Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
A Perfectionist
by Swami Premananda
India is one country in this world which, all along, has based its culture and civilisation on the foundation of spiritual values. For an Indian, even today, the ideal continues to be the realisation of the Self or God-consciousness; a man of renunciation therefore still commands greater respect than a political potentate. In times of yore, the emperors, ministers and administrators used to approach sages and saints for their blessings, guidance and Upadesh. And even today, the presidents and prime ministers in this blessed land continue to seek the blessings of great saints and realised souls.
This is one reason why even when waves after waves of foreign invaders with different value systems struck at the frontiers and shores of this land, the inhabitants were not swept off their feet. They clung to their values and continued their spiritual pursuits. And when violent storms threatened to swallow them, some great souls appeared on the scene to stand as a bulwark against the frantic fury of an alien culture. The people rallied round them and considered no sacrifice great to safeguard their ideal.
This country has been very fortunate indeed to have had a long and unbroken line of saints and sages to keep its traditions intact. Rather, whenever there has been great danger threatening the spiritual way of life, equally great has been the number of saints emerging in different parts of the country to irrigate the roots of spiritualism which were being scorched by the heat of proselytisation. Perhaps the danger was the greatest during the reign of some of the alien rulers from the 13th to the 16th centuries, when this country saw the largest number of saints.
There were Ramanujacharya and Vallabhacharya in the south, Guru Nanak in the Punjab, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal, Sant Kabir and Sant Tulsidas in Uttar Pradesh, Samarth Guru Ramdas in Maharashtra and several others at different places.
That unbroken line has continued in modern times also. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maharshi Swami Dayananda Sarasvati and Sri Swami Sivanandaji formed organisations which blossomed into numerous branches the world over. Likewise, the lives and teachings of Sri Swami Vivekanandaji, Sri Swami Ramatirthaji, Sri Swami Chidanandaji and many others will provide unbroken inspiration and guidance to the modern world for their uplift and welfare.
Sri Swami Krishnanandaji is one of the great saints in the above line who has appeared on the world stage to spread the message of spiritualism and inspire the devotees of various lands. Impressed by his penance. renunciation, dedication, simplicity, sharp intellect, deep learning, Vedantic approach and application, Sri Gurudev Sivanandaji Maharaj conferred on him the title of "Vedanta Kesari". His ability and knowledge have attracted to the Ashram numerous Sadhakas in quest of Truth and they have gained spiritual advancement under Swamiji's care and able guidance.
My Relationship with Swamiji
I came in touch with Sri Swami Krishnanandaji in July, 1955 and our contacts continued in 1956 and 1957. Those days he mostly remained in solitude and did not like to mix with people, but did give talks which revealed the depth of his vast studies, contemplation and Sadhana. Our relationship grew in October 1958 when I was laid up with typhoid in the Ashram and he often called on me to enquire about my health and requirements. Since November 1958 I was mostly busy in the Punjab and met him only when I came to the Ashram to take the blessings of Sri Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. After the Divine Life Conference at Chandigarh in 1964, I returned to the Ashram in 1965 when we came closer to each other. For over a decade we collaborated in managing the Ashram affairs and that gave me a chance to be very close to him as Secretary of The Divine Life Society. Naturally, I had the privilege to see his way of working and dealing with people, government officials and inmates of the Ashram. He is a good and able administrator. He feels his responsibility and a sort of attachment to his duty, which he performs intelligently, diligently and delightfully. He is prompt in taking decisions and implementing the same. He senses what to say, how to say and when to say and what to leave unsaid.
Orthodox and Disciplined
Swamiji is strictly orthodox in his ways and behaviour. His each and every action is in complete conformity with scriptural injunctions. His present has deep roots in the past and the two together fashion his future. He takes meals and drinks at the appointed hour in a measured way and does not accept anything in between. A wonderful self-control he has. He is simple in dress and manners, very much like a true Sannyasin. He is a punctual person who hates to be late. His is a well-regulated, systematic and disciplined life, combined with regular spiritual practices even at this stage.
Sri Swamiji's love for solitude continues unabated. Even in company, he is measured in his talk. Yet, he often combines wisdom in his personal and informal talks. He is a man of few words and believes in the eloquence of silence neither ebullient nor a go-getter. Therefore he does not rush to shake hands or embrace or even pat; he would rather not touch anybody if he could avoid it. That might give a false impression of his being cold or self-centred. But he is full of warmth and affection equally for all who come in contact with him. His is the love of a recluse who has renounced all to seek Godhead.
A Consummate Philosopher
Swamiji is an intellectual giant. He is a great scholar of Bharatavarsha's original language Sanskrit as well as of the philosophy of the East and the West. His personality, in fact, is many-sided and his knowledge is very vast. He has great command over the English language. His vocabulary, selection of words, and way of expression are so appropriate and perfect that there can be no substitute for them. He has his own his style of talking and writing. He is on inspiring and fine orator and a distinguished writer, who touches heights of eloquence and beauty and depth. Although he has never been abroad, his talks on tapes and his writings have attracted foreigners in good number. He has a good following. He has brought spiritual awakening in the lives of many through his illuminating personal talks, discourses and books. He is the author of more than a dozen books on philosophy, religion and Yoga. I am sure that in the days to come his inspiring discourses and writings will influence more and more people in the world.
The perfect God being his goal, Swamiji seeks perfection in everything he does. Whatever he may be doing—reading, writing giving a discourse, or managing the affairs of the holy Ashram—he would like to do the job in hand as best as possible. Naturally, some may think that he is a taskmaster. But it is not so. The standards he has set for himself he likes to apply to others also. Not unoften, therefore, may not be satisfied with what others are able to achieve. That is the reason why he does not appear to depend entirely on others, because whatever is done must be done perfectly. He therefore prefers to do every job himself.
The greatness of a man is to be measured not by the span of life or by the adulation accorded to him or by the number of admirers and followers he has, but by the worthy impact of his life upon others. When such a yardstick is applied, the place of His Holiness Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj is quite apparent.