A speech delivered by Dr. Adhvaryoo Patan

You all know the story of the four blind persons and the elephant. Just as none of those blind persons could give a perfect description of the elephant, in the same way, I can only describe some aspects only of the personality of Swami Venkatesananda, from the experiences which I have had from my few visits to the Ashram.

You will agree with me when I say that Swami Venkatesananda bears an impressing personality and that a smile is always interwoven in his expression. His capacity to work is something outstanding. Gurudev once told me that during the All-India-Ceylon Tour of 1950, he was busy whole day taking notes of every word that dropped from Swamiji's mouth, and that he was busy for the greater part of the night, too, reproducing the same words on the typewriter. That magnificent volume of the All-India tour owes its existence to Swami Venkatesananda.

Humility, which is the trait of all the disciples of Gurudev, is outstandingly prominent in Swami Venkatesananda.

Those of us who had the privilege to see him working during the recent illness of Gurudev must have noticed the strain to him, as if he was really ill. There could not be any better example of Guru Bhakti.

Lastly, he has shown his greatness when he said that Gurudev's Grace has been bestowed on him without any rhyme or reason. By these words he has shown the greatness and deservedness that he possesses, and this alone has won Gurudev's Grace for him.

Gurudev has paid due compliments to him when he said that 'He is a tower of strength to me and to my mission'. Would I not be correct if I say that Swami Venkatesananda is not only a tower of strength to Gurudev and his mission, but to the whole of India - rather to the whole humanity.