Apart from his discussions with the Thakore Saheb, the Swami created a sensation at Mahabaleshwar. Narashimha Chintaman Kelkar, some time editor of the Maratha of Poona, calls to mind the Swami's visit in these words:_x000d_ In 1892, he [the Swami] had come to our Bombay-Poona side; but he had not become well known then. I was at that time preparing for my LL. B. examination. In summer some pleaders had gone to Mahabaleshwar. On their return they said that they had had an opportunity to see a brilliant Bengali sannyasin there. His command of the English language was wonderful, which used to spellbind the hearers, and his philosophical interpretations were very lofty befitting a genius. They also said that they had invited the Swami to Satara, but till the end he could not go there, and I also could not see him then.

V. R. Joshi, in his life of the Thakore Saheb, writes: "On 24 April 1892, Namdar Thakore Saheb Sri Jasvanta Singhji visited Mahabaleshwar. There he stayed for about three months. During this period he had the company of Swami Sri Vivekananda and on several occasions he discussed the subject of philosophy and self knowledge." From the personal diary (Nondh-Pothi) of the Thakore Saheb, which is published in the same life, it seems that the Swami reached Mahabaleshwar at the end of April or beginning of May 1892, and that he remained there until the middle of June.

While the Swami was at Mahabaleshwar, he was again encountered by Abhedananda, who went there from Bombay. The latter writes in his autobiography:_x000d_ After having seen Bombay, I went from there to Mahabaleshwar. I heard that Narottam Morarji Gokuldas was a hospitable gentleman in Mahabaleshwar. I went to Gokuldas's house by enquiry and on arrival there I found that Narendranath had already arrived there. . . . Seeing me Narendranath said with laughter, "Brother, why are you on my trail for nothing? Both of us have come out with the name of the Master. We had better travel independently." At this I said, "Why should I pursue you? I have come here, as you too have, in course of my wanderings. Through the will of the Master we have met again. 1 assure you that I am not deliberately after you." Narendranath reacted with loud laughter. . . . At the request of Gokuldasji, however, I spent three days at his house with? Narendranath and on the fourth day I resolved to set out for Poona.

Describing the Swami at this last meeting before his (the Swami's) departure for America, Abhedananda spoke of him as a soul on fire. He found him tortured with emotions and seething with ideas relating to the spiritual regeneration of the Hindus. The Swami's restlessness frightened Abhedananda. He was like a hurricane. The Swami told his brother-disciple, "I feel such a tremendous power and energy, it is as though I should burst."