Incident at Tari Ghat

Once when Swami Vivekananda was living as an itinerant monk, he was travelling by train through the United Provinces (this is the combined regions of the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand). He got down at a station called Tari Ghat. It was a hot summer afternoon. He was starving, he had not eaten since the previous day, and his condition was so poor that the porter at the station, taking the Swami to be a beggar, would not allow him to sit in the station shed. So Vivekananda sat on the ground outside the shed in the scorching sun.

Travelling with Swami Vivekananda in the same train compartment, since the previous night, was a man from the business class. Seeing Vivekananda’s starving condition he was making fun of him all through the night. As they stopped at various stations Vivekananda tried to get some water, to quench his thirst, from the water-bearers but could not do so as he did not have any money to pay for the water. The businessman bought water for himself and while drinking the water taunted Vivekananda saying, ‘See here, my good man, what nice water this is! You being a Sannyasin, and having renounced money, cannot purchase it and so you have the pleasure of going without it. Why don't you earn money as I do and have a good time of it?'   

Now this businessman also got down at the Tari Ghat station and came and sat opposite to Vivekananda. He sat on a nice cotton mat in the shade of the station shed. Taking out the food that he was carrying, he again started taunting Vivekananda while eating, “See what nice Puris (a deep fried Indian flat bread) and Laddus (Indian sweet) I am eating! You do not care to earn money, so you have to rest content with a parched throat and empty stomach, and the bare ground to sit upon!” Vivekananda without saying a word calmly looked on.    

In the mean time a local inhabitant arrived on the scene. He was carrying a bundle and a tumbler in one hand and an earthen jug of water in the other. He was also carrying a mat under one of his arms. He seemed to be looking for some one. The moment he saw the Swami, he came near him, quickly spread the mat on a clean spot and put on it all the things he was carrying. Then he called Swami Vivekananda and invited him to take the food he had brought. Vivekananda was quite surprised and told the man that he may be making a mistake. He may be mistaking him for some body else for Vivekananda did not recollect meeting him before. But the local man insisted that he had brought the food for Vivekananda and nobody else. Then he explained, “I am a sweetmeat vendor and was having my usual nap after my noon meal. In my sleep I dreamt that Shri Ramji (Lord Rama) was pointing you out to me and telling me that He was pained to see you without food from the day previous and that I should get up instantly, prepare some Puris and curry and bring them to you at the railway station with some sweetmeats, nice cold water, and a mat for you to sit upon. I woke up, but thinking it was only a dream I turned on my side and slept again. But Shri Ramji, in His infinite graciousness, came to me again and actually pushed me to make me get up and do as He had said. I quickly prepared some Puris and curry, and taking some sweets which I had prepared this morning, some cold water and a mat from my shop I ran here direct and recognised you at once from a distance. Now do come and have your meal while it is fresh. You must be very hungry.”  With tears of love flowing from his eyes, Vivekananda thanked the simple man. But the man protested, 'No, no, Babaji (a loving and respectful way to address a monk. It means father)! Do not thank me! It is all the will of Shri Ramji!'

The businessman who was watching all this felt ashamed of his conduct and going up to Vivekananda begged his pardon for the ill words he had used towards him and falling at Vivekananda’s feet took the dust of his feet.