Anandamath

Chapter VIII

Santi had gained permission that night to remain in the Math. Many rooms were empty. A servant called Gobardhan — he too was a Santan of a low order — took a taper and showed Santi the rooms. Santi did not like any of them. Losing all hopes, Gobardhan was taking Santi back to Satyananda. Santi said: “Brother Santan, there are several rooms on this side — we have not seen them.”

Gobardhan replied: “These are very good rooms indeed, but there are people in them already.”

Santi: Who occupy them?

Gobardhan: The big generals occupy them.

Santi: Who are the big generals?

Gobardhan: Bhavananda, Jivananda, Dhirananda, Jnanananda. Ananda Math is full of Ananda.

Santi: Let us see their rooms.

Gobardhan first took Santi to Dhirananda’s room. Dhirananda was reading the chapter on Drona from the Mahabharata — how Abhimanyu fought with the seven heroes on their chariots. His mind was immersed in this. He did not speak. Santi left the room without saying anything.

After this Santi entered Bhavananda’s room. Bhavananda with eyes uplifted was meditating on a certain face. Whose face I do not know, but it was a very beautiful face. Raven black sweet scented curling hair fell upon a pair of beautifully arched pencilled eye brows, and in the midst was a crescent shaped forehead of extreme loveliness where the dark shadow of death was cast. As if there death and immortal beauty, were engaged in a struggle. Her eyes were closed, her brow peaceful, her lips blue, her cheeks pale, her nose cold, her bosom uplifted, the breeze was blowing on her clothes and disarranging them. Then as the moon hidden amidst autumn clouds gradually lights the clouds and appears in her full glory, as the morning sun, reflecting its golden rays on the white fleecy cloud is itself lit and lights the whole sky, bringing joy over land and water, to insects and all creatures, thus gradually the beauty of life was animating that corpse. Ah! What beauty! Bhavananda was meditating on it. He did not speak. His heart yearned for the beauty of Kalyani. He did not cast a glance at the beauty of Santi.

Santi then went to another room. She asked. “Whose room is this?”

Gobardhan replied: “This room belongs to Jivananda Thakur.”

Santi: Who is he? Why is no one here?

Gobardhan: He has gone somewhere. He will return immediately.

Santi: This is the best room.

Gobardhan: Still, you cannot occupy this room.

Santi: Why?

Gobardhan: Jivananda Thakur stays in this room.

Santi: He can find another room for himself if he wishes.

Gobardhan: That is not possible. He who occupies this room he may be called the head of the Math. Everything is done here according to his wishes.

Santi: Alright, you may go. If I cannot find a room I shall stay under a tree.

Saying this and having dismissed Gobardhan Santi entered that room. Having entered it she took the black deer-skin which belonged to Jivananda, spread it on the floor, brightened the taper, and taking one of Jivananda’s books began to read it.

After some time Jivananda returned. Although Santi was dressed as a man he immediately recognised her and said, “What is this, Santi?’

Santi slowly laid by the book and looking at Jivananda’s face said, “Who is Santi, Sir?”

Jivananda was amazed. At last he said, “Who is Santi, Sir? Why, are you not Santi?”

Santi replied with contempt, “I am Navinananda Goswami.” Saying this once more she turned her attention to the book she was reading.

Jivananda laughed loudly. He said, “This is a new farce indeed. Well Navinananda, why are you here?”

Santi replied: “Amongst gentlemen it is the custom, when one is newly acquainted, to address each other in terms of respect and address them as ‘Sir’ etc. I too am not speaking disrespectfully to you. Then why are you addressing me familiarly?”

“As you please, Sir,” Saying this Jivananda put his cloth about his neck and with folded hands said, “Most humbly your servant now requests to tell him why you have come from Bharuipur to this humble home.”

Santi very seriously replied, “I do not see any necessity for mockery either. I do not know Bharuipur, I have come this day to embrace the religion of the Santans and I have been initiated.”

Jivananda: What terrible misfortune! Is it true?

Santi: Why misfortune? You too are initiated?

Jivananda: You are a woman.

Santi: How is that? How did you come to that conclusion?

Jivananda: I thought my wife was a woman.

Santi: Have you a wife?

Jivananda: At least that is what I knew.

Santi: It is your belief that I am your wife?

Jivananda again with folded hands and his doth about his neck very humbly replied, “Certainly, Sir.”

Santi: If such an amusing idea has occurred to you, then what is your duty, can you tell me that?

Jivananda: I should forcibly take off your upper garment and kiss you.

Santi: This is your evil thought or your too great devotion towards ganjika. When you were initiated you swore, you would not sit on the same seat with a woman. If you believe me to be a woman — this kind of mistaking a rope for a snake often occurs — then you should sit on a different seat. It is against your duty too to talk to me.

Thus saying Santi once more put her attention to her book. Being defeated Jivananda made a separate bed for himself and lay down.