05-20-2005, 06:29 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>FOREMOST CHAMPION OF INDIAN NATIONALISM </b>
It was 1855. Haridwar was preparing for Kumbh Mela. Sadhus and sanyasis i.e. the clerics were heading towards Haridwar in droves, visiting cities on the way. This was the time when the East India Company, like a mischievous serpent was finding all ways and means of swallowing the remainder of the free principalities and kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent that were still not under its control. Not only were the people of India fed up of its treacherous actions and rebelling against them, there was among them, a revolutionary zeal to crush the fangs of the this venomous serpent. The troupes of Sadhus and devotees on way to the Kumbh Mela would, among themselves; talk about the treacherous deeds the East India Company perpetrated in their areas. In essence the English companyâs treacheries had become the hot topic of conversation.
On his way to the Kumbh Mela, Maharishi Dayanand stopped at Delhi. On one day he was having his meal with a group of about 8-10 Sadhus on the banks of the River Yamuna. At the time a little child and his mother were passing by that way. As was customary, the mother stood by to pay her respects to the Sadhus. The child stared contemplatively on the Sadhus and had this to say â
âMataji, our country is sinking under the tyranny and treachery of the Christian foreigners and priests and hundreds of thousands of our Sadhus are all the time busy feeding themselves. They donât worry about the defence of their country or their religion. For them the stomach is their God and God their stomach.â
The priests were furious. Their tempers bubbled at boiling points. One Sadhu sprang to his feet and was about to hurl curses at the child whereupon the mother prostrated herself at the feet of the Sadhu wailing and begging for mercy. Dayanand could not stand it any longer. Springing up to his feet, first of all he calmed down the Sadhus boiling anger and then addressed the mother respectfully-
âMataji, the boy speaks the truth. Your son appears to be the messenger of the gods. At the very least the childâs comments have opened my eyes.â
Introducing the boy Dayanandji wrote, â Upon enquiry I have discovered that 28 years prior to that date, the boyâs father, a brave soldier and an Aligharh Zamindar (landed aristocrat), gave up his life bravely defending the Haathrath Castle against Lord Hastingsâs incessant hail of bombarding shells. I placed my hands on the childâs head and blessed him.
From the above description it is obvious that the incident influenced Dayanandji profoundly. His ambition had always been to reform religion but after this incident Dayanand aimed also to awaken national consciousness among the people. In his autobiography Maharishi Dayanand has also acknowledged that at that very time, under the leadership of a Marathi Sadhu, a hundred pundits (priests), dressed as Sadhus, were travelling the length and breadth of India rousing among the people a national renaissance. Maharishi Dayanand had many secret consultations with the Marathi Sadhu.
Visiting the main centres on the way, Dayanand Ji arrived at Haridwar. He was only 33 then. He reached Haridwar long before the commencement of the Kumbh Mela. Of the five pilgrimage centres at Haridwar, he found Neel Parbat the most peaceful and picturesque. The centre also provided good facilities for yoga and companionship with yogis (practitioners of yoga).
Kumbh Mela started. Rudranand Ji, a Sanyasi from a place called Chandi, also on Neel Parbat, told Dayanand of the movement among the people to free India from foreign powers. The leaders of this revolutionary movement, he advised, were at Haridwar, and were going to visit them at Neel Parbat. From then on Maharishi Dayanand eagerly looked forward to meeting the leaders of the revolutionary movement.
A few days later five revolutionary leaders arrived at Neel Parbat looking for âthe mahatma from Abu Shail.â ( Maharishi Dayanand had for many years practised yoga at Shail).
The five revolutionary leaders were-
ï· Nana Sahib, and his brother Bala Sahib
ï· Ajimullah Khan
ï· Tantaya Tope
ï· Vir Kuar Singh of Jagdishpur
These five leaders discussed in great detail the motives for the liberation of India, thus resolving many of their doubts and misgivings. In reply to one question from Nana Sahib Dayanand Ji had this to say- â No foreign power has the right to rule another country. The English are foreigners. Their prosperity depends on exploiting India⦠They are like killer animals forcibly ruling over India. India doesnât want this. To rob India of its love for honesty, goodness, and its ancient tradition is a sin of the worst order and to tolerate it an even greater sin. When the soul of India will cry out âWe donât want the English.â only then the English will be compelled to give up their hold on India. In a similar manner his fore- vision to a reply to one question from Ajimullah proved cent % correct. He said-
âOnce again, in future, the result of national revolution cannot but be auspicious. This revolution will come a hundred years from the Battle of Plassey. Then the revolution will continue for a further hundred years. Victory is inevitable. A lot of sacrifices are yet to be made.â
Ajimullah Khan asked another question, âIn what manner can we, with secrecy, spread the word of people revolt among the civilian population and the military. We seek your counsel on this matter.â
Advising on the mode of spreading the message of revolution among the civilians and the military, Dayanand explained, âI have already stated of the very ancient Sanatan tradition. To spread the message among the military and civilians the symbols of lotus flower and chapati (thin unleavened bread) are to be used.
Dayanand also explained in some great detail how the lotus flower and chapati would become the main carriers of the message of the revolution. Soon after this Ajimullah Khan met with great success in spreading the message of revolution using the symbols of lotus flower and chapatti among the general public and the military cantonments throughout the country. The main distinguishing feature of this silent message has been its total secrecy. The British did not get a clue of it till the very last.
Kumbh Mela procession was in progress. It pained him greatly to see assemblies of Sadhus and other clerics in the parade. He ruminated â So much of happiness in enslaved India? Have these people forgotten that our motherland is in the clutches of foreigners and our sophisticated ancient traditions are being polluted by the foreigners. Donât these people know that the foreign demon has seized our motherland in its clutches and is in the process of swallowing it completely? Donât these people understand that if a thousand saints, Sadhus, ascetics, and mahatmas (i.e. the clerics) also took part in the coming revolution, and offered their services in sacrifice, the country will be saved from total destruction. I have made a firm resolution that during Kumbh Mela I shall aim to inspire people to rise to protect the nation and its traditions, its beliefs and cultures. I shall appeal to the people to be united and be ever ready to protect and serve the nation. I shall also request the ordinary people busy with their daily lives, and the different national figures who have come to this Mela to assist in this effort.
Leaders of some of the sects became very jealous of the spreading fame of Dayanand. They started the propaganda that the Sadhu who had arrived at Chandi Parbat was an impostor i.e. a fake (dissembling) Sadhu. They urged the public to chase him away from of Haridwar. This very interesting incident is very vividly described in âAutobiography of An Yogiâ (page 204) thus-
⦠Full of curious anxious curiosity, Sadhus & sanyasis, ascetics, and the general pilgrims started coming to Chandi Parbat to see for themselves the impostor that I was made to be. Gradually and by day the number of pilgrims coming to see went up. Twice every day, in the mornings and afternoon, I would stand in front of the pilgrims and preach for an independent nation and for the protection of its independent creed. This was the starting point in my life for public speaking. The public, men and women, would stop, listen intently and then leave.
Soon afterwards Maharani Lakshmi Bai and Nana Sahibâs mother arrived at Neel Parbat to meet with Dayanand. Lakshmi Bai explained her plight regarding the English plot to grab her kingdom. Eyes swelling with tears, the Maharani repeated to Dayanand her firm resolve âMahatama Ji, as long as I live I shall never ever surrender the land of my husbandâs ancestors to the enemy. I shall die fighting but not hand Jhansi on a platter to the plundering band of thugs.
Complimenting the Rani on her firm resolve, Mahatama Ji said, â I have already stated that no one can make the perishable body permanent. Those that give up their bodies fighting for their country and liberty donât die. They shall be worshipped till eternity.â
In spite of all of Mahatama Jiâs protests, Lakshmi Bai presented to him a thousand rupees at the time of leave taking.
Before leaving Kumbh Mela, Nana Sahib once more came to Mahatama Ji for his blessings. Mahatama Ji had received, as presents, a sum of Rupees 2,633 from Maharani Lakshmi Bai and other princes, and the people. He gave to Nana Sahib the entire sum as blessings to be sacrificed for the defence of the nation.
He advised, â Leading people and playing with fire are both fraught with danger. An ordinary little slip can lead to total destruction. All moneys given to me in the form of presents will be sent to you as blessings for the defence of the country.â
Nana Sahib and Lakshmi Bai spread among the pilgrims the news that the Mahatama Ji from Abu Shail staying at Neel Parbat is preparing to unite the sanyasis for the defence of their nation. After that, hundreds of Sadhus and sanyasis started arriving at Neel Parbat to meet with Dayanand ji. To all of them he gave the following message-
â I urge you to get united under a central control. The country is our mother and liberty our father. We should be ready to defend them both. Lists of all the Sadhus who take this vow shall be preparedâ. Whereupon the Sadhus said, âOn inspiration from you we have already prepared a list of approximately 250 Sadhus. Whenever you wish, call upon us, and we shall be ready for the defence our country.â
Swami Ji spoke, âIt is absolutely necessary to instil inspiration and awakening for the defence of country and its way s of life among the military and civilians using methods used in the ancient days and using the symbols of the lotus flower and chapatti throughout the length and breadth of the country, from the East to the West, and North to the South.
Agreeing to carry out my proposal, they left promising, âWe shall network as we move on.â
On the spur of the moment I had said that is important that you should go in North India towards Meerut, in East India towards Berakhpur, in South India towards Velore. You must at all times keep in touch with Purohit Trishul Baba of the Yoga Maya Mandir in Delhi from where you will get news of the movement regularly and from where I will get news of your activities.
It is very evident from the above that Maharishi Dayanand had, for the 1857 revolution, started an organisation of the clerics (Sadhus). The focal point of the organisation was the yoga Maya Mandir in Delhi. This organisation roused national consciousness in all of India, rural and urban. But its most important contribution was the dissemination of the message of the impending revolution planned for the 31st. May to all the military cantonments. Under the pretext of prayer meetings, the priests of various orders would arrive at a military cantonment with flowers, incense etc. and in the course of prayer meetings, explain to the soldiers that the cartridges they were using had been polished with a mixture of cowsâ and pigsâ fat with a view to destroying Hindu and Moslem religions and culture. Having given this information, a lotus flower was passed from hand to hand, under the pretext that it was Prasad. With the lotus flower in hand the soldiers took their vow for the revolution. Maharishi Dayanand was in constant touch with these groups of clerics and would himself personally journey from place to place. On one occasion, seated under a banyan tree in front of a military camp at Berakhpur, Maharishi Dayanand was doing yogic resonance. When the Indian soldiers at the camp learnt of his presence, they came out and met him and asked him many questions on the use of cow and pig fat on cartridges. This was the time when Mangal Pandey first established contact with Dayanand Ji and received his blessings.
During June, July and August of 1857 when Nana Sahib, Tantya Tope, and Ajimullah Khan were busy fighting the awesome war, Maharishi Dayanand stayed in the area between Kanpur and Allahabad, spending his time inspiring the rajahs and princes to support Nana Sahib.
Maharishi Dayanand exposed the deceitful pretensions of the Hindus, Muslims, and Christians in his incontrovertible sermons at Calcutta. Many turned against him. In spite of all the opposition and threats from them, Dayanand continued with his teachings. Impressed with Dayanand, one padre arranged an interview for Dayanand with the Vice Roy. The Vice Roy requested-
âIn your sermonsâ¦Will you also tell of the many benefits made available through the British rule? And at the beginning of the speeches, in your supreme prayer, will you also pray for an undivided British rule over the country?â
Dayanand gave a stern and clear reply. He said, âI cannot accept your proposal. Itâs my firm belief that for the unfettered political progress of my countrymen, and to gain equal status among the nations of the world, independence is necessary immediately. Every morning and afternoon I shall pray for the emancipation from the slavery of the foreigners.
The Vice Roy ended the meeting, gave out orders for strict watch over this revolutionary fakir, and instructions were issued to appoint secret agents to spy on him.
After the unsuccessful revolution by the soldiers, Maharishi Dayanand went on a tour of southern India. Nana Sahib too was in the area. Upon the availability of a letter in Nana Sahibâs own handwriting, it was then proven that Nana Sahib despatched Mora Pant Fadke, disguised as Nana Sahib, to Nepal. He himself, disguised as a Sadhu, departed for Saurashtra. Nana Sahib searched for Mahatama Dayanand of Abu Shail from place to place among the groups of roving Sadhus. He was finally rewarded. Returning from Delhiâs Yoga Mandir, one Sadhu told him that Maharishi Dayanand was on a tour of Southern India and added that Dayanand Ji would sojourn at Kanyakumari for some time. Soon after that Nana Sahib, Tantya Tope, and Durjaya Rao, disguised as Sadhus, met Dayanand Ji at Kanyakumari. Once again Dayanand instilled and motivated new inspiration in the hearts of these disappointed war heroes.
He said, âI am informed of events up to the defeat and the penetration into Nepal. There is no reason to lose hope or be disappointed. Both victory and defeat at war are very useful in the achievement of independence. You will be the inspiration in future for sacrifice, bravery, courage, fearlessness, and independence.
Nana Sahib received from Maharishi Dayanand the ashram of sanyas i.e. Nana Sahib received from Dayanand the vow of renunciation. Administering the vow, Maharishi Dayanand dubbed him Dibyananda (translated it means divine joy). After receiving inspiration from Dayanand, Tanya Tope, once again, launched struggle against the English.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It was 1855. Haridwar was preparing for Kumbh Mela. Sadhus and sanyasis i.e. the clerics were heading towards Haridwar in droves, visiting cities on the way. This was the time when the East India Company, like a mischievous serpent was finding all ways and means of swallowing the remainder of the free principalities and kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent that were still not under its control. Not only were the people of India fed up of its treacherous actions and rebelling against them, there was among them, a revolutionary zeal to crush the fangs of the this venomous serpent. The troupes of Sadhus and devotees on way to the Kumbh Mela would, among themselves; talk about the treacherous deeds the East India Company perpetrated in their areas. In essence the English companyâs treacheries had become the hot topic of conversation.
On his way to the Kumbh Mela, Maharishi Dayanand stopped at Delhi. On one day he was having his meal with a group of about 8-10 Sadhus on the banks of the River Yamuna. At the time a little child and his mother were passing by that way. As was customary, the mother stood by to pay her respects to the Sadhus. The child stared contemplatively on the Sadhus and had this to say â
âMataji, our country is sinking under the tyranny and treachery of the Christian foreigners and priests and hundreds of thousands of our Sadhus are all the time busy feeding themselves. They donât worry about the defence of their country or their religion. For them the stomach is their God and God their stomach.â
The priests were furious. Their tempers bubbled at boiling points. One Sadhu sprang to his feet and was about to hurl curses at the child whereupon the mother prostrated herself at the feet of the Sadhu wailing and begging for mercy. Dayanand could not stand it any longer. Springing up to his feet, first of all he calmed down the Sadhus boiling anger and then addressed the mother respectfully-
âMataji, the boy speaks the truth. Your son appears to be the messenger of the gods. At the very least the childâs comments have opened my eyes.â
Introducing the boy Dayanandji wrote, â Upon enquiry I have discovered that 28 years prior to that date, the boyâs father, a brave soldier and an Aligharh Zamindar (landed aristocrat), gave up his life bravely defending the Haathrath Castle against Lord Hastingsâs incessant hail of bombarding shells. I placed my hands on the childâs head and blessed him.
From the above description it is obvious that the incident influenced Dayanandji profoundly. His ambition had always been to reform religion but after this incident Dayanand aimed also to awaken national consciousness among the people. In his autobiography Maharishi Dayanand has also acknowledged that at that very time, under the leadership of a Marathi Sadhu, a hundred pundits (priests), dressed as Sadhus, were travelling the length and breadth of India rousing among the people a national renaissance. Maharishi Dayanand had many secret consultations with the Marathi Sadhu.
Visiting the main centres on the way, Dayanand Ji arrived at Haridwar. He was only 33 then. He reached Haridwar long before the commencement of the Kumbh Mela. Of the five pilgrimage centres at Haridwar, he found Neel Parbat the most peaceful and picturesque. The centre also provided good facilities for yoga and companionship with yogis (practitioners of yoga).
Kumbh Mela started. Rudranand Ji, a Sanyasi from a place called Chandi, also on Neel Parbat, told Dayanand of the movement among the people to free India from foreign powers. The leaders of this revolutionary movement, he advised, were at Haridwar, and were going to visit them at Neel Parbat. From then on Maharishi Dayanand eagerly looked forward to meeting the leaders of the revolutionary movement.
A few days later five revolutionary leaders arrived at Neel Parbat looking for âthe mahatma from Abu Shail.â ( Maharishi Dayanand had for many years practised yoga at Shail).
The five revolutionary leaders were-
ï· Nana Sahib, and his brother Bala Sahib
ï· Ajimullah Khan
ï· Tantaya Tope
ï· Vir Kuar Singh of Jagdishpur
These five leaders discussed in great detail the motives for the liberation of India, thus resolving many of their doubts and misgivings. In reply to one question from Nana Sahib Dayanand Ji had this to say- â No foreign power has the right to rule another country. The English are foreigners. Their prosperity depends on exploiting India⦠They are like killer animals forcibly ruling over India. India doesnât want this. To rob India of its love for honesty, goodness, and its ancient tradition is a sin of the worst order and to tolerate it an even greater sin. When the soul of India will cry out âWe donât want the English.â only then the English will be compelled to give up their hold on India. In a similar manner his fore- vision to a reply to one question from Ajimullah proved cent % correct. He said-
âOnce again, in future, the result of national revolution cannot but be auspicious. This revolution will come a hundred years from the Battle of Plassey. Then the revolution will continue for a further hundred years. Victory is inevitable. A lot of sacrifices are yet to be made.â
Ajimullah Khan asked another question, âIn what manner can we, with secrecy, spread the word of people revolt among the civilian population and the military. We seek your counsel on this matter.â
Advising on the mode of spreading the message of revolution among the civilians and the military, Dayanand explained, âI have already stated of the very ancient Sanatan tradition. To spread the message among the military and civilians the symbols of lotus flower and chapati (thin unleavened bread) are to be used.
Dayanand also explained in some great detail how the lotus flower and chapati would become the main carriers of the message of the revolution. Soon after this Ajimullah Khan met with great success in spreading the message of revolution using the symbols of lotus flower and chapatti among the general public and the military cantonments throughout the country. The main distinguishing feature of this silent message has been its total secrecy. The British did not get a clue of it till the very last.
Kumbh Mela procession was in progress. It pained him greatly to see assemblies of Sadhus and other clerics in the parade. He ruminated â So much of happiness in enslaved India? Have these people forgotten that our motherland is in the clutches of foreigners and our sophisticated ancient traditions are being polluted by the foreigners. Donât these people know that the foreign demon has seized our motherland in its clutches and is in the process of swallowing it completely? Donât these people understand that if a thousand saints, Sadhus, ascetics, and mahatmas (i.e. the clerics) also took part in the coming revolution, and offered their services in sacrifice, the country will be saved from total destruction. I have made a firm resolution that during Kumbh Mela I shall aim to inspire people to rise to protect the nation and its traditions, its beliefs and cultures. I shall appeal to the people to be united and be ever ready to protect and serve the nation. I shall also request the ordinary people busy with their daily lives, and the different national figures who have come to this Mela to assist in this effort.
Leaders of some of the sects became very jealous of the spreading fame of Dayanand. They started the propaganda that the Sadhu who had arrived at Chandi Parbat was an impostor i.e. a fake (dissembling) Sadhu. They urged the public to chase him away from of Haridwar. This very interesting incident is very vividly described in âAutobiography of An Yogiâ (page 204) thus-
⦠Full of curious anxious curiosity, Sadhus & sanyasis, ascetics, and the general pilgrims started coming to Chandi Parbat to see for themselves the impostor that I was made to be. Gradually and by day the number of pilgrims coming to see went up. Twice every day, in the mornings and afternoon, I would stand in front of the pilgrims and preach for an independent nation and for the protection of its independent creed. This was the starting point in my life for public speaking. The public, men and women, would stop, listen intently and then leave.
Soon afterwards Maharani Lakshmi Bai and Nana Sahibâs mother arrived at Neel Parbat to meet with Dayanand. Lakshmi Bai explained her plight regarding the English plot to grab her kingdom. Eyes swelling with tears, the Maharani repeated to Dayanand her firm resolve âMahatama Ji, as long as I live I shall never ever surrender the land of my husbandâs ancestors to the enemy. I shall die fighting but not hand Jhansi on a platter to the plundering band of thugs.
Complimenting the Rani on her firm resolve, Mahatama Ji said, â I have already stated that no one can make the perishable body permanent. Those that give up their bodies fighting for their country and liberty donât die. They shall be worshipped till eternity.â
In spite of all of Mahatama Jiâs protests, Lakshmi Bai presented to him a thousand rupees at the time of leave taking.
Before leaving Kumbh Mela, Nana Sahib once more came to Mahatama Ji for his blessings. Mahatama Ji had received, as presents, a sum of Rupees 2,633 from Maharani Lakshmi Bai and other princes, and the people. He gave to Nana Sahib the entire sum as blessings to be sacrificed for the defence of the nation.
He advised, â Leading people and playing with fire are both fraught with danger. An ordinary little slip can lead to total destruction. All moneys given to me in the form of presents will be sent to you as blessings for the defence of the country.â
Nana Sahib and Lakshmi Bai spread among the pilgrims the news that the Mahatama Ji from Abu Shail staying at Neel Parbat is preparing to unite the sanyasis for the defence of their nation. After that, hundreds of Sadhus and sanyasis started arriving at Neel Parbat to meet with Dayanand ji. To all of them he gave the following message-
â I urge you to get united under a central control. The country is our mother and liberty our father. We should be ready to defend them both. Lists of all the Sadhus who take this vow shall be preparedâ. Whereupon the Sadhus said, âOn inspiration from you we have already prepared a list of approximately 250 Sadhus. Whenever you wish, call upon us, and we shall be ready for the defence our country.â
Swami Ji spoke, âIt is absolutely necessary to instil inspiration and awakening for the defence of country and its way s of life among the military and civilians using methods used in the ancient days and using the symbols of the lotus flower and chapatti throughout the length and breadth of the country, from the East to the West, and North to the South.
Agreeing to carry out my proposal, they left promising, âWe shall network as we move on.â
On the spur of the moment I had said that is important that you should go in North India towards Meerut, in East India towards Berakhpur, in South India towards Velore. You must at all times keep in touch with Purohit Trishul Baba of the Yoga Maya Mandir in Delhi from where you will get news of the movement regularly and from where I will get news of your activities.
It is very evident from the above that Maharishi Dayanand had, for the 1857 revolution, started an organisation of the clerics (Sadhus). The focal point of the organisation was the yoga Maya Mandir in Delhi. This organisation roused national consciousness in all of India, rural and urban. But its most important contribution was the dissemination of the message of the impending revolution planned for the 31st. May to all the military cantonments. Under the pretext of prayer meetings, the priests of various orders would arrive at a military cantonment with flowers, incense etc. and in the course of prayer meetings, explain to the soldiers that the cartridges they were using had been polished with a mixture of cowsâ and pigsâ fat with a view to destroying Hindu and Moslem religions and culture. Having given this information, a lotus flower was passed from hand to hand, under the pretext that it was Prasad. With the lotus flower in hand the soldiers took their vow for the revolution. Maharishi Dayanand was in constant touch with these groups of clerics and would himself personally journey from place to place. On one occasion, seated under a banyan tree in front of a military camp at Berakhpur, Maharishi Dayanand was doing yogic resonance. When the Indian soldiers at the camp learnt of his presence, they came out and met him and asked him many questions on the use of cow and pig fat on cartridges. This was the time when Mangal Pandey first established contact with Dayanand Ji and received his blessings.
During June, July and August of 1857 when Nana Sahib, Tantya Tope, and Ajimullah Khan were busy fighting the awesome war, Maharishi Dayanand stayed in the area between Kanpur and Allahabad, spending his time inspiring the rajahs and princes to support Nana Sahib.
Maharishi Dayanand exposed the deceitful pretensions of the Hindus, Muslims, and Christians in his incontrovertible sermons at Calcutta. Many turned against him. In spite of all the opposition and threats from them, Dayanand continued with his teachings. Impressed with Dayanand, one padre arranged an interview for Dayanand with the Vice Roy. The Vice Roy requested-
âIn your sermonsâ¦Will you also tell of the many benefits made available through the British rule? And at the beginning of the speeches, in your supreme prayer, will you also pray for an undivided British rule over the country?â
Dayanand gave a stern and clear reply. He said, âI cannot accept your proposal. Itâs my firm belief that for the unfettered political progress of my countrymen, and to gain equal status among the nations of the world, independence is necessary immediately. Every morning and afternoon I shall pray for the emancipation from the slavery of the foreigners.
The Vice Roy ended the meeting, gave out orders for strict watch over this revolutionary fakir, and instructions were issued to appoint secret agents to spy on him.
After the unsuccessful revolution by the soldiers, Maharishi Dayanand went on a tour of southern India. Nana Sahib too was in the area. Upon the availability of a letter in Nana Sahibâs own handwriting, it was then proven that Nana Sahib despatched Mora Pant Fadke, disguised as Nana Sahib, to Nepal. He himself, disguised as a Sadhu, departed for Saurashtra. Nana Sahib searched for Mahatama Dayanand of Abu Shail from place to place among the groups of roving Sadhus. He was finally rewarded. Returning from Delhiâs Yoga Mandir, one Sadhu told him that Maharishi Dayanand was on a tour of Southern India and added that Dayanand Ji would sojourn at Kanyakumari for some time. Soon after that Nana Sahib, Tantya Tope, and Durjaya Rao, disguised as Sadhus, met Dayanand Ji at Kanyakumari. Once again Dayanand instilled and motivated new inspiration in the hearts of these disappointed war heroes.
He said, âI am informed of events up to the defeat and the penetration into Nepal. There is no reason to lose hope or be disappointed. Both victory and defeat at war are very useful in the achievement of independence. You will be the inspiration in future for sacrifice, bravery, courage, fearlessness, and independence.
Nana Sahib received from Maharishi Dayanand the ashram of sanyas i.e. Nana Sahib received from Dayanand the vow of renunciation. Administering the vow, Maharishi Dayanand dubbed him Dibyananda (translated it means divine joy). After receiving inspiration from Dayanand, Tanya Tope, once again, launched struggle against the English.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->