A lesson for life :
"Once when I was in Varanasi, I was passing through a place where there was a large tank of water on one side and high wall on the other. It was in the grounds where there were many monkeys. The monkeys of Varanasi are huge brutes and sometimes surly. They now took it into their heads not to allow me to pass through their street, so they howled and shrieked and clutched at my feet as I passed. As they pressed closer, I began to run, but the faster I ran, the faster came the monkeys, and they began to bite at me. It seemed impossible to escape, but just then I met a stranger who called to me, 'Face the brutes?'. I turned and faced the monkeys, and they fell back and finally fled. That is the lesson for all life – face the terrible, face it boldly"
Visit of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
It is said that Swami Vivekananda's grandfather renounced the world and stayed as an ascetic in Varanasi. Years later, grandmother Shymasundari Devi on her visit to Varanasi with her son Vishwanath Dutta (Swamiji's father) as a small boy accidentally met Durgaprasad momentarily. Later, Swami Vivekananda's mother Bhubaneswari Devi in her longing for a son (after the untimely death of first two children and birth of three daughters subsequently) had requested a lady she knew to regularly pray and worship in her name at the temple of Vireshwar in Varanasi. No doubt, Swami Vivekananda was born on a Monday - the day of Lord Shiva.
Sri Pramada Das Mitra
After Sri Ramakrishna's passing away, Swami Vivekananda left Calcutta and came to Varanasi during his journeys as a wandering monk and stayed as a guest of the eminent citizen of Kashi Sri Pramada Das Mitra.
Near the Durga Kunda (tank) from Sankat Mochan, occurred the famous incident of him being chased by a group of monkeys when an old monk called out to him "Don't be afraid! Face the brutes". Doing as advised, the monkeys retreated hastily, revealing to him a life-long lesson.
The Durga Temple & Kunda
Swami Vivekananda came to Varanasi for the last time in 1902 after his triumph at Chicago, establishment of Ramakrishna Mission and whirlwind tour of the world and stayed for about three weeks at "Sandhyabas", the garden house of zamindar Kali Krishna Tagore of Calcutta, also known as "Gopal Lal Villa" located at Orderly Bazar. During his stay, he immensely inspired the young men who had in the meantime begun an association and were serving the poor and destitute patients of the city. He even drafted an appeal for the work and under his influence, the effort was brought under the umbrella of the Ramakrishna Order and came to be known as the "Home of Service".
remains of Gopal Lal Villa
With a gift of Rs.500/- donated by the Raja of Bhinga who was immensely impressed bby Swamiji, Swami Shivananda was asked to open a monastery in the name of Sri Ramakrishna at Varanasi which ultimately took shape in the form of renting of a garden in July 1902.
Swamiji met eminent ascetics like Swami Bhaskarananda during his stay and was received very well by people. The chief priest of Kedareswar temple personally came to invite him to the temple which he gladly oblidged.
This was his last trip after which he passed away on July 4th, the same year, at Belur Math.
