Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Down the Memory Lane of Swami Vivekananda

Reminiscing the days of Swami Vivekananda visit to Niranjana Mutt in Mysore, Historian PV Nanjaraje Urs and Brahmana Mahasabha Mysore President K Raghuram shared some of the interesting facts during his visit in 1892. Here are the experts:

Before going to Chicago, Swami Vivekananda had visited Mysore as the royal guest of Chamarajendra Wadiyar, father of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. As there was no provisions for Sanyasis to stay in Palace, Swami Vivekananda had stayed for 11 days with the disciples of the Niranjan Mutt teaching them Yogasana and Bhajanas.

In the Mutt's cellar he used to undertook 'Yoga Nidre' accompanied with the then head of the Mutt Nanjunda Bhagawan, whose memorial is just opposite to the Mutt's entrance.

During his stay at the Mutt he had daily visited the Sadvidya High School nearby, and used to deliver lectures in Sanskrit for students and followers. His preachings were translated to Kannada by Thathaiah and Amble Annaiah Pandit, who were the then committee members of the mutts.
The school authorities have renovated the place and have named it as Swami Vivekananda Auditorium and conduct cultural programmes, preachings in this auditorium.

During his stay Chamarajendra Wadiyar has recorded speech of Swami Vivekananda on a Gramaphone plate.

While Swami Vivekananda was leaving city, Thathaiah has collected money from the general public and had got stitched him two woolen coat for Swami Vivekananda, as he was going to Chicago. The expenses of his visit (travel and other expenses) has been bared by Chamarajendra Wadiyar.

Swami Vivkekananda has written a 8-10 page letter to Chamarajendra Wadiyar from America giving guidelines seeking to give importance for education and other developmental works. Both the letters and Gramaphone are at present in the private library in the Palace.

According to he book, 'Vedanta Kesari' which has been published by Ramakrishna Ashrama, Vivekananda stayed in Mysore from November 9 to 24 in 1892.' Apart this, one of the disciple and close friend of Swami Vivekananda was Alasinga Perumal, Lanashastri has mentioned about this in one of his book.

The entire stretch (present Marimallappa College, Lokayukta Office, Commercial Tax Department) were all belonged to mutt and was called as 'Hindu Orphan'. As days, went everything came under Government. Plans were also made to acquire the land of Mutt where Swami Vivekananda stayed, due to strong protest by the followers and historians to make the place memorial, Government took out up the project and formed a committee to protect the Mutt premises.

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