Query : In south Kolkata a big white marble temple is being erected by the Birla family. Is it going to be one of the places of interest in the days to come?
Gurumaharaj : You must be talking about the famous industrialist family of the Birlas. They have not arrived in the city long back. When Kolkata ( erstwhile Calcutta) became the capital of India of the British India,
a good number of enterprising youths flocked to the city in search of new opportunities from various corners of the country. Many of them later tasted success. Ghanashyam Das Birla was one of them.
Ghanashyam Das laid the foundation of the famous industrial group of Birla. After coming to Kolkata Ghanashyam started selling poppyseed near Burrabazar beside the river Ganges. He didn’t have enough money to buy his daily meals or any proper accommodation to live. That apart, he was much too worried over whether he would be able to achieve financial prosperity for which he had come to Kolkata. His mind was all the time occupied with the keen desire to become a highly successful businessman.
In those days there were no good roads like today and no communication system was in place in the city. The monks from across the country thronged the city during the fair at Gangasagar. They used to stay here for some time before beginning there long journey to Gangasagar on foot . Sages and saints from North India or Himalayas came to Kolkata by train. A large number of monks walked along the shore of Ganges and reached the city. They pitched tents beside the Ganges. After crossing such long distance they took a break here in the Capital of the nation expecting generous offerings of food, clothes and money. It was the resting place for those monks after trudging long distances. Still today monks and pilgrims of Gangasagar stay for some time beside the Ganges in Kolkata. The other attraction for these pilgrims was a visit to Kalighat or Kaliksetra.
In those days the way from Kolkata to Gangasagar along the holy river was impassable and venturous. Monks and pilgrims used to take this route to Gangasagar. Sundarbans was, in those days, was extended to the outskirts of the present Kolkata. Due to this, all saints rested here for a few days in tents, temple premises or mansion beside the Ganges while going to or returning from Gangasagar. Ghanashyamji used to wake up early in the morning and took care of those tired monks. At the same time he asked for their blessings so that he could thrive financially .
He kept on serving the saints for long. One day he came across a yogi. In reality this is what happens. If you focus on something with all your mental and physical energy, it will definitely appear in front you. This is a subtle mystery. The same thing happened with Ghanashyamji. Every morning he bathed in the Ganges. One morning suddenly he got the opportunity to serve an advanced yogi as he finished taking his bath. He sensed that this yogi was not an ordinary monk. He realized that this noble saint could offer the answer to all his deepest prayers. So, he devoted himself in serving the yogi. Everyday he told the yogi about the miserable condition of his business venture.
After some days it was time for the yogi to depart ! Now he would go to his own destination. Ghanashyam burst into tears and lay prostrate at the yogi’s feet. He entreated the noble yogi, ” Please show me the way to prosperity! ”
At this, the yogi took compassion on him and blessed him heartily. He took out an object from his sack and gave it to Ghanashyam. Then he said, “So long this is with your family you won’t have any difficulty and your business will keep flourishing!” It was a metal idol of Lakshmi and Narayana. He again said to Ghanashyam, ” You have to build a temple for this idol. But don’t ever stop building temples. Make it a point to keep building temples one after another.”
Listening to the yogi’s words Ghanashyamji was at a loss. Where would he get so much money to build the temple? Then the yogi assured him,” Don’t think of the money. There will be no dearth of funds for this.”
Since then the Birlas have been doing this. Their business kept growing with time and they never stopped constructing new temples. Later they even owned many marble mountains on long term lease. So, they are now building white marble temples. All the white marble temples built by the Birlas you see these days have idols of Radha and Krishna placed inside them.
Translated by Amitava Saha
Gurumaharaj : You must be talking about the famous industrialist family of the Birlas. They have not arrived in the city long back. When Kolkata ( erstwhile Calcutta) became the capital of India of the British India,
a good number of enterprising youths flocked to the city in search of new opportunities from various corners of the country. Many of them later tasted success. Ghanashyam Das Birla was one of them.
Ghanashyam Das laid the foundation of the famous industrial group of Birla. After coming to Kolkata Ghanashyam started selling poppyseed near Burrabazar beside the river Ganges. He didn’t have enough money to buy his daily meals or any proper accommodation to live. That apart, he was much too worried over whether he would be able to achieve financial prosperity for which he had come to Kolkata. His mind was all the time occupied with the keen desire to become a highly successful businessman.
In those days there were no good roads like today and no communication system was in place in the city. The monks from across the country thronged the city during the fair at Gangasagar. They used to stay here for some time before beginning there long journey to Gangasagar on foot . Sages and saints from North India or Himalayas came to Kolkata by train. A large number of monks walked along the shore of Ganges and reached the city. They pitched tents beside the Ganges. After crossing such long distance they took a break here in the Capital of the nation expecting generous offerings of food, clothes and money. It was the resting place for those monks after trudging long distances. Still today monks and pilgrims of Gangasagar stay for some time beside the Ganges in Kolkata. The other attraction for these pilgrims was a visit to Kalighat or Kaliksetra.
In those days the way from Kolkata to Gangasagar along the holy river was impassable and venturous. Monks and pilgrims used to take this route to Gangasagar. Sundarbans was, in those days, was extended to the outskirts of the present Kolkata. Due to this, all saints rested here for a few days in tents, temple premises or mansion beside the Ganges while going to or returning from Gangasagar. Ghanashyamji used to wake up early in the morning and took care of those tired monks. At the same time he asked for their blessings so that he could thrive financially .
He kept on serving the saints for long. One day he came across a yogi. In reality this is what happens. If you focus on something with all your mental and physical energy, it will definitely appear in front you. This is a subtle mystery. The same thing happened with Ghanashyamji. Every morning he bathed in the Ganges. One morning suddenly he got the opportunity to serve an advanced yogi as he finished taking his bath. He sensed that this yogi was not an ordinary monk. He realized that this noble saint could offer the answer to all his deepest prayers. So, he devoted himself in serving the yogi. Everyday he told the yogi about the miserable condition of his business venture.
After some days it was time for the yogi to depart ! Now he would go to his own destination. Ghanashyam burst into tears and lay prostrate at the yogi’s feet. He entreated the noble yogi, ” Please show me the way to prosperity! ”
At this, the yogi took compassion on him and blessed him heartily. He took out an object from his sack and gave it to Ghanashyam. Then he said, “So long this is with your family you won’t have any difficulty and your business will keep flourishing!” It was a metal idol of Lakshmi and Narayana. He again said to Ghanashyam, ” You have to build a temple for this idol. But don’t ever stop building temples. Make it a point to keep building temples one after another.”
Listening to the yogi’s words Ghanashyamji was at a loss. Where would he get so much money to build the temple? Then the yogi assured him,” Don’t think of the money. There will be no dearth of funds for this.”
Since then the Birlas have been doing this. Their business kept growing with time and they never stopped constructing new temples. Later they even owned many marble mountains on long term lease. So, they are now building white marble temples. All the white marble temples built by the Birlas you see these days have idols of Radha and Krishna placed inside them.
Translated by Amitava Saha