Turiyananda

“Whenever I think of the wonderful renunciation of Hari, about his steadiness of intellect and forbearance, I get a new access of strength!”  - Swami Vivekananda

Swami Turiyananda, also known as Hari Maharaj, was a blazing fire of renunciation – spreading warmth that emanated out of his highly developed spiritual personality. From his very boyhood till the end, his life was a great fight; in the beginning it was a fight for his own spiritual evolution; during the later days, to make those who came under the orbit of his influence better. He was as if unceasingly alert and vigilant so that everything in and around him might be the expression of the highest spirituality – something which was so very natural with him. He was a living example of a ‘Jivanmukta’ (free while still in the body).

Swami Turiyananda was born in a Brahmin family in North Calcutta. His family name was Harinath Chattopadhyaya. He lost his parents while very young and was brought up by his elder brother. From an early age his deep spiritual inclination was clearly evident.

It is said that if a man is sincere he meets with his spiritual guide unsought for. An innate desire for liberation in his life, kindled by the study of Vedantic works brought him to Shri Ramakrishna. The Master through his profound spiritual insight and easy ever-loving nature won Harinath’s heart. The Master destroyed two unhealthy trends in his nature – abhorrence of womanhood and excessive reliance on self-effort. Harinath became ardently devoted to the Master, his Guru, and surrendered himself heart and soul at his feet. Shri Ramakrishna, too, loved Harinath dearly. In the Master’s company the heavenly bliss he received engulfed him so profoundly that later no worldly sufferings could penetrate him.

After the passing away of the Master when the monastery at Baranagore had been established, Harinath joined it at the age of twenty-four years. After formally accepting the vow of life-long monasticism, he became ‘Swami Turiyananda’. His orthodox mental makeup made him undertake long and arduous journeys as an itinerant monk, and practice severe austerities as also study of the scriptures, being absorbed in the insight into the intricacies of their meaning. But he also tearfully prayed to the Divine Mother that all book learning might be wiped off from his mind, for what he wanted was God-realization and not dry intellectualism.

Swami Vivekananda had a great admiration for this brother disciple. In San Francisco, Swamiji once, in his characteristic way of presenting a point of view in the most emphatic and impressive manner, even belittling himself, told the students of Vedanta, “I have only talked, but I shall send you one of my brethren who will show you how to live what I taught.” And he sent Swami Turiyananda. Swami Turiyananda’s adoration for Swamiji was also unique. In spite of his great love for a life of intense spiritual practices, and his averseness to active missionary work, his great affection and respect for Swamiji

melted his heart. He would be ready to sacrifice anything for the one whom the Master had made the leader of the band.

Intensely meditative, gentle, quiet, unconcerned about the things of the world, Swami Turiyananda was a fire of spirituality. Wherever he went, his very presence was a tremendous inspiration. He did not care much for the public work and organization. He was for the few, not for big crowds. His work was with the individual-character building. The high expectation of the students of Vedanta on hearing Swamiji’s words was more than fulfilled when they came in contact with Swami Turiyananda in whom they found a living embodiment of Vedanta.

At times fiery exhortation came from the Swami to the students to make God-realization the only aim of life. “Clench your fists and say – I will conquer! Now or never – make that your motto, even in this life I must see God. That is the only way. Never postpone. What you know to be right, do that and do that at once, do not let any chance go by. The way to failure is paved with good intentions. That will not do. Remember, this life is for the strong, the persevering; the weak go to the wall. And always be on your guard. Never give in.”

After returning to India he spent his days mostly in austerity and in training the younger generation of monks. Shri Ramakrishna used to say, “If a cobra bites a man, its poison will have sure effect; in the same way, if a man comes in contact with a really spiritual person, his life is sure to be changed.” Those who came in touch with Swami Turiyananda or received training under him were transformed – metamorphosed. An American student of the Swami wrote: “To think of Swami Turiyananda is an act of purification of the mind; to remember his life, an impulse to new endeavour.”

He was a master of his senses, and once he sat down to meditate, external troubles could not reach the inner sanctuaries of his mind. He had a wonderful capacity to dissociate his mind from the body, and had many times undergone operations, without the necessity for any chloroform. He also had an extraordinary fortitude as well as living faith on God; so it was easy for him to bear any amount of physical suffering. Once when he had an eye-complaint, nitric acid was applied to one of his eyes by mistake. When the mistake was found out and everybody got alarmed, he simply smiled and said, “It is the will of the Mother.” Fortunately, the eye could be saved.

Swami Turiyananda began life with a firm belief in the utility of self-exertion, but ended in perfect resignation to the Divine will. But even in this submission he was uncompromising. Whatever he would do, he would apply the whole strength of his soul to it. One found him always sitting erect – even in his illness, even while on an easy chair, he would never bend his body. This simple physical characteristic represented, as it were, his mental attitude. He was unbending in not allowing Maya to catch him. In his self-exertion as well as self-surrender one would find a great spiritual force intensely active in him.

He had a feeling heart. He felt for the masses of India and encouraged all forms of philanthropic activities. He greatly eulogized the Seva work as inaugurated by Swamiji. Even while on his deathbed, he exhorted a fagged monk with the words: “Don’t doubt. Do the work started by Swamiji in the right spirit. From that itself will come Samadhi or any other supreme spiritual attainment. Have no doubt. Plunge headlong into work. Swamiji once told me, ‘Haribhai, I have chalked out a new path to God-realisation. So long people thought that salvation could be had only through prayer, meditation and the like. But now my boys will attain the bliss of liberation-in-life by mere selfless work.’ So have no doubt. It is his charge.”

Sri Ramakrishna had once remarked about Swami Turiyananda, “He comes from that transcendental region whence name and form are manufactured.” Swami Turiyananda justified his name, which means “transcendental bliss”. His life, absorbed in the bliss of God-consciousness, was a harmonious synthesis of Jnana, Karma, Yoga, Bhakti and beyond.