Visit to Benaras Hindu University

Swamigal accepted the invitation of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and visited the Benaras Hindu University. All the buildings in the university were decorated beautifully on this occasion. Malaviya, high ranking officials, professors and students all gathered excitedly at the gates to receive our Swamigal. Pandit Malaviya made introductions of the dignitaries there to Swamigal and took him to every building in the university, explaining the classes and curriculum that were being held there. Then he led him to a stage where a special throne was placed for Swamigal. Pandit Malaviya presented a welcome address in Sanskrit and read aloud five slokas that he had composed on His Holiness.

“yadvaachaam lasithaihi triloka janathaa mohaandhakaarakshayaha

padaabja smaranena yasya kalushadh vamsaath praasadaha sthiraha|

tasyaadvaita giram guroho bhagavathaha Sri Sankarasyonnathham

Kanchi peetapatham yateeswaramahan sthane twayaadhishtitham||

(1)

Tathva gnaana tapaha samaadhi karunodhaarya prasaadaadhibhihi

Punyam bhaaratha varshamethadhanagam praapnothi laabham param|

Keerthyate amalayaa yateendra! Mahataamaadarshathaam praapthayaa

Santaha santatamullasanthi cha dishaha sarvaahaa samudhbhaasithaha||

(2)

Swaamin! Swaagathamasthuthe shivapuri shree vishwavidyalaye

Shikshaakendra varetra bhaarata bhuvam vidyaarteenaam sarvataha|

Sreemadvaktra saroruhoditha shubhasheergeehi sudhaadhaarayaa

Saapalyam shrutijanmano bhavatu nah shaantyai shravantayaa bhuvaha||

(3)

Ghore kalau prathidhisham bhuvi satya dharmo

hantaapakarsha madhunaa nitaraamupaithi|

Tasyonnathihi punarihaakilamangalaarthaa

bhooyaadhyathaa, karunayopadishethi yaache||

(4)

Praanchya prateechyashubhamaavasamanyavena

bhogaapavargadha sukshina dhaanasheelaha|

Eshokhilabhyu dhayakrudhyathivarya! Vishwa

vidyaalayastava shubhaagamanena dhanyaha||

(5)

Maaga shukla sapthami sam -iti nivedayathi – malaviyo madanamohanaha|”

The meaning for the above five verses offered by Malaviya is thus: “The great soul whose lotus feet when a human meditates on, all ignorance vanishes, the great soul, whose golden words echo around the world, the great one who mirrors all the Shastras and their hidden meaning, such a great soul are thou, who adorns Sri Adi Sankara’s Kanchi Peetam!

It is Bharat’s great fortune that your knowledge, religious austerity, penance, compassion, and blessings have spread all around the country and purified the people. We offer our welcome on our behalf and on behalf of the students who joined this university from different parts of Bharat to learn all kinds of arts and sciences. In this age of Kali where dharma is declining, we are awaiting the golden words from thy mouth that will benefit the people and the whole world and these words will be immortalized.

This university provides education to benefit in this world as well as spiritually using the best methods offered in east and west. We hope that this university, our country and our people will benefit from your visit and your sermons today.” Swamigal made rather a long reply to the address presented by Malaviyaji almost in the form of a sermon.

“It is widely accepted knowledge that the more peace that dwells in our hearts, the more happiness there is in life. To achieve the height of peace is the ultimate human experience. When peace decreases, misery and unhappiness increases in human life. When men try to get rid of their unhappiness, they end up hurting others and causing unhappiness for them. If this continues, there is chaos in the society and the government officials use law to control this chaos. The less peace there is in the world, the more laws and regulations there are in the country. When people turn away from external material things and turn to internal peace, their sorrows will go away. A good education will help achieve this peace. You have the opportunity to obtain an excellent education at the Hindu University in the holy city of Kashi, and you can expect to obtain the highest state of peace. It is the duty of the elders gathered here to teach and install peace amongst students. The expenditure of the government, police department and the army will be reduced if there is peace and calm in the nation.

The goal of our ancient educational system was always to attain mental peace. If the new scientific knowledge and education grows and benefits the spiritual growth also, the country and its people can attain peace in the highest form. On the other hand, if the senses are let to wander, it will create unnecessary thoughts and desires and lead to worldly misery and sorrow.

People can attain immortality by acquiring education. Hence, the benefit of education exceeds the benefit of any other worldly objects. Education reaps and returns material profits. These material returns can be used towards dharmic activities and those will lead to knowledge of Brahman. Adi Acharya has said that a person can attain Atma gnana by following his dharma correctly, doing penance and worshipping God.

The quest for knowledge of Atman is called ‘Paravidya’ and others are called ‘Aparavidya’. Paravidya removes the ignorance and helps attain knowledge of the Atman. This University at Kashi has, in its name, the name of our Dharma ‘Hindu’ associated. It is with the blessings of the Almighty that this university is well known and shining all around the world. Every person gathered here will automatically realize the greatness and will power of Pundit Malaviya. Apart from western scientific subjects, Dharma Shastra, Tatwa gnana , Law, Sculpture, Philosophy and Smruti are also taught at this university. It is my understanding that the Astronomy taught here is from a part of the Vedas. The benefits of Dharma are not visible to the naked eye and can be obtained from learning the Vedas and Smruthi. As said by Acharya, knowledge can be obtained from the Vedas or by instinct or through experience. The subjects that are comprehensible to human eyes and brains such as astronomy, politics, and economics are also being taught here. I’m glad to know that the western approach to education is also being used to teach these subjects and will contribute to the advancement of this university. One has to be careful in combining our religious teaching methods with the western teaching methods. All things that would give pleasure easily to our senses should be removed from the teaching curriculum. If we start adopting the clothing, food, habits and speech habits of westerners, we risk losing our culture completely and also cause harm to our holy land, Bharat. If we find that there is no use in learning the modern sciences from the foreigners, we have to stop and re-think about learning them in schools. There is a trend in our country where children do not have good habits of moral behaviour and praying to God. People are attracted to western culture and inclined to follow western habits. It is evident that this is a hindrance for people to attain happiness both in this world and beyond.

It is my wish, that having come in a pious tradition, we should teach our children our culture, morality, dharma, truth, etc from an early age. I would like to remind everyone that when this University was originally founded, people were aware of Pundit Malaviya’s dharmic life and moral caliber and expected his high principles to be taught here.

It is not acceptable the way our historical methods of learning are being referred to as ‘Oriental Learning’. Our country that is in the southern part of the world is being called South Eastern country and our Shastric methods are being called Oriental ways. It is amazing that our own countrymen are mesmerized by westerners and call our Shastras – Oriental studies. Do they refer to their arts and sciences in their universities specifically as Western Studies? I am not worried about naming conventions. I am more worried that these misconceptions should not enter this traditional Hindu University. Pundit Malaviya has crossed innumerable obstacles to commence this university with the object of creating this place as the pulse of our Hindu culture and studies. My blessings to this University that it should thrive independently and conform to Manuneethi Dharma. The gist of my sermon is that everyone is this university should not divert from a spiritual frame of mind, should work together, alleviate poverty in this country and benefit the whole world.

There are many leaders in this country for political advancement of all. There is a difference of opinion between the general public and the political leaders where religious views are concerned. They consider our religious practices a hindrance for political development. Political leaders should have good character and also belief in our faith. The scholars who graduate from this University should become like Rajarishis and serve our country.

About sixty years ago, the house of a Vedic scholar also had the appearance of a university. In those days, the students did not pay teachers and the teachers did not receive money for teaching. Unlike today, all the students did not gather in one place for studies. Students would live closer to their teachers’ house. They would go and beg for their daily food from the neighbours. The kings and landlords felt it was their duty to take care of the teachers and provided for them. The teachers also felt it was their duty to impart knowledge to the students. As there was no practice of involving money in education, the teachers stayed in their villages. Every village had a teacher and the students benefited from their presence. The teachers also had the opportunity to keep an eye on the students and build their character as well as their knowledge base.

The teachers showered love and taught the students selflessly. The students reciprocated this by showing guru bhakthi, good character, patience, humility etc. aside from effective learning. As the teachers were independent and were not bound, they taught the facts as per the Shastras without having to obtain approval from anyone. In those days, people had faith in God and lived their life auspiciously and happily. Such teachers and scholars are hidden today and have to be searched for. Everybody knows the reason for this. People with money have spent it seeking western education for economic reasons and their religious faith is dwindling. It is important that the pundits and teachers at this university are independent. The students should go to villages, beg for food and lead their lives with good qualities such as humility, character and truth.

I have an idea now. This university should support teachers the way the Lords supported vidwans in those days. A Chowdhury, who is well versed in one sakha of the Vedas, at least one Darshan of the darshans and the Smruti, and his family should be taken care of throughout his life, without any monetary worries, by the prominent members of our society. Dharma, righteousness and happiness will prevail in our country just like olden times.

I would like to say a few words to the students assembled here. You have been born as human beings; after all it is a rare thing. It will not be easy to elaborate on your good fortune or your virtues. Knowledge and discernment are virtues capable of rendering life fruitful. You must strive hard for utilizing these two factors for the benefit and welfare of the country. In the olden times, the pundits did not have monetary problems, as the people acted in accordance with the dharma and protected them. In these days, different ideas crop up in the minds of the people. Our Sanatana Dharma is in a state of distress because of political changes speeding like surging floods in a river. Society too, is witnessing gradual changes. Under these circumstances, those who, after studying in this University, leaving its portals as scholars, should enter the field of politics, march onward with courage, and work for the good for our country, without detriment to our ancient Dharma. It is my desire that your learning should be intended for the welfare of the people and for simplifying the administration.

Of all virtuous qualities, righteous conduct is the topmost. This place is greatly fit for the practice of Achara(good conduct) and for upholding our Dharma. Your parents, living in different parts of our Bharatadesa have sent you here with high hopes. Every student, thus sent here, should sit in this vast mantap, situated on the bank of the holy Ganga, and perform his worship of God according to the customs prescribed for him. Thereby you must learn not to deviate from the path of Dharma and righteousness. By these virtuous acts you will attain all kinds of benefits and fame”.

Later, Pundit Malaviya, in his short concluding remarks observed, “Revered Swamiji! I am overwhelmed with joy by your words of advice to the staff and students of this University. We people of Kashi have now been fortunate in having darshan of Sankara incarnate. It is a rare good fortune that the administrators, teachers and students of this University have had darshan of your Holiness. We avow that we will earnestly act upon your advice”. He offered his namaskar on behalf of everyone to Swamiji. All were blessed and very happy to have obtained the blessings and darshan of Swamigal.

The above is an excerpt from “Pujya Sri Mahaswamy Divya Charitram” by Sri Sambamoorthi Shastrigal, Sri Kuppuswamy Iyer, “Sollin Selvan” P. N. Parasuraman – 1957

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Vijaya Yatra

The peetathipathis of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had taken upon themselves as part of their pontifical duties, traveling around, giving audience to people, giving them advice and encouraging their spiritual growth.

Our Swamigal also wanted to take on such a journey after becoming the Peetathipathi.

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