1995 - Volunteering in Ramakrishna Mutt in Mylapore, Chennai
Photographs
Photos Of The Year
A group photo at the Ramakrishna Mutt where His Divine Holiness Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam (HDH)(first row, extreme left) practised intense brahmacarya (monasticism) for 4 years (1995 - 1999).
This is the "Devi Māhātmyam" chant book. HDH used to chant these verses extolling the glory of Parashakti (Universal Cosmic Mother) when He was in the Ramakrishna mutt where He lived the austere life of a brahmāchari (Hindu monk) from 1995 to 1999.
In His own words,
"This is the book used for Durga puja during the Dusshera festival. I would chant this so often. I would go to the magazine department in the morning at around 10’o clock. After attending to the files and everything, if I have time, I will just take out this book and go on chanting. I would have a small bell and go on ringing it and chanting. I personally bound this book.
Once I took the vow that I will chant the Chandi (another name for Devi Māhātmyam) 108 times. In three months I finished: 700 verses 108 times! I would go on reading and ringing the bell. When the staff brings in some work, I will attend to it and resume reading."
HDH carried this laminated photograph of Sri Ramakrishna with Him during this period and thereafter. This is still part of the biological archives of the National archives of ShriKailasa.
HDH held extraordinary love for the Trinity of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi (Sri Ramakrishna’s consort) and Swami Vivekananda (monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and one of the greatest saints of Mother India).
He joined the Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and lived a 4-year period of extraordinary intensity, austerity and service as a brahmacāri (monk).
A Devi (Goddess) deity in brass which was part of the deity collection in the worship altar of HDH.
The Avatar Reveres Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the greatest incarnation of Paramashiva in modern times!
Transcript
Today is also Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday, Avatara Dina Mahotsava. Ramakrishna, Avatara Varishtha, the greatest incarnation of God in the modern times. Greatest incarnation of Paramashiva in the modern times. Undoubtedly highest influence on me. Next to Arunagiri Yogishwara if I have to say, I’ll tell is Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Next to Arunagiri Yogishwara if I had, if I list who all have inspired me, influenced me, awakened me, if I put the list - first naturally Arunagiri Yogishwara. The second name will be Ramakrishna. No disrespect, even Ramana Maharshi I give third name. I am not disrespecting … Ramana Maharshi. Surely Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi will not feel disrespected. It’s a … even senior wise, Ramakrishna is senior. Ramakrishna … absolute, … absolute embodiment of … all the absolute attributes of the absolute. Whether you call purity, consciousness, auspiciousness, power manifestation. Uncomparable.
From the time I read … Ramakrishna in Amudha Mozhigal in Tamil which was … my inspiration. Till now, from that day to till now, … he is one of my Aradhana (आराधन, ārādhana) Murti, means in my personal worship, he is always there and worshipping him was … was and is part of my life everyday, even today. The first ashram I built was dedicated to his name - Sri Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetham. So, we are celebrating Ramakrishna’s Jayanti in Sri Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetham and all the ashrams, aadheenam, Sarvajnapeethas we have.
The Avatar on Beginning to Volunteer in the Ramakrishna Mutt
Transcript
I understood two things one the ability to maintain a discipline by the Ramakrishna mission God Ramakrishna has left the body 100 years before in 1886 he left the body now is already 2012 still they have the ability to retain that discipline the guru bhakti God till this handful of sannyasis are able to retain even such a simple it is not that Ramakrishna gave an instruction hey after my death all my Ramakrishna meant ashrams should get the cow and the milkman and melt the milk in front of my shrine and cook and feed me no he has not made the rule the love for the master how much of discipline brings in your mind why I have to sit there I understood the other dimension the in discipline of this milkman how much ever you pay him or tell him if you allow him to milk in the house itself he will add water due to his greed so Milkman's in discipline Ramakrishna Mars discipline this too was a lesson learned in that one hour it was a big revelation for me because I was wondering why should these poor cows have to walk all the way from the house to the temple and this milkman has to come here and milk even when make the paisa mile tie a cloth around my nose I should not smell that only by one should smell I used to wonder why this guy should come all the way with the cows and milk why should I sit early morning one never with this guy but I always liked that smell of gosh Allah goshala has a sweet smell that cow dung and punch akavir smell I always like that smell so finally what I realized is this - one the discipline which comes to you because of guru bhakti the in discipline which comes to you because of just simple in disciplined lifestyle it is not that that milkman is greedy because mud gives enough money for him it just a habit make means for water it has become in disciplined pattern unconscious lifestyle then that day when I realized this two truths that day when I made the pie some and offered to Ramakrishna I prayed Bhagwan just bless me I never never never crushed the discipline of the mind I always live with a deep discipline of mind I tell you he really granted that