Sister Sister NIVEDITANIVEDITA and her and her

MasterMaster

Dr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

Sister NiveditaSister Nivedita (1867- (1867-1911), born 1911), born Margaret Margaret Elizabeth NobleElizabeth Noble was an was an Anglo-Irish social worker, Anglo-Irish social worker, author, teacher and disciple author, teacher and disciple of of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda. She . She met Vivekananda in 1895 met Vivekananda in 1895 in in LondonLondon and travelled to and travelled to IndiaIndia ( (KolkataKolkata) in 1898. ) in 1898. Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda gave gave her the name Nivedita her the name Nivedita (meaning "Dedicated to (meaning "Dedicated to God") when he initiated her God") when he initiated her into the vow of into the vow of BrahmacharyaBrahmacharya on March 25 on March 25 1898. 1898.

Sister Nivedita (1867-1911)Sister Nivedita (1867-1911)

Parents guide NiveditaParents guide Nivedita

She came into this world on October She came into this world on October 20, 1867. She was born in Ireland as 20, 1867. She was born in Ireland as the daughter of Mary Isabel and the daughter of Mary Isabel and Samuel Richmond Noble. Her father Samuel Richmond Noble. Her father always taught her that, service to always taught her that, service to mankind is the true service to God. mankind is the true service to God. His words made an impression on His words made an impression on Nivedita's mind. Nivedita's mind.

Sister Nivedita empowers Sister Nivedita empowers WomenWomen

Sister Nivedita probed into the heart of Sister Nivedita probed into the heart of Indian womanhood and reflected in her Indian womanhood and reflected in her rhythmic and eloquent prose the natural rhythmic and eloquent prose the natural simplicity and spiritual fervor of the women simplicity and spiritual fervor of the women of India. Women, she contended, are the of India. Women, she contended, are the embodiment and repository of the ancient embodiment and repository of the ancient wisdom of the East. They are the inheritors wisdom of the East. They are the inheritors of a radiant orthodoxy, unspoilt by age and of a radiant orthodoxy, unspoilt by age and undimmed by the passing fashions of the undimmed by the passing fashions of the day to which men so easily succumb day to which men so easily succumb

Swamiji’s thoughts Swamiji’s thoughts InspireInspire

The sayings of the The sayings of the Swamiji kept Swamiji kept returning to her returning to her mind and haunted mind and haunted her. "God alone is her. "God alone is the truth," he had the truth," he had asserted. This asserted. This assertion might not assertion might not be new, but the be new, but the Swamiji's conviction Swamiji's conviction was indeed quite was indeed quite new new

Vivekananda inspires Vivekananda inspires NiveditaNivedita

He had given up He had given up everything for god., everything for god., His sayings were His sayings were not mere not mere repetitions from repetitions from books. They were books. They were living words, which living words, which sprang from the sprang from the depths of his soul, depths of his soul, charged with the charged with the Truth he had seen Truth he had seen and experienced. and experienced.

Swamiji’s words thunder Swamiji’s words thunder the Humanitythe Humanity

In midst of his discourse, In midst of his discourse, the Swamiji said in a the Swamiji said in a thundering voice: "thundering voice: "What What the world needs to-the world needs to-day is twenty men day is twenty men and women who dare and women who dare stand in the public stand in the public street and declarestreet and declare that they have nothing that they have nothing to call their own except to call their own except the God. Who is there the God. Who is there among you that can say among you that can say so? so?

Becomes NiveditaBecomes Nivedita( One dedicated to God )( One dedicated to God )

She was given the name of ‘Nivedita’ She was given the name of ‘Nivedita’ as one dedicated to God. She as one dedicated to God. She became a teacher to little children became a teacher to little children and their mothers. When plague or and their mothers. When plague or famine or flood ravaged the land she famine or flood ravaged the land she became the very personification of became the very personification of compassion and service. Nivedita is compassion and service. Nivedita is the deathless symbol of sacrifice and the deathless symbol of sacrifice and service. service.

Initiates to serve India and Initiates to serve India and GodGod

The 25th of March The 25th of March 1898 was for 1898 was for Margaret the holiest Margaret the holiest and most and most unforgettable day unforgettable day of her life. That was of her life. That was the day on which the day on which her Guru dedicated her Guru dedicated her to God and to her to God and to the service of India. the service of India.

Swamiji teaches to worship Swamiji teaches to worship Lord SivaLord Siva

It was a Friday. Swami It was a Friday. Swami Vivekananda took all Vivekananda took all there of them to the there of them to the Math, Leading Math, Leading Margaret into the Margaret into the shrine, he taught her shrine, he taught her how to worship Lord how to worship Lord Shiva according to the Shiva according to the prescribed ritual. He prescribed ritual. He then asked her to offer then asked her to offer worship, unaided. worship, unaided.

Becomes NiveditaBecomes Nivedita The Swamiji then The Swamiji then

initiated her initiated her ceremonially into the ceremonially into the order of celibacy. He order of celibacy. He gave her the name gave her the name of 'Nivedita', which of 'Nivedita', which means 'the means 'the Dedicated One'. He Dedicated One'. He commanded her to commanded her to place lotus flowers place lotus flowers at the feet of Lord at the feet of Lord Buddha. Buddha.

Benediction and Benediction and messagemessage

In tremulous voice, he In tremulous voice, he gave her his benediction gave her his benediction and message: "Go thou, and message: "Go thou, my child, go. Tread thou my child, go. Tread thou the path shown by that the path shown by that Great Soul who was the Great Soul who was the very embodiment of very embodiment of compassion and compassion and sacrificed himself for sacrificed himself for others in five hundred others in five hundred lives before he attained lives before he attained the status of the the status of the Buddha." Buddha."

India needs Women for India needs Women for empowermentempowerment

she received from she received from the Master this the Master this heartening heartening message: "It is not message: "It is not a man we need but a man we need but a woman; a real a woman; a real lioness, to work for lioness, to work for the Indians, women the Indians, women specially…. specially….

Vivekananda Chooses Vivekananda Chooses NiveditaNivedita

Speaking about the Speaking about the woman of India, the woman of India, the Swamiji said, "Our girls Swamiji said, "Our girls over there have not over there have not even seen the face of a even seen the face of a school. That land of ours school. That land of ours cannot advance unless cannot advance unless they are educated." they are educated." Then, turning at once Then, turning at once towards Margaret, he towards Margaret, he said, "I have certain said, "I have certain plans relating to the plans relating to the education and the education and the welfare of the women of welfare of the women of my country. my country. I believe I believe that you can be of great that you can be of great service to me in service to me in translating them into translating them into realityreality." ."

Nivedita inspired by Nivedita inspired by MotherMother

Swami Vivekananda with his followers Josephine Swami Vivekananda with his followers Josephine Macleod, Ole Bull and Margaret Noble (Sister Nivedita) Macleod, Ole Bull and Margaret Noble (Sister Nivedita)

in Kashmirin Kashmir

SwamijiSwamiji Awakens Awakens NiveditaNivedita

Swamiji reassured Swamiji reassured her: "You have the her: "You have the making in you of a making in you of a world-mover, and world-mover, and others will also others will also come… come… Awake, Awake, awake, great awake, great oneone! !

Nivedita InspiresNivedita Inspires

The very personality of The very personality of Nivedita commanded Nivedita commanded respect. Her stately, respect. Her stately, handsome figure, handsome figure, dressed in a long, dressed in a long, flowing, snow - white flowing, snow - white gown, held firm with a gown, held firm with a silk waist - band lent silk waist - band lent her a certain majesty her a certain majesty which heightened her which heightened her natural dignity and natural dignity and grace. grace.

Nivedita makes a Great Nivedita makes a Great Presence among the Presence among the

MassesMasses The rudraksha The rudraksha

rosary around her rosary around her neck gave her a neck gave her a saintly look. It is saintly look. It is recorded that recorded that whenever Nivedita whenever Nivedita came to address a came to address a gathering, people gathering, people spontaneously rose spontaneously rose to their feet and to their feet and gave her a standing gave her a standing ovation. ovation.

Inspires several Inspires several IntellectualsIntellectuals

Her vast circle of Her vast circle of friends, English and friends, English and Indian, included Indian, included journalists sought her journalists sought her advice on various advice on various subjects and found subjects and found her an intelligent, her an intelligent, widely read person widely read person whose advice always whose advice always stimulated their stimulated their enthusiasm and enthusiasm and inspired them. inspired them.

Dedicates everything for Dedicates everything for India’s prosperityIndia’s prosperity

She made her will. All She made her will. All that she had in this that she had in this world by way of world by way of property, the little property, the little money she had with her, money she had with her, and even the copy right and even the copy right over her writings, she over her writings, she left to the Beleur Math. left to the Beleur Math. She wanted that her She wanted that her bequest should be used bequest should be used to give national to give national education to the women education to the women of India. of India.

Nivedita –Life is serviceNivedita –Life is service

Throughout her Throughout her life, she kept life, she kept assisting the assisting the poor poor and the and the distresseddistressed. Thus . Thus she became a she became a deathless symbol deathless symbol of relinquishment of relinquishment and service and service

Last words of Divine SoulLast words of Divine Soul

"This frail boat of "This frail boat of mine is sinking, but mine is sinking, but I can yet see the I can yet see the sunrise". These sunrise". These were the last words were the last words of this noble soul. of this noble soul.

Gave everything to INDIAGave everything to INDIA In the lap of the In the lap of the

Himalayas rests the Himalayas rests the earthly form of this earthly form of this great lady. Over her great lady. Over her grave is erected a grave is erected a humble memorial humble memorial which bears this simple which bears this simple epitaph.epitaph.

""Here reposes Here reposes Sister Nivedita Sister Nivedita who gave her all who gave her all to India".to India".

Empowers WomanhoodEmpowers Womanhood But it is the little But it is the little

school that Nivedita school that Nivedita had set up that has had set up that has grown to be he grown to be he living monument. living monument. Thousands and Thousands and thousands of girls thousands of girls and women are and women are receiving a truly receiving a truly national education national education in that noble in that noble institution. institution.

A benediction to Sister A benediction to Sister Nivedita by SwamijiNivedita by Swamiji

The mother's heart, the hero's willThe mother's heart, the hero's willThe sweetness of the southern breeze,The sweetness of the southern breeze,The sacred charm and strength that The sacred charm and strength that dwelldwellOn Aryan altars, flaming, free;On Aryan altars, flaming, free;All these be yours and many more All these be yours and many more No ancient soul could dream before- No ancient soul could dream before- Be thou to India's future son Be thou to India's future son The mistress, servant, friend in one." The mistress, servant, friend in one."

Sister Nivedita in Complete Sister Nivedita in Complete Works of Swami Works of Swami

VivekanandaVivekananda To Labour is to To Labour is to

pray.pray. To conquer is to To conquer is to

renouncerenounce Life is itself religionLife is itself religion To have and to To have and to

hold is as stern a hold is as stern a trust as to quit and trust as to quit and to avoid.to avoid.

Sister Nivedita Lives Sister Nivedita Lives with Uswith Us

She left her mortal She left her mortal remains on 7 remains on 7 October 1957 to be October 1957 to be cremated according cremated according to Hindu rites. Sister to Hindu rites. Sister Nivedita’s Nivedita’s contribution towards contribution towards India is unforgettable India is unforgettable and and she will she will eternally live in eternally live in the soul of India the soul of India

The life of Sister The life of Sister NiveditaNivedita a a lesson to change our lesson to change our

consciousnessconsciousness The only hope for the future depends is in The only hope for the future depends is in

a change of man's consciousness and the a change of man's consciousness and the change is bound to come. But it is left to change is bound to come. But it is left to men to decide if they will collaborate for men to decide if they will collaborate for this change or if it will have to be enforced this change or if it will have to be enforced upon them by the power of crashing upon them by the power of crashing circumstances. So , wake up and circumstances. So , wake up and collaborate“collaborate“

The future of the earth depends upon The future of the earth depends upon the change in consciousness.the change in consciousness.    

Sister Nivedita’s teachings, Sister Nivedita’s teachings, love for poor and down love for poor and down

ridden inspire the Indian ridden inspire the Indian continentcontinent

Dr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

EmailEmail

doctortvrao@gmail.comdoctortvrao@gmail.com