Saraswati and Swamiji
Padmanath Saraswati of generation 13 ( 1868 – 1938 ) in this family tree and Swami Vivekananda ( 1863 – 1902) were contemporary . In the ye
ar 1900 ( a day before bishubasankranti in 1307, Bengali calender) Swami Vivekananda went to vi
sit Kamaksha temple in Guwahati on his way to Shillong ; he again touched Guwahati on his way back to Kolkata. He was accompanied by many persons ; possibly his mother also came with him. Local people raised subscription to support their travel and stay . At Guwahati they stayed in a big bungalow.
Padmanath was then working in the Census office in Guwahati . He and one of his associates went to see Vivekananda at the bungalow. He had not seen Swamiji earlier. There he ran into a person of fair complexion , with large eyes , clad in saffron dhoti and genji and seated on a stool in the verandah.
Padmanth, – “ I have come to see Swamiji”.
The man replied - “ well, tell me what you want to discuss”
Padmanath realized that he was speaking to none other than Swamiji…now he could identify the big shining eyes, very charming radiant angel face that he saw in photographs. Padmanath noticed a prominent cut mark on his forehead ( not found in any of his photographs). There is a mention of this cut mark in Swamiji’s biography composed by Sri Pramatha Nath Basu ( page 28).
His friend gave a brief introduction of Padmanath and his contribution to literature, education, history and society in Assam. Among others, they discussed architecture in ancient India, sacred thread of Brahmins, etc ( details omitted here) and decided to meet again at Vasishisthashram ( Guwahati) next day (bishubasankranti).
But for some reasons Swamiji could not go to Bashistashram next day and the meeting was cancelled.
However, on Swamiji’s way back from Shillong , he met Swamiji again - this time in a room in a tranquil atmosphere. Swamiji was so charming and amiable! Padmanath was pained to find him suffering from asthma like breathlessness ( shwaskastha ).
Padmanath - “ Swamiji, your guru Shrishri Ramkrishna obtained charam siddhi by worshipping idols. Then, why in your Chicago speech you said, ..’from high soaring flights of Vedanta philosophy to vulgar ideal of idolatry!’ Is idolatry vulgar ?”
- Swamiji , “Did I really say ‘vulgar’ ?”
- Padmanath , “ That’ s what I remember “
- Swamiji, “ Then, Vulgus = people , Vulgar means ‘popular’ . That’s what I meant”
…..Padmanath adds in the footnote of this writing that …. afterwards , when the speech was published , the sentence appeared as .. ..” from the high spiritual flights of Vedantic Philosophy ….. to the low ideas of idolatry.”
….excerpts from Padmanath Saraswati's writings in Journal “sahitya”( 1920 – 23, Bengali 1327-29) which were reprinted in the form of a book “ Ramkrishna Vivekananda Prasanga “, 45 No. House Katra, Kasidham,Laksmipurnima, Shakabda- 1846. These writings were translated in Hindi and also published in Journal- ‘Maryada’
ar 1900 ( a day before bishubasankranti in 1307, Bengali calender) Swami Vivekananda went to vi
sit Kamaksha temple in Guwahati on his way to Shillong ; he again touched Guwahati on his way back to Kolkata. He was accompanied by many persons ; possibly his mother also came with him. Local people raised subscription to support their travel and stay . At Guwahati they stayed in a big bungalow.Padmanath was then working in the Census office in Guwahati . He and one of his associates went to see Vivekananda at the bungalow. He had not seen Swamiji earlier. There he ran into a person of fair complexion , with large eyes , clad in saffron dhoti and genji and seated on a stool in the verandah.
Padmanth, – “ I have come to see Swamiji”.
The man replied - “ well, tell me what you want to discuss”
Padmanath realized that he was speaking to none other than Swamiji…now he could identify the big shining eyes, very charming radiant angel face that he saw in photographs. Padmanath noticed a prominent cut mark on his forehead ( not found in any of his photographs). There is a mention of this cut mark in Swamiji’s biography composed by Sri Pramatha Nath Basu ( page 28).
His friend gave a brief introduction of Padmanath and his contribution to literature, education, history and society in Assam. Among others, they discussed architecture in ancient India, sacred thread of Brahmins, etc ( details omitted here) and decided to meet again at Vasishisthashram ( Guwahati) next day (bishubasankranti).
But for some reasons Swamiji could not go to Bashistashram next day and the meeting was cancelled.
However, on Swamiji’s way back from Shillong , he met Swamiji again - this time in a room in a tranquil atmosphere. Swamiji was so charming and amiable! Padmanath was pained to find him suffering from asthma like breathlessness ( shwaskastha ).
Padmanath - “ Swamiji, your guru Shrishri Ramkrishna obtained charam siddhi by worshipping idols. Then, why in your Chicago speech you said, ..’from high soaring flights of Vedanta philosophy to vulgar ideal of idolatry!’ Is idolatry vulgar ?”
- Swamiji , “Did I really say ‘vulgar’ ?”
- Padmanath , “ That’ s what I remember “
- Swamiji, “ Then, Vulgus = people , Vulgar means ‘popular’ . That’s what I meant”
…..Padmanath adds in the footnote of this writing that …. afterwards , when the speech was published , the sentence appeared as .. ..” from the high spiritual flights of Vedantic Philosophy ….. to the low ideas of idolatry.”
….excerpts from Padmanath Saraswati's writings in Journal “sahitya”( 1920 – 23, Bengali 1327-29) which were reprinted in the form of a book “ Ramkrishna Vivekananda Prasanga “, 45 No. House Katra, Kasidham,Laksmipurnima, Shakabda- 1846. These writings were translated in Hindi and also published in Journal- ‘Maryada’
