Humour at Porbandar

Acharya Revashankar Anupram Dave who was a centenarian, used to go to Bhojeswar Bungalow to meet Swamiji with his friend Madhav, while he was himself 18 years of age. Giving his memories of those days he said that one day the students of Sanskrit school were brought to Swamiji who talked to them mostly in Hindi, but at times Bengali and Sanskrit words used to creep in. One of the students Govindaji replied to Swamiji, "I went to Varanasi and have studied the 'Sama-veda'. I have learnt six Mantras (Shastras ?)" Then Swamiji asked, "Why did you not study further ?" Govindaji replied, "I happened to have Karela so I had to come back." On hearing the word 'Karela', Swamiji had a hearty laugh. 'Karela' means bitter gourd, but the boy had meant that he had an attack of cholera.

Beautiful Temples of Palitana

From Porbandar Swamiji came to Junagadh and then started for Palitana - a city of temples many of which date back to the eleventh century. High up on Shatrunjaya mountain sacred to the Jains, is a temple dedicated to Hanuman and a shrine dedicated to Hengar, a Muslim saint. According to Mr. James Fergusson, "the number of temples and small shrines number over 500. It is a city of the Gods and meant for them only. All the peculiarities of Jain Architecture are found in more marked degree at Palitana than at almost any other known place".38 Swamiji climbed to the top of the mountain to enjoy the view which is magnificent.

At Palitana Swamiji drew the attention of people because of his mastery of singing and playing on instruments. During his stay at Palitana, Shri Chunilal Sarabhai, Diwan of Palitana, had once invited him for meals.

With Shri Manilal Dwivedi at Nadiad

From Palitana Swamiji started for Baroda; but how could he avoid going to Nadiad on the way - which was the home town of his friends Shri Haridas Viharidas Desai, Shri Chhaganlal Pandya and Shri Manasukhram Tripathi? During his short stay here he met Shri Manilal Nabhubhai Dwivedi, the well-known Gujarati writer. His life (1858-1898) was spent in writing many books in Gujarati, English and Sanskrit including 'Immitation of Shankara', 'Rajayoga', 'Siddhanta Sar', 'Bhagavad Gita' etc. He could not go to Chicago Parliament of Religions but his paper was read out there. He was one of the pioneers in spreading Advaita Vedanta in Gujarat hence Swamiji must have enjoyed his company at Nadiad by holding discussions on Vedanta.

Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad of Baroda

From Nadiad, Swamiji came finally to Baroda before leaving Gujarat for Bombay, with a letter of introduction from Diwanji Saheb addressed to his intimate friend Shri Manibhai J. Diwan of Baroda, who was a man of piety and noble character. In 1884-85 he had received the title of Diwan Bahadur from the Government of India along with a medal and gift of Rs. 75,000 while he was the Diwan of Kutch. In Kutch he introduced great and beneficial reform in all departments - collection of revenue, education, sanitation etc.

At Baroda Diwan Shri Manibhai worked hard and there was spectacular progress in the field of education. Swamiji spent sometime with him in discussing about the education system of the State. Swamiji wrote from Baroda on 26th April, 1892 to Diwanji Saheb of Junagadh "I had not the least difficulty in reaching your house from the station of Nadiad. And your brothers, they are what they should be, your brothers. May the Lord shower his choicest blessings on your family. I have never found such a glorious one in all my travels. Your friend Mr. Manibhai has provided every comfort for me but as to his company, I have only seen him twice, once for a minute, the other time for 10 minutes at the most when he talked about the system of education here. Of course, I have seen the library and the pictures by Ravi Varma and that is about all seeable here. So I am going off this evening to Bombay."

Curiously enough, there is no mention in the above letter about Swamiji's meeting with Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. Swamiji had told Prince Martand Varma at Trivandrum that "of all the ruling princes he had met, he had been most impressed with the capacity, patriotism, energy and foresight of H.H. the Gaekwad of Baroda."40 Swamiji was also perhaps impressed with the Maharani of Gaekwad because he wrote on 17.2.1901 to Miss Macleod from Belur Math "I hope you will go to Baroda and see Maharani" However, the State records reveal that Maharaja was not in Baroda at the time of Swamiji. He had gone to place called Lonavali (Lonavala ?) In all probability Swamiji met him while he was in Mahabaleshwar or Poona. After his return from the West, Swamiji wanted to visit Baroda and meet the Maharaja but it did not materialise.

Probably on 26th April, 1892 Swamiji left Gujarat and proceeded to Bombay and thus ended his historical tour of Gujarat.