A little after returning to India in 1901, Swami Vivekananda went to Mayavati in the Himalayas, then undertook a last pilgrimage with his mother to the holy places of Eastern Bengal, Assam and what is today Bangladesh. He returned to Belur exhausted, yet journeyed to Varanasi even as his own life’s journey was ending.

Back at Belur math, with his health worsening, he lived a simple life, like a “Sanyasin free” taking interest in the garden, experimenting with cooking, being with his pets. He continued to hold Vedantic classes almost daily teaching the young novices the various methods of meditation. He drew up a weekly timetable for them and kept a strict watch on the cleanliness of and discipline in the Math. He was an irresistible magnet for all drawing them to him through the tenderness of his immense love for all.

One small instance of this love came about towards the end of 1901. A group of Santhal laborers were working in the Math grounds. Swami Vivekananda had a feast cooked for them and served them saying, “Today I have entertained Narayana Himself.” Then turning to his disciples, he added, “ Will you be able to relive their miseries to some extent at least. . . otherwise what is the use of us wearing the Gerua?
. . . He alone is worshipping God who serves all beings.”

Over the last two months of his life, Swami Vivekananda seemed to anticipate the end. He withdrew from the daily workings of the Math stating, “ When men are once trained, it is essential that their leader leaves them for without his absence they cannot develop themselves.”

On the fourth of July, 1902, Swami Vivekananda went to the chapel and bolting the doors spent three hours in meditation. Then burst forth in a touching hymn on the Divine Mother. Coming down the stairs, he seemed withdrawn.

At noon, he had his meal along with the monks in the refractory contrary to his practice of these last days, then held a class on Sanskrit. In the afternoon, he took a walk with a gurubhai. He expressed a desire to establish a Vedic College in Belur Math. As the bell for the evening vespers rang, he went to his room and lay down rosary in hand.

An hour later, Swamiji took a deep breath, and another long deep breath. Then all was calm and still. The tired child had gone to sleep in the lap of the Mother.

He had once said, “ It may be that I shall find it good to get outside of my body – to cast it off like a worn-off garment. But I shall not cease to work! I shall inspire men everywhere until the world shall know it is one with God.”