Gurudev Ke Saath

Author(s): Gurdial Mallikji, Pratap J Tolia, Sumitra P Toliya
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

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of Love: PREM NAGAR. Whatever he saw and listened in that wonderful city that we find in his 'GITANJALI' and 'THE GARDNER'
(Hindi talk delivered on 12-10-1959 on the eve of RAVINDRA CENTENARY celebrations at the Hindi Sangha of Osmania University, Hyderabad, Translated by Prof. PRATAPKUMAR J.TOLIYA, the witness listener of that event)
4. VISHVA BHARATI - GUEST HOUSE OF WORLD CULTURE
(A Glimpse of the origin, aim and introduction of Shantiniketan)
The name of the place where the institution, now University is situated is called Shantiniketan. Ashram was founded over there in 1880 A.D at the hands of Maharshi Devendranath Tagore-Father of Gurudev. One day he started from Calcutta to attend a marriage at his friend's place. He was riding on his horse and going with his troupe. The voyage was long. He used to sit in meditation regularly in the morning and evening during the travel: Gurudev had also adopted this practice in his life.
One evening Maharshi sat down in Meditation below a tree in a lonely place. The night descended ........midnight passed ............ it stroke two o'clock ..........three o'clock.......four o'clock........even six o'clock in the morning.....But Maharshi is still seated in Meditation! The region was dangerous. Outlaws used to stay over there. The chieftain of the outlaws will start first in the search that, "whether there is any prey today?" That day too he started seeing the Tents & Camp. There he felt "It seems to be a very big catch today!" He was thronged into unbound joy. Loitering he came at the place where Maharshi were seated in Meditation. He saw Devine unearthly light on the forehead of Maharshi. In the meanwhile, Maharshi opened the eyes and a word slipped out from his mouth -------"Shantiniketan" and expressed his deeper experience that "I have realized peace here......have had God's vision here........this is a place of pilgrimage for me".
Immediately on listening this, that outlaw was transformed all of a sudden and taking the shelter of the Maharshi, surrendered at his feet, telling "I am your disciple" ---saying so he disposed off his gang of the outlaws. Maharshi resolved:"I shall establish Ashram here".
: Thereafter Maharshi used to visit that place frequently. At times even accompanied his friends over there. Once he accompanied/carried Eleven years old Ravindranath also. Extremely wonderful was the Natural Beauty of that place. At very first glance of it, Ravindranath told, "Father! I shall open school here".
:
Father gave blessings:
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