Saturday, September 25, 2010

FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE

My senior friend late Prem bhai is not among us. I pay great homage to him. May God give eternal peace to his soul! I was four classes junior to him and so was the age difference. From the very child hood, I enjoyed his company. Another senior friend was Ramesh. He was three classes senior, but according to age, he was older than Prem. We three always played and studied together. I was too much benefited by their company. When juniors and seniors become friends, juniors are more benefited, if seniors are good. Likewise, bad seniors harm more. A man is known by the company he keeps. I always followed and copied them. I took admission at Kapariya Middle School instead of Karmauli, only due to them. Life is but a chance. Had I not taken admission at Kapariya, I could not have succeeded. On the other hand, were if they of bad natures, I would have been spoiled. Compared to other boys of the village, Prem and Ramesh were more refined and disciplined. Ramesh's father had died when he was simply four year old. His elder Hareesh bhai was working as a pandit in an industrialist’s bungalow at Bombay (Mumbai). He had no issue those days. Ramesh, his mother and his sister-in-law lived at Karmauli. Hareesh bhai was earning well to maintain his four-member family properly. He came home after a year or more. Ramesh had no guidance. He only got love by the two women but no rebuke. Prem’s father was working as a pandit at Calcutta (Kolkata). He also earned sufficient money to maintain his eight-member family well. Prem's mother was a very tight and miser woman. She had very tough discipline over her children. My situation was quite different compared to Prem and Ramesh. I had no mother. She died when I was only four year old and my younger was only two year old. Father was not earning. Sister-in-laws were formal. I had no much sentimental attachment with them. Thus, we three had different situations. Hence, our natures were different. Man is the product of the atmosphere, he lives. He adjusts according to the circumstances. When you have no money, your requirement is nil and you spend no money. When you have surplus money, you lead lavish life. However, the sum of sorrows and joys are constant. When you perform penance in early life, you enjoy in later days. One, who enjoys in early life, gets sorrows latter. In Hinduism past life’s actions also affect the present life. According to our penance, Ramesh left his study after Matriculation (11th) and started doing job. Prem left his studies after Pre University (12th) and went to Kolkata. He started a service in a steel firm there. I became an engineer.
Prem became more civilized and disciplined. In the steel firm at Kolkata, he proved his ability. He got many promotions in a few years. After five years of service, he became branch manager of Madras (Chennai) branch. Now he earned a lot. He started to lead a very lavish life. He started journeying by plane and in A.C. coach in train. He took a costlier house on hire. Bihar’s public at Chennai made him secretary of the Bihar Association and later president. When he came home, villagers honoured him too much. Some bad habits also came in him. Occasionally, he started drinking and gambling. Nasanhi kaal vinashanhi buddhi. He resigned the service of the steel firm and started his own in the same trade. His younger also went there to co-operate him. Initially he progressed too much. Younger sat in the shop and Prem did outside contact work. Nevertheless, Prem's hand did not stop spending more and more. The capital diminished day by day and ultimately became zero. The younger came home and engaged himself in village politics. At last, Prem stopped his business and again joined the old firm. Now, the respect was not as before, there. Once he was manager and now he was an ordinary staff. The person once working under him was his boss. His salary was very low. He was unable to meet the expenses. Ameeri ki kabra par panpi hui gareebi baree jahreeli hoti hai. He got his daughter married by his rest capital, and one day left Chennai, leaving his articles in the house for assurance to the landlord to come again, because the rent was unpaid. He never went there again. The landlord waited for some months and then broke the house. He took all materials against the unpaid rent. This was communicated to him through his son-in-law and his daughter’s father-in-law. His daughter’s father-in-law was very annoyed which he expressed at Karmauli at the time of his daughter's second marriage. Prem became a strong devotee of Asharam Bapu. He spent more time in meditation. He was living peacefully at Karmauli. He took too much interest in general functions of Karmauli. He was made cashier of Durga Pooja and the great Maharudra Yagya committees. He became a permanent member of the pandit’s evening pooja at durga mandir.
God has given an instrument to all persons by which one become rich and another poor, one stay in peace and another unstable. This is the result of the past life penance. Ramesh took loan from so many persons on interest. He constructed a brick built house and purchased a piece of land in the residential area, which was very costlier. The interest of the loan increased. A time came when the principal amount and the interest became beyond his capacity. The lenders began to come from morning to evening for interest and principal also. One day Prem left Karmauli and went to Chandigarh where his eldest son lived. He took a house there on rent and started his new life. He took a shop on rent and started to sell Asharam Bapu’s books and medicines. Lenders used to go Chandigarh also.
One day the news of Prem’s brain hemorrhage came to me. That was perhaps 29 June 2008. I was at Kolkata with my youngest son Vimal for an examination. The next day the news of his death came. I was too much shocked. He was very close to me. He was a very fine person, most popular among all. I miss him too much. He had all qualities. He was ajatshatru (one who has no enemy). The only minus point was that he did not know financial discipline. Ramesh is in good position. He knows financial discipline. His sons are well placed.

Friday, September 24, 2010

SUCCESS

All successful persons have some special qualities which common people lack. There is little difference among top ten students of any competition. Suppose the cut off marks is seventy-five. One candidate gets seventy-four point nine marks. He does not succeed. Now say, what difference between the two candidates is. There may not be any difference. The unsuccessful candidate may be more intelligent. Nevertheless, one thing special must be in successful candidate. Stability of mind is of prime importance. Regular study is essential. Professionalism is very useful for sure success. How this professionalism will come. You solve the same problem unlimited times. Do not think that you have already solved that sum and there is no need to solve it again. I have seen the students who had memorized even the answers of all probable questions. Others laughed on such type of students. Now the scene has changed. The laughers are unemployed. The professionals got better jobs. The successful laugh on the unemployed. Do not pay attention to laughers. There is no substitute of the labour.
Rekha was reading in class five. Her mother used to take her with her when she went to the market. Little Rekha calculated the prices of purchased materials in seconds. The shopkeepers were astonished seeing the calculation correct up to two decimals. Seeing her activities, I recalled my own childhood. In my childhood, father took me with him at Madhubani and all other places, he went. I also calculated the prices. Sometimes I became irritated when he started my praise. When I was reading in Kaluahi high school, so many students of surrounding villages read there. Majority of them was from Dhanga East & West, Karmauli, Bhalni, Dihtole, Kaluahi, Maltole, Majrahi, Bharatpatti, Malmal, Mureth etc. In all most all functions, I went to Dhanga, the native place of my father, with him. It was very pleasant. Now, after my admission at Kaluahi, every student knew me. I felt a little ashamed while attending any feast. And later I ignored going there on such occasions.
Mental exercise helps too much to memorize anything and enhances one’s mental power. Calculation of price was unknowingly a big mental exercise. My advice to the students is, to solve sums, first mentally and then by writing. By this method, sum’s solution lasts longer in the brain.
One day I visited Rekha’s home. She was preparing for tenth examination those days. She was in the kitchen with her mother. Her mother was cooking. Rekha was sitting on a cot and solving sums. I was amazed seeing her speed. She was writing a sum and within no time solving it. That is why she got good results in all examinations and competed so many competitions. Being a girl, she has visited England and doing job in Infosys. Sunil wrote a book of eight hundred pages while preparing for the UPSC Examination. See the dedication towards study. Once I visited his hostel when he was doing his graduation. I was very pleased to see his preparation. He had prepared notes going through so many books of the topic. He had written fifty questions' answers of each subject. Now he had no need to go through different books. He had memorized all answers. The result was that as expected. He got first class first in the Hindi Honours exam. Latter he competed UPSC Exams. He got allied services. He is at present on a higher post of CAG.---------------CONTD.

Monday, September 20, 2010

HAPPINESS

Lord Buddha has said, “Dukkham, dukkham, dukkham”. The worldly materials are full of sorrows. We cannot extract oil from sand because there is no oil in the sand. The thing, which has no existence, cannot be found. If anyone searches happiness in physical substances, it is quite foolishness. Now one question arises, “who is the happiest person in the world?” Is the king happiest? Is American president happiest? Is Indian prime minister happiest? Is the richest person happiest? No, none of them is.
Happiness is the internal thing. It has no connection with external materials. The person, who is contented with the material that God has given, is the happiest. ‘Godhan gajdhan baajidhan, aur ratandhan khaan; jab aabay santosh dhan, sab dhan dhoori samaan’. There was a king. He was always anxious about his realm. He heard the name of a famous sage. Someone told that his anxieties would be removed if he wore the sage’s clothes. The armed forces were sent to search the sage and bring his dress. After too much searching, the sage was found. However, searching effort went in vain. The sage was completely naked. He had no clothes at all.

REVANGE

Today is a day of happiness that three abducted persons Abhay yadav, Rupesh kumar sinha and Ehsan ahmad have been released by abductors. One week ago in an encounter, seven police personnel were killed, many injured and four kidnapped. Out of four kidnapped persons one Mr. Tete was killed five days ago. Three were freed today. During these seven days the whole state was tentionised. Almost all people were begging grace for the safe rescue of the four kidnapped. But unfortunate Tete was killed. Abductors did not show mercy on the poor orphaned tribal children and on the poor widow. Now the scene is dropped with the safe release of these three.
Now, one question before us is what the solution of this vital problem is. All matured persons of the society have to think over this problem without cast, creed and politics and without any prior inclination or antagonism. Who are these fellows? What are their demands? They are none but our brothers who have adopted the path of weapons to get their problems solved or to take revenge from anybody. We see, things not happening according to our wills, in our day to day life. What do we do? We take the help of court or police. It is time taking and expensive. But everyone has not patience to wait for justice from court or police. He at once reacts.
He never thinks that he may be wrong. What an anarchism will arise when everyone thinks that he is alone right. In democracy one should listen to others more, than to speak himself. Even in worst situation, one should not lose patience. There is none else than self. Due to ignorance I think mine or others. But in reality all are one and the only one Almighty exists in all. When I am in every one and all are in me, then where is the question of fighting. No one can fight with himself. The parts of the body never fight. Similarly all persons are the parts of the society (body). All should live together like brothers or members of the family or parts of the same body. All problems will be surely solved when we sit together and think over it. -----------------------Ohm Namo Bhagvate Shree Ramanay.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

GREED

Greed is sure to lead us to ruin. There is a monkey. It wanders in the village. It looks a metallic jar in a courtyard. In the bottom of the jar, there is beaten rice. The monkey puts its right hand in the jar. It Takes beaten rice in the fist. The mouth of the jar is narrow. The open (empty) hand can enter and come out of the jar, but the fist cannot. Now the question is how the monkey’s hand will come out. The answer is quite clear but the monkey will not do it. Similar is the case with man also. We all are like monkeys. We have caught hold the illusion but say that it has entrapped us. What a fallacy!
There was an old lion. It was too weak for hunting. It took a golden ornament and sat in a marshy land. It told all passersby to take the ornament. It was taking oaths not to harm and was giving faith showing its toothless mouth and nail less foot. No one believed and passed quickly. One poor greedy Brahman passed through the way. The lion repeated the same version to give him faith. The greed captured the Brahman. He thought, “What is the fault to test the words of the lion? Shastras say to believe all. There is no place of doubt. The only Brahma is everywhere and in all creatures in the world.” He started to go towards the lion. His feet went deep into the mud. The lion started coming towards him saying, “Oh, very sad! You have been trapped in the mud. I am coming to pull you out.” It came to him and killed him. This is the very climax of the greed. "Lovah paapasya karnam. Makkhi baithee doodh par, pankh gayo laptay; haath male aur sir dhune, laalach buri balay."

Thursday, September 16, 2010

IN KAPARIYA MIDDLE SCHOOL



In Railway school at Dhanbad, Mithu passed class three and got first position. Before him, a girl named Damyanti was getting first position. The whole day she was weeping and cursing him because she got second position. He took admission in class four in the same school. In the month of March in 1963, his thread ceremony (Upnayan Sanskar- Yagyonpaveet Sanskar) with Ugree and Mahe, was decided to be performed. Therefore, he came to karmauli bag and baggages. Loss due to change of school in the middle of the session, was of little importance. There was not so much value of his education. Moreover, elders were themselves not so qualified to give importance to the education of Mithu. No one can take the place of the father and mother. Only they, can sacrifice anything for their children without selfishness. All other’s activities are for show. Others can help with their surplus to some extent. Nevertheless, parents can sacrifice their whole. No other can sacrifice to such an extent. Truly speaking, he was not better than an orphan. his mother died when he was four year old. Father was a simple farmer. The economic condition was very poor. Although, two eldest brothers were earning, there was not proper management. Father was a good farmer but the yield was low. The clever persons used to purchase rice and other necessary corns in the month of Agrahan (November-December) for the whole year. This is harvesting month when corns become cheaper. Nevertheless, in Mithu's family the process was not so. The corns produced in his own fields lasted hardly six months. His family was very dependent on the village market (Tuesday and Saturday) for the next six months. When earning two elders came, the family felt like function for a few days. When they went, they were again bound to lead life on bread and salt. Marua (a corn like mustard seed) was the main crops. The marua bread with salt was the main food. Rice was seldom cooked. It was cooked on festivals. Now a days, he does not take rice for health problem. What a peculiar man’s life is! When you are in need, you have no means. Perversely, when you have means, you have no need.
After the thread ceremony, he took admission in Kapariya Middle School in the month of April 1963. Life is but a chance. He did not take admission in Karmauli Middle school, which was in his own village. A student of class four cannot decide. Perhaps it was Almighty’s will. His attraction was to go in a new atmosphere. Moreover, the school was very famous. Intelligent students of so many nearby villages came to the school due to its fame. his two neighbors Amee and Chan, three and four classes ahead to him respectively, were also reading in the same school. Baidyanath Ray, Chandramohan, Tilak Thakur, Sitaram Yadav, Dhorhai Yadav and Soman Pandit were his class fellows. The books, which he brought from Dhanbad, were not taught here. The syllabus was quite different. He studied the whole year without books. He used to prepare lessons taking books from his friends or going himself to them. During holidays taking books from his friends, he solved problems day and night. When his friends played or slept, he studied. He was always anxious, for not having books. This caused his advanced studies. Now the situation became such that he got the knowledge of whole syllabus in advance. Friends asked questions and he started to teach them. Thus, by teaching others, he memorized the whole books. He was bound to do so, but this type of study helps too much and the success is sure. There were so many brilliant students of nearby villages, but he got the first position. This is the best example of the God grace, how the adverse situation becomes boon by His will. Had he got all books, he might not have topped.
The headmaster’s name was Shree Yamuna Prasad Singh. Other teachers were Sri Ghooran Jha, Sri Ramswartha Singh, Sri Bhagloo Singh and Maulabi Saheb. All of them were well qualified. Yamuna Sir had started a new high school in the same campus. So many learned teachers had joined in the high school. All those teachers taught in the middle school also. Some of them were Rajkarna babu, Abhimanue babu, Rajendra pd yadav babu, sri Pratap Narayan Jha, Sanskrit Panditjee from Pirsoliya etc. Rajkarna Babu taught English and Sanskrit. He was very tough teacher. He was beating black and blue, even on smaller mistakes. Sanskrit teacher of Pirsoliya loved him too much. During teaching period, he used to ask him in every sentence whether he understood the subject or not. Sometimes, he was too much irritated internally, but never expressed the feeling due to his affection. He always gave him hundred percent marks with the entreaty that he deserved it. Abhimanue babu was very good teacher of science subjects. He was topper of P.G. of his subject. He never beat the students. Rajedra babu was a prominent Mathematics teacher. He was such a good teacher that he was always ready to solve student's mathematics problems. During morning school in summer time, Mithu with Chan and Amee used to go to school in the evening, taking breads and pickle for dinner. He read in the evening from Rajendra Babu, slept at night on the benches and attending morning classes came home at twelve noon. The guidance of Rajendra Babu and his hard labor helped him too much. His mathematics became strong which helped him latter. -----------contd. Ohm Namo Bhagvate Shree Ramanay.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

MIRAGE

‘Brahma satyam jaganmithya.’ Put water in the dish and keep it in the open sky. What do you see? The whole sky comes in the dish. You see the sun, the moon and the stars in the dish. Is it true? No, it is not true; it is false. In the night, you sleep. You go in dreams. Now you are in another world. You talk, eat, drink, and move like awakened state. Is it true? No, it is also not true. In deep sleep, the world is vanished. Similarly, in trance, the world vanishes. In the darkness, you see a rope and think it to be a snake. Nevertheless, the only thing, which always exists and never vanishes, is ‘I’.
We say about the dream false and the world true. Is that so? If both vanish, then how one can be false and another true. The only difference is duration. The dream is shorter compared to awakened state. Hence, when we awake, we think the dream false. When we will think about the awakened state world from the dream world, it will seem false. That is why, in deep sleep and in trance, both the world vanish.
‘ Man eb manushyanan karanan bandh mokshayoh.’ The world is nothing but the assumption of the mind. The mind is itself collection of thoughts. When it rests in its home (Heart), all thoughts vanish. In deep sleep and in trance the mind is in its home. At those times the only thing remains is pleasure. There is only bliss.
The mind is itself ‘I’. When it is in its home (heart), it is pure I (The Soul). When it is outside it is false I (mind). This is the only source to get liberation or to feel bondage. The mind is like the stick, which burns the body (thoughts). When the body is burnt, the stick is also put on the same funeral pile.
What happened in the past was good, what is being at present, is good and what will be in the future, will be good. Only I (Soul, Brahma) shines everywhere irrespective of time and space. There is nothing else. I am the whole world and the whole world is in me. Thus, the whole world with the Brahma is true and without Him is false. Only Gyani knows the truth. We should do our duty without thinking ourselves doer. Samjho jag ko na nira sapna, path aap prasasta karo apna. – Ohm Namo Bhagvate Shree Ramanay.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

SPECIALIZATION

Human brain has unlimited power. One can get everything what he wants. We see man doing so many miracles in our day-to-day life, which seem impossible. In circus, we see artists doing audacious jobs. We come to know about a person who can recite the whole Gita without the help of the book. I have seen Naiyayikjee (Pt. Tofalal) and Pt. Tarakant jha praying the whole Durga- Saptasati before Man Durga without the help of the book. Even to-day there are so many persons who can recite the whole book. It has become due to regular practice. By strong will, courage and hard labor one can do impossible acts. When we do a job with full heart and labor, we enjoy it. The job is performed easily and seems amusement.
The ancient society was based on specialization. In Hinduism, we believe in rebirth. After the death, the soul becomes free and chooses the family according to its will. In previous life, so many wills remain unfulfilled. When the soul gets freedom to choose the womb according to its choice, it chooses the place where such wills can easily be fulfilled. This theory also supports specialization. Suppose you are alone in a crowd. You have to make a friend. To whom will you choose? Obviously, the person whose behavior matches with me. Thus, the very baby has the seed of the occupation of the family. Abhimanue knew the tricks of breaking chakrabueh in the very womb. Krishna, Ram, Maharshi Ramana, Ramkrishna Paramhans, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc. were born having previous birth virtues. The genius in any field is the output of the training started in the very childhood. Sankaracharge, Vivekanand, Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore, Tendulkar, Don Bradman, Vishwanathan Anand, Pele, William sisters, Einstein, C.B. Raman, Newton etc. have not become in a day. Potter’s son is expert in pottery, goldsmith’s in ornament making, cobbler’s in shoe making, barber’s hair cutting, tailor’s tailoring, fisherman’s fishing, Brahman’s education (studying and teaching) and spiritualism, Rajput’s bravery, businessmen’s trading etc. Persons of one field may do the job of another field, but cannot be expert and genius. Brahmin’s son cannot be expert in shoe making and cobbler’s son cannot be topper of pottery.
Our shastras have always said about prarabdha. We should expertise ourselves in the profession, which has been allotted to us. Change of occupation seldom produces genius. There may be exception but rare.
Now a day we see people cursing their situations. We always praise other’s occupations and circumstances and weep on ours. If I fail, I blame my conditions. Shastras say to make one’s situation ideal rather cursing it. The Almighty has put me in the best place. Alternatively, one should think that he has himself willfully chosen the situation. The success is in your feet. The only necessity is to leave laziness and do your allotted jobs full heatedly. When I proceed one step, Almighty brings the destination two steps nearer. God helps those who help themselves. His grace is always with us. -----------------------------OHM NAMO BHAGVATE SHREE RAMANAY.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

KRISHNASHTAMI (1)

Today is Krishnashtami. It is most pious day. It is the birthday of Lord Krishna. He is the perfect personality. He is all rounder. He is the climax of all fields. The Almighty manifested Himself as Krishna. His representatives have come so many times to the earth having perfection in one or two fields. Ram came to establish social dignity. He showed the ideal love among brothers. The kingship was like football among the brothers. For this very crown, kings of later days killed their so many brothers and even put their fathers in prison. Ram showed to love and obey stepmother more than one’s own mother. He showed the idealism of sacrifice by leaving king’s most beloved queen for ordinary public remarks. Buddha established non-violence. Harishchandra truth, Vaman to kill ego of charity of king Bali and Parasuram came adopting angriness. When kshatriya kings started doing injustice, he killed all kshatriyas of the world seventeen times.
From the very beginning (at the time of taking birth), Krishna chose the toughest situation, the womb of a woman prisoner whose husband was also in the prison. A very cruel and fearful enemy was ready with a sword in the hand to kill, as soon as the new baby comes out of the womb. The cruel enemy had already killed his six elder newborn babies and one became miscarriage. Therefore, repetition of the same event was dead sure. The time was mid night of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Ashtami, which is famous for its darkness. Ashtami might have been chosen for his being the eighth son or for other reasons; otherwise, it should have been Amavashya. Moreover, it was raining cats and dogs. The baby was to be carried to Gokul from Mathura prison. In between, the river Yamuna was over flooded with high current. That was the climax of the adverse situation. But all adverse situations became normal. Heavy iron gates of jail were automatically unlocked, soldiers slept, river Yamuna became calm and water was lowered and a new baby girl took birth in Baba Nand’s home at Gokul which was replaced by Krishna. Basudev brought the baby girl to Mathura prison. Everything became normal as usual and no one knew the event. In the morning, Kans came to know about Devaki’s delivery. Seeing the baby girl, he took her in his hand and threw her on a stone to kill her. But the baby girl slipped from his hand and fled in the sky speaking ‘ Your killer has taken birth’. His earlier prophets had taken births in better situations. The maximum the pain in the start, the better the result in future.
Miraculous works were begun to be performed in the very childhood. Pootna, Keshi, Kaliya Nag, Trinavart, Shakat- bhanjan, Vatsasur, Vakasur, Aghasur, Dhenukasur, Pralambasur, Arishtasur, Vyomasur, Kuvaliyapir, Chanur, Mushtik and Kans himself were killed in the very beginning. So many other miraculous works like Yamalarjun release from sin, lifting of Govardhan Mountain, bringing of Nand baba from Varunlok, bringing of Guru Sandipan’s son from Yamlok etc, were performed in the very childhood.
World’s best book Gita has come directly from Lord Krishna’s mouth. The book is the collection of preachings of the Lord to Arjun (His most favorite devotee). Gita is the summary of Vedas. All shastras have come from Vedas. Vedas have come from Brahma’s mouth. Brahma has taken birth from the navel of the Lord (Vishnu-Krishna). Therefore, there have been many deviations between shastras and Lord. But Gita has come out from the very mouth of Lord. Karmayog and Sankhyayog are same. When we do not worry about the result of any work, only do our duty is Karmayog. When we do not think ourselves doer of any work, it is Sankhyayog. ‘Gita sugita kartavya,kimanyaih shastra vistaraih; yaa swayan padmanavasya, mukh padma dwinihsrita.’
‘Ohm Krishnay Vashudevay Haraye Parmatmane, Pranat klesh nashay Govinday namo namah’. --------Ohm Ramanarpanmastu.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

KAMESHWAR (३)

Kameshwar’s eldest son is TNJ. He was very intelligent in his primary stage. Having fair complexion his physical appearance was very attractive. The only minus point was his short height. He is perhaps 5’ 4” tall. He is a good orator. He can speak for several days uninterrupted. He knows all shastras. He is jack-of-all-trades but master of none. He has little school knowledge. He never visited any modern school. However, he has gained some knowledge of Sanskrit in traditional school of old time, Brahmacharyashram.
Mithila is famous for Sanskrit education. Janak, Gautam, Yagyawalkya, Maitrey, Kanad, Mandan Mishra where Shankaracharya was defeated, Sir Ganganath Jha, Amarnath jha, Vidya Vachaspati Madhushudan Mishra, Umesh Mishra, Jay Madhav Thakur, Munishwarjha, Jaymant Mishra, Sadanand Jha and so many uncounted scholars have taken birth here who are the pride of our country. There is a Sanskrit vidyalaya at Karmauli. This vidyalaya is about 100 year old. Previously it was called Vidyapati Brahmacharyashram Sanskrit Vidyalaya. Now it is called Sanskrit Uchcha Vidyalaya. When it was Brahmacharyashram, all Sanskrit subjects (Veda,Vyakaran-grammar,Jyotish, Sahitya etc) were taught here. Teachers were great scholars. I have seen Gurujee-Pt. Jaymadhav Thakur, Vidya Kaka-Pt. Vidyanand Jha, Jyotshijee-Pt Raghavendra Jha, Vaidikjee-Pt. Harishchandra Mishra teaching students there. They all were well versed in their subjects. The Acharya level (M.A.) teaching was given in the vidyalaya. Great scholars were created there. When it was converted to Sanskrit Uchcha Vidyalaya, teaching of so many modern subjects was started. What was the necessity to start the teachings of physics, chemistry, mathematics, English, history etc. in Sanskrit school, is beyond my understanding. There are so many established modern high schools for the better education of these subjects. Perhaps there was long-term politics to destroy the Sanskrit education. Moreover, it became so and anty sanskrit persons became successful in their mission. Now there is no student and no teacher there. Due to government policies, the 100-year-old vidyalaya could not get recognition, while the new born vidyalayas managed to get it. Ignorance, simplicity and laziness of teachers also caused the event.
Guruji was teaching Sahitya and Vyakaran, but he had the knowledge of all subjects. All Sanskrit scholars of the area honored him too much. Most of them were his students, some were friends and a few were seniors. Pt. Vidyanand taught Sahitya and Vyakaran. Pt. Raghvenra taught Jyotish and Vaidik Harishchandra taught Vedas. All these teachers were Guruji’s students also. When Vedas were recited by brahmacharis, passersby stayed for a while to listen and enjoyed too much.
Brahmacharyashram was beside the main road. There was a playground beside it. A beautiful garden was before it. Flowers of different varieties were there. The vidyalaya was east facing. Walls were mud built and the roof was thatched. In the back, there were big trees of kaners (funnel shaped yellowish or white small flowers). In the north, there was a Karauna bush (fruits are smaller size like small berry; taste is sour and are used as sauce or pickle). In the front (eastern side), there was a 4’0” wide pathway in the middle of the garden. Bigger size Genda was main attraction. East to the garden there was a small lawn of size 40’*40’. There was beautiful green grass there. In the evening people used to sit in the lawn. Sometimes Guruji also sat with some disciples there. Generally, Guruji sat in the vidyalaya on a cot and people sat around him. In the eastern side of the lawn, there was 8’ pathway north to south. It started from the main road and ended to the primary school, which was latter converted to middle school. East to the pathway there was a garden of bigger flowers’ trees. Kaner, Goldmohar, Ashok, Kadamb etc were the main attraction. It was under primary school. Naiyayakji (Pt. Tofalal) was the headmaster. Jyotshiji (Pt. Bhagirath) was assistant teacher. There was a teacher of Babupali. A teacher Tatma Master was very tough and well known in the area for beating students. Nevertheless, the teaching was very good. The headmaster Naiyayakji was very coward. He became nervous whenever deputy inspector of schools visited the school. Jyotshiji was a balanced person and was managing things. At the age of five, when I was a student of class one in the school, the deputy inspector was the biggest officer for us. It was because we were afraid of the teachers and they were afraid of the deputy inspector. I was always thinking to be a deputy inspector to take revenge from the teachers.
TNJ was a student of Brahmacharyashram. Brahmacharis begged in the villages. Collected grains and other materials were their meal. They brought wood from the forest and brought water from pond to cook and to drink. They slept on the ground. Their duty was to serve guruji. When guruji was pleased, he taught one lesson. They got the lesson by heart. Then next lesson was taught. Again, it was repeatedly recited to get by heart. The lessons were recited loudly in groups. So this was stable lifelong. TNJ, Nathuni and so many others have all those shlokas in their memory even today, although they are in eighties. Karmachariji (Shrikrishna thakur) took the brahmacharis to nearby villages in-group to rich persons. They gave grains, woods, bamboos and grass for thatching the roof. TNJ was most intelligent brahmachari. His brain was very sharp. Contrarily Nathuni was very dull. Bramacharis visited yagyas. Scholars took their interviews. TNJ was always selected to participate. TNJ’s cousin KNJ was in railways at Ashansole. Once he fled with his cousin to Ashansole. He worked for some days with A.H.Wheeler & Co. Latter started job in railways. He became a good driver. He was the driver of Howrah- Delhi Rajdhani express also. He retired in 1995. Since then he lives at Karmauli.
At Karmauli he has no work at all. His younger HNJ retired in 1996 one year later after TNJ. However, he is a good farmer and is always busy in farming. TNJ goes Durga Mandir in the morning and evening regularly. In the evening pandits (Sanskrit scholars) gather at durga mandir. They recite Sanskrit shlokas about two hours. Among them Pt. Lakshaman, Pt. Raghav, Pt. Bhagirath, Pt. Harishchandra, Abhaykant, Tnj, Nathuni and so many others were regular. Last year resp. Abhaykant died. This is a great attraction and reputation of Karmauli. People of far off villages praise karmauli. Previously due to Guruji, the evening was famous. Scholars gathered around him and discussed different shastras. In the last of durga puja festival, after immersion of statues, we gather at durga mandir every year. We talk about Bhagvati and her grace and prayers are offered by scholars. Scholars preach and audiences are advantaged. This function is also praised in the area.-----------contd.