You are indeed a God!!!

I keep telling myself that i shall not go into the details of the Parliament as i presume people must have read it. But, again as i go through the book i feel Oh, i didn't know this so let me tell you people. Sure you all don't mind reading it again? Also i can't proceed without mentioning Mrs. Blodgett. Even she is there on my 'Who is the most luckiest'  list.

The Parliament of Religions opened on the morning of September 11, 1893, at the Art Institute of Chicago. For the purpose of the World's Congresses, two large halls, each of which could accommodate some 3000 people with standing room for at least a thousand more, had been temporarily constructed between the wings of the building - the Hall of Columbus on the north, and the  Hall of Washington on the south. It was in the Hall of Columbus that the delegates of the Parliament gathered on that memorable morning.

The Parliament of Religions went on for seventeen days which followed with continued speeches in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Each session was attended by a big audience which grew in size until the crowd became so great that it overflowed into the neighbouring Hall of Washington, where the entire program was repeated word for word. On the fifth day the Scientific Section of the Parliament opened and then the spectators got divide.

 Fortunately during the Parliament the days were no longer hot, the temperature was mild as it was windy and sometimes it even rained. One evening a storm blew and the rains forced many people to protect themselves with umbrellas. The roaring & pounding of rain on the roof drowned out the voices of the speakers. Not only the rains but the trains also hindered the speakers' voices as the Art Institute though was beautifully situated in a small park near Lake Michigan, it also was adjacent to the main station of the Central Illinois Railroad.

The first day was devoted to speeches of welcome from the officials and responses by the delegates. There were great orators like Archbishop of  Zante(Greek Church), Pratap Chandra Muzumdar(Brahmo Samaj), Pung Kwang Yu(Confucianism) and Dharmapala from Ceylon(Buddhism). Most of them got good cheering and also handkerchiefs and hats were waved out to them.

All through this Swamiji remained seated, meditative and prayerful, letting his turn to speak go by time and again. It was not until the afternoon session, after four other delegates had read their prepared papers, that Swamiji was urged by the kindly and scholarly French pastor G. Bonet Maury  who was seated next to him.

Swamiji, inwardly bowing down to Devi Saraswati  arose to address the Congress and, through it, the world. The electric effect on the audience of the first words Swamiji spoke is well known. We know now from various sources that as He said 'Sisters and Brothers of America'  there rose a peal of applause which lasted for several minutes. And Swamiji himself tells us that, "a deafening applause of two minutes followed".

But I love this  reference of Mrs. S. K. Blodgett, who much later became Swamiji's hostess in Los Angeles. "I was at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893," she related. "When that young man got up and said, `Sisters and Brothers of America,' seven thousand people rose to their feet as a tribute to something they knew not what. When it was over I saw scores of women walking over the benches to get near him, and I said to myself, `Well, my lad, if you can resist that onslaught you are indeed a God!"

I had met Mrs.Blodgett when i first read Tantine and was in complete awe of her. I kept saying to myself she is so lucky to have Him in her house day in and day out. In her little house she can hear Him as He sings while bathing as she cooks in the near by kitchen. after the lecture He rushes home to her to prepare new dishes and help her in cooking. I kept dreaming of these two people all the time. 

Well am still very eager to end the Parliament days and take you all to Mr. & Mrs. Leon's Home. Propbably tomorrow.

Preparations for the Parliament of Religions, nay for Him to speak.

In 1893 the 'World's Columbian Exposition' was  held in Chicago mostly to exhibit and bring together the material progress of man. The the planning was done from almost two and a half years involving innumerable letters to and from all the corners of the earth. From 20th May to 28th October 1893 in all 20 congresses were held, out of which most famed was the 'Parliament of Religions'.

This idea of holding a series of congresses was mainly of a well known lawyer Mr. Charles C. Bonney. Though the inspiration was Mr. Bonney but it was Reverend John Henry Barrows the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, the Chairman of the General Committee who actually carried out the elaborate preparations.

From 1889 more than 10,000 letters and 40,000 documents were sent out  and received. Very proudly Rev. Barrows says - "For thirty months nearly all railroads and steamship lines of the world were unconciously working for the Parliament of Religions. The post office clerks at Chicago handled great bundles of letters which had previously passed through the brown fingers of the postal clerks in Madras, Bombay and Tokyo."

The task of assembling this gathering was not easy. Not only this abundant correspondence but there were articles, lectures, sermons and editorials written either to extravagantly praise or extremely condemn the attempt to bring all the religions of the world together.

When i was first reading all this difficult process to prepare for Parliament of Religions, i was much convinced of that Superhuman Force working behind the scene to prepare everything only for SWAMIJI.

I shall not go into more details of pre-preparations as we now know that all gigantic as well every minutest tasks were meant for HIS success. Rest is for you to read. The Parliament continued till 27th September wo we are still with Him while He has already become famous. Tomorrow let's see the reactions to His speeches by people and by the newspapers.

Superhuman Force Propels 'Parliament of Religions'

On 10th September morning as Swamiji set out begging, people were alarmed looking at Him. Dark skinned and unshaven with a crumpled robe and a strange turban ....housewives turned away, servants slammed the doors on His face and some verbally insulted Him. He walked and walked for almost two and a half miles. Hungry and weary He sat down at the west side of Dearborn Street and surrendered Himself to God.

In a few moments the front door of the house opposite opened and a well dressed, dignified lady came forward and asked," Sir, are you a  delegate to the Parliament of Religions? Rest is the history...Mrs. Ellen Hale at once took Him into her house, gave him breakfast, sent for His luggage from station and attended to His every need. Later she took Him to the office of Parliament where He was awaited as Prof. Wright had already informed.

From the very beginning of His American work, we see that Swamiji was led to the Hale family and was taken care by them....this family was to become more dear to Him than any other He would know in the west.

Does whatever happened look normal? Even if a casual observer may notice that as though some superhuman force was pushing things forward. We will not be surprised to know that before leaving for America, pointing to Himself Swamiji had said to Swami Turiyananda, "The Parliament of Religions is being organised for this, my mind tells me so. You will see it verified at no distant date."

Box or Boxcar?

Swamiji reached probably on 9th Sept. because 0n 10th we find Him in the office of Mr.John H Barrows. Though i have read it umpty number of times, it still pains my heart to read about Swamiji's state on 9th and 10th morning till the door of house opened for Him. But when i was reading New Discoveries i also had a smile along with tears when Marie L Burke tells us where He might have slept.

When He reached Chicago again, He was alone and a stranger in this strange city, not knowing where to go and not able to make anyone understand where He wanted to reach. In this predicament He did the most natural thing...to follow the instincts of Sanyasin, whose heart sang - 'the sky thy roof, the grass thy bed and food by chance if you get'.... the equivalent to sky and the grassbed would be the Chicago Depot in the freightyard would have been the Boxcar or as we call the goods wagon where a shelterless American would retire. 

It's a pure misunderstanding that He slept in a huge box as written in many places. We have seen Him sleeping uncomfortably and curled up in the picture of children's books and now it is almost difficult to erase this image form our minds. As Sister Gargi says - But box or boxcar, the next morning he set out, sannyasin like, to beg his food from door to door.

So box or Boxcar our dear Swamiji slept in a wonderful house with a wonderful family the next night. I can't wait to tell you more.

Back to Chicago after 3 weeks....

During my lecture series in Sarada Math, i met many women, girls who would come and talk to me. Initially i would ask them their names and always thought  i would remember.....but....it never happened. Gradually i realised what had happened - as i was constantly reading New Discoveries, my brain was full of only Sarahs, Ellens, Johns and James etc. Just couldn't remember the Indian names. Of course now i think am back to normal but still those names seem more familiar.

Coming back to Saratoga Springs, in 'Saratogian', a local newspaper was an advertisement which said - ' the excellent Chicago train service on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad...$26.00 round trip.' According to Marie L Burke, if Swamiji had taken advantage of this then he might have reached Chicago on either Friday, 8th Sept. or Saturday, 9th September.

Before reaching Chicago again, during the 3 weeks, Swamiji had given almost 11 lectures at Boston, Salem and Saratoga Springs. He had come across the cross section of America by meeting the women at Ramabai circle, the clergy at church talks, the prison inmates, the women at club and the children. He had also received respect of some great thinkers and there wouldn't have been a better preparation for Swamiji than this.

On 30th Aug. He had written to Professor Wright inquiring about the admission to Parliament of Religions and on 2 Sept. he wrote again to thank him because Swamiji received a letter from the organizers.

Tomorrow and day after am going to visit Javhar where we had distributed solar lamps and hence won't be able to write.

So let's meet directly on 'Universal Brotherhood Day'.

Precious Possessions Only to Those....

Folks, 2 days Ganapati Bappa came to our house and hence could not travel with Swamiji. But let's try to cope up with Him.

Sometime in Spring of 1950 a Vedanta student in New York saw an advertisement in a magazine for antiques. Mrs. Prince Woods had offered for sale a trunk and a walking stick which had belonged to Swami Vivekananda. During the correspondence of that student and Mrs. Woods many facts came to light which were yet unknown.

Mrs. Kate Tannat Woods had met Swamiji at Ms. Sanborn's house and invited Him to stay in her home at 166 North Street in Salem. He left Professor's house to land in Salem on 28th August and stayed there for almost a week. Mrs. Kate Tannat Woods who was 58 years old when Swamiji met her. She was a widow for 9 years and had a son who was doing his medical. She was also a lecturer and an author like Ms. Kate Sanborn.

Swamiji intended to return to Salem and hence left His trunk, staff and some other luggage with Woods family.

He lectured in this small town...The clergy criticised him but Mrs. Woods and Prince loved Him. Swamiji did not come immediately after the Parliament but little later to Salem to say 'farewell'. Mrs. Prince Woods was by that time engaged Dr. Prince and was invited at home to meet Him. He came in a carriage of fine pair of horses and she just saw Him as He said Goodbye. 

Before leaving Salem Swamiji gave His Staff to Prince and His trunk and Blanket to Mrs. Woods saying, "Only my most precious possessions should I give to my friends who have made me at home in this great country." By this time Swamiji was already very famous and Mrs Kate Woods felt it a most gracious gesture after He became a celebrity all over the country.

Woods family cherished these possessions as mementos of a great soul and a great friend. Early in 1900 the British Museum offered some $200 to buy these but Dr. Prince Woods refused to sell them. So in 1950 all the three valuable mementos were intact and now put for sale.

Swamiji's blanket was a large and coarsely woven dark orange shawl which would be mostly worn by the wandering monks in India. His trunk was a small steamer trunk which must have surely travelled with Him halfway around the world.

Mrs. Prince Woods said - ' I had just a glimpse of Him, but have felt I knew Him from the many things I have heard of him in the Woods family. My husband spoke of Him as a real Christian Gentleman.'

So as per the schedule Swamiji has left Salem on 4th September to be at 'Saratoga Springs' where He was invited by Mr. Franklin Sanborn to speak at the American Social Science Association. 

So friends, today we are in Saratoga Springs where He has spoken to the members who were eminent and cultured men from all professions. Mr. Sanborn actually felt that he was giving the members a rare treat in form of Swamiji.

The fact that Mr. Sanborn invited this young and unknown monk to speak before such an august assembly was itself a proof that he highly valued Swamiji's intelligence like Professor Wright.

Tomorrow let's peep into the newspapers of Salem and Saratoga Springs to see what they had to say about our dear Swamiji.

Today is Teacher's day and my mother is my first teacher. Happy Teacher's Day...