Continued from Part -I

Shri Raha babu informed me that he had seen Ijyananda Ji himself going out walking with an umbrella in the scorching sun to get a mistri or skilled labourer for the construction. Deka khura told me that the present junior Vice-President Maharaj, Srimat Swami Prameyananda Ji, who had served Vireswarananda Ji for long 20 years and who had bestowed diksha or spiritual initiation to over 100 aspirants today itself, was a very loving soul, and that the love of these sadhus overwhelms one’s heart. On 13th June, 2009 I had bowed to Prameyananda Ji at the Ashrama and handed over to him my documentation about Ijyananda Ji. Accepting it he had remarked about Ijyananda Ji, “A very inspiring monk.” More than once Deka khura told me heartily, “I am so glad to see you. My heart is blooming. I am so happy to see you.” Before parting Deka khura asked me my name telling me that he had forgotten. When I told, he said, “A very beautiful name.” And further, “If you join Ankur and Acharya, it becomes Ankuracharya!” As he departed I noticed him bow with devotion before Sri Ramakrishna’s temple which it being afternoon was closed at that time. All in all Deka khura’s actions, speech and behaviour reminded me of the great householder disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, great in their self-effacement and devotion to the Lord.

o. Sadhan da told me one day after Ijyananda Ji’s death and some months before his own death, “I hadn’t told you this before. But I tell you today. Ijyananda Ji had before his death told me regarding you, ‘The boy is good. Chhele tu besh. But he will not be a monk. There are some hindrances. However, wherever he stays and in whichever circumstances, he will remain with the thought-current or bhava-dhara of Sri Ramakrishna.’”

p. In October 1994, Vandanananda Ji, another disciple of Vijnanananda Ji, visited Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati. Perhaps for the first time my parents, cousin aunt Runmee and brother Ayusman visited the Mission, to hear his speech. My college friend Mridul also came along with some of his family members. Vandanananda Ji gave a wonderful strong speech during which he said so touchingly that I remember it even today, “All this is His leela.” A Muslim devotee on the dias referring to the Swami remarked, “There are some Lions among men waiting to pounce upon society...” Vandanananda Ji humbly acknowledged the compliment. Then an elderly devotee of the Mission, whom we refer to as Deka uncle (Sjt. Monmoth Deka), paid a devotional heart-felt tribute to Ijyananda Ji during which Ijyananda Ji first forbade him to speak further, then left the dias for some time. Ijyananda Ji Maharaj disliked praise, even if genuine. After the speech was over, Ijyananda Ji said in his strong loud voice, “Boys and girls, take a copy of the book (some book was being distributed among the audience for free).” For Ijyananda Ji, all were boys and girls, even my parents! Presently Vandanananda Ji came down. I, then Mridul went and bowed to him. Mridul complained, “He did not say anything.” At this I told him to go and bow again! As Mridul went and bowed, I saw Vandanananda Ji looking at me with a kind expression on his face. I cherish that memory. I came to know later at Advaita Ashram, Kolkata, that Vandanananda Ji was one of the few living realized souls of the Holy Order at that time. Vandanananda Ji passed away in 2007. About that time, I was glancing through a recently brought out voluminous account of the development of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. My gaze was attracted towards the smiling face of a Swami. I kept looking for some time. It was Vandanananda Ji. Later, at night, while engaged in my duties as a sub-editor in The Shillong Times, Shillong, I was attracted to open the news slug titled monk. It carried the news of Vandanananda Ji’s passing away and a brief profile!

q. Some time after the above visit of Vandanananda Ji Maharaj, a young devotee urged me to visit Belur Math as delegate for the concluding sessions of the year-long centenary celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address. Hearing him, Ijyananda Ji in his firm voice told me, “You must go. It will be an experience.” I and my friend Mridul enrolled our names. Then I sought Ijyananda Ji’s blessings so that we both may have our diksha or spiritual initiation from Revered President Maharaj Swami Bhuteshananda Ji during the visit. We had been corresponding with Revered President Maharaj since Atmasthananda Ji prodded me in that direction when I met him in New Delhi in early 1994. Ijyananda Ji said it was most improbable, indeed next to impossible. President Maharaj was a 93-year old man who had recently had a pacemaker fixed, and he would be busy during the celebrations. When I think I insisted, Ijyananda Ji said, “Pray to Thakur.” I replied, “Ok, Sir.” (I think I used to call him Sir during the whole of our association and never Maharaj, just as I used to address other senior monks. Always as Sir. That came naturally to me). Ijyananda Ji nodded and bowed down his head. We had our diksha during that visit itself! Our diksha took place on Tuesday, 22nd November, 1994 at the President Maharaj’s Quarters at Belur Math.

Ijyananda Ji was very pleased to learn that afterwards, and said he wanted very much to hear all about it from me. However, that occasion did not come about.

r. That was the habit of Ijyananda Ji. Whenever anyone came and offered pranam to him, he would give all attention to the person and with folded hands bow down his head in, I think, silent prayer for that person. My friend Rakesh, who had his diksha from Revered Gahanananda Ji Maharaj in 1995, accidentally bumped his head against Ijyananda Ji’s feet or leg as he got up after offering pranam on his very first visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati. As he told me afterwards, he lost the normal sense and was as if transported to another world. He did not hear a single word of the conversation that was taking place. He was in bliss! This incident changed my friend’s outlook on sadhus forever. He earlier did not have a good opinion about sadhus. Not long after this incident he had his diksha also and a wonderful experience the day after, when Thakur Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Ma Sarada came to him in dream and woke him up urging him to do japa. He also dreamt of the Divine Mother Kali, his family Ista-devi, which left him shaken positively, so vivid was the experience.

s. I heard Ijyananda Ji remarking once, “The whole of the North-east is as if sitting on top of a volcano! It is only Mother Kamakhya’s grace which is preserving it intact.” Another devotee (Shri Sudip Raha Babu) recently told me that when he was once passing through a trying period of his life, Ijyananda Ji asked him to go visit Ma Kamakhya at Neelachal Hill, Guwahati, telling him he will get re-vitalised thus. He also told him to visit Kamakhya whenever he felt sorely troubled in life. Raha Babu also remarked before me that Ijyananda Ji Maharaj was a powerful personality possessing Divine power.

t. Once as I sought to go meet Ijyananda ji, some evil thought assailed my mind. Immediately, for no apparent rhyme and reason, a Brahmachari Maharaj came and forbade me to approach Ijyananda Ji. I disobeyed him and went forward, but, again for no rhyme and reason, I was assailed by a strong unknown fear in my heart. I then desisted from advancing further. In this way, through both positive and negative incidents, the power that was Ijyananda Ji came to be imprinted on my mind and heart. That did not lessen in any way my accessibility or freeness with him. But it was a freedom tempered with genuine regard and respect.

u. In late 1995, Lokeswarananda Ji, then the Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture (RKMIC), Gol Park, Kolkata, visited Guwahati. I had had his first darshan at Belur Math in November, 1994, was impressed by what I saw and heard, and bowed to him at RKMIC, Gol Park when we (Mridul and myself) went, at the suggestion of Subhashri Bhowmik aunty, to have the darshan of Holy Mother Sarada Devi’s disciple who lay in coma there. I remember Lokeswarananda Ji looking at me for some time smilingly during that occasion without saying anything. So, when he came to Guwahati Ashrama, I went to have the darshan of this disciple of Mahapurush Maharaj Swami Shivananda Ji (another disciple of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna and the 2nd President of the Holy Order). It was a bit late in the evening. Lokeswarananda Ji was resting in the room provided to him. Guwahati Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama’s then Assistant Secretary Sanjay Maharaj took me to Lokeswarananda Ji’s room. I bowed and sat down near his feet. Learning that I was a History student, he began narrating about his recent visit to Russia and his discussion with Russian scholars about the Aryan invasion theory of India. After some time, I bowed in parting and offered him a packet of sweets I had brought for him. Accepting it, he asked my name. I said, “Ankur.” “Ankur,” he repeated and seemed startled (as Atmasthananda Ji seemed to be when I revealed to him my name during a talk with him in New Delhi in early 1994. Atmasthananda Ji had afterwards remarked, “Ankur, a nice name.”). Then he said to me with a firm and kind voice, “Whenever you come to Calcutta, you must visit me. Ask these people (referring to Respected Sanjay Maharaj who was standing near the door) for my address.” I got the opportunity to visit him as a pre-probationer in Advaita Ashrama in early 1998. Aurobindo Maharaj (Swami Bodhasarananda Ji) had taken me with him to RKMIC, Gol Park to attend some lecture. We went to have the darshan of Lokeswarananda Ji who was not keeping well and whom Aurobindo Maharaj admired very much remarking about his large heart more than once. Lokeswarananda Ji was sitting in a chair. As I stood nearby, I remembered Mala, (Shri NS Chakravarthy uncle’s younger daughter who is now settled in the U.S.A with her husband and children), and Vijayeta (daughter of Shri Vishwas Lapalkar and Sujata Lapalkar of Vivekananda Kendra, both disciples of Pujaniya Gahanananda Ji Maharaj). I started taking Mala’s name mentally, just as one does japa of God’s name! Immediately, for the second time in my life, I felt the ‘spiritual wind’ enveloping me. I felt good. Suddenly, I remembered Chumli or Samikhya, my beloved first cousin. And I felt angry with her. Immediately, the spiritual wind ceased, the light over Lokeswarananda Ji was removed and he turned his head away. He passed away at the end of that year. Over time, I felt my mistake with regard to my attitude towards this bhakta first cousin of mine. My anger towards her was actually the outcome of my faulty and wrong attitude. Indeed as Samikhya’s mother says, Samikhya is somewhat different; not only intelligent, but also a woman of strict principles, hating falsehood and lies.

Anyway, to return to that day in October, 1995, I went then to offer my pranam to Ijyananda Ji. He asked me to go and have the darshan of Lokeswarananda Ji. When I told him that I had had his darshan already, Ijyananda Ji was visibly pleased and nodding bowed down his head. Instead of leaving, I asked him about a vision that my friend had the last night. A householder devotee was sitting in front of Ijyananda Ji. Ijyananda Ji strongly condemned such visions, said it was the result of a weak brain, and asked me to read Raja Yoga of Swami Vivekananda to get my ideas clarified. At the end of his short speech, he however remarked in a soft voice that if anyone really had vision of any deity, his life would be changed forever for the better. Much later, it was this friend who had had the vision, viz., Shri Khanindra Mozumder (Fhanindra), whose company Ijyananda Ji asked me to cultivate telling me that he was a devotee.

v. When I went to Kolkata in November 1996 and was staying in Chumli’s house, my parents approached Ijyananda Ji in Guwahati. I had made an abortive attempt to join Advaita Ashrama taking the cue from Chumli, who had suddenly begun to dance while saying to herself, “Now I will become spirit and cut off all attachment!”, and thence being led forward by the ‘spiritual wind’; and I was unwilling to ever go back to Guwahati! So, parents requested Ijyananda Ji to ask me to come back. He sent a sealed letter in their hands, which I have preserved till date being in his own handwriting. And I went back that time. After reaching Guwahati, I went with parents to have darshan of Ijyananda Ji. As we entered the room where he was sitting, Ijyananda Ji without any preface of greetings, etc., immediately started speaking about some thoughts that had crossed my mind as I had left home for the ashrama! He spoke about the traditional farmer and farming. And he also spat on the floor and said, “Will you take back your spit,” etc. Ijyananda Ji had the habit of talking on that very topic that you may be thinking of at that particular moment, even though you do not say anything verbally. Sri Khanindra also remarked about this quality of Ijyananda Ji. Ijyananda Ji also caught the thought-waves of a person though he be at a distance, something which I experienced personally. Perhaps his pure mind dwelling in God consciousness caught our thoughts. Anyway, Ijyananda Ji also advised me to stick to the present, to regard parents first, instead of holding on to the past, when I showed him the photo of late paternal grandfather, a saintly soul. Ijyananda Ji more than once told me to bow before parents early morning every day, telling me to first bow before parents instead of bowing before sadhus meaning himself. Once I had a verbal altercation with father and then went to the Ashrama. The moment I bowed before Ijyananda Ji, he inquired, “Is your father well?” I think he repeated this query. I did not have the courage to tell him the truth, but after leaving his room, I had second thoughts and re-entering confessed before him. At this he advised me to apologize to father and make it up with him... To return back to that day, I also showed him the copy of the long letter of rare blessings that Swami Bhuteshananda Ji wrote to Uncle Prakash, Chumli’s father not many days ago, which letter he had ended with the significant words, “With my renewed love and blessings.” I had then remembered Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s saying, “All illumined ones are one in essence,” or Ranganathananda Ji quoting Sri Ramakrishna with regard to saints and sages, “All jackals howl alike!” For Bhuteshananda Ji did not know Uncle. I had sent a card to him writing Uncle’s name and the response was overwhelming and surprising, more so the last line. It had so happened that Uncle had received in his college days the blessings of the Mother of Aurobindo Ashrama. Perhaps the same Divine entity, force, Shakti is expressing as Mother and as Bhuteshananda Ji and as other sages and saints of God. During that visit to Ijyananda Ji with parents, Ijyananda Ji had apparently referring to someone known to me remarked, “Is he sane?” I didn’t understand who he was referring to. I still don’t.

w. After Ijyananda Ji’s passing away, I heard about an incident from a reliable source. An old Bengali widow used to live near the Ashrama. She had completed her duties in life, and used to visit the Ramakrishna temple daily to attend the evening vesper service (aarati). One day, it so happened that as she sought to leave the temple, heavy rain began to fall. Having had no umbrella with her, she decided to brave the rain. As she neared the gate of the Ashrama, an old gentleman came with an umbrella and offered to escort her home. When she inquired about his identity, the old man said, “I am Jagadish. I live in the ashrama,” and he escorted her to her doorsteps. Due to the darkness, the old woman failed to see his face. Next morning, the old woman hurried to the ashrama and was all praises before Ijyananda Ji for the Ashrama inmate who had helped her in her hour of need. Ijyananda Ji however said, “There is no person called Jagadish in this Ashrama, nor has there been before!” Then reflecting for a moment, he remarked significantly, “JAGADISH (the Lord or Beloved of the Universe – God) Himself had escorted you home last night.” Sanjay Maharaj is perhaps the only living witness to this incident.

I wrote to Swami Brahmadevananda Ji or Sadhu Maharaj of Shillong about this incident. Overwhelmed, he blessed me and asked me to write to Prabuddha Bharata about it. Reluctant at first, I did write, but got no reply. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan later published the incident in their journal, “Bhavan’s Journal”, though they misspelled Ijyananda Ji’s name. I met the person (Shri Sanjiv Saha) who told me about this incident just the other day, and he told me that when he was in school and the Ashrama at Birubari was being built, Ijyananda Ji would sometimes scold them as they loitered in the Ashrama grounds. Later, as he grew up, he and other friends developed great regard for Ijyananda Ji realizing his greatness and holiness. He further told me that still people speak of Ijyananda Ji’s power and that he was unique and that though other sadhus have come in his place, they aren’t able to fit in his shoes.

x. When once Gahanananda Ji, Virajananda Ji’s disciple and then the Vice-President of the Holy Order, visited Guwahati Ashrama, Ijyananda Ji introduced me to him. Gahanananda Ji Maharaj by a gesture of his hand asked me to build up my health and twice said, “Be Straight, Be Straight!” I remember the humourous yet kind expression on his face as I write this. Then I was watching him from a distance when a force, like a powerful hand, forced my head down to bow before him. I became aware of the Shakti or power behind Pujaniya Gahanananda Ji Maharaj. I still remember the incident well. Later, as they walked by, Ijyananda Ji remained with folded hands before Gahanananda Ji while conversing with him. I wondered why, when in my estimation Ijyananda Ji was equal if not greater than Gahanananda Ji besides being senior. I later on understood even as a wrong and foolish feeling about Gahanananda Ji brought about by my ego was mysteriously removed from my mind on the day (as I learnt later) he was admitted to hospital for the last time, and I felt my heart open to his love and grace. At the same time that Gahanananda Ji was walking by, I was eating the prasada in which spices had been added. Feeling the hotness of the spices, I like a mad person blamed Pujaniya Gahanananda Ji for my suffering and felt angry with him! I may mention here that after this incident I learnt over time to tolerate spices to some extent.

y. Sadhan da, so beloved to Ijyananda Ji, who passed away very soon after Ijyananda Ji passed away, especially after the present authorities of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati, prevented him from continuing in his duties at the book sales counter on some pretext or the other, was once talking to me. He said, “See, you are a human being, so am I, so was Ijyananda Ji. Yet, why were people so attracted towards him and not towards us. There is a reason. I will tell you about an incident. Once a Professor of Gauhati University, who had lost his only son, came heart-broken to Ijyananda Ji. After only a few visits, the Professor was smiling and even able to console other members of his family. He had gained a philosophy of life....” Further, Sadhan da told me that Ijyananda Ji was an extremely good judge of human character and could unerringly know who is actually who. He was also a great authority on the Upanishads. It was on this occasion that Sadhan da told me what Ijyananda Ji had told him about me just before his passing away. I still feel consoled and encouraged whenever I remember what Ijyananda Ji told me, and Sadhan da about me. Sadhan da also revealed something about his own sadhana on that occasion telling me among other things that he was able to recollect Thakur-Ma at any moment and his japa went on all the time. Sadhan da, who was initiated by Pujaniya Vireswarananda Ji Maharaj, was himself an evolved soul who spoke less and did good works and sadhana more. Knowing this perhaps, Ijyananda Ji kept unmarried Sadhan da with him and confided in him. Sri Khanindra with his intuitive instinct recognized Sadhan da for what he was and was all praises for him before me.

z. Only once did I hear the weekly lecture of Swami Ijyananda Ji. I remember especially the Swami telling on that occasion, “Overcome laziness to get rid of the ego.” Also, I remember he spoke about Totapuri and Sri Ramakrishna’s Advaita Sadhana. What he spoke was perhaps not that important as how he spoke it. He seemed immersed in the thought of what he spoke about. There was such sweetness and intimacy when he recounted how Sri Ramakrishna went to the Kali temple at Dakshineswar and asked Mother Kali, “Ma, a naked person has come. He wants me to undergo Advaita Sadhana.” His expression still rings in my heart. Also, he spoke something about not speaking for an audience but for God and not minding even if not a single person be present!

27. I knew Ijyananda Ji had built up the present Guwahati Ashrama under adverse circumstances, going by truck himself to far off Pattharkuwari in Guwahati to bring stones for the construction. I also knew and witnessed his great love for roses especially. Even while I was at Advaita Ashrama in 1997-98, I heard that Ijyananda Ji had placed an order for more varieties of roses. Indeed Sri Khanindra remarked on a recent visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama at Birubari, Guwahati, “It is as if Ijyananda Ji’s spirit lives on among and is smiling through the many-coloured rose blossoms here!” Sri Khanindra even in his very first darshan of Ijyananda Ji remarked to me, “This sadhu is immersed upto his neck in dharma.” Further, when Gahanananda Ji once came to the Guwahati Ashrama to bestow diksha and Sri Khanindra and I were sitting and waiting to make pranam to him, Sri Khanindra noticed Ijyananda Ji and asked me, “Why does not Ijyananda Ji give diksha.” In Sri Khanindra’s understanding, Ijyananda Ji was a siddha purusha. After his passing away, whenever we two visited the Guwahati Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sri Khanindra acutely feeling Ijyananda Ji’s absence used to say, “It is as if the Ashrama has lost its lustre. When Ijyananda Ji and Dhananjaya Maharaj (Swami Viragananda Ji) were here, there was as if a glow about the ashrama and the feel of being here was different.”

28. While I was staying in Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, Ijyananda Ji once visited the Ashrama. He had a soft corner for the Advaita Ashrama, and also for Gokulananda Ji, then the Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, who however, disliked Advaita Ashrama (or so I was told). On that occasion, Aurobindo Maharaj (Swami Bodhasarananda Ji) told me, “See, even at this age (Ijyananda Ji was about 85 years old then), Dhrubajyoti Maharaj (pronounced in Bengali something like Dhurjati) or Ijyananda Ji washes his own clothes. He just will not allow anyone else to do his job.” After Ijyananda Ji’s passing away, I heard from the then Assistant Secretary of Guwahati Ramakrishna Mission, Kamalesh Maharaj, who is now in the Singapore Ramakrishna Mission, that Ijyananda Ji had not only finished all his pending jobs as Secretary of the Guwahati Ashrama but even did something in advance before he departed, so that after his passing away his successor would not be inconvenienced. Anyway, during that visit to Advaita Ashrama, Ijyananda Ji sat with us inmates of the Ashrama after dinner. One of the monastics asked him what his Guru and Sri Ramakrishna’s direct disciple Peson Maharaj or Vijnanananda Ji had told him. I don’t remember whether he replied, but I remember his speaking in an agitated voice about the atrocities being perpetrated against women. The Calcutta newspapers had carried an item of a woman being paraded naked in the streets of Calcutta to which Ijyananda Ji referred. I had heard, myself or perhaps from Sadhan da that Ijyananda Ji used to be agitated when the image of Goddess Kali was left on the roadsides to decay gradually. He loved the Divine Mother (whom he worshipped in Her incarnation as Sarada Devi) very much. Anyway, when I first offered pranam during that visit of his, he inquired, “Your mind is now decided.” I replied, “Yes, Maharaj.” Then he nodded his head and said, “Be Happy.” One spontaneously felt regard and reverence for this monk of the old order, whose inner power, shakti, was, according to Sri Khanindra, Lord Shiva, just as the Holy Spirit moving Swami Bhuteshananda and Swami Ranganathananda was Mother Kali. Indeed, we used to together walk long distances sometimes to go to the Guwahati Ashrama just to see Ijyananda Ji and maybe exchange a few words with him. Once I was able to do so, for a week at least my mind was happy and elevated.

To be continued

Location: Guwahati, Assam, India