
lead us on the path of surrendered action, devotion and abidance in the
Self as the way to reach God. A life without the motive of purifying
oneself and attaining Self-realization is a goal-less life. One who does
not have anything bigger to achieve tends to fall for everything small.
I am pleased to see that Professor Sadhu Rangarajan has been
propagating the essential tenets of Hinduism through his tireless work in
India and abroad. My good wishes are with all his sacred endeavours.
May Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji's blessings be with us
all.
Prem and Om,
SWAMI ABHEDANANDA
Spiritual Head, Chinmaya Mission of South Africa,
Chatsworth, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
October-December 2018 7
ANANDASHRAM,
Kanhangad, Kerala November 29, 2018
Blessed Atman: “Saints are often compared to the philosopher’s stone, which, by its
mere contact, turns any base metal into gold. But a saint is superior,
for by his contact he makes you like himself. He fills you with Divine
radiance and joy.” – Swami Ramdas
Your loving invitation has been received for the Birth Centenary
Celebrations of Revered Yogiji Maharaj. Glad to know that the
functions are scheduled to be held on the 9th of December at Bharat
Mata Mandir. Special days connected with the lives of saints are celebrated to help us
reaffirm our commitment to the Goal and to try to have more and more
of God-remembrance so that we may realise our oneness with Him at
the earliest. May we all be able to do so. Praying for the Lord's blessings for the successful conduct of the
functions and for the programmes to be instrumental in giving a boost to
the spiritual practices of all! Deepest love and best wishes.
Swami Muktananda ANANDASHRAM
It must be understood at the very outset, before you start on the supreme
task of shaping your life and conduct in accordance with a lofty and
Divine ideal, that you should bear that ideal in your bosom and not look
upon it merely as an outside object of worship.
--Swami Ramdas
8 TATTVA DARSANA
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR’S
CONSTANT GUIDANCE
--Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan
Veda-rishaya-samaarabhya Vedaantaachaarya-madhyamaah
Yogi Raamsuratkumaara-paryantam Vande Guru-paramparaam!
Salutations and adorations to all great preceptors of the holy land of
Bharatavarsha right from the Vedic seers, through the great Vedanta
Acharyas, to my Deekshaa Guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj of
Tiruvannamalai!
Since times immemorial, our Bharata Bhoomi has been the chosen land
of Gods and Goddesses to incarnate in human form to lead the souls in
evolution from human to divine realms. Rightly, this land came to be
known as Bharatavarsha, the Land of Light. Innumerable are the
saints and sages who have trodden on this sacred soil from Vedic times
to the modern period and this land consequently has come to be known
as Ratnagrabha, one whose womb has carried priceless gems of
Brahma Rishis and Raja Rishis. In the lineage of the great sages and
seers of this holy land, we are indeed blessed to have had in our midst
H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Godchild, Tiruvannamalai.
This sadhu was guided to the great Master by the benign grace of
Mother Mayee of Kanyakumari, a great mystic who used to live like a
mad beggar woman, always surrounded by some forty or fifty dogs and
wandering at Kanyakumari. It was the infinite grace and unbounded
compassion of his Master that enabled this sadhu to author his Master’s
biography – “The Glimpses of a Great Yogi”, which has received a
spontaneous welcome from the devotees and spiritual aspirants in the
East and the West. Yogiji was also extremely delighted with the work
and with a loud laughter, he used to say, “The book is very attractive.
People are interested to know who this great Yogi is. But, when they
come and see here, they see only a beggar here!” He jovially blamed
the book for causing the constant stream of devotees, thus preventing
Him from taking any rest.
October-December 2018 9
Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s voice echoed loudly in the pages of Tattva
Darsana, a journal published by this sadhu under the auspices of Sister
Nivedita Academy. Though Yogiji was not giving any spiritual
discourses, He conveyed valuable messages in friendly conversations
with simple people and even kids. These were meticulously captured
and published in Tattva Darsana. It was thus passed on to all of His
devotees. Here is such an extract:
After seeing off everyone excepting this sadhu, Vivek, Nivedita and Dr.
Radhakrishnan, He asked the doctor to sit by my side, He told him,
“You may think that this beggar ignores you and concentrates on these
two children”. Dr. Radhakrishnan immediately replied, “No Maharaj,
they belong to the younger generation and it is right that you
concentrate on them”. Then the Yogi jovially remarked, “You know,
Vivek and Nivedita come here very often and they have become my
friends. You people do not come often”.
The Yogi concentrated His vision on the children for some time and
then asked Vivek: “Your father has taken up man-making work. You
want to become an engineer. And Nivedita wants to become a computer
scientist. What sort of engineer you would like to become—man-
making or machine-making?” He was laughing hilariously for some
time and then again asked him, “Would you like to become a man-
making engineer?” “Yes, I would like to be so”, replied Vivek.
The Yogi went inside and brought a book, LECTURES FROM
COLOMBO TO ALMORA by Swami Vivekananda. He opened the
book. It was a chapter titled “The Sages of India”, and asked me to
read it. In the very opening paragraph, one line touched His heart:
“The sages of India have been almost innumerable, for what has the
Hindu nation been doing for thousands of years except producing
sages?” The Yogi turned to the children and addressed them, “See,
Vivekananda speaks about man-making work. What has the Hindu
nation been doing for thousands of years except producing sages?”
The Yogi made me read the whole chapter from the book. When I
finished reading, the Yogi said: “Our country is to produce sages. Our
work is not to produce engineers and computer scientists. Our country
is concerned only with producing sages. For thousands of years, only
10 TATTVA DARSANA
producing sages has been our aim. When we know that our goal is god,
why should we hanker after other things and waste our precious time”.
He again turned to the children and jovially asked: “Will your mother
get angry if you go and tell her that this beggar wants you not to
become machine-making engineers, but man-making? Will she say that
this beggar wants her children also to become beggars like him and not
engineers and scientists and ask you not to go to this beggar again?”
He burst into a roaring laughter even as the children replied, “No,
No.” Then He continued, “Don't think this beggar in discouraging you
from becoming engineers and scientists. My Father will see that
Vivekanandan gets a seat in engineering and becomes a great engineer
and Nivedita becomes a computer scientist. But remember that your
goal is something higher. Your father has brought you up properly and
put you in the right line. Do not forget the ideal. Becoming a scientist
or engineer is all secondary, the most important is god-realization.
Understand?” The children nodded their head.
Even on social issues like the role of beggars, Yogi Ramsuratkumar got
this sadhu to spread His message through Tattva Darsana. Here is an
excerpt from that interaction:
The Yogi was very vehement and emphatic in His disapproval of the
government’s policy of rounding up beggars and prosecuting them.
“Rangaraja, in this land begging has never been a crime. Sudama was
a beggar and he went to Krishna begging for alms. Krishna received
him with all honours. All great saints have been beggars. My master,
Swami Ramdas, explains in his In Quest of God how He went around
as a beggar. This beggar himself wandered all over the country
begging for food, for twelve years. He never used to wear rudraksha or
put bhasma on his forehead. He wandered in rags like any other
beggar. When this beggar was sitting on the banks of River Sabarmati,
ladies who used to come to take bath threw some coins to this beggar
every day. A day’s collection would be sufficient for two days’ food. I
am not speaking only of Sadhus, Brahmacharis and Brahmans who are
enjoined to beg in this country. I am speaking for ordinary people who
go out begging for alms when they find it difficult to make both ends
meet. They are not criminals. They beg as there is no other go.”
October-December 2018 11
This writer told the Yogi that he had already quoted His words in a
write up for TATTVA DARSANA and he would write an editorial too.
The Yogi said, “Yes, you can write an editorial too”. The Yogi said,
“Yes, you can write an editorial for the urgent need. But you must
make a study of all law books like Manu Smriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti
and other scriptures and writings of Kalidasa and others, gather
material about the tradition of honouring beggars in our country and
write a good article on the subject, Rangaraja.” The Yogi exhorted
again, “Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava,
Atithi devo bhava -- this is our tradition, Rangaraja. We must go out to
find people seeking alms and entertain them -- so says the Shastras.”
The Master’s generous heart opened up to accept this humble servant
and initiate him into the order of Sadhus, at the Banyan Tree Cave at
the Arunachala Hills where Swami Ramdas had sat and meditated. This
new birth of this sadhu happened on the auspicious day of the Jayanti
of Swami Ramdas on April 26, 1988. Again, it was the limitless grace
of the Master that this sadhu was entrusted with the responsibility of
organizing a World Movement for Ramnam. This was for
completing the target of chanting of 15,500 crores of Ramanam Taraka
Mantra, “Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” – a yagna for world
peace started by Poojya Mataji Krishnabai of Anandashram,
Kanhangad – a mission very dear to the Master’s heart. Later, in
January 1994, Yogiji even participated in a two-day function and
blessed the devotees who were involved in this Ramnam movement.
With Bhagavan’s blessings, the Academy’s ambitious wing called
Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association was formed. In the year
1988, this sadhu’s son, Vivekanandan and his friend visited the abode
of my Master and they made a fervent prayer to Him to allow them to
start a youth organization named after Him. Yogiji was at first amused
at their request and asked them jovially: “Why do you want a youth
organization named after this Beggar? Why not have an organization
named after Kamaraj or Karunanidhi or any big political leader?” The
youth calmly replied to Him that they wanted to do some social and
spiritual service in His name. Yogi pondered over their request for
some time and then told Vivek: “Well, you can start the youth
organization, but it must function as a wing of Sister Nivedita
Academy right under the guidance of your father.” He also delineated
the prime work that the youth must undertake. It had to be spreading of
12 TATTVA DARSANA
Ramnam Japa Yagna to fulfil the dream of Mataji Krishnabai to
complete 15,500 crores of Japa for world peace.
Mysterious were the ways in which He was moulding the destiny of
this humble disciple ever since this sadhu surrendered himself at His
holy feet! During a visit to Prayag for Ramnam Prachar in 1991, this
sadhu drove to the Ganges for his ablutions and went into the waters to
take bath. Here is an extract from the letter that this sadhu wrote to
Bhagavan later that day, explaining the turn of events. “I did prayers to
Mother Ganga, remembered You and then took three dips. Then in a
playful mood, I tried to swim. But soon I found that the sand below my
leg had given way and I was being dragged to the middle of the river
by a swift current. The bathing ghat was unusually less crowded and
for the very few people who were there, it took some time to realize that
I was not swimming and was being dragged away by Mother Ganga.
And even when they realized, probably none of them knew swimming or
was too dazed to rush to my help as I was at a distance. I was
frantically struggling to keep my head above the water level and raise
my hands to indicate where I was. I found death staring at my face,
trying to devour me, but a sudden flash of thought about You came in
the mind. I felt that You were rushing to my help. With the confidence
of a child in the mother’s alms, I resigned myself to Your Grace and
made valiant attempt to float, at least to raise my palm above the water
level. Suddenly I felt Your presence very near me. Though I was below
the level of water, I found someone dragging me up by bolding the lock
of my hair and then a hand held my palm! When I raised my head
above the water level, and opened my eyes, I found two boats around
me making an angle and the boatmen trying to pull me up. One of them
caught hold of my legs which I raised to reach the verge of the boat,
lifted me up by my leg and rolled me into his boat. They exclaimed.
“Thank God, if we were late even by a minute or two, you would have
gone!” On reaching the shore, my host, Sanjay, who heaved a big sigh
of relief, said that the boatmen had just arrived there with loads of
passengers and hearing the frantic shouts of the people on the shore,
“Wo Babaji doob rahe hai!” – “That Sadhu is getting drowned” – they
raced towards me and closed up in time to save me. I wiped my body
with a dry towel and turned round to look for them but the boatmen
had gone with another load of passengers. My inner voice tells me that
You are that Great Boatman who has brought me to the shore.
Yesterday, in a special Ramnam satsang at Sri Sinha’s place, I spoke
October-December 2018 13
about the fickleness of human existence and stressed the need to make
it sublime by turning to a higher goal in life. When I was talking on
Death which snatches away everything in a trice, I sincerely felt that
You have given me a higher life by placing a lofty goal before me.
Probably it is for the fulfillment of that goal that You have snatched me
back from the clutches of Death. The new life that You have given me is
dedicated once again at Your holy feet! Thy will be done! Ganga is
Your mother; She has returned me to You for Your work!”
While the above letter was on its way to His abode at Tiruvannamalai,
the children of this sadhu, Ch. Vivekanandan and Kumari Nivedita,
made a visit to Tiruvannamalai to have the Yogi’s darshan. The All-
Knowing Mahatma took a handful of flowers, wrapped them up in a
paper and gave to the children, asking them to carefully carry it and
hand over to their mother, Smt. Bharati. They could realize the
significance of Master’s action only after four days when a copy of this
sadhu’s letter to the Master reached them.
After this incident, when the sadhu met Yogiji, He asked the sadhu for
the details of the incident. He asked sadhu why he went to Rasoola
Ghat instead of Sangam and the sadhu replied that he wanted to avoid
the crowd. He asked how much water was there. He said usually the
floods were only in July-August and in October, so much of water was
not expected. The sadhu told Him that he did not know swimming and
that was why he was caught in the flow. When the sadhu told Him that
it was He who saved the sadhu when he who called out His name and
chanted Ramanama Taraka, He laughed hilariously and said if He had
that power to save, He would not have allowed this sadhu to be carried
away by the flow. He then added, “This Beggar died at the feet of
Papa Ramdas in 1952. Yogi Ramsuratkumar is the name of My
Father. You called His name and chanted the mantra dear to Him.
It is My Father who saved you”. The sadhu told Him that probably
Bhagavan wanted to test his faith in Him and hence subjected him to
this ordeal. Bhagavan laughed again and asked the sadhu whether he
would publish the letter in TATTVA DARSANA. Sadhuji replied that
he would publish it as it is in the forthcoming issue. Bhagavan raised
His hands and blessed the sadhu.
During November 1993, the Master commanded this sadhu to write an
editorial article to introduce Ma Devaki whom He chose as His
14 TATTVA DARSANA
“Eternal Slave”. This sadhu promptly obeyed the Master’s command
and the editorial, The Eternal Slave, appeared in TATTVA
DARSANA, Yogi Ramsuratkumar 76th Jayanti Issue, Nov.93–Jan.94.
In February 1994, when a crisis sprang up in the matter of the Ashram
Trust, Bhagavan commanded this sadhu to abandon his activities and
stay on in Tiruvannamalai to take charge as trustee and look after the
construction work. Bhagavan did not want the sadhu to be detained in
Tiruvannamalai for a long duration. He said, “Ramnam work is very
sacred and important and Rangaraja has to attend to it.” He also said,
“In the present circumstances, this Beggar wants Rangaraja to be here
as a moral force and He would like to relieve Rangaraja for Ramnam
work as soon as things start moving smoothly in the right direction.”
Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar always stood by His disciple, this
sadhu. He directed and defended the actions of His sishya not only in
crucial moments of the disciple’s life, but also whenever the Master
wanted the disciple to act on His behalf in the fulfilment of His
Father’s work.
A TRUE SANNYASI OR YOGI
One day in 1988, when Yogi Ramsuratkumar was presented with a
copy of the Chidaakaasha Geeta, the spiritual testament of Swami
Nityananda, he asked a young devotee to open the book at random.
When a page had been determined, Ramsuratkumar asked Rangarajan,
an orange-clad sadhu, to take the book. “Read any paragraph”, Yogi
Ramsuratkumar directed. Interestingly the lines on which Rangarajan’s
eyes turned were about the essence of sannyas. He then read aloud, to
the delight of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, these words of Nityananda: “He
who deliberates upon the Truth is Sannyasi, Yogi. Even if he be a
cobbler, pariah, he is so only in outer action. [Cobblers, or shoe-repair
persons, even today are considered among the lower class of Indian
society because they must touch the foot and its coverings, thought to
be unclean.] Pariahhood does not endure after death. He who has pride
and jealousy, who debates and argues, who criticizes others, he is the
pariah. To cobble does not mean to stitch cloth. It really means to stitch
by placing the chitta [basic consciousness] in the buddhi [intellect,
mind].”
[From ONLY GOD—A BIOGRPHY OF YOGI
RAMSURATKUMAR by Regina Sara Ryan]
October-December 2018 15
“TATTVA DARSANA” COMPLETES
THIRTYFIVE YEARS
TATTVA DARSANA Quarterly, the official organ of Sister Nivedita
Academy, dedicated to spread the ideals of spiritual nationalism of
Bharatavarsha, patriotism, and pride in the culture and heritage of the
nation among the children of Mother Bharat inside and outside the
country, started with the blessings of saints and national leaders like Sri
Guruji Golwalkar, Swami Chinmayananda, Yogi Ramsuratkumar and
Mother Mayamma of Kanyakumari, has completed thirty-five years of
yeoman service to the Hindu cause. Swami
Chinmayananda, sikshaaguru of Sadhu Rangarajan, rightly pointed out
in the inaugural issue, “I am confident that TATTVA DARSANA will
have all success, and I am looking forward to seeing its glorious trail of
service to the Hindu Nation.” The journal has lived up to the
expectations of the Swamiji.
Regina Sara Ryan, the author of ONLY GOD--A BIOGRAPHY OF
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR , has rightly pointed out that the journal
is “the first official periodical for the dissemination of the life and
teachings of Yogi Ramsuratkumar”, the Deeksha Guru of Sadhu
Prof. V. Rangarajan who has been writing about Bhagavan continuously
from the very second issue of the journal. Moreover, the issues of the
journal used to be released by Bhagavan Himself, putting His signature
on the copies to be preserved in Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological
Research Centre Library of the Academy, and He Himself used to
distribute the copies to devotees present at the time of the release.
Bhagavan also used to preserve the copies of the journal in His abode in
Sannidhi Street, Tiruvannamalai.
On the occasion of the Centenary of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar,
we have brought out a Comprehensive Volume consisting of three
parts of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI by Sadhu Prof. V.
Rangarajan covering the important events in the life of Bhagavan and
the experiences of his initiated disciple, Sadhu Rangarajan, during the
last three and a half decades which have been serialized in TATTVA
DARSANA and also uploaded into our website.
16 TATTVA DARSANA
From the forthcoming issue onwards, each issue would be devoted to a
specific theme and will serve as a comprehensive book on the subject.
These books will cover the glorious lives and messages of sages and
saints, kings and emperors, patriots and national leaders of
Bharatavarsha and highlight the role of Bharatavarsha as Loka Guru—
the preceptor of the world.
We appeal to all our Patrons. Life Members and Subscribers to continue
to extend their whole-hearted support.
-- EDITOR
SISTER NIVEDITA ACADEMY
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October-December 2018 17
MEMORY OF A SADHU’S PRESENCE
Neil Akash Ramphal Secretary, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Gauteng, South Africa
The Sun-rays reflecting on the Saffron robe of SADHU PROF V
RANGARAJAN-JI reminds me that an Aryan is standing in my lounge
and that Man’s Golden Era is certainly within arm’s reach. This
realization occurs a few kilometres away from the Cradle of Human-
Kind. Swami Vivekananda’s ‘nerves of steel and muscles of iron’
reminder is required when we are carrying a task of organising and
uniting our Hindu Society within Gauteng, South Africa. A mere
memory of Sadhuji’s presence always reminds us, Self-Inspired
Volunteers, that the solution of improving our Hindu society is certainly
achievable. The Hindu’s duty of having multiple roles in relation to the
world requires a more scientific and analytical observation to improve
our higher experience of life within Johannesburg. I have the privilege
of reporting back my experiences with this great Noble-Man or simply
an experience of heaven on earth, here, to support the improvement of
our lives. My experiences with Sadhuji still remains an inspiring
journey of real Hindu issues that glared us in the face requiring the
attention of higher solutions. There is no intention of instructing another
but merely sharing my inspiration to awake and arise within my own
community from this small land of my birth, South Africa, to make her
great and respectable to other communities.
The adoration and worship of this land should start with her sons, then
spreading to every South African Hindu to look at her with great respect
and regard as a real-life mother. It is the foremost duty of every Hindu
to protect our society and the land which we worship as our mother
since it is the land of our forefathers. Spiritual humility is achieved by a
simple bow to the earth before our feet touches our sacred Mother-earth
every morning within South Africa. This land, including everyone, must
be merged into the light of wisdom for society’s improvement.
However we require great leadership from men who achieved the
highest wisdom through their intuitive consciousness that would move
our society away from the mere existence of literacy to living life with
knowledge. We, the Gauteng society, are required to take advantage of
18 TATTVA DARSANA
the invitation that has been open to the rest of the world from the land
of the Great, Noble-Men, or Aryans. Our society is required to learn this
Divine Way of Life of eternal-living which is open to the entire man-
kind to learn the meaning and purpose of life. Socrates’ Republic and
Plato’s writings of ‘Knowing Thy Self’ are certainly inspired by such an
eternal-living to which Alexander marched across continents to
experience and bring back to his society creating a great and respectable
western society. Sadhuji’s guidance and teaching exposed us to the
treasures or insights of great souls. This great treasure-house of
knowledge rather than mere literacy requires our commitment and our
protection when necessary, requiring us to stand-together in protecting
and nurturing our society’s growth. Interesting historical insights were
highlighted for us to remove the veil of previous historical
misunderstanding since eye-opening moments of history were revealed
with scientific support. One of our Hindu Rulers named Purushottam
showed mercy to the so-called Alexander the Great by keeping his life
rather than executing him during battle. Alexander’s newly wedded
wife requested mercy from our Hindu Emperor Purushottam when she
requested permission to tie a Raki to our great ruler, taking the role as
his new sister. At the time of confrontation of Alexander on the battle-
field by our great Hindu Ruler, when the foreign aggressor was
disarmed, mercy was shown to him by the Noble Hindu in the interest
of uplifting the Western Society, when Purushottam remembered his
new sister.
Sadhu’s narration of the 1773 Sannyasi Rebellion (Rebellion of the
Monks) depicted by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the novel
‘Anandamath’ in which he also inserted the immortal Song ‘Vande-
Mataram’, was a point of reference in understanding our historical
footfalls. In the novel, the head of the Sannyasins, Bhavananda, is
passing through a beautiful garden with the Ruler Mahendra when the
Sannyasin praises the divine mother as a National-form known as
Bharath Mata. The invitation is open but the great knowledge must also
be protected in the interest of improving all of humanity since such
teaching that the World is One Family must be preserved. Historical
insights highlighted that our own betrayal towards our Value-System
towards our Motherland’s culture was the only cause of our society’s
downfall. This value system must grow again and start right from the
younger generation in proper training with a structured approach.
Mahatma Ghandi was also inspired by such a structured teaching that
October-December 2018 19
dispelled the evils of social divisions which he experienced in the Hindu
Society and stressed living together while also growing in the Hindu
society in India that is Bharath. He was inspired by the disciplined,
dedicated cadres working together to unite the entire Hindu Society.
Targets must be set and achieved by the sons of the land. Therefore, the
king-making process which has been lost is to be finally re-kindled
since this Hindu Culture must eventually support all aspects of society’s
requirements from Health-Care, Educational-Fields, Labour-Field,
Agricultural-Field, Industrial Field and all other areas of society with
the focus of carrying the great message of Vedic Civilization of
compassion. The Aryan or Noble-Men type of society is required, and
not the evil miss-understanding of changing people on a gross level
creating more pain, emphasising the lesson of understanding rather than
merely just knowing. We need to grow our society into a powerful
nation where every individual works towards the cause of the country.
Our ancestors great value-system must be practised and must capture
the entire world since the whole of man-kind must be lifted-up. These
high values of life must be manifested through our Hindu lives inspiring
others around us.
We need to ignite the flame of inspiration within every South African
Hindu by re-looking at our History There is a misunderstanding that
freedom from oppression was achieved due to the compassion of the
oppressors. The historical evidence highlights that the British had
realized that they had no choice but to leave the land which they
oppressed, since all the forces were turned against them and they had to
leave in the interest of their own safety. The science of success must be
understood by studying our History properly with compassion from the
risen rather than the oppressor. The focus is on winning success and not
sugar-coated historical excuses from the unethical oppressors eventually
becoming the losing side. There was a revolt within the British
Regiments when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose led the Indian National
Army and turned the entire Indian Navy, Air-Force and Ghurkha
Regiments against the British oppressive forces which cornered
Winston Churchill to announce that they could not maintain even a
single day of ruler-ship since the entire arsenal had turned against them
and if they didn’t leave then it would be the immediate end of their
British-Empire. Sadhuji did inspire us to learn from a Hindu or Indian
nation-wide campaign that is re-writing the historical books.
20 TATTVA DARSANA
Walking in the foot-steps behind Sadhuji was greatly inspiring since a
deep painful view of our own society was revealed by our honourable
guest. We engaged with diverse groups of people from different
religions and races showing how the Hindu Value system can assist in
alleviating the pain experienced by our bigger Gauteng society. His
talks and his mere presence have inspired people of various different
groups. Seeing a wise-man with his elegant beard and a heart of a Lion
that roared, parts of the community were really awakened within their
bosom that they do have the ability of overcoming their individual and
community challenges. Being in his company, such as driving to
various talks with him, having supper and observing how he was
engaging with various parts of society, with this great Noble-Man or
Aryan are such memories that creates an Immortal Smile.
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR’S VISION OF AKHAND BHARAT
Yogi Ramsuratkumar: “This beggar believes in the vision of his
spiritual teacher, Sri Aurobindo, who had a dream and vision of a
universal unity and peace on Earth and furthermore, of a race of
spiritual supermen.”
“Sri Aurobindo told at the time of Indian Independence that the
partition of India itself was wholly wrong. But our leaders at that time
did not listen to it. Sri Aurobindo has even predicted that India will be
united again. The integration of India is unavoidable. That will happen
soon. Then India will lead the entire world. The spirituality of the
Hindus will be spread throughout the world. The prediction will come
true very soon.”
“India has now to play its part in the World. Europe played its part—
material part. Now India has to play its part, by taking mankind in the
spiritual path, to God.”
“In the 21st century, Indians will learn languages of many other nations,
go there with the philosophy of Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Mahatma
Gandhi and shape the people of the world. We do not want to rob, we
want to raise them [these other nations] along a spiritual line.”
[From ONLY GOD – A BIOGRAPHY OF YOGI
RAMSURATKUMAR by Regina Sara Ryan]
October-December 2018 21
CHANGES TO NAMES OF TOWNS AND CITIES
Dr. Thillayvel Naidoo Retired Lecturer, Department of Science of Religion,
University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
A recent discussion on NDTV 24/7 centred on name changes, more
pertinently changes being effected to the names of towns and cities in
India. This paper argues, as all academics should, that this is long
overdue and a very welcome innovation on matters of cultural
importance. It is well known and often repeated that Hindu culture was
born in India several thousand years ago. It is about time that the people
of Bharat developed a more intelligent understanding of their culture,
what its value is for India and the reasons why more intelligent
understanding should develop on the place this culture occupies in
India’s social, political and economic life. This paper takes a closer look
at religious invasions and the misguided responses that emanate from
Hindu culture.
One of the most dubious tenets to emerge from the generosity that
Hindu culture has displayed for many millennia is the statement, “All
religions are true” or alternatively, “All religions lead to the same goal”.
These generous statements are the products of very ill-informed Hindu
thinking. They are ignorantly repeated more in India than most other
countries in the world. They are never uttered in Middle Eastern
countries. These statements are actually born of Hindu cultural
ignorance and even cowardice and should be subjected to careful
scrutiny. Hindus never publicly question the validity of foreign cultural
claims. Religions born outside India when subjected to examination
produce very strong evidence that their claims to revelations from
higher sources should indeed be subjected to very serious examination.
Concerted efforts should be made to ascertain just how true such claims
are. No Vedantin worthy of his or her learning will ever be in a position
to confirm that religious claims about having come into existence
through God’s revealing generosity can or will ever be verified. Few
students of religion in India ever challenge contentions about god’s
revelations to people in the Middle East only that have contributed so
22 TATTVA DARSANA
immensely to many of India’s social and political difficulties. It requires
extensive religious intelligence to understand just what misconceptions
these statements generate and what the implications have been for India.
Many countries in Europe and elsewhere now realise just what the
effects of these two statements are and what the implications are for
world history.
If the twenty-first century heralded the birth of a fourth industrial
revolution, national exigencies demand social and political
developments to reflect more mature perceptions of the changes taking
place to accord with India’s seasoned cultural environment. Patriotic
and nationalistic feelings must be placed in a context that reflects
intelligent thinking in modern scientific and technological advances in
the area of traditional culture within our social and political arena.
India’s culture is ancient - not old! India’s religious perceptions are
ancient which must never be allowed to grow old and obsolete! If
however foreign religions make unsolicited incursions into India
without genuine evidence of their authenticity then such religions
should be subjected to serious questioning. India’s philosophies are
among the most mature the world has produced. Her understanding of
religion reflects her ability to accommodate some claims within her
modern social and political environment to accord with her
philosophical generosity. Modern technological, industrial and political
advances in India must accordingly be placed in an ethical setting of
greater maturity to accord with the truths born of her many millennia
old religious philosophy. It is time that arrogant, fearless, overbearing
religious invasions into India are viewed with a greater sense of
circumspection for India’s self-respect. Statements about all religions
being true must be rejected and more correct conclusions brought to
light. India’s glaring inability to control her growing population
demands that greater scientific efforts must be made to solve this
nagging predicament. It is however the growth of foreign religions in
India that reflects serious impediments to honest cultural growth.
Concerned citizens argue that some religions prove an embarrassment
to India at several levels of the country’s national existence. These
should be carefully examined and the arising quandaries signified with a
greater degree of courage and honesty. How is this done with no
disrespect or animosity but a firm belief and realisation that a national
cultural conscience is under very serious threat?
October-December 2018 23
There must be several academically generated honest, respectful,
friendly discussions or even conferences to ascertain just why foreign
religions display such rampant growth in India despite her own religions
and philosophies having laid her cultural foundations many millennia
ago. Many important questions concern the contribution foreign
religions make to indigenous perceptions of religious truth. Yet their
rampant proselytising campaigns threaten India’s cultural harmony very
dangerously. More importantly, there is a desperate need for a cultural
context in keeping with Vedanta’s ethical foundations that generate a
genuine search for religious truth. The intrusions of foreign religions
must be questioned for their infringements of India’s thinking on what
religion really is. India’s saints must formulate intelligent directives on
how future developments in the country must manifest. India’s Hindu
community has a duty to demand greater respect for its cultural
generosity. Foreign claims about their positions and teachings need to
be verified. India is the land where the search for religious truth was
first conducted. She must not surrender her findings by lowering her
standards of religious intelligence through ignorance, fear and over
generosity if the finding is that all religions cannot possibly lead to the
same goal.
My position as scientist of religion and more importantly as Vedantin is
that statements such as, “All religions lead to the same goal” are highly
questionable. Among India’s gifts to the world are three of its greatest
religions founded on serious search for Truth. Hinduism, Buddhism and
Jainism have made more important contributions to religious thought
and philosophy than any other in the world. Despite Hindu
contributions to religious thought, Hindus do not realise that foreign
religions never show appreciation of Hindu religious intelligence. Any
religion that displays ignorance of religious truth has a duty to re-
examine its position more especially in India where the search for
religious truth produced a Hindu culture of enormous validity millennia
ago. The people of India who developed India’s cultural ethos over
thousands of years have a duty to give serious thought to that
characteristic spirit that has long prevailed in the country. Do invasive
religions respect this? The names of villages, towns and cities are the
products of Hindu culture and therefore fully justified. Foreign religions
have a duty to realise their foreignness and have to prove how they have
a claim to a place in India’s culture. If Hinduism is one of the most
authentic religions based on a search for indigenous truths other
24 TATTVA DARSANA
religions that have yet to prove their authenticity have a lot of
explaining to do. Foreign names of towns and cities in India are an
imposition. Their usurped place in India’s culture should be
appropriately explained.
Important questions about religious validity revolve around invasive
imposition and disrespect to India’s indigenous culture. If some of the
most profound religious truths have been discovered in India why do
some Indians convert to foreign religions? Does this mean that even
though they are Indians they believe that foreign religions display
superior reasoning? Many questions arise about forced conversions and
Hindus who are so easily duped into converting. Has anyone ever heard
of a Hindu terrorist? Why does terrorism form part of religious thinking
and behaviour? If there are ways of seriously questioning claims to
religious authenticity, can these not be discussed for the sake of
religious validity and social harmony? Parsees and Jews came to India
to escape persecution. Other religions came to India for the express
purpose of imposition and converting Hindus to their teachings with no
proof that their positions have foundations of authentic religious
validity. Are foreign religions valid and if so how is this verified? If
attempts are made to change the names of towns and cities out of
patriotic feelings of cultural self-respect why are such attempts not
supported? The hospitality India afforded foreign cultures must become
the subject of very serious discussion. This suggestion is not made
through malice, but for reasons of religious and cultural honesty and a
yearning for mature foundations of national pride and integrity.
Foreigners who display prejudice and a lack of interest in a genuine
search for religious truth at mature levels of understanding must
concede their positions which this invitation asks them to state very
clearly. India has a duty to change the names of its towns and cities to
substantiate her cultural identity based on the validity of her indigenous
culture.
PATRIOTISM
The basis of our nationalism is not simply Bharat, but ‘Bharat Mata’.
Remove the word ‘Mata’ and Bharat would remain just a piece of land.
The affinity between us and this land is established only with the
relationship of the mother. No piece of land can be called a country so
long as the relationship between it and the people living in it is not that
of mother and son. This is patriotism.
—Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
October-December 2018 25
BOOKS
GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI Yogi Ramsuratkumar Centenary Commemoration Volume
By Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan
Foreword by
Truman Caylor Wadlington
This Centenary Edition of Glimpses of a Great Yogi is a chronicle—
spanning more than 30 years—of Sadhu Professor V. Rangarajan’s
soulful interactions with Yogi Ramsuratkumar. It is encyclopedic, both
in size and in historical detail.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar blessed and guided aspiring souls to his Father,
and even now, long after his mahasamadhi, he continues to do so. But
the Beggar Saint often boldly asserted that his real goal was in
transforming individuals into perfect instruments of his Father’s Work.
We see that process of transformation play out in the pages of this
extraordinary story.
As a lifelong scholar of Hindu scriptural lore, the author is eminently
qualified to do this work. He is clearly one of those rare individuals
deeply versed in ancient Sanskrit and Tamil source writings who can
bring those teachings to life for the modern reader. It is easy to
understand why Yogi Ramsuratkumar chose him for this task.
When I first met Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the late spring of 1970, he was
still living on the streets of Tiruvannamalai as a so-called ‘hidden saint,’
living in plain view, but unrecognized and easily mistaken for a mad
beggar.
26 TATTVA DARSANA
India’s political tensions were reaching a boiling point. Ideological
polarization between North India’s Hindi-speaking and South India’s
Tamil-speaking factions was fomenting demonstrations in the streets. It
had become dangerous for a northern India-born, Hindi-speaking
‘outsider’ like Yogi Ramsuratkumar to maintain his blessed anonymity.
With harassment and threats mounting, the Beggar Saint asked me to
write a small biography of him in 1971. Because so little was known
about his life then, writing a short biography was challenging. But, in
time, the little book served its purpose. Bringing the yogi’s little-known
existence to light quickly rallied the faithful to ensure his support and
safety. Harassment and threats ceased and, in the process, the yogi’s
relationship with the local community transitioned onto a more public
stage.
Although Professor V. Rangarajan and I had previously corresponded, it
was not until late in1993 that Yogi Ramsuratkumar introduced us in
person atop the famous Theradhi Mandapam, just a few steps from the
yogi’s Sannidhi Street abode. More than twenty years had passed since I
had authored the Godchild. Now big changes were underway. The Yogi
Ramsuratkumar Ashram was in a very active planning stage and was
soon to break ground. The ecstatic saint’s externalization onto the
public stage was gaining momentum. It didn’t dawn on me that day that
the person to whom I was being introduced would soon be spearheading
many of Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s most ambitious projects.
During the last two decades of the Master’s life he graciously assumed
the mantle of guru and guide to countless individuals. And no doubt,
from all appearances, it might have seemed that the teaching and
transformation of devoted aspirants was his only focus, but this book
proves otherwise.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar often spoke of other important facets of his
mission. Foremost among these were the unveiling of India’s greatness
in the community of nations, securing the scriptural preeminence of the
Vedas, promoting the study of Sanskrit, enabling the Hindu education
of children, and encouraging the continuous remembrance of the Names
of God.
October-December 2018 27
Behind the scenes, Yogi Ramsuratkumar was enlisting a retinue of close
disciples as lieutenants under his command to labor toward the
fulfillment of his lofty goals. Sadhu Professor Rangarajan was among
these select few. This chronicle of events shows that for decades to
come, he remained steadfast at the right hand of the Master.
This vast tome is laid out in three parts: Part I is an extensive
biography of the Master. Although that history has been thoroughly
articulated in other books, this rendering is especially lyrical and
inspiring. Part II recounts Professor Rangarajan’s extremely rare
initiation at Arunachala’s historic Ramdas Cave. This section also
details decades of devoted service to his Master. And, finally, Part III
reveals the further reaches of Sadhu Rangarajan’s ongoing march to
advance Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s noble mission.
Glimpses of a Great Yogi, in this, its Centenary Celebration Edition,
affords us a rare first-hand view of Sadhu Rangarajan’s unwavering
discipleship to his exalted Guru, Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, and
also of a rich legacy of accomplishments that is breathtaking in its
scope.
1305 S Washington St; Truman Caylor
Wadlington
Denver, Colorado 80210 25-2-2018
Truman Caylor Wadlington with Bhagavan
28 TATTVA DARSANA
NEWS & NOTES
Independence Day Celebration
India’s Independence Day was celebrated in Sri Bharatamata Mandir by
hoisting the national flag on August 15, 2018. Sadhu Rangarajan
hoisted the flag also in a congregation in the Srinivasa Nagar Layout in
Kithaganur and, addressing the residents, spoke on the tradition of
adoration and worship of Sri Bharatamata right from Vedic period and
the sacrifices made by heroes and patriots to protect and preserve the
freedom of the country and its ideals of nationalism.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Procession
The Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Samiti of Bangalore Mahanagar
organized the Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebrations this year also in a grand
manner. A preliminary meeting of the organizers and karyakartas of
various Ganesh Utsav Samitis in the city was held at Banjara Kshatriya
Samaj Hall in Shivajinagar on Saturday, August 18, 2018. Sadhu
Rangarajan, addressing the gathering, spoke on the significance of
Vinayaka Chaturthi and the tradition of celebrating it to foster unity and
ideals of nationalism anong the Hindus through Sarvajanik festivals.
A grand Sarvajanik Gaesha
Procession, in which about 150
huge Ganesha idols installed in
diferent parts of the city for
Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebrations
participated, took place in
Shivaji Nagar under the
leadership of Sri Nirmal Kumar
Surana, Ex-MLA, on Saturday,
September 16, 2018. Hundreds of devotees playing drums and musical
instruments and dancing in traditional costumes led the Ganesh idols for
immersion in the Ulsoor lake. Sadhu Rangarajan and Sri Sivacharya
Swami participated in the procession.
October-December 2018 29
Ratha Yatra of Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita
125th Year of Swami Vivekananda’s address in Parliament of Religions,
Chicago, and Sister Nivedita’s 150th birth anniversary were
commemorated by Yuva Brigade of Bangalore by holding a grand
Ratha yatra carrying idols of Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita in
a decorated chariot through the main thoroughfares of Krishna Raja
Puram in Bangalore on Saturday, September 1, 2018. Sadhu Rangarajan
of Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram, Swami Chandreshananda of
Ramakrishna Vivekananda Sadhana Kendra, Sri Ha. Ra. Nagaraj of
Haridas Satsang Samity, Sri Rangaraja Iyengar of Jaigopal Garodia
Vivekananda Vidyalaya and Sri Chakravarthi Sulibela of Yuva Brigade
led the procession which culminated in a rally at K.R. Puram
Government College
Grounds. Sadhuji and other
distinguished guests
addressed a grand gathering
of hundreds of students of
local educational
institutions, teachers, youth,
mothers and sisters.
VHP Workers meet in Vivek Nagar
Sadhu Rangarajan addressed a meeting of Karyakartas of Vishwa Hindu
Parishad in Durga Parameswari
Temple at Vivek Nagar,
Bangalore, on Sunday,
September 23, 2018. He spoke
in detail about the founding of
the Parishad by dharmacharyas
on the Krishnashthami Day in
1964 and his close association
with Parampoojaneeya Sri
Guruji Golwalkar and Swami
Chinmayananda who inspired
him to dedicate his life for the Hindu cause. Sri Sankarappa, Vice-
President of Karnatak VHP, presided over the function.
30 TATTVA DARSANA
Visit to Seva Basti
Sadhu Rangarajan made a visit to Seva Basti in Sanjay Nagar,
Bangalore, visited the homes of slum dwellers and lighted lamps and
did prayers for them in their shrines on Sunday, September 30, 2018.
He later addressed a congregation of the devotees at Karumari Amman
Temple in the Seva Basti. Sri Ramesh of Seva Bharati also addressed
the gathering.
Navaratri Celebrations in Sri Bharatamata Mandir
Navaratri Celebrations in Sri
Bharatamata Mandir had an auspicious
beginning on Tuesday on October 9,
2017, with display of dolls in Bommai
Golu, special havan and pooja. Mothers
and sisters in the neighbourhood
gathered every day in the afternoon on
all the ten days upto Vijayadashami to
chant Lalaitha Sahasranama and stotras
and hold bhajans. Special Abhisheka
and alankara to the Divine Mother were
held as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and
Mahasarawati respectively on 11th, 14th,
and 18th October, Devotees going to
Sabarimala Temple in Kerala for the
Mandalavilakku Pooja were staying in
the Mandir observing their vrata and did
special ppoja to Dharma Shasta in the Mandir on October 19, before
starting their pilgrimage to the hill shrine.
Karunya Spandana 2018
Bangalore East Malayali Association (BEMA) organized a grand
cultural programme, Karunay Spandana 2018, with traditional Kerala
dances and music in Om Shakti Temple Ground on Sunday, November
11, 2018. The programme was organized to raise funds and relief
materials to mitigate the suffering of people of Kerala who faced a
major natural calamity due to storm. Sri Suresh Gopi, M.P. and super-
star of Mollywood, participated in the programme. Addressing the
October-December 2018 31
gathering on the occasion, Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan of Bharatamata
Mandir spoke on the message of the great Mahatmas from the legendary
Ranti Deva of Srimad Bhagavata to Swami Vivekananda of the mordern
period, that service to the suffering humanity is the greatest worship of
God. He also said that relief materials were sent from Sri Bharatamata
Mandir through Samanvaya, organization of Keralites in Bangalore.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar Centenary &
Sri Bharatamata Mandir 15th Anniversary
The centenary of Bhagavan Yogi
Ramsuratkumar, deeksha guru of Sadhu
Prof. V. Rangarajan and the moving spirit
behind Sister Nivedita Academy, Sri
Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram & Yogi
Ramsuratkumar Indological Research
Centre, and the fifteenth anniversary of Sri
Bharatamata Mandir at Bangalore was
celebrated in an auspicious manner with the
blessings of Bhagavan on Sunday, December
9, 2018.
Special Abhisheka and Alankara to Sri
Bharatamata and Havan and poojas took
place in the morning, followed by chanting of Ramnam Taraka Mantra
and Yogi Ramsuratkumar Nam by devotees. Sadhu Rangarajan
delivered a benedictory address in which he narrated the divine
inspiration of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the activities of the
sadhu ever since he recceived initiation from Bhagavan on the
auspicious day of Papa Ramdas Jayanti in the Banyan Tree Cave on
April 28, 1998 and the constant guidance and presence of Bhagavan all
the time even now.
Smt. Srimathi Subramaniam, retired
Programme Executive of All India
Radio, Chennai, spoke about
Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar
working out His Divine Mission
through the sadhu and the grace and
blessings of Mother Mayi of
32 TATTVA DARSANA
Kanyakumari also conferrred on
the sadhu. Smt. Vasudha of
Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Sri
Bhaktavatsalam of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh also
addressed the gathering. The
programmes concluded with the
singing of song on Bharatamata
and the national anthem, Vande
Mataram.
Bharatamata Mandir Special Satsang on New Year’s Day 2019
A special satsang was held in Sri Bharatamata Mandir, Kithaganur,
Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore, on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The
mothers in Bharatamata Mandir Satsang Samiti came in their special
uniform – ochre sari and blue blouse--and held bhajans and chanting of
sacred hymns. Archana and arati to the Divine Mother were held.
Daily satsang with chanting of
Vishnu Sahasranama, Lalitha
Sahasranama, Bhagavad Gita and
singing of Bhajan songs is held in
the Mandir from Monday to
Saturday every week. Special Shirdi
Sai Baba bhajan is held on
Thursdays by the mothers.
Expansion of Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram Library
Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Research Centre and Sri Guruji
Golwalkar Hindu Resource Centre Library in Sri Bharatamata Mandir
consisting of more than 20,000 books, back isssues of journals and rare
press clippings is expanded with new additions to serve students of
Hindu thought and culture. Free access to the Reference Library and
guidance in Library Science and Journalism are provided to all.
Edited, printed and published by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, Founder Trustee,
Sister Nivedita Academy, Sri Bharati Mandir, Srinivasanagar
Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560 036.
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