Swami Advaitananda’s Birthday
Swami Virajananda, a disciple of Vivekananda, left this account of Advaitananda:
In September 1895 I stopped at Varanasi on my way to Vrindaban and stayed with Gopal-da at Banshi Datta’s house. His room was small, but neat and clean. He was very methodical and economical. Very early in the morning, even in the cold winter, he would bathe in the Ganges and return to his cottage chanting the Sanskrit hymns on gods and goddesses. He practised japam and meditation until 9:00 a.m., and then he would go to beg for alms from door to door. He was extremely punctual about his spiritual disciplines, eating, sleeping, walking, and other activities. Though his belongings were very few, everything was kept in its proper place. This indicated his great taste and orderliness. In the afternoon during our walk, he would show me the important places of Varanasi. Gopal-da, Swami Satchidananda, and I circumambulated Panchakoshi [the holy city of Varanasi] in four days and covered forty-four miles. We walked until noon and then we cooked, ate, and took rest. At night we slept under a tree by the side of the road.
–God Lived with Them, Swami Chetanananda