Anandamath

Chapter V

After Satyananda had finished conversing with Mohendra, he entered the inner chamber of the temple which was adorned with that huge four-armed image of great loveliness. What beauty reigned there! Innumerable tapers, carved out of gold and precious stones lit the room. Heaps of flowers decorated the room pleasing the senses with their fragrance. In the temple some one else was seated softly chanting “Harey Murarey.” As soon as Satyananda entered the room he arose and did obeisance to Satyananda touching his feet. Brahmachari asked him, “Will you be initiated?”

The other replied. ‘Take compassion on me and initiate me.”

Then Satyananda addressing him and Mohendra said, “Have you both bathed, fasted and purified yourselves by self-control?”

Both replied. “Yes.”

Satyananda: Will you both swear before God that you will observe the rules of the Santans?

Both: “We agree.”

Satyananda: As long as the salvation of the Mother is not attained will you eschew the life of a householder?

Both: “We agree”

Satyananda: Will you leave your parents?

Both: “We will leave them.”

Satyananda: Your brothers and sisters?

Both: “We will renounce them.”

Satyananda: Relations and servants?

Both: “We will renounce all.”

Satyananda: Riches and enjoyments?

Both: “We hereby renounce everything.”

Satyananda: Will you conquer all sensual enjoyments? Will you never sit on the same seat with a woman?

Both: We shall not sit on the same seat with a woman. We shall conquer all sensual enjoyments.

Satyananda: Swear before God that either for yourself or for your people you will not earn money. That which you will earn you will give to the Vaishnava treasury.

Both: We shall do so.

Satyananda: For the true religion will you take up arms and fight?

Both: We shall do so.

Satyananda: You will never fly or turn back in war?

Both: No.

Satyananda: If you break your oath?

Both: We shall mount a lighted pyre or take poison and thus embrace death.

Satyananda: One more thing. What about your caste? What caste are you? Mohendra is a Kayastha. What is the caste of the other?

The other person replied. “I am a young Brahmin.”

Satyananda: It is very well. Will you consent to give up your caste? All Santans belong to the same caste. In this great vow we do not distinguish between Brahmins and Sudras. What is your opinion?

Both: We shall not make any distinction. We are all the children of the same Mother.

Satyananda: Then I shall initiate you. Do not break the vows you have just taken. Murari himself is the witness. He who is the destroyer of Ravana, Kangsha, Hiranyakashipu, Jarasandha, Sishupal etc., He who is the Knower of all our hearts, He who is the all-Conqueror, He who is the all-Powerful, the Ruler of the universe who dwells equally in the thunder of Indra or the claws of a cat, He it is who will destroy the breaker of vows and send him to eternal damnation.

Both: “Be it so.”

Satyananda: Sing Bande Mataram.

Both in that quiet temple sang this song of praise to the Mother Then the Brahmachari with proper rites initiated them.