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(May 1891)
Publications:
- The Path, vol. VI, no. 2, May 1891, pp. 50-51
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CTD entry in Russian: Мукерджи, К. П. - Ганг. Циклы. Свидетельство перевоплощения
DATA
Title for references: Mukherji KP - The Ganges The Cycles Evidence of Reincarnation
Short description: Signed "Kali Prasanna Mukherji," dated from Berhampore, India, March 1891. A letter to the editor on...
50
The Ganges. The Cycles. Evidence of Reincarnation.
A friend of mine has lately lent me a very interesting book called Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official, by Col. H. S. Sleeman of the Bengal Army, published by Hatchard & Son in 1844. It contains, among other things, an account of what Col. Sleeman saw and heard during his journey from the banks of the Nerbuda—or Narmada—to the Himalaya in 1835-36. He says: "The people were of the opinion, they told me, that the Ganges, as a sacred stream, could last only 60 years more, when the Nerbuda would take its place."
The prediction repeated by the author is about to be fulfilled, Ganges loses the greater part of its holiness and from the 14th of April next the Nerbuda becomes holier than before. Kumbha, the celebrated concourse of ascetics held once every twelve years on the bank of the Ganges, sits by turn this year, for the last time, at Hardevar—or Haredvar—during our month of Chaitra—March-April. After twelve years it will sit again on the bank of the Nerbuda, perhaps in another name. The cycle of the first 5000 years of Kali-Yuga is about to be completed, and Ganges as Kruja-Sakti (that is, as having a certain mysterious power) ceases to exist (in its present shape), transferring a part of its energies to the Nerbuda. The name Nerbuda—or Nurmada—is composed of Nurma—from the man and Humanity, and da, to give. The meaning is clear. For a portion of the occult51teachings will now be given out to the world at large to profit by, but henceforth it will be more difficult for us to make progress in the Path which leads to mukti—salvation. The increasing materialistic tendencies of the age, the progress of modern civilization with its manifold physical wants, are living obstacles to a life requiring, besides asceticism, an amount of self-denial, devotion, and energy too great for an ordinary man, civilized or not, to bear. In my opinion it is not so much the teachings—however valuable—that will assist us, as our own power to sacrifice our personal interests and to live in an entirely new condition of things.
We Hindus, for instance, have some advantages that you have not in the west. Here you may find boys of 6 years talk of their previous births, illiterate men of their karma, and even females of low caste of their paraloka—state after death. Gentleness and respect to women are inborn in us—as testified by Col. Sleeman above mentioned—yet how few among us are able to do what we should and what we are positively directed in our shastras to do, to escape the miseries of birth and death. Says the great Sankaracharya: "Days and nights, evening and morning, spring and autumn go and come again. Kala is playing, your term of life is running out, yet the disease of hope—or desire—is not left by you. O Thou Ignorant, devote yourself to Govindram—supreme intelligence; for when death draws near and overtakes you, your examining every word of the shastra according to the rules of grammar will not preserve you."
Fraternally yours,
Kali Prasanna Mukherji.
Footnotes