Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in Mumbai after the Babri Mosque demolition on 6 December 1992. Businesses closed. Taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws, and trains stopped running. There were murders and assassinations.
During this period, my wife and I were stranded in Radha Gopinath Temple for over ten days. The scene there was tense, as temples were likely targets for disgruntled Muslims. The resident monks strictly kept indoors, while Radhanath Swami remained concerned for all of us.
After about a week’s stay, one evening Radhanath Swami stunned me. “You are a rascal,” he said. As my mind spun in introspection, he invited me to his room for an explanation. Back at the room, he interrogated, “Are you meeting your wife regularly?”
“Yes. In the morning I meet her after the prayers and ask her if everything is Ok. Then again in the evening I ask her if she is Ok,” I replied. [Rest of the day I basked in the spiritual association of the monks, feeling that the riots was a blessing in disguise. This temple stay, I felt, was a brief opportunity to live the life of a monk, free from family hassles.]
“That is why you are a rascal,” Radhanath Swami exploded. “Your wife should perceive your care, love and protection. Otherwise she will become miserable. And then, in due course, both of you will become miserable.”
Spiced with numerous rascals, I found the magic porridge for happy family life served out before me, in minutes. Holding up a spoonful of that, Radhanath Swami proposed, “Now, immediately, you take her to the Chowpatty beach and spend with her a half hour. Tell her how you care for her. And when you return, come back here and report to me all that you told her.”
I bustled about the temple, and finding my wife in the temple kitchen, hustled her out. She was appalled. Were the rioters coming? Saying nothing about the discussions that had just transpired, I told her we were going out to the beach nearby to spend some time together. Her eyes widened, and her expression changed to wonder. As we walked to the gate, I spotted Radhanath Swami watching us from the first floor balcony. Sweetening the secret we shared, both Radhanath Swami and I laughed heartily. And my poor wife—her wonder now transformed to bewilderment.
Radhanath Swami’s standing up there, I felt was symbolic. He watched out for riots, both communal and familial—with deep concern, compassion, and wisdom.
–Mr. Ashok Parikh.
168 replies on “Radhanath Swami and the 1992 Riots”
It always surprises me how Radhanath Swami is expert at managing all four ashrams.He knows just what every individual needs at any point in time.
A must read for all husbands 😀
On a serious note however, it is really noteworthy how Radhanath Swami Maharaj amid so much tension of the riots could still be sensitive to and concerned about this apparently trivial and often ignored issue.
Its so amazing to see how Radhanath Swmai is a relationship expert…
Radhanath Swami is really amazing. He knows perfectly how to stop riots before they happen in person’s life. Thank you so much for sharing.
Amazing how H.H.Radhanath Swami knows everything !!
This is super amazing and really super human..how Maharaj is concerned about all little details and cares about each indvidual. And, this love which Radhanath Swami shows on all level is changing hearts of millions.
HHRNSM has the wisdom to know and understand the needs of all his devotees, haribol, rajesh karia
HHRNSM is a very humble spiritualist and very caring for all his devotees, thank you maharaj! haribol, bhakti
thank u for sharing this sweet memory.
This is the basis of all relationships simply serve one another keeping Guru and Krsna in the center. Radhanath Swami is the Pivot of our relationships with Krsna. Thank you Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami, although in the renounced order very well knows how to take care of his disciples in whichever order of life they are in. He is the most loving, kind and caring person I have ever met in my life.
It is so amazing to see how Radhanath Swami loves and cares for devotees, how he guides his disciples in all situations.
Only who had pure love of God will be empowered to do it.
thank you for sharing
The real riots are in a person’s heart, which become manifest outside in time. Radhanath Swami is trying to cure all such internal riots before they create havoc.
One more eye opening instruction by H.H RAdhanath Swami Maharaj. Thank you Maharaj!
I wonder what it is like to be in the majestic and loving presence of Radhanath Swami.
Radhanath swami’s concern for his disciples……
Awesome !
such a sweet relationship
Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for sharing this truly wonderful experience you had with Radhanath Swami.
Very nice story. thanks for sharing
Radhanath Swami is so sesitive to the needs of every living entity.
Thank you sharing this and thank you for this beautiful realization about how Radhanath Swami protects us from all sorts of riots !
So nicely Radhanath Swami has taught all the husbands how to be affectionate to wives.
Really amazing how even a monk could understand the intricacies of marriage life so precisely. All glories to Radhanath Swami.
Radhanath Swami taught the principle of caring.
When people get that care, they can offer it to others too. Especially if a mother gets that care se can offer to the child too.
Spirituality means love,compassion and care towards all living entities which includes family keeping Supreme Lord in the centre of our life.Radhanath Swami gives this lesson to all his student in a most wonderful way.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj is so concerned about all devotees!
Radhanath swami is truly a saint as he is concern about each and every one. right from the simple house holders to exalted brahmacharis.
a small idea from Radhanath swami can change whole world.
As sweet as nectar.. Practical instructions for practical household life
Radhanath Swami is directly credited with the hundreds and thousands of happily married families where particularly, husbands have learnt to take care of their wives.
Radhanath Swami is spiritual teacher for Grihasthas, Brahmacharies as well as Vanaprasthas!!!!!!
Maharaj knows about every relation in the world whether it spiritual or material
Good lesson for me! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Prabhuji for sharing your experience. I also need to follow in your footsteps. I am very rigid and impersonal in nature
Really deep yet funny…!!!
Amazing instruction for all of us… Radhanath Swami Maharaj is very personal with everyone of us.
Its Really deep yet funny…!!!
Good one. Thank you for making this teaching reach us all. And many thanks to Radhanath Swami for being such a caring mentor.
Amazing incident.. thanks a lot for sharing. Maharaj is caring for one and all.. JAI !!!
Thanks for sharing. I need to learn a lot from this.
Radhaanth swami can stop all riots- at home and outside
Thank you very much for hsaring this. H.H Radhanath Swami is sensitive to everybody. This shows his compassion and care towards the devotees.Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai.
Amazing story !!! Thanks a trillion for sharing such a heart touching and an eye-opening story. This story, I feel throws a great message to all. Generally, devotees are accused of neglecting their family and social lives. But here Radhanath Swami once again shows his beautiful and overall understanding of Krishna consciousness process where he instructs his people not to neglect their own family members. He tells an amazing point in one of his lectures – “What good will you do the society at large if you cant even love your own family members?” Thnanks to Radhananth Swami once again.
Amazingly Radhanath Swami having great expertness to manage all the kind of problems of their disciples.
It is amazing that Maharaj has so much concern for the overall welfare of all his disciples. He treats each of his disciple as a loving son or a daughter.
Radha Gopinath community is based on care for devotees, under the guidance of Radhanath Swami
Truly amazing how Radhanath Swami watches out for riots, both communal and familial—with deep concern, compassion, and wisdom.