अफजल खां का वध

20 नवम्बर, 1659 ई. - अफजल खां का वध :- बीजापुर की तरफ से अफजल खां को छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज के खिलाफ भेजा गया। अफजल खां 10 हज़ार की फौज समेत रवाना हुआ। अफ़ज़ल खां ने सौगंध खाई कि "मैं घोड़े पर बैठे-बैठे ही शिवाजी को बांध कर लाऊंगा"।

शिवाजी महाराज और अफजल खां के बीच पत्र व्यवहार हुआ, जिसके तहत दोनों ने मिलकर समझौता करना स्वीकार किया। शिवाजी महाराज ने पेशवा और सेनापति नेताजी पालकर के नेतृत्व में 2 बड़ी फ़ौजों को प्रतापगढ़ के जंगलों में छिपे रहने का आदेश दिया। कृष्णजी भास्कर ने अफजल खां की योजना पहले ही शिवाजी महाराज को बता दी।

अफ़ज़ल खां के डेरे के निकट जाने के बाद शिवाजी महाराज ने संदेशा भिजवाकर कहलवाया कि "भेंट की जगह से सैयद बांदा को हटाना होगा।" फिर वैसा ही किया गया। शिवाजी महाराज भीतर गए, जहां दोनों पक्षों के 4-4 लोग थे। खुद नेता, 2-2 शरीर रक्षक और 1-1 ब्राम्हण दूत।

जब दोनों पक्षों में मुलाकात हुई, तब शिवाजी महाराज दिखने में शस्त्रहीन लग रहे थे, परन्तु अफ़ज़ल खां ने तलवार लटका रखी थी। शामियाने के बीच में चबूतरे के ऊपर अफ़ज़ल खां बैठा था। शिवाजी महाराज चबूतरे पर चढ़े। शिवाजी महाराज का कद अफ़ज़ल खां के कंधे तक ही पहुंचता था।

जब गले मिलने का वक्त आया तो अफजल खां ने बाएं हाथ से शिवाजी महाराज का गला जोर से दबाया और दाहिने हाथ से कटार निकालकर शिवाजी महाराज की बाई बगल में भोंक दी, लेकिन शिवाजी महाराज ने पहले ही अन्दर एक कवच पहन रखा था, जिससे अफजल खां का वार खाली गया।

शिवाजी महाराज ने बाघनखा से उसकी आँतें चीर डालीं और दूसरे हाथ से बिछवा निकालकर अफजल खां की बगल में घोंप दिया। अफ़ज़ल खां कराह उठा और चिल्लाकर कहने लगा कि "मार डाला, मार डाला, मुझको धोखा देकर मार डाला"।

शिवाजी महाराज मंच से कूदकर अपने आदमियों की तरफ दौड़े। तभी सैयद बांदा ने हमला कर शिवाजी महाराज के तुरबन (पगड़ी) के 2 टुकड़े कर दिए। शिवाजी महाराज ने पहले ही पगड़ी के भीतर लोहे की एक टोपी पहन रखी थी, इसलिए सिर में घाव नहीं लगा। इतने में जीव महाला ने सैयद बांदा का एक हाथ काट दिया और अगले ही वार में सैयद बांदा कत्ल हुआ।

अफजल खां के आदमियों ने जख्मी अफजल खां को पालकी में बिठाया और ले जाने लगे, लेकिन शम्भूजी कावजी ने अनुचरों के पैरों पर चोट करके पालकी गिरा दी और अफजल खां का सिर काटकर शिवाजी महाराज के पास हाजिर हुए। शिवाजी महाराज neप्रतापगढ़ किले में जाकर तोप चलाकर अपने सैनिकों को संकेत दिया, जिससे मोरो त्रिम्बक और नेताजी पालकर ने हजारों की फौज समेत बीजापुर की फौज को घेर लिया।

बीजापुरी फौज के कईं ऊँट, हाथी व 3000 सैनिक कत्ल हुए। शिवाजी महाराज की सेना ने 65 हाथी, 4000 घोड़े, कई ऊँट, 2000 कपड़ों के गट्ठर, 10 लाख का धन और जेवर छीन लिए। अफजल खां के 2 बेटे, 2 मददगार मराठा ज़मीदार और एक बड़े ओहदे ke  सिपहसलार कैद हुए।

अफ़ज़ल खां की स्त्रियां और उसका बड़ा बेटा फ़ज़ल खां भागने में सफल रहे। ये शिवाजी महाराज की अब तक की सबसे बड़ी विजय थी और इस विजय neसमूचे भारतवर्ष में शिवाजी महाराज का रुतबा फैला दिया। उन्होंने विजेताओं और वीरगति को प्राप्त होने वालों के परिवार वालों को धन, इनाम आदि दिए।

4th July 1902 - Swami Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi

On the same day (4th July 1902) Swami Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi upon his own will, but his words are immortal that he still inspires all through them. 

Given below are details about his Mahasamadhi:

A week before the end, Vivekananda asked Shuddhananda to bring him the Bengali almanac. Swamiji turned several pages and then kept it in his room. He was seen several times on subsequent days studying the almanac intently, as if looking for something auspicious. … Three days before his passing away, while walking on the spacious lawn of the monastery with Premananda, Swamiji said to him, pointing to a particular spot on the bank of the Ganges: “When I give up the body, cremate it there”. Today on that spot stands a temple in his honour.

Sister Nivedita wrote: “When June closed … he knew well enough that the end was near. “I am making ready for death!” – he said to one, who was with him, on the Wednesday before he died: “A great tapasya (austerity) and meditation has come upon me, I am making ready for death”.

Once in Kashmir, after an attack of illness, I had seen him lift a couple of pebbles, saying: “Whenever death approaches me, all weakness vanishes. I have neither fear, nor doubt, nor thought of the external. I simply busy myself making ready to die. I am as hard as that” – and the stones struck one another in his hand: “for I have touched the feet of God!” …

On Wednesday (2 July) of the same week, the day being Ekadashi, and himself keeping the fast in all strictness, he insisted on serving the morning (noon) meal to the same disciple (Nivedita). Each dish as it was offered – boiled seeds of the jackfruit, boiled potatoes, plain rice, and ice-cold milk – formed the subject of playful chat; and finally, to end the meal, he himself poured the water over the hands and dried them with a towel.

“It is I, who should do these things for you, Swamiji! Not you for me!” – was the protest naturally offered. But his answer was startling in its solemnity: “Jesus washed the feet of his disciples”. Something checked the answer: “But it was the last time!” – as it rose to the lips, and the words remained unuttered”.

On his last day, Friday, 4 July 1902, Vivekananda got up very early in the morning as usual and went to the shrine for meditation. He was not sick at all. During breakfast he was in a jovial mood, teasing Premananda and recalling many events of olden times. He had fruit, milk and tea. …

At 8:00 a.m. he again entered the shrine for meditation. When at 9:30 a.m. Premananda entered the shrine to perform the daily worship, Swamiji asked him to carry his asana (carpet) to the Master’s bedroom, which was adjacent to the shrine, and shut all doors and windows. Swamiji dusted the Master’s bed with his own hand, and again sat for meditation. Never before he performed such meditation in the monastery. What transpired there, no one knows. He finished his meditation at 11:00 a.m., and then began to sing a song about Kali in his sweet voice which the monks heard from downstairs. …

Descending the stairs of the shrine, he walked back and forth in the courtyard of the monastery. He appeared indrawn, as if travelling to a distant land. Suddenly Swamiji said to himself: “If there were another Vivekananda, then he would have understood what this Vivekananda has done! And yet – how many Vivekanandas shall be born in time!” His statement was overheard by Premananda, who was standing on the veranda of the chapel. Never before had Swamiji spoken like this.

Then he expressed a desire to worship Mother Kali at the monastery the following day. …

At noon he heartily enjoyed his lunch with the monks in the dining room. Because of his illness, he had generally taken his meals in his room. … He talked awhile and then went to his room to rest. After fifteen minutes he came out of his room and told Premananda: “Let us go and study. Day sleep is not good for a monk. Today I did not get any sleep”. … He went to the library and called the brahmacharins to attend the class on Sanskrit grammar. One who attended this class wrote: “The class lasted for nearly three hours. But no monotony was felt. … He, however, appeared a little tired after grammar class”. 

Swamiji wanted each disciple to be original and not to follow him blindly. Warning against false prophets, who might come in the future, he said to the boys: “If any man ever imitates me, kick him out. Do not imitate me”.

At 4:30 p.m. … he went for a walk with Premananda to Belur bazaar, one mile away. …

At 5:30 p.m. he returned to the monastery from his walk. He sat on a bench under the mango tree and said: “My health is so good today, which I have not felt for a long time”. Swamiji talked to Premananda and other monks about the history  of European civilization and also colonial history. “India is immortal”, - he said: “if she persists in her search for God. But if she goes in for politics and social conflict, she will die”. …

At 6:30 p.m. when he found that some monks were taking tea, he went to them and said: “Will you give me a cup of tea?” He enjoyed the tea with them. When the vesper bell was rung at 7:00, he got up and went to his room upstairs. … Entering his room, Swamiji said to his attendant Brahmachari Brajendra: “My body is very light today. I feel fine. Please give me my rosary”. He sat facing the Ganges. Before he began his meditation, he asked Brajendra to go to the other room, and instructed him: “Wait and meditate till I call you”. After an hour, at 8:00, the swami called Brajendra and asked him to fan his head. Swamiji told him to open all the windows of his room, because he was feeling hot. Then, he laid himself down on his bed on the floor. He still had the rosary in his hand. After a while Swamiji said to him: “All right, no more need for fanning! It would be better if you give a little massage to my feet”. Soon, he seemed to fall asleep, and one hour passed in this manner. Vivekananda was lying on his left side and the brahmacharin was massaging his feet. He then moved and lay down on his back; shortly after that, he cried out like a baby cries for its mother. Towards the end, Brajendra noticed that Swamiji’s right hand trembled a little, there was perspiration on his forehead, he breathed a deep breath, and his head rolled down by the pillow. There was silence for a minute or two, and again he breathed in the same manner; his body became still. It was 9:10 p.m. … Vivekananda passed away at the age of thirty-nine years … thus fulfilling his own prophecy: “I shall never see forty”.

In the beginning of his mission Vivekananda had said: “I am a voice without a form”. Towards the end, he said: “It may be that I shall find it good to get outside of my body – to cast it off like a disused garment. But I shall not cease to work! I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is One with God”.

(“Swami Vivekananda – A Biography: By His Eastern and Western Disciples”, Advaita Ashrama, April 1960, Mahasamadhi)

THE LAST DAYS OF MRINALINI DEVI AND SRI AUROBINDO’S LETTER TO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW

THE LAST DAYS OF MRINALINI DEVI AND SRI AUROBINDO’S LETTER TO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW

This is the last of the posts we have published on Mrinalini Devi, the earthly consort of Sri Aurobindo, in the centenary year of her passing away.

The following translated excerpts have been taken from the reminiscences of Shaibalini Mitra, Mrinalini Devi’s younger sister:

“At last arrived the year 1918, December. She [Mrinalini Devi] received the call from Sri Aurobindo, saying, “My sadhana is over. I have achieved my object, siddhi. I have a lot of work to do for the world. You can come now and be my companion in this work.” This naturally made Mrinalini and all others extremely happy.

Now our father thought of taking my sister to Pondicherry. The Government gave permission. So they arrived in Calcutta via Ranchi. But Mrinalini fell a victim to the scourge of influenza which was raging everywhere. After a week’s illness she passed away on 17 December at the age of 32. The mental agony that she had kept suppressed for years exploded during the illness in her delirium, particularly the frightful nightmarish scene of Sri Aurobindo’s arrest.

There was a mention in her horoscope that her 32nd year would be critical. Sri Aurobindo knew it and wanted us to remind him about it when she would be 32. But all of us forgot except my mother. She was at that time in Ranchi. Hearing about the illness she hastened to Calcutta but Mrinalini Devi passed away within half an hour of her arrival. When she learnt that we had not informed Sri Aurobindo, a telegram was sent to him. On reading it, Sri Aurobindo said, “Too late!" My cousin who was there at the time wrote to my mother: “Today I saw tears in the eyes of your stone-hearted son-in-law. With the telegram in one hand, he sat still and tears were in his eyes.” Sri Aurobindo told him too that Mrinalini’s soul had come to him soon after her death. Also a photo of Mrinalini Devi that was on the mantel-piece is said to have fallen.

In the evening after Mrinalini’s expiry Sudhira took my mother to Sri Sarada Devi. She was at that time in deep meditation. When she opened her eyes and saw them, she said, “You have come? I was seeing in my vision my daughter-in-law, Mrinalini. She was a goddess born as your daughter in consequence of a curse. Now that her karma is exhausted her soul has departed.”

SRI AUROBINDO’S LETTER TO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW AFTER MRINALINI DEVI'S PASSING AWAY

My dear father-in-law,

    I have not written to you with regard to this fatal event in both our lives; words are useless in face of the feelings it has caused, if even they can ever express our deepest emotions. God has seen good to lay upon me the one sorrow that could still touch me to the centre. He knows better than ourselves what is best for each of us, and now that the first sense of the irreparable has passed, I can bow with submission to His divine purpose. The physical tie between us is, as you say, severed; but the tie of affection subsists for me. Where I have once loved, I do not cease from loving. Besides she who was the cause of it, still is near though not visible to our physical vision.

    It is needless to say much about the matters of which you write in your letter. I approve of everything that you propose. Whatever Mrinalini would have desired, should be done, and I have no doubt this is what she would have approved of. I consent to the chudis [gold bangles] being kept by her mother; but I should be glad if you would send me two or three of her books, especially if there are any in which her name is written. I have only of her her letters and a photograph.

 _____________________

Sri Aurobindo and his wife Mrinalini Ghose 

[Courtesy: Sri Aurobindo Society Facebook wall]

Durga Puja at Surendra Mitra's house

When Sri Ramakrishna was in Shyampukur being treated for cancer, while in samadhi he travelled in his subtle form to see the Durga Puja at Surendra Mitra's house. He told his devotees: "A luminous path opened from this place to Surendra's house. I saw the presence of the Divine Mother in the image; She had been evoked by Surendra's devotion. A ray of light beamed forth from her third eye! Rows of lamps were lit before the goddess in the worship hall. In the courtyard Surendra was crying piteously 'Mother, Mother!' All of you go to his house right now. When he sees you he will regain his peace of mind."

Narendra and some others bowed down to the Master, then left for Surendra's house. When they asked Surendra, they learned that what the Master had seen in samadhi was correct. The Master had indeed gone there in his luminous body to bless Surendra.

~How to Live With God by Swami Chetanananda - p.47

विवेकानंद शिला स्मारक के शिल्पी एकनाथ रानडे

विवेकानंद शिला स्मारक के शिल्पी एकनाथ रानडे "22 अगस्त/पुण्यतिथि" #हरदिनपावन 

एकनाथ रानडे का जन्म 19 नवम्बर, 1914 को ग्राम टिलटिला (जिला अमरावती, महाराष्ट्र) में हुआ था। पढ़ने के लिए वे अपने बड़े भाई के पास नागपुर आ गये। वहीं उनका सम्पर्क डा. हेडगेवार से हुआ। वे बचपन से ही बहुत प्रतिभावान एवं शरारती थे। कई बार शरारतों के कारण उन्हें शाखा से निकाला गया; पर वे फिर जिदपूर्वक शाखा में शामिल हो जाते थे। इस स्वभाव के कारण वे जिस काम में हाथ डालते, उसे पूरा करके ही दम लेते थे।

मैट्रिक की परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण कर उन्होंने संघ के संस्थापक डा.हेडगेवार के पास जाकर प्रचारक बनने की इच्छा व्यक्त की; पर डा. जी ने उन्हें और पढ़ने को कहा। अतः1936 में स्नातक बनकर वे प्रचारक बने। प्रारम्भ में उन्हें नागपुर के आसपास का और 1938 में महाकौशल का कार्य सौंपा गया। 1945 में वे पूरे मध्य प्रदेश के प्रान्त प्रचारक बने।

1948 में गान्धी हत्या का झूठा आरोप लगाकर संघ पर प्रतिबन्ध लगा दिया गया। संघ के सभी प्रमुख अधिकारी पकड़े गये। ऐसे में देशव्यापी सत्याग्रह की जिम्मेदारी एकनाथ जी को दी गयी। उन्होंने भूमिगत रहकर पूरे देश में प्रवास किया, जिससे 80,000 स्वयंसेवकों ने उस दौरान सत्याग्रह किया। एकनाथ जी ने संघ और शासन के बीच वार्ता के लिए मौलिचन्द्र शर्मा तथा द्वारका प्रसाद मिश्र जैसे प्रभावशाली लोगों को तैयार किया। इससे सरकार को सच्चाई समझ में आयी और प्रतिबन्ध हटा लिया गया।

इसके बाद वे एक साल दिल्ली रहे। 1950 में उन्हें पूर्वोत्तर भारत का काम दिया गया। 1953 से 56 तक वे संघ के अखिल भारतीय प्रचार प्रमुख और 1956 से 62 तक सरकार्यवाह रहे। इस काल में उन्होंने संघ कार्य तथा स्वयंसेवकों द्वारा स॰चालित विविध संगठनों को सुव्यवस्था प्रदान की। प्रतिबन्ध काल में संघ पर बहुत कर्ज चढ़ गया था। एकनाथ जी ने श्री गुरुजी की 51वीं वर्षगाँठ पर श्रद्धानिधि संकलन कर उस संकट से संघ को उबारा।

1962 में वे अखिल भारतीय बौद्धिक प्रमुख बने। 1963 में स्वामी विवेकानन्द की जन्म शताब्दी मनायी गयी। इसी समय कन्याकुमारी में जिस शिला पर बैठकर स्वामी जी ने ध्यान किया था, वहाँ स्मारक बनाने का निर्णय कर श्री एकनाथ जी को यह कार्य सौंपा गया। दक्षिण में ईसाइयों का काम बहुत बढ़ रहा था। उन्होंने तथा राज्य और केन्द्र सरकार ने इस कार्य में बहुत रोड़े अटकाये; पर एकनाथ जी ने हर समस्या का धैर्यपूर्वक समाधान निकाला। 

इसके स्मारक के लिए बहुत धन चाहिए था। विवेकानन्द युवाओं के आदर्श हैं, इस आधार पर एकनाथ जी ने जो योजना बनायी, उससे देश भर के विद्यालयों, छात्रों, राज्य सरकारों, स्थानीय निकायों और धनपतियों ने इसके लिए पैसा दिया। इस प्रकार सबके सहयोग से बने स्मारक का उद्घाटन 1970 में उन्होंने राष्ट्रपति श्री वराहगिरि वेंकटगिरि से कराया । 

1972 में उन्होंने विवेकानन्द केन्द्र की गतिविधियों को सेवा की ओर मोड़ा। युवक एवं युवतियों को प्रशिक्षण देकर देश के वनवासी अ॰चलों में भेजा गया। यह कार्य आज भी जारी है। केन्द्र से अनेक पुस्तकों तथा पत्र पत्रिकाओं का प्रकाशन भी हुआ। 

इस सारी दौड़धूप से उनका शरीर जर्जर हो गया। 22 अगस्त 1982 को मद्रास में भारी हृदयाघात से उनका देहान्त हो गया। कन्याकुमारी में बना स्मारक स्वामी विवेकानन्द के साथ श्री एकनाथ रानडे की कीर्त्ति का भी सदा गान करता रहेगा।

KASHYAPA

KASHYAPA or KASYAPA ,one of the saptrishis or 7 Rishis in hindu tradition.

1) His name is derived from sanskrit word for tortoise . Referring to his ascetic practice of withdrawing himself internally, like a tortoise does with limbs and head.

Kashyapa is also mentioned as the earliest rishi in verse 6.5.3 of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

2 ) Rishi Kashyapa is said to have drained the Kashmir valley to make it habitable. 

( In Buddhist texts he is known as KASSAPA in Pali or as Manujshri in Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism )

3) At times, those who convert, revert to Hinduism or have lost the knowledge of their Gotra ( lineage ) are investitured with his name as their Gotra

Taraka Brahman

एक काशी के अनादि योगी बाबाजी की पुकार​!

पेयं पेयं श्रवणपुटके रामनामाभिरामं,

ध्येयं ध्येयं मनसि सततं तारकं ब्रह्मरूपम्।

जल्पन् जल्पन् प्रकृतिविकृतौ प्राणिनां कर्णमूले,

वीथ्यां वीथ्यामटति जटिलः कोऽपि काशीनिवासी॥ 

(काशीखण्ड​, स्कन्दपुराणम्)

peyaṃ peyaṃ śravaṇapuṭake rāmanāmābhirāmaṃ,

dhyeyaṃ dhyeyaṃ manasi satataṃ tārakaṃ brahmarūpam।

jalpan jalpan prakṛtivikṛtau prāṇināṃ karṇamūle,

vīthyāṃ vīthyāmaṭati jaṭilaḥ ko'pi kāśīnivāsī॥ 

(kāśīkhaṇḍa​, skandapurāṇam)

एक जटाधारी नित्य काशीनिवासी योगी काशीके गली-गलीमें घुम​-घुमकर वहाँ के मरणधर्मा जीवों को कहता रहता हैं -

'तुम अपने कानके दौनेमें मेरे मुखसे निकलने वालें इस अत्यन्त सुन्दर नाम "राम​" को पीते रहो और हमेशा तारक ब्रह्म के स्वरूपका मन लगाकर ध्यान करते रहो! '

A Yogi with matted locks, who is an eternal resident of Kashi, has been moving around the lanes of Kashi and preaching to all living entities who by nature are subject to death - 

'Drink this blissful name "Rama," which emanates from my mouth through your ears, and always meditate on the divine form of Taraka Brahman!'