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| The present Main campus of the Sevashrama |
286
- 287 PRABIJDDHA BHARATA – June 1924
Swami
NARAYANANANDA.
We announce with a heavy heart the sad news of
the passing away of Swami Narayanananda, a young promising worker of our
Mission. The unfortunate event took place on the 12th of April last at our Brindaban
Sevashrama of which he was lately in charge. The circumstances of his death
were very remarkable. He had clear premonitions of his coming end, as will
appear from the following unfinished letter written by him at 2-30 P.M.. on the
day of occurance. to a friend at Rangoon –
“Since
yesterday I am having some peculiar experiences. Last evening, as I was corning
from the interior of the town along the bank of the Yamuna, I suddenly heard
someone calling one in an endearing tone. 'Come, come away.' The voice was
exceptionally sweet. but I could not trace its origin, for there was nobody
by. I returned to the ashrams and had my
supper.
At night
I had a strange dream. I saw as if I was in the presence of Sri Maharaja (Swami
Brahmananda) and the Holy Mother. Oh the joy of it! That call is coming
constantly to my ears since this morning, and my mind. too. seems to be longing
to go somewhere. I am feeling no more attachment to anything of this world. I
do not know what it all means"
Ah!
I hear that call again. It is so sweet I Such a bliss I never experienced
before in my life. Can you tell me who it is that calls me? Ah I Ah I Such sweetness
I Such joy I It seems as if 1 am drifting somewhere —somebody is carrying me in
his arms. A peculiar sensation is in my heart. It is unique. Again. what soul-ravishing
strains of music ! 'Behold the Blissful Region ! Let us go to that City ! Glory
be unto the Lord I Mother, Mother ! Bliss. bliss. bliss ineffable ! What a marvelous experience it is! It seems
the world does not exist, nay, it never did. Was it but a dream? I see that I
am ever in the arms of the Mother. Glory unto the Divine Mother I I cannot write
any more . –“
He
had attended to his usual duties in the morning after which he had shut himself
in his room and sung some devotional songs. After taking his meals. he was busy settling
the accounts. In the evening some visitors came and there was Bhajan, in the
midst of which he had an occasion to go near the bank of the Jumna. On his
return shortly after, he said that he had been bitten by a snake. The marks of
the bite were distinctly visible. Being certain of his imminent end, he had his
rosary brought and began to repeat the name of the Lord, asking, besides, a
worker to take over the charge of the Ashrama. The deadly poison began to do
its work, and soon he became unconscious.. All available means were tried, but
nothing could restore him to consciousness. His spirit left its mortal tenement
and sped to the eternal presence of the Lord. Surely such a death is most enviable
and shows the intense spiritual nature of the late Swami. All we can say about
it is--.’The Lord's Will be done!’.
