SV CW Vol 3 - Address of Welcome at Almora - Summary

Address of Welcome at Almora

VOL 3 Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

Original welcome address was given in Hindi of which a beautiful translation is available in the CW. The people of Almora poured out their hearts in reverence and veneration to this young prophet. A fitting song of the heart reply was provided by the great Swami Vivekananda. A few salient points are as follows:

Almora Devotees’ Address to Sw. V

1.       VENERATIONs to Sw V:

•           Addressed as a “GREAT SOULED ONE” ,
•           Hailed as “Blessed one, Blessed is Revd Sri Ramakrishna who initiated Sw V into Yoga and Blessed is the Land where leader like Sw V exists in Kali Yuga.”
•           Thanked Him for taking the trouble to visit them.
•           Accomplishments likened to Sri Shankaracharya as:  - By Tapas Sw V proved and eshtablished to learned people of England and America that no religion can compare to VEDAs. This eshtablished banner by Sw V., is now impossible to remove.  This ancient religion, VEDANTA, is now considered a mine of Gems.
•           Epithets as son of Bharata:   - Only the life of a good and virtuous son like Sw V. is really useful to the world…!!!

2.       PRAYER for Sw V: 

 Cannot adequately express the joy the people of Almora felt upon Sw V’s arrival. May Sw V live long, enjoy perfect health and lead a philanthropic life. May Sw V’s spiritual powers be ever on the increase, so that through His endeavors, the unhappy state of India may soon disappear..!!!!

3.       MISSION of Sw. V:

Devotees of Almora stated -

•           The sole aim of His life is to impart spiritual instructions to Humanity through thoughts, word and deeds.
•           Asked for confirmation of the news - For protection of the ancient religion, Sw V wished to eshtablish a Math/Monastery in the Himalayas like the great Shankaracharya who after spiritual conquest eshatblished  a Math at Badrikashram. The first concept of MAYAVATI is conceived in this address.

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Sw V’s Reply:

Glory of the Himalayas:

•           This is the land of dreams of our forefathers in which was born Paarvati, the Mother of India.
•           This is the holy land, where every ardent soul in India want to come at the end of its life, and to close the last chapter of his mortal career.
•           What Swamiji has taught is but a bit of those lofty, incomparable thoughts that were conceived in the depths of the caves, at the peaks of the Himalayas.
•           Himalayas are associated with the best memories of our race. If Himalayas were ever to be taken away from the History of Religious India.. very little would be left.
•           This foothill of the Himalayas is the land of renunciation.

Teachings of the Himalayas:

•           As Sw V.  viewed the majestic  Himalayas, peak after peak,  all propensities to work started ceasing for Him and His mind reverted to that one thought - that one eternal theme that the Himalayas always teach, the atmosphere there reverberates with, the murmur of the rushing whirlpools of the rivers echo .. “RENUNCIATION”..
•           Everything in Life is fraught with fear. Its Renunciation alone that makes one fearless. “ Sarvam Vastu Bhayaanwitam; Bhubi Nrinaam Vairaagyam eva Abhayam. 

Wish of Sw V.

•           Since Swamiji’s childhood, He has been dreaming of passing His life in this land of the Himalayas.   
•           Swamiji hoped and wished to end His life somewhere in these Father of mountains where the Rishis lived and philosophy was born.
•           But He felt He will not be able to do so … yet He still wished it to be so….       

Prophecy of Sw V and Concept of Vedanta Center- Mayavati

1.           Envisioned a great center in the Himalayan foothill to teach and spread this grand Universal Religion.
2.           Grand Lesson to be taught to all – Renunciation
3.           The Center would be not much of Activity but of Calmness,  of Meditation and of Peace.
4.           Just like yester years, Sw V prophesized –

o   Ardent souls will come

o    strong souls from all quarters of this earth will be attracted to this Father of the Mountains when all the fights between sects, quarrels between religions and differences in dogmas are forgotten

o   When mankind will understand that there is ONE eternal religion, “The perception of the divine within” rest is mere froth

o   When mankind will understand that the world is but vanity of vanities

o   When mankind will know that everything is useless except the worship of the Lord and Lord alone.

(c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee July 11, 2015