Darshan of Swami Krishnananda in 1999

by Swami Krishnananda

4. Tenacity and Faith

(Darshan given in January 1999)

Swamiji: ...in the state of contemplation on Lord Siva. The pujari is not an ordinary, mechanical man. He gets united with Lord Siva, and then, with great spirit, they will dance in big, big temples, and music will be there. In Madurai, in the Meenakshi temple, you will see the Kalyanam. Big, big murthi they have got. Very beautifully they will sing. Once I went there. Afterwards, this priest gets completely united with Siva, and to touch this priest is touching God only. He can give ashirvadam and prasadam. It is a mighty thing.

It is a very highly systematic philosophy, worth reading and studying and imbibing also. It is complete Advaita in one sense, except that you will not become Siva himself. You will become identical with him in every respect, with all the powers of God, but not unity. That is the position taken by Ramanuja also. All the qualities of God will be there, but you cannot become Him and mix it. It is not Advaitam.

But there is another Saiva Siddhantam; it is called Siva Advaitam: actually going inside. There is Kashmir Saivism, called the Pratyabhijna system; that is mostly in Sanskrit. There are varieties of Saivism. One is Siddhantam, another is Kashmir Saivism, and there is another: Veera Saivism, Lingayats. These are the three prominent forms of Saivism, as there are varieties in Vaishnavism also. Ramanuja is one, and also Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu; they are all Vaishnavas, but in the practice of bhakti there is a difference in their concept of God. So Saivas have got varieties, and Vaishnavas have varieties.

It is good to know all these things, good to know. Knowledge is always good. “It is not necessary for me.” You should not say like that. Everything has got some value. As they say, even a mouse can save a lion.   

Your religion is not only a book. It is the way you are living. If you are a Saivite, very good, follow this technique. Or Ramanuja, Madhva, all are good. But you must be very serious about it. Madhvas teach duality, but there were very powerful saints in the Madhva also, like Vyasaraya, and so on. And there is one ashram of the famous Madhva saint. Such power he had, that swami. He was a Madhva sannyasi. At that time the Bijapur kingdom was ruled by a Muslim. Very famous man he was. One day he heard the greatness of this swami, so he brought a plate of some prasadam, and it was flesh. He put flesh into it, and covered it. This maharaja did archana, and then he opened it. It was full of lotus flowers, and this Muslim king was surprised. He gave some gifts, some land and property, to these swamijis for the spread of this religion.

Whether it is dualism or non-dualism, it makes no difference. The tenacity of the pursuit of that religion is important. Faith – religion is finally faith only, and you should not argue and say this is not good and that is not good. It is wonderful.

A very powerful man. One day he was invited by some important person for lunch, and he was given a little work. They did not know the importance of this person. He was asked to grind this chandanam for puja. At that time he was chanting Rigveda mantra – Agni Suktam. He was chanting, as was his usual practice. He ground this chandanam and gave it to all people to apply. They started feeling burning everywhere and asked, “What is happening to us?”

He said, “Oh, I made a mistake. I was chanting the Agni Suktam at that time.” Then afterwards he chanted Varuna Suktam, and then the whole thing became cool. It shows his tenacity, and confirmed belief in what he is doing. It does not matter to what section you belong. It may be even a Muslim; it doesn't matter, but tenacity... Sufis were such powerful people. They are all yoga. Great heights of yoga they have reached.

An ashramite: What is the story of three astrologers who came to him?

Swamiji: Ah, astrologers. People asked how long this mahatma will live. Three astrologers gave three replies. One said 100, another said 300, and the third said 500. Then the mahatma said, “All the three are correct. I will live for 100, 300 and 500 also. This physical body will last for 100 years, my books will spread themselves with power for 300 years, and the power of my samadhi will continue till 500 years. So all three astrologers are correct.” Raghavendra Swamy was a very great, very great person.

So what I am saying is, it is faith that makes what a person is. If you tenaciously believe in something, then it will be like that.

In England there was a boy called John. He could not speak [Swamiji stutters]. He was called by people 'Stuttering John'. He was very much humiliated that people called him Stuttering John. He had a desire to become an orator. He could not speak before people because they will make joke and criticise him: You see this man who is lecturing – stammering. He went to a forest, and kept a mirror in front of him, and considered the forest, the entire trees, as the audience. “Gentlemen,” he said, because nobody will criticise him. And he made gestures in his oration in the mirror. So tenaciously he pursued this practice, and he could publicly speak afterwards. The stuttering was gone because of the desire to become perfect in speaking, and he then became prime minister of England, Lord Beaconsfield. The stuttering had gone. Determination, that's all: I must get it, that's all! They call it mumukshutva: I must get it! Then you will get it.