Narendranath by now was restlessly seeking God but found inadequate response from the leading lights of the day, the celebrated spiritual leaders of the city of Calcutta where he was resident. Through his associations with the Brahmo Samaj where he was quite a prominent singer at their festivals, he had been acquainted with the venerable patriarch of the Adi Brahmo Samaj, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore. One day Narendranath swam through the Ganga to arrive in the presence of Maharshi who was then in spiritual retirement in a house-boat afloat on the river. Pointblank he threw the question at the meditative Maharshi, "Maharshi, have you seen God?" The venerable one, startled by this sudden intrusion and being accosted thus, replied, "How beautiful are your eyes, just like the ones adorning the yogis! You should meditate." Failing to draw a direct response to his question, Narendranath plunged back in the river and swam ashore. But the doubts lingered and the quest for the conquest of the soul had begun in this redoubtable revolutionary of the Spirit.
Written by Sugata Bose
Photo (source -- internet) : Maharshi Devendranath Tagore
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