Why Swami Vivekananda wants us to see Shiva in the poor and weak?

“He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary.”

• Swami Vivekananda

*************************************************************

The above quote by Swami Vivekananda is just one sentence long but it says a lot. What he is trying to say is that visiting temples and worshiping the God in it is all fine. Nothing wrong in it. But it is of no use if we don’t see God in the poor, weak, diseases, distressed, helpless, etc. It is our foremost duty to serve them and ensure that their life becomes better.

In other words, he means that there is nothing wrong in building devotional places and going there for pilgrimage. But if you are not moved by the horrible plight of the poor, downtrodden, etc, and are doing nothing for them, your worship is incomplete.

Swami Vivekananda’s sayings are more than a century old, but they are more relevant in today’s era. The same can be said about this quote as well. We see countless number of people visiting places of worship but that is for their own good (including me too), but there is only a small percentage that is actually doing something to better the lives of the unfortunate ones.

Also read: When Swami Vivekananda faced his fears and emerged victorious

Swami Vivekananda’s “stray dog” anecdote has a profoundly deep meaning

“As long as a stray dog of my country remains without food, my religion will be to feed and take care of him. All else is either non-religion or false religion.”

— Swami Vivekananda

*****************************************************************

The above quote by Swami Vivekananda is very deep. It says that there is no point in carrying out religious activities if you can’t help those who are gravely in need of help and are struggling to survive. His example mentions a stray dog but it is applicable to anyone who has no means of survival. He says that even a stray dog shouldn’t be kept hungry. So, it obviously means the same for people from the human race as well.

There are crores of people out there who lack the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. If you are not moved by their misery, all your religious talk is of no use. You will find plenty of powerful people around us who believe that merely by building new places of worship they are serving God. But the actual service towards God is to serve the needy.

Swami Vivekananda has said the same even through another quote of his that reads:

“This is the gist of all worship — to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary.”

Also read: How Swami Vivekananda attacked communalism, casteism, class division in one go

When Swami Vivekananda criticized a Gaurakshak

Swami Vivekananda was a spiritual guru from India who motivated people of all ages and races to be fearless and face the challenges of life in a brave manner. It is because of this brave and fearless nature of him that he never shied away from speaking his mind, even if it meant boldly criticizing someone.

One such incident where Vivekananda did this was when he encountered a Gaurakshak – those who look after the welfare and protection of cows. A preacher representing a society that works for the welfare of cows once visited Vivekananda when a terrible famine had hit Kolkata (then Calcutta).

The following conversation took place between them, as mentioned in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 6, Conversations and Dialogues:

Vivekananda: What is the object of your society?

Preacher: We protect the mother-cows of our country from the hands of the butcher. Cow-infirmaries have been founded in some places where the diseased, decrepit mother-cows or those bought from the butchers are provided for.

Vivekananda: That is very good indeed. What is the source of your income?

Preacher: The work of the society is carried on only by gifts kindly made by great men like you.

Vivekananda: What amount of money have you now laid by?

Preacher: The Marwari traders’ community are the special supporters of this work. They have given a big amount for this good cause.

Vivekananda: A terrible famine has now broken out in Central India. The Indian Government has published a death-roll of nine lakhs of starved people. Has your society done anything to render help in this time of famine?

Preacher: We do not help during famine or other distresses. This society has been established only for the protection of mother-cows.

Vivekananda: During a famine when lakhs of people, your own brothers and sisters, have fallen into the jaws of death, you have not thought it your duty, though having the means, to help them in that terrible calamity with food!

Preacher: No. This famine broke out as a result of men’s Karma, their sins. It is a case of “like Karma, like fruit.”

Vivekananda (supressing his anger): Those associations which do not feel sympathy for men and, even seeing their own brothers dying from starvation, do not give them a handful of rice to save their lives, while giving away piles of food to save birds and beasts, I have not the least sympathy for, and I do not believe that society derives any good from them. If you make a plea of Karma by saying that men die through their Karma, then it becomes a settled fact that it is useless to try or struggle for anything in this world; and your work for the protection of animals is no exception. With regard to your cause also, it can be said—the mother-cows through their own Karma fall into the hands of the butchers and die, and we need not do anything in the matter.

Vivekananda (continued): I am a Sannyasi, a fakir. Where shall I find money enough to help you? But if ever I get money in my possession, I shall first spend that in the service of man. Man is first to be saved; he must be given food, education, and spirituality. If any money is left after doing all these, then only something would be given to your society.

Also read:

When Swami Vivekananda instilled self-respect in a cobbler