Parivaraachaka
This text was machine-transcribed from the printed book and may contain errors. Select the words and choose “Report a mistake”.
(The days of wandering)
Swami's quest for truth took him across the country, from Tapovan in the Himalayas to Kanyakumari in the south, and from Dwaraka in the west to Calcutta in the east.
Sleeping in caves and graveyards, living on alms, he led a precarious life for years, never staying in the same place for more than a few months. But it was a journey that would cover some of the loveliest natural landscapes and the holiest pilgrimage spots in the country.
Presented here are some of the most significant spots in his wanderings.
Madurai
Pondicherry
Kanyakumari
One of Swami's favourite haunts was the Kali Temple at Dakshineshwar, where Sri Ramakrishna used to worship regularly in his time. (above)
The temple town of Puri in Orissa, on the east coast of India. (above)
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the Chaar Dhaam, the four holiest Hindu pilgrimage spots in India. The temple's Rath Yatra (Car Procession) is famous worldwide. During the Yatra, the deity (Lord Jagannath) is taken out in a mighty chariot towed by thousands of devotees. Many people, in a frenzy of ecstasy, throw themselves under the wheels of the chariot, in the belief that to die in this supremely honourable manner is to instantly attain mukti (salavation from rebirth). The English word 'juggernaut' ('to crush') takes its meaning from this phenomenon.
The splendid Taj Mahal at Agra. (alongside)
Swami was so enthralled by the ethereal loveliness of the Taj and the river Yamuna, that he stayed and meditated there for seven days. Visitors are allowed to remain on the premises only strictly during visiting hours every day. How then did Swami manage to spend a whole week there? The question meets with a characteristically mischievous smile and no reply.