In the historic city of Ahmedabad

One day when a sub-judge of Ahmedabad was coming out of Ahmedabad Railway Station, he saw a sturdy and stout sannyasi sitting under a pipal tree, who had a look of greatness around him. He went to the monk and talked with him and became so much impressed that he at once requested him to be his guest. Both got into the waiting tonga and soon arrived at the house of the host - Shri Lalshankar Umiashankar Trivedi - residing at 36 Amritlal's Pole in Khadia the heart of the city of Ahmedabad.

Soon Shri Lalshankar realized that his guest was an unusual person with a good knowledge of almost everything in the world. The unknown monk was of course, none other, than Swami Vivekananda. Although the house was spacious, it lacked the required tranquility for meditation and reading, so Shri Lalshankar took Swamiji to another house he had in Ellisbridge behind the townhall. The house became a beehive of activity with many people flocking to hear and meet Swamiji, who lectured on several topics including high philosophy.

Shri Lalshankar (1845-1912) was decorated with the titles of Kaiser-e-Hind, Rao Bahadur and certificates of merit by the Government as a reward for his social services. He was one of the pioneers in Gujarat to start a campaign for women's education and to work for uplifting the untouchables. There was hardly any institution of social service at Ahmedabad with which he was not associated. Both the host and the guest presumably discussed many important issues concerning education and social service apart from philosophy and religion.

During his stay in the historic city of Ahmedabad which was known as Karnavati in the olden times, he visited many places of historic interest. In the olden times it was the capital of Sultans of Gujarat and one of the handsomest cities of India and as Sir Thomas Roe spoke of it, it was in his day "a goodly city as large as London". Swami Vivekananda rejoiced in the Jain culture of the place with its beautiful temples and also in its Mohammedan culture and marvelled at the glory of its mosques and tombs. Here he improved his knowledge of Jainism and held conversations with several Jain scholars. After spending about 11 days in this manner Swamiji proceeded towards Wadhwan - then an important state of Kathiawar.

Sadhu In Danger

After seeing the ancient temple of Sati Ranak Devi at Wadhwan, Swamiji came to Limbdi, the chief town of the cotton producing Limbdi State. Arriving in the evening Swamiji noticed a 'Shiva temple at the outskirts in a dilapidated condition. But since the place was inhabitable, the priest of the temple directed him to another place nearby. He had not the slightest idea of the character of that place but soon he had found that the sadhus belonged to a degenerate sect of sex-worshippers whose religious ideas were exceedingly crude and horribly vulgar! He wanted to leave the place but to his horror he found that he had been made a prisoner. He trembled with fear when he was made aware of the nefarious purpose of these sadhus. The high-priest of this sect accosted him saying, "You are a Sadhu with a magnetic personality, evidently you have practiced Brahmacharya for years. Now you must give us the fruit of your long austerity. We shall break your Brahmacharya in order to perform a special Sadhana, and thereby we shall be enabled to acquire certain Sidhhis, or psychic powers."

"Now what to do?" Swamiji started thinking after he had been left alone in the room. While praying to the Mother of Universe he made up his mind and his whole personality shook with a terrible resolve, "Not even if they kill me, will I let them break my life long vows!"

Just then, the boy who used to deliver milk to him, and who had become his devotee at first sight, came there. When Swamiji told the boy of this situation, the boy asked him in a whisper if he could be of any help to him. Swamiji thought for a moment and then eagerly said "Yes! Yes! my boy." He had jumped to a sudden conclusion, and seizing a bit of charcoal lying near, he picked up a piece of earthen jar and scribbled as well as he could, few words about his sad plight then putting it into the boy's hand he said, "Here ! Hide this beneath your chaddar and run with it as fast as you can to the Maharaja's palace and hand it over to the Maharaja himself and inform him of my situation." The boy did as he was told. He hurried to the palace and gained access to Maharaja who immediately sent some of his guards to his rescue.

Now Swamiji came to stay in the palace at the earnest request of Maharaja. It was a beautiful palace built by Maharaja in 1881 under the supervision of Mr.Brush, the Engineer of Kathiawad Agency at a cost of Rs. 5 lacs from a prototype building plan of a typical town hall of an American city with a unique clock tower with musical chimes. Maharaja had brought special furniture from abroad and decorated the beautiful palace with the help of the famous artist Mr. Vanaruth, well-known all over the country in those days.

Swamiji stayed in this beautiful palace for many days and held discussion in Durbar hall of the palace with Maharaja Thakore Saheb of Limbdi, Shri Yashwantshinji (1859-1907) who was a brilliant, learned and cultured prince. He was the first Kathiawar Chief to visit England (in 1876). During his second trip to England he took part in the Jubilee Celebration of Her Majesty the Queen Empress in 1887, who with her own hands bestowed upon him the decoration of K.C.I.E. He had also visited America. President Cleaveland warmly greeted the Maharaja at the White House in Washington DC. Thakore Saheb described in detail what he had learnt from his visits to England and America and requested Swamiji to go to these countries for preaching Sanatana Dharma. Thakore Saheb of Limbdi was the first among the Maharajas to inspire Swamiji to go to the West for preaching work.

Swamiji discussed various topics with Thakore Saheb. Both were young (Thakore Saheb was about four years older than Swamiji. He was born on 23-5-1859) and soon both became intimate friends. Thakore Saheb was astonished to find that Swamiji's knowledge was not only limited to spiritual matters but his extraordinary brilliance could comprehend almost any subject on earth. Swamiji too, started to admire the extra-ordinary genius of Thakore Saheb who did much in the cause of education. Thakore Saheb was of the firm opinion that for the regeneration of India to take place, Indian women must be educated. His adroit handing of the difficult problems that arise between the ruler and the ruled, and his ability to express his views in good English, attracted the attention of His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, who offered him a seat in the local Legislative council. Thakore Saheb, performed his duties in such an efficient manner that His Excellency Lord Raey wrote:

"My dear friend, now that your term of office in the Legislative Council has expired, I write to say how sorry I am. The Government will be deprived in the future of your service and I must be permitted to add that in you Kathiawar had a most worthy representative."

Efficient in administration and a great philanthropist at heart, he was a pious man, a true Rajarshi. English writer John Houston wrote about him :
" The purity of his life has elicited for him the title, "Great Janaka" who was an ornament in bygone ages and was endowed with great wisdom."

Most of the discussion between Swamiji and Thakore Saheb were presumably on spiritual matters because Thakore Saheb was a highly spiritual man. He used to spend a lot of time reading and discussing about religion and philosophy. He had already studied a great many Hindu scriptures as well as books of Western writers. Moreover, Thakore Saheb had no children and his younger brother had passed away on 25-8-1891 (just three months before he met Swamiji) so he was in a solemn and receptive mood to discuss about spiritual matters. Having been charmed with the spiritual power of Swamiji, he took mantra-diksha and became his disciple.

After spending a few days in the pleasant company of Thakore Saheb, Swamiji left Limbdi for visiting other places in Gujarat(probably in December 1891). He obtained letters of introduction from Thakore Saheb who advised him to be more circumspect while choosing his lodging. Swamiji too had learnt his lesson and began to be more careful. After visiting Junagadh, Dwaraka, Somnath, Porbandar, Bhuj, Narayan Sarovar, Bhavnagar, Palitana, Nadiad, Baroda etc. Swamiji reached Bombay (in the end of April 1892) and from there he went to Mahabaleshwar to spend the summer there. He found to his surprise and joy that Thakore Saheb was also holidaying there. Thakore Saheb was delighted to meet his Guru and requested him to be his guest. Swamiji gladly agreed. After spending the summer at Mahabaleswar, Swamiji went to Poona and again spent a few days with Thakore Saheb. During this period both of them discussed many spiritual topics. These discussions were noted down by Thakore Saheb in his diary. Extracts of this diary (Nondhpothi) have been published in the book " Shri Yashwant Charit " in Gujarati (First published in 1896). On 9 May 1892. Thakor Saheb wrote " I am pleasantly surprised at Swami Vivekananda's deep knowledge of the Shastras. My knowledge of Shastras has been much increased through discussion with him."

Thakore Saheb become so much attached to Swamiji that he requested him repeatedly "Swamiji, do come with me to Limbdi and remain there for good." Swamiji replied, "Not now. Maharaja, I have work to do. It presses me onwards, But if ever I live the life of retirement it shall be with you." ... But alas ! Swamiji was never to lead the life of retirement. He entered Mahasamadhi in harness of work on 4th July 1902 before reaching his fortieth year. Thakore Saheb too passed away soon after on 15th April 1907. According to Elizabeth Sharpe, "He had never quite recovered from the shock of a part of his palace being accidentally burnt down from which he and his surviving Rani had to escape at night. The memory of the magnificent Limbdi Library with its wonderful Old Sanskrit manuscripts would invariably bring tears to the Prince's eyes."