Gurudev (Swami Sivananda) was the recipient of the highest homage and reverence from the top people of the country. He was not only a world-renowned person but also a world-revered being. Monks, devotees, scholars, social leaders and high dignitaries of India were all at one in paying their homage to him. He had reached the heights of Brahma-Jnana (knowledge of God). Yet, in his nature there was not the least bit of a ripple of the feeling of self-importance. He never had the thought—‘I am something’. He was very very simple and totally devoid of ego and pride.

Once Gurudev was camping in Hardwar and staying at the Shravan-nath Jnana Mandir. Once he along with some of his disciples was passing along a narrow lane. On the way was the shop of a Halwai (one who prepares sweets). He was making Jalebis (a sweet) and putting them in syrup. He looked at them and exclaimed, “Ah! Fresh Jalebis!” He asked the Halwai, “Oji, have you used pure ghee?” On hearing from him that he had used the best quality pure ghee, he said to Swami Paramanandaji, “Why not have some hot Jalebis?” Swami Paramanandaji looked at him, puzzled as he (Gurudev) was diabetic. He said, “How can you eat sweets, Swamiji?” Gurudev wanted that all of us should eat. So he said, “No problem! Anything can be taken! Place an order.”

The Halwai gave four leaf-cups of Jalebis. I was puzzled how to eat Jalebis in an open place in a busy lane. I was watching Gurudev. He went to a side, leaned against a wall and started eating a Jalebi!  He said to me, “You also eat.” It was a sight to see a world-renowned Guru, a towering personality and his disciples eating hot Jalebis in a narrow street!

This is one side of his nature. I will now tell you one small incident to show what his state of self-control was.

One hot summer day we were having the Satsanga (a programme of spiritual discourses, devotional songs etc.) on the veranda of Bhajan Hall. No one was barred in such programmes—even dogs, monkey, cows could go there.

Gurudev was having Prasad (holy eatables offered to God and distributed at the end of such programmes). He was leaning with the support of one hand placed on the floor. At that time a calf started coming. When it came to the crowd of devotees gathered there, someone tried to drive him away. It got frightened. It went close to Gurudev and then went away. Gurudev suddenly stopped eating the Prasad, called his attendant and said, “Le us go.”

The calf had put one hoof on Gurudev’s finger and it was crushed and the nail had come off. It was blue-black due to contusion. Yet he did not let out a single little sign even once. It must have been terribly painful. Gurudev’s attendant and I followed him. On the way was the dispensary. I opened the dispensary and put tincture benzoine over the wound. Gurudev then went straight to his Kutir. He must have been in great physical agony, but  nothing showed on his serene face and he did not give a single sign that something had happened.