Anandamath

Chapter VII

Mohendra having done obeisance at the feet of Satyananda left. The second disciple who had been initiated that same day came and did obeisance at the feet of Satyananda. Satyananda having blessed him permitted him to sit on the black deer-skin. After some pleasant conversation he asked him, “Well, you have deep faith in Krishna, have you not?”

The disciple said, “How can I say so? That which I think to be faith may be hypocrisy or self-deception.”

Satyananda pleased with him replied, “You have thought well. You should perform such duties whereby your devotion can daily grow deeper. I bless you that your efforts may bear fruit; you are very young of age. My son, by what name shall I call you? I have not yet asked you that.”

The new disciple replied. “Call me by what name soever pleases you. I am a slave of Vaishnavas.”

Satyananda: Because of your youth we wish to call you Navinananda. So you can adopt this name. But there is one thing I wish to ask you. What was your name previously. Even if there be a bar to telling me your name, still you should speak out. If you tell me your name it will not be revealing it to others. The essence of the Santan dharma is this, that, that which is not to be spoken out, that too must be told to the guru. There is no harm in telling it to me.

The disciple: My name is Santiram Deva Sharma.

Satyananda: “Your name is Santimani the sinner.”

Thus saying Satyananda twisting in his left hand his disciple’s: long raven black beard gave it a pull. The false beard came off and Satyananda said, “Fie my daughter, you wish to deceive even me and if you must deceive me, why at this age this long beard? But even if you had shortened your beard, your voice, the glances of your eyes, can you hide them? If I were so foolish could I accomplish so much?”

Santi, poor soul had already covered her eyes with both hands and was sitting with bent head. Immediately afterwards lowering her hands from her face and fixing her enchanting eyes on the old man’s face she said, “My lord, what fault have I committed? Is there never strength to be found in the arms of a woman?”

Satyananda: As water may be held in the small hollow made by the hoof of a cow.

Santi: Do you ever test the strength of the Santans?

Satyananda: I do so.

Thus saying Satyananda brought a steel bow and some wire and said — “You will have to string this steel bow with this wire.” The bow string must be a yard in length. Whilst stringing the bow the bow often unbends itself and throws down the person stringing it. He who can string this bow is indeed a strong man.”

Santi took the bow and arrow and examining it minutely asked: “Have all the Santans passed this test?”

Satyananda: No, by this test I have only been able to examine their strength.

Santi: Has any one been able to pass this test?

Satyananda: Yes, only four men.

Santi: May I ask who they are?

Satyananda: There is no bar to your knowing it. One of them is myself.

Santi: The others?

Satyananda: Jivananda, Bhavananda, Jnanananda.

Santi took the bow and without difficulty stringing it threw it at the feet of Satyananda.

Satyananda was surprised, afraid and astounded. After a little while he asked. “Are you a goddess or a mere woman?”

Santi with folded hands replied, “I am only a woman but I am a Brahmacharini.”

Satyananda: How is that? Are you a child widow? No! child widows cannot have this strength. They live on one meal a day only.

Santi: I am a married woman.

Satyananda: Your husband has disappeared?

Santi: No! His whereabouts is known. I have come in search of him.

Suddenly like the sun shining through the clouds, memory lit up the mind of Satyananda.

Satyananda said. Jivananda’s wife’s name was Santi. Are you Jivananda’s wife?

Now Santi covered her face with her matted locks. It seemed that the tusks of several elephants had fallen over and veiled the sun.

Satyananda continued, “Why have you come to commit this sin?”

Immediately Santi threw back her matted locks and with uplifted face and replied, “What sinful behaviour, my lord? If a wife follows the path of her husband is it sinful behaviour? If in the Santan-dharma this is regarded as sinful behaviour then the Santan-dharma is a base religion. I am his partner in religion. He is practicing his vows. I too have come to practice these vows with him.”

Having heard the fiery speech of Santi and seeing her uplifted head, her shoulders thrown back, her trembling lips, her bright yet tearful eyes, Satyananda was well pleased. He said, “You are a chaste wife indeed. But my daughter a wife is only a partner in the duties of a house-holder. What place can she have in his heroic deeds?”

Santi: What great hero has been a hero without a wife? If Rama had not Sita, would he have been a hero? How many wives had Arjuna? Can you count them? Bhima’s strength was as great as his wives were numerous. How many examples must I cite and why should I have to cite examples to you?

Satyananda: That is true. But what hero goes to the battle field with his wife?

Santi: When Arjuna was fighting with the army of the Jadavas from the air, who was driving his chariot? If Draupadi had not been with them would the Pandavas have fought in the battle of Kurukshetra?

Satyananda: That may be so. But they were demi-Gods. The mind of ordinary men are attracted by women so that they are distracted from their purpose. Because of this the vow of the Santans is this, that, they will not be seated on the same seat as a woman. Jivananda is my right arm. Do you want to break my right arm?

Santi: I have come to strengthen your right arm. I am a Brahmacharini and I shall remain a Brahmacharini. I have come only to practise my religion, not to see my husband. I am not overwhelmed with sorrow at the separation from my husband. Why should I not be a partner in the religion my husband has embraced? I have come for this purpose.

Satyananda: It is well. I shall test you for some days.

Santi asked: “Shall I be able to remain in Anandamath?”

Satyananda: Where can you go today?

Santi: After that?

Satyananda: Like the goddess Bhawani your brow flames like fire. Why should you burn the Santans?

Saying this and blessing Santi he asked her to depart.

Santi said to herself, “Just wait old chap. Does my brow flame like fire? Am I a burnt brow (an unlucky woman) or is your mother a burnt brow?”

Really Satyananda had not meant this. He had referred to the lightening of her glances. But can an old man say this to a young woman?