Swami Vivekananda Quotes: September 2014

Mon Chalo Nijo Niketane (Bengali: মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে) is a Bengali devotional song, composed by Ayodhyanath Pakrashi (alternative spelling: Ajodhyanath Pakrashi), a Brahmo Samaj leader. In 1881, when Narendranath Datta (pre-monastic name of Vivekananda) first met Ramakrishna at Surendranath Mitra's house in Calcutta, he sang this and few other devotional songs.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Lyrics

Here is the original Bengali lyrics of this song—

মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে

সংসার বিদেশে বিদেশীর বেশে

ভ্রম কেন অকারণে

মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে।

বিষয়-পঞ্চক আর ভূতগণ

সব তোর পর কেহ নয় আপন

পরপ্রেমে কেন হয়ে অচেতন ভুলিছ আপনজনে

মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে।

সত্যপথে মন কর আরোহণ,

প্রেমের আলো জ্বালি চল অনুক্ষণ

সঙ্গেতে সম্বল রাখো পূণ্যধন

গোপনে অতি যতনে

লোভ-মোহাদি পথে দস্যুগণ,

পথিকের করে সর্বস্ব সমশন

পরম যতনে রাখোরে প্রহরী

শম, দম দুইজনে

মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে।

সাধুসঙ্গ নামে আছে পান্থধাম,

শ্রান্ত হলে তথায় করিবে বিশ্রাম

পথভ্রান্ত হলে শুধাইবে পথ সে পান্থনিবাসী গণে।

যদি দেখ পথে ভয়েরই আকার

প্রাণপণে দিও দোহাই রাজার

সে পথে রাজার প্রবল প্রতাপ,

শমণ ডরে যার শাসনে।

মন চলো নিজ নিকেতনে।

সংসার বিদেশে বিদেশীর বেশে

ভ্রম কেন অকারণে।

Translation

Here is an approximate translation of the song, collected from Wikisource—
(Note: here in this translation, we have tried matching with Bengali lyrics' stanzas)

Let us go back once more, O mind, to our own abode!
Here in this foreign land of earth
Why should we wander aimlessly in stranger’s guise?

Let us go back once more, O mind, to our own abode!

These living beings round about, and the five elements;
Are strangers to you, all of them; none is your own.
Why do you thus forget yourself,
In love with strangers, O my mind?
Why do you thus forget your own?

Ascend the path of Truth, O mind!
Unflaggingly climb, with Love as the lamp to light your way.
As your provision for the journey, bring with you

The virtues, carefully concealed; for, like two highwaymen,

Greed and delusion wait to rob you of your wealth.
And keep beside you constantly,
As guards to shelter you from harm,
Calmness of mind and self-control.

Companionship with holy men will be for you
A welcome rest-house by the road;
There rest your weary limbs awhile, asking your way,
If ever you should be in doubt, of him who watches there.

If anything along the path should frighten you,
Then loudly shout the name of the Lord;
For He is Ruler of that road,
And even Death must bow to Him.

Audio/Video

You may listen to this song here —

Or search more in YouTube.

In popular culture

This song has been included in several films and music albums, such as—
[This list might be incomplete, do you have some information? Please write in the comment section below]

Films

Swami Vivekananda (1998), Hindi language film directed by G. V. Iyer. Translation of the song Chalo Man Jaye Ghar Apne (Hindi: चलो मन जाये घर अपने ) was used in this film. K. J. Yesudas was the singer and the Hindi translation was done by Gulzar.
The Light: Swami Vivekananda (2013), (Bengali and Hindi) film directed by Utpal (Tutu) Sinha. The song was sung by Subhankar Bhaskar.

Music albums

Dekha Hobe Ei Banglay (2013), Bengali music album. In this album "Mon Chalo Nijo Niketane" was sung by Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty
This song is also been sung by notable singers like Ashoketaru Bandopadhyay, Indranil Sen, Anup Jalota.

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This page was last updated on: 29 September 2014, 4:36 am IST (UTC+5:30 hours)
Number of revisions in this page: 2

We are moving towards Durga Puja (Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা) or Sharodotsav (Bengali: শারদোৎসব) 2014. Today^[1] is chaturthi (Bengali: চতুর্থী).

This is a special article of this website, and here our topic is Swami Vivekananda and Durga Puja.

Swami Vivekananda and Durga Puja

It is a well-known fact that Ramakrishna, the master of Swami Vivekananda, was a worshiper of Hindu goddess Kali. Vivekananda also told in his later life that Kali worship was his "special fad".^[Source]

$Durga idol$

Durga Puja at Belur Math
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

In the works of Swami-ji, we can't find any detailed discussion on Hindu goddess Durga, but he initiated the Belur Math's famous Durga Puja in 1901. The Puja is still continuing and is one of the most notable Pujas of West Bengal.
In May/June 1901, Swami-ji first expressed his desire to celebrate Durga Puja at Belur Math. Let's read from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Conversations And Dialogues—

(Swami-ji, to a disciple) This time I have a desire to celebrate the Durga Puja (worship of goddess Durga). If the expenses are forthcoming, I shall worship the Mahamaya. Therefore I have a mind to read the ceremonial forms of that worship. When you come to the Math next Sunday, you must bring a copy of the book with you.

Vivekananda wished to worship "the Mahamaya". The resolution to worship goddess Durga was taken in the name of Sarada Devi.

In October 1898, Swami-ji mentioned in a letter written to Haripada Mitra that he had not witnessed Durga Puja for last nine years.

. . .and I have not witnessed the Durga-Puja for the last nine years; so I am starting for Calcutta. . .^[Source]

At the same time Swami-ji wrote to Ajit Singh of Ketri— ^[Source]

For the last ten years or so I have not seen the Puja of Shri Durga in Bengal which is the great affair there. I hope this year to be present.

We have done some studies and these studies show that in 1901, Durga Puja was observed from 19 October to 22 October. Here is a quick calendar view—

1901 Durga Puja Calendar

19 October, Saturday (1901): Maha Shahsthi
20 October. Sunday: Maha Saptami
21 October, Monday: MahaAshtami and Maha Navami
22 October, Tuesday: Viajaya Dashami or Dussehra

The arrangement of the Puja was done by Swami Brahmananda. The worship was done following Tantric rituals, but no animal sacrifice was done.

This was the first Durga Puja at Belur Math and this Puja "took place with great eclat at the proper time."^[Source]

Later on 12 November (1901), Swami-ji wrote about Belur Math's first Durga Puja celebration in a letter—^[Source]