Written Messages

Varanasi

28 July 2022

 Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri was the elder son of Shri Lahiri Mahashay. He was born on 2nd June 1863

( Purnima and day of Snaan Yatra) and left his body on 12th March 1933 ( Dol Purnima).

Some of the instances from his life are being presented here:–

There was a Rani Bhawani Estate in Bengali Tola of Varanasi comprising of Rani Bhavani Palace, Temple and a Guest house (Atithishala). Daridra Narayans, that is, beggars were fed lunch in the campus free of cost daily. Besides, many other acts of charity and benevolence were done for the poor by the Estate. There was a board of trustees to manage its affairs. One Rai Bahadur Shri Neel Ratan Bandopadhyay was its main Trusty. When he decided to leave the work due to his old age,  the board unanimously decided to choose Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri to succeed him. Shri Neel Ratan Bandopadhyay gave this information to Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri, but he refused to accept on the ground of paucity of time. Then Neel Ratan Babu asked Tinkaudi Lahiri, "Can't you spare 2 hours’ time daily for the work of helping the poor and needy?" Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri could not say no, and accepted the proposal.

While working as Head Trustee of the Rani Bhavani Estate, acts of Tinkaudi Lahiri was exemplary for all.

1) Once Tinkaudi Lahiri was working in the Estate office. Suddenly he was reminded to write a personal letter. He wrote the letter and handed over that to his son Satya Charan Lahiri to post in the letter box. He also gave one paisa coin to Satya Charan to drop in the donation box of the temple. During dinner time, Satya Charan asked his father why he had given one paisa coin to donate in the Trust's Temple. Tinkaudi told that he had used ink of the Estate office for writing a personal letter !

2) There was a tradition of offering of Luchi (Luchi Bhog) during the evening puja in Rani Bhavani Temple and the same was distributed among the members of the Trust as 'Prasad'. When a staff of the Temple brought the 'Prasad' to Tinkaudi ji's house first time, he asked the staff why the 'Prasad' was brought to his house. The staff informed that it was the tradition. Being not satisfied by the answer, he discussed the matter with previous Trustee Shri Neel Ratan Babu. Then he decided that the whole 'Prasad' of evening Puja would be distributed among the "Daridra Narayans" as they were not fed in the evening. The 'prasad' will not be sent to any of the houses of members of the Trust. Shri Neel Ratan Babu was astonished by Tinkaudi ji's love for the poor, as well as his profound honesty.

3) Shri Neel Ratan Babu was a rich man. One day he came to Estate Office to attend a meeting. From his home he came to Dashashwamedh Ghat on palanquin and from there he came to the office on foot. But as palanquin's fare, he took one and half rupee from the trust's fund. Tinkaudi Lahiri objected to this. Shri Neel Ratan Babu explained that he couldn't come on foot as his home was not near. Then Tinkaudi ji replied that he is not asking to come on foot. He is only requesting, not to take the fare from the Trust's fund. Hearing this, Shri Neel Ratan Babu commented that he had made a mistake by making Tinkaudiji, the main Trustee !!

4) Shri Kalicharan Lahiri, eldest son of Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri died at the age of 40. The whole family as well as the neighbours were in a state of deep shock and grief. Everyone was crying. People were saying that no grief is bigger than the grief of death of a young son. But Shri Tinkaudi Lahiri didn't express any word of sorrow and grief. He was calm and quiet. He was in a state of energy of equanimity i.e. Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He only requested the people around, to help in carrying the dead body to Manikarnika Ghat for cremation and last rites. After coming home from the Ghat, he went to the Trust office at 4 PM as usual !!!

Jai Tinkaudi Lahiri Jai Jai