How a Prostitute Taught Vivekananda the True Meaning of Love and Sainthood.

We all know Swami Vivekananda as a great “sanyasi”, who taught the message of love, peace and understanding to one and all. However, do you know that it actually took a prostitute to teach him the meaning of attachment and love? Here’s that story,

It so happens that Vivekananda, before he went to America and became a world-famous figure, stayed in Jaipur for a few days.

The king of Jaipur was a great admirer of Vivekananda and as it is royal tradition, he called many dancers to mark the occasion, out of which there was a very famous prostitute as well.

However, the king soon realized his mistake that he should not have called a prostitute while he is hosting a Sanyasi since all this is considered “impure” to him.

However, by the time he realized this –, it was too late, he had already called the prostitute to the palace and all arrangements had been made.

However, Vivekananda was still an imperfect Sanyasi, so he got deeply disturbed by this fact — had he been a perfect Sanyasi, this would have made no difference to him.

Since Vivekananda was also suppressing his sexual desires in the process of becoming a sanyasi, he locked himself in a room and refused to come out.

The Maharaja came and he asked for forgiveness from Vivekananda — he said that he has never hosted a sanyasi before so he doesn’t know what should be done.

Not only this, the King asked Vivekananda to come out of the room since this was the greatest prostitute of the country and sending her away would be insulting to her.

The King then requested Vivekananda to come out of the room — and not get offended.

But Vivekananda was afraid to come out –“A prostitute?” — he was very angry, and he said, “No”.

Hearing his words, the prostitute started singing for him — The song said, “I know that I am not worthy of you, but you could have been a little more compassionate. I am dirt on the road; that I know.”

She further sings, “But you need not be so antagonistic to me. I am nobody — ignorant, a sinner. But you are a saint — why are you afraid of me?”

Hearing all this Vivekananda suddenly realised his mistake — why is he so afraid to face the prostitute? What’s wrong? Is he being immature?

He then realized that any fear is also in the mind. If he can let go of the attraction he felt for the prostitute, he will be at peace.

He opened the door and greeted the prostitute. He said, “A new revelation has been given to me by the divine. I was afraid… must be some lust within me. That’s why I was afraid.”

He further said, “But the woman defeated me completely, and I have never seen such a pure soul. “

He further said, ‘Now I can even sleep with that woman in the bed and there will be no fear.” He transcended to a different plane because of the prostitute.

So in retrospect, we never ever know where we will get help. Any person in our life can teach us about love and attachment provided we stretch out our arms to receive our help.

So let go of your deepest desires and open your mind to the plethora of new opportunities. You never know who will help you in the best way possible.