He delivered several sermons at gatherings. His discourses proved a great success. He encouraged the audience to chant ‘Om’ and feel the sublime joy it spiritually generated.
It enthralled the gathering and the faces of the people reflected tranquility and peace.
The people realised that they were getting the benefit of the knowledge of a spiritual messiah. Several people claimed that they were feeling reborn. Without doubt he had come back a much improved and the enlightened spiritualist. He was no more spiritual explorer Tirthram but Swami Ramtirtha—the accomplished spiritualist.
More and more people were now flocking to him seeking guidance and to benefit from his sublime wisdom.
Ramtirtha held his next congregation at the bank of Yamuna. Thousands of people turned up to listen to him. He used to talk from the spiritual depths of his heart which made his sermons enchanting. Whenever he recounted the glory of Krishna he could make the listeners hear in his words the sweet melody of Krishna’s flute. His speech would become a stream of spiritual joy in which every soul could take a dip to get cleansed of the physical and mundane considerations.
A religious organisation called “Sadharan Dharma Sabha” wanted to organise its annual session for which it wanted Swami Ramtirtha to preside over. He accepted the request and reached Faizabad where the session was being held.
The session was open to all religions. Any religion could send its representative to reveal the sublime features and the greatness of its thoughts and philosophy.
One of the speakers was Maulvi Murtaza Ali. He passed on some unfavourable remarks against Hinduism in his speech. He referred to the negative points. Next day Swami Ramtirtha spoke. He presented Hinduism as an all encompassing philosophy which did not dwell upon the negative points of others. He proved that Hinduism preached brotherhood of man and respected all religions in the firm belief that every religion had some positives and good points to teach. To support his view he extensively quoted from Koran and Bible besides Hindu scriptures to prove that all religions were based on the fundamental values of love, peace and compassion.
Maulvi also heard his speech with rapt attention. His antagonism to Hinduism was being cleansed by the speech. Tears rolled down his cheeks in penance.
After the speech ended Maulvi Murtaza Ali went to Swamiji and spoke with folded hands, “Swamiji, please forgive me for my uncharitable words of my speech. I never knew that you were so great. You are indeed a scholar and the man of God, Allah or Bhagwan. Now I know how mistaken I was. You opened my eyes. Your tongue has the power of Allah.”
After conclusion of the Faizabad session Swamiji reached Lucknow and initiated his disciple Narayana into monkhood and told him, “Now you are an ascetic. You must tread lands and preach Dharma.”
Narayana protested, “Don’t say that, Swamiji please. I can’t stay away from you. I still have to learn a lot from you.”
Swamiji shook his head, “Narayana, you have learned enough. The rest you will learn in the course of your own mission of spreading the Dharma. You look attached to me. A monk is free of all attachments. Go and roam the wild world.”
Narayana was inconsolable. He begged, “Don’t ask me to go away. The separation from you will be intolerable for me. I want to stay at your feet and serve you. For me you are the symbol of God. How can I distance from my God. I will feel lost.”
Swamiji asked, “What have you learnt so far by living with me?”
“I learnt to serve you, Swamiji,” was Narayana’s reply. He looked confused.
“You may consider me a great soul, symbol of God and whatever. But the fact is that I am as ordinary mortal as you are. I am nothing compared to almighty God. There is nothing more noble deed than serving him. You must serve his cause instead of Ramtirtha. Serve me if you want to and stay trapped in worldly attachments. But I will advise you to liberate yourself from all the bonds and serve God.”
‘‘You are my dear disciple, Narayana. I know that. But your attachment to me is the roadblock in your own spiritual progress. I want you to make progress and reach God. We can love each other but not at the cost of love to God. God must be our prime goal. If we ascetics get trapped in bonds with one another then what is the difference between the common folk and us? Beam yourself into God. When we come together we feel happy. We must learn to be happy in separation as well. I can only think of your good because you have been my faithful disciple. So, I see my progress in your spiritual progress. That is how I see it.’’
Narayana now realised that Ramtirtha was not spurning him or getting rid of him. He was sending him away for the benefit of a loved disciple. In the act he was making sacrifice on his own part.
Narayana bowed to the greatness of his guru.
He had been accompanying Swamiji derelicting his own job, family and the friends. It never had bothered him. But the very prospect of leaving the company of guru had saddened him. Now he understood why he was sending him away. He wanted his disciple to grow unshadowed and undominated into an entity of his own.
Swamiji sent Narayana to Sindh for the propagation of Dharma.
After that he held several discourses. Then heard the hills and the snow calling him back for a refresher spiritual course of a new experience.
He want back to Tehri in 1902 during the summer. The heat of the plains was never conducive for spiritual exercises because spiritualism is cool affair. There is nothing hot about it. That is why all the sages and saints took refuge in the cool of Himalayas and gave birth to cool Hindu philosophy while the plains generated hot battles. He stayed in the hills to recharge his spiritual batteries.
Swamiji was living in the ruins of Kauriachatti near Tehri. The ruins were part of a nearby fort. His presence there could not remain a secret for long. The spiritual fragrance emanating from him was a give away.
Someone saw him there. A little interaction revealed his spiritual greatness. He spoke to others about the presence of a mysterious spiritualist in the ruins. The others came to see him and in time his true identity was known to all. Soon, streams of devotees could be seen making bee lines to the ruins.
Tehri Raja’s palace was situated nearby. The crowds going to the ruins aroused the curiosity of the palace inmates. It was not long before that the Raja learnt about the presence of Ramtirtha in the ruins. He invited Swamiji to his palace.
Swamiji was seated on a high chair of honour and Raja sat infront of him. Raja was a western educated man. He didn’t believe in God and the spiritual stuff. Infact, he saw Hindu religion in a very poor light. So, he was very confused person due to being born in the religion he had no faith in and he could do nothing about it. Converting to another religion appeared absurd to him.
The serene face of Swami Ramtirtha gave him some hope that he might drive away his confusions.
Raja put forward his doubts about the soundness of the Hindu philosophy and religious beliefs. All the important courtiers were also present there.
Swami Ramtirtha explained Hindu philosophy in detail and drove away the confusion from Raja’s mind. His questions were answered to his entire satisfaction.
Infact, all the evils Hindu society suffered from were the creations of professional Brahmin priests who were misinterpreting the scriptures to their own benefit. And in that process they had turned Hinduism into breeding ground of the plethora of blind faiths, rituals and evil customs that enabled them to fleece the masses. The sublime philosophy of Hinduism had got buried under a heap of evil practices born thus.
Swami Ramtirtha revealed the true soul of Hinduism that showed a lofty spiritual path of the divine domain of God.
The revelation gave the king great satisfaction. He beamed. Now he was no more ashamed of being a Hindu. The inferiority complex that the king suffered all his life due to confusion was gone in only one sitting with Swami Ramtirtha.
The Raja formally became a disciple of Swamiji who had given him back his self-respect and the confidence. Now he was proud of his origin. One day, Raja arrived to meet Swamiji. He had some news for Swamiji.
He spoke, “Swamiji, an all religion conference is being held in Japan. I wish that you take part in it as the representative of Hindu religion. No one can explain our philosophy as good as you can. Our religion needs to be re-explained to the world to present it in the light it deserves. Our religion is a victim of misconception on the international stage. If you agree to represent us we shall make all the necessary arrangements.”
Swami thought for a while before replying, “No Raja Saheb. I can’t go to Japan. I must go to Himalayas for spiritual hibernation.”
Raja was dismayed. So were others who had come to rever him greatly. His own followers were very disappointed. They all felt that it was a divine opportunity to spread the sublime message of true Hindu philosophy in the world. So, Swamiji was urged to reconsider the matter.
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