spread to the premier city of South India, and he was greeted by a group of enthusiastic
young men. In Madras he publicly announced his intention of going to America. His
devotees here collected funds for the trip, and it was through them that he later started
his Indian work in an organized form.
Here, in Madras, he poured his whole soul into the discussion of religion, philosophy,
science, literature, and history. He would blaze up at people who, for lack of time or
zeal, did not practise meditation. 'What!' he thundered at a listener. 'Those giants of
old, the ancient rishis, who never walked but strode, standing by whose side you would
shrivel into a moth — they, sir, had time for meditation and devotions, and you have
none!'
To a scoffer he said: 'How dare you criticize your venerable forefathers in such a
fashion? A little learning has muddled your brain. Have you tested the wisdom of the
rishis? Have you even as much as read the Vedas? There is a challenge thrown by the
rishis. If you dare oppose them, take it up.'
At Hyderabad, the capital of the Nizam's State, he gave his first public lecture, the
subject being 'My Mission to the West.' The audience was impressed and the Swami
was pleased to see that he could hold his own in this new field of activity.
When the devotees in Madras brought him the money for his voyage to America, he
refused to accept it and asked them to distribute it among the poor. How was he to
know that the Lord wanted him to go to America? Perhaps he was being carried away
by his own ambition. He began to pray intensely for divine guidance. Again money
was offered to him by some of his wealthy friends, and again he refused. He said to his
disciples: 'If it is the Mother's wish that I should go to the West, then let us collect
money from the people. It is for them that I am going to the West — for the people and
the poor!'
The Swami one day had a symbolic dream, in which he saw Sri Ramakrishna walking
into the water of the ocean and beckoning him to follow. He also heard the
authoritative word 'Go!' In response to a letter that he had written to Sarada Devi, the
Holy Mother, she gave him her blessings for the fulfilment of his desire, knowing that
it was Ramakrishna's wish that he should undertake the journey to America. And now,
at last, he felt sure of his call.
When everything was arranged for the departure, there suddenly arrived in Madras the
private secretary of Swamiji's disciple the Raja of Khetri, bearing the happy news of
the birth of a royal son. The Swami was earnestly desired to bless the heir apparent. He
consented, and the Raja was overjoyed to see him.
At Khetri an incident occurred that the Swami remembered all his life. He was invited
by the Maharaja to a musical entertainment in which a nautch-girl was to sing, and he
refused to come, since he was a monk and not permitted to enjoy secular pleasures.
The singer was hurt and sang in a strain of lamentation. Her words reached the
Swami's ears: