Date: 4 JANUARY 2018
Time uploaded in London- 6-24 am
Written by S NAGARAJAN
Post No. 4580
Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks. Pictures may not be related to the story. They are only representational.
நண்பரா, கைக்கூலியா!
மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 4 : கட்டுரை எண் 4269 – வெளியான தேதி 4-10-2017 ; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 5 : கட்டுரை எண் 4327 – வெளியான தேதி 23-10-2017 ; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 6 -கட்டுரை எண் 4355 – வெளியான தேதி 1-11-2017; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் -7 கட்டுரை எண் 4385 – வெளியான தேதி 11-11-17; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம்-8 கட்டுரை எண் 4451 – வெளியான தேதி 2-12-17; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 9 கட்டுரை எண் 4501 – வெளியான தேதி 16-12-17; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 10 கட்டுரை எண் 4538 -வெளியான தேதி 24-12-17 ; மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம் – 11 கட்டுரை எண் 4563 -வெளியான தேதி 30-12-17
இதனுடைய தொடர்ச்சியாக இக் கட்டுரை வெளியாகிறது.
மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் மர்மம்! – 12
ச.நாகராஜன்
21
சென்ற அத்தியாயத்தில் தமிழில் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள ஸ்வாமிஜியின் கருத்துக்களை ஆங்கில மூலத்தில் கீழே அப்படியே தருகிறோம்.
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Conversations and Dialogues/IX
IX
(Translated from Bengali)
(From the Diary of a Disciple)
(The disciple is Sharatchandra Chakravarty, who published his records in a Bengali book, Swami-Shishya-Samvâda, in two parts. The present series of “Conversations and Dialogues” is a revised translation from this book. Five dialogues of this series have already appeared in the Complete Works,Volume 5)
[Place: Calcutta. year: 1897.]
While our study had proceeded thus for a while, Swamiji raised the topic about Max Müller and continued thus: Well, do you know, my impression is that it is Sayana who is born again as Max Müller to revive his own commentary on the Vedas? I have had this notion for long. It became confirmed in my mind, it seems, after I had seen Max Müller. Even here in this country, you don’t find a scholar so persevering, and so firmly grounded in the Vedas and the Vedanta. Over and above this, what a deep, unfathomable respect for Sari Ramakrishna! Do you know, he believes in his Divine Incarnation! And what great hospitality towards me when I was his guest! Seeing the old man and his lady, it seemed to me that they were living their home-life like another Vasishtha and Arundhati! At the time of parting with me, tears came into the eyes of the old man.
Disciple: But, sir, if Sayana himself became Max Müller, then why was he born as a Mlechchha instead of being born in the sacred land of India?
Swamiji: The feeling and the distinction that I am an Aryan and the other is a Mlechchha come from ignorance. But what are Varnâshrama and caste divisions to one who is the commentator of the Vedas, the shining embodiment of knowledge? To him they are wholly meaningless, and he can assume human birth wherever he likes for doing good to mankind. Specially, if he did not choose to be born in a land which excelled both in learning and wealth, where would he secure the large expenses for publishing such stupendous volumes? Didn’t you hear that the East India Company paid nine lakhs of rupees in cash to have the Rig-Veda published? Even this money was not enough. Hundreds of Vedic Pundits had to be employed in this country on monthly stipends. Has anybody seen in this age, here in this country, such profound yearning for knowledge, such prodigious investment of money for the sake of light and learning? Max Müller himself has written it in his preface, that for twenty-five years he prepared only the manuscripts. Then the printing took another twenty years! It is not possible for an ordinary man to drudge for fortyfive years of his life with one publication. Just think of it! Is it an idle fancy of mine to say he is Sayana himself?
****
COMPLETE WORKS OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA VOLUME 4
ON PROFESSOR MAX MÜLLER
(Written for the Brahmâvadin, from London, June 6, 1896.)
Do you know that Prof. Max Müller has already written an article on Shri Ramakrishna for the Nineteenth Century, and will be very glad to write a larger and fuller account of his life and teachings if sufficient materials are forthcoming? What an extraordinary man is Prof. Max Müller! I paid a visit to him a few days ago. I should say, that I went to pay my respects to him, for whosoever loves Shri Ramakrishna, whatever be his or her sect, or creed, or nationality, my visit to that person I hold as a pilgrimage. “मद्भक्तानां च ये भक्तास्ते मे भक्ततमा मताः — They who are devoted to those who love Me — they are My best devotees.” Is that not true?
The Professor was first induced to inquire about the power behind, which led to sudden and momentous changes in the life of the late Keshab Chandra Sen, the great Brâhmo leader; and since then, he has been an earnest student and admirer of the life and teachings of Shri Ramakrishna. “Ramakrishna is worshipped by thousands today, Professor”, I said. “To whom else shall worship be accorded, if not to such”, was the answer. The Professor was kindness itself, and asked Mr. Sturdy and myself to lunch with him. He showed us several colleges in Oxford and the Bodleian library. He also accompanied us to the railway station; and all this he did because, as he said, “It is not every day one meets a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.”
The visit was really a revelation to me. That nice little house in its setting of a beautiful garden, the silverheaded sage, with a face calm and benign, and forehead smooth as a child’s in spite of seventy winters, and every line in that face speaking of a deep-seated mine of spirituality somewhere behind; that noble wife, the helpmate of his life through his long and arduous task of exciting interest, overriding opposition and contempt, and at last creating a respect for the thoughts of the sages of ancient India — the trees, the flowers, the calmness, and the clear sky — all these sent me back in imagination to the glorious days of Ancient India, the days of our Brahmarshis and Râjarshis, the days of the great Vânaprasthas, the days of Arundhatis and Vasishthas.
It was neither the philologist nor the scholar that I saw, but a soul that is every day realising its oneness with the Brahman, a heart that is every moment expanding to reach oneness with the Universal. Where others lose themselves in the desert of dry details, he has struck the well-spring of life. Indeed his heartbeats have caught the rhythm of the Upanishads “तमेवैकं जानथ आत्मानमन्या वाचो विमुञ्चथ — Know the Atman alone, and leave off all other talk.”
Although a world-moving scholar and philosopher, his learning and philosophy have only led him higher and higher to the realisation of the Spirit, his अपरा विद्या (lower knowledge) has indeed helped him to reach the परा विद्या (higher knowledge). This is real learning. विद्या ददाति विनयम् — “Knowledge gives humility.” Of what use is knowledge if it does not show us the way to the Highest?
And what love he bears towards India! I wish I had a hundredth part of that love for my own motherland! Endued with an extraordinary, and at the same time intensely active mind, he has lived and moved in the world of Indian thought for fifty years or more, and watched the sharp interchange of light and shade in the interminable forest of Sanskrit literature with deep interest and heartfelt love, till they have all sunk into his very soul and coloured his whole being.
Max Müller is a Vedantist of Vedantists. He has, indeed, caught the real soul of the melody of the Vedanta, in the midst of all its settings of harmonies and discords — the one light that lightens the sects and creeds of the world, the Vedanta, the one principle of which all religions are only applications. And what was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa? The practical demonstration of this ancient principle, the embodiment of India that is past, and a foreshadowing of the India that is to be, the bearer of spiritual light unto nations. The jeweller alone can understand the worth of jewels; this is an old proverb. Is it a wonder that this Western sage does study and appreciate every new star in the firmament of Indian thought, before even the Indians themselves realise its magnitude?
“When are you coming to India? Every heart there would welcome one who has done so much to place the thoughts of their ancestors in the true light”, I said. The face of the aged sage brightened up — there was almost a tear in his eyes, a gentle nodding of the head, and slowly the words came out: “I would not return then; you would have to cremate me there.” Further questions seemed an unwarrantable intrusion into realms wherein are stored the holy secrets of man’s heart. Who knows but that it was what the poet has said—
तच्चेतसा स्मरति नूनमबोधपूर्वं ।
भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि ॥
—”He remembers with his mind the friendships of former births, firmly rooted in his heart.”
His life has been a blessing to the world; and may it be many, many years more, before he changes the present plane of his existence!
மாக்ஸ்முல்லர் பற்றிய இன்னும் பல கருத்துக்களை ஸ்வாமிஜி கூறியுள்ளதை COMPLETE WORKS OF SWAMI VIEVEKANANDA நூலில்
எட்டாம் தொகுதி உள்ளிட்டவற்றில் காணலாம்.
தொடரின் இறுதிப் பகுதிக்கு வருவோம்
**** தொடரும்
