Swami Brahmananda (1863-1922) Swami Brahmananda Swami Brahmananda, the ‘Spiritual Son’ of Sri Ramakrishna was the first President of the Ramakrishna Order. Known as Rakhal Chandra Ghosh in his premonastic days, he was born at Sikra, a village near Calcutta, on the 21st January, 1863, of aristocratic parents. During his High School days at Calcutta he came into contact with Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda) which developed into an intimate lifelong friendship. Even from his childhood days he was given to devotional moods bordering on mysticism, which naturally led to indifference to studies. His father got him married at an early age to ward off the religious pursuits from his mind and fix him up in the world. Strange to say, this very tie of marriage brought him to Sri Ramakrishna who at once recognized in him his ‘Spiritual Son’ as per the vision vouchsafed to him by the Divine Mother. Thus started a course of spiritual intimacy and intensive training under the loving care of the Guru, which resulted in several exalted mystic moods and spiritual experiences. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, Rakhal, along with Narendra and other brother-disciples, embraced monastic life under the name ‘Swami Brahmananda’. He spent several years as a wandering monk, visiting places of pilgrimage and practicing severe austerities. A little before the return of Swami Vivekananda from the West, he came back to the Baranagore Math and started living there. After his return and establishing the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Vivekananda made over the responsibility of running the organization, to him remembering that Sri Ramakrishna had once remarked that Rakhal had the capacity to rule a kingdom. His uncanny sense in solving even knotty problems and spiritual eminence of Himalayan heights took the organization to new levels of glory and development. It was a long stewardship marked by work and worship remarkably blended together. During his tenure as the Head, he also guided many earnest spiritual seekers by taking them under his protection, thus fulfilling Swami Vivekananda’s prophetic remark that Swami Brahmananda was veritably a spiritual dynamo. He passed away on the 10th April, 1922. Some teachings:
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Swami Shivananda (1854 – 1934)
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Swami Akhandananda (1864-1937) Swami Akhandananda On the death of Swami Shivananda, Swami Akhandananda was elected as the third President of the Ramakrishna Order.‘I do not covet earthly kingdom, or heaven, or even salvation. The only thing I desire is the removal of the miseries of the afflicted!’ If these words of Prahlada, the great devotee, could be found truly reflected in anyone’s life, it was in the life of Swami Akhandananda, the third President of the Ramakrishna Order. The Swami, known as Gangadhar Ghatak before ordination into Sannyasa, was born on the 30th September, 1864 in Calcutta. Even in his boyhood days Gangadhar was deeply religious and orthodox to the point of being dubbed as ‘oldish’ even by Sri Ramakrishna himself! As a corrective measure Sri Ramakrishna introduced him to Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda) who was, for all outwar appearances, very heterodox, but inside him he had nothing but God. This acquaintance matured into a deep a lifelong friendship between them.After the demise of the Master, Gangadhar, who took monastic orders and became ‘Swami Akhandananda,’ led the unfettered life of a wandering monk. For three years he roamed in the Himalayas and visited Tibet also three times. Because of his experience in the Himalayas, Swami Vivekananda took him as his guide in his sojourn there.Swami Vivekananda’s burning words to do something for the poor and illiterate masses, inspired Swami Akhandananda to do some good work for the education of poor children both in Khetri and in Udaipur. Finally he started an orphanage in the village of Sargacchi in the Murshidabad district of Bengal to where he had gone to conduct famine relief work. He and the institution grew up with each other. The Swami had a flair for learning languages, which brought him into intimate contact with the people wherever he went. His childlike simplicity endeared him to one and all. His austerity and scholarship were a source of inspiration for many. He breathed his last on February 7, 1937. Some teachings:
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Swami Vijnanananda (1868-1938) Swami Vijnanananda From his very first visit, Sri Ramakrishna spotted him out as one belonging to the inner circle and a future monk. He took particular care to instill in him the ideal ofbrahmacharya or celibacy. His visits to Dakshineswar and contact with the Master laid a firm foundation for his spiritual lifeSri Ramakrishna one day challenged a young man to wrestle with him. The tall and hefty youth put him down in no time. And the wonder of wonders: The young man soon felt a power entering from Sri Ramakrishna’s body into his own, making him completely powerless! That was how Hariprasanna had one of his early encounters with the Master.Born on the 28th October, 1868 in a respectable Brahmin family at Belgharia (Calcutta), Hariprasanna Chattopadhyaya (the pre-monastic name of Swami Vijnanananda) received a good education from his parents. He became an engineer and rose to the position of District Engineer at the erstwhile State of United Provinces, before renouncing the world. When the Master passed away, Hariprasanna who was still a student at Patna, had a strange vision in which he saw Sri Ramakrishna as if in flesh and blood, standing before him. Since he had lost his father early and had to support his mother, he was obliged to take to government service, but kept in touch with the disciples of the Master, especially Narendra (Swami Vivekananda). Later – in 1896, to be more precise – he gave up the world and joined the Math then at Alambazar and became ‘Swami Vijnanananda’ after ordination. Since he was an engineer with good experience in building construction, he was entrusted by Swami Vivekananda himself with the task of building the Math campus as also preparing suitable plans for a memorial temple of Sri Ramakrishna. So he prepared it in consultation with a noted European architect of Calcutta and Swamiji approved of the same. Due to the sudden demise of Swamiji and lack of funds, the project had to wait for a long time to be taken up. It was completed and dedicated by Swami Vijnanananda himself on the 14th January, 1938. A group of young men in Allahabad had formed themselves into an association called ‘Brahmavadin Club’ with a view to uplifting themselves morally and spiritually. They had done so under the inspiration of a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. This devotee had left Allahabad in 1900. As luck would have it, Swami Vijnanananda arrived at Allahabad in the same year as a wandering monk. The young men who were delighted to have a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna amongst them requested the Swmi to live in the rented premises of their Club and guide them. The Swami agreed and lived there for nearly ten years, spending most of his time in austerity and study. He later on established a permanent branch of the Ramakrishna Math at Allahabad in 1910. The Swami was a great scholar, not only in Sanskrit and religio-philosophical works but also in astronomy and astrology. He was elected the President of the Ramakrishna Order in 1937 after the demise of Swami Akhandananda. He strove hard to complete the construction of the temple of Sri Ramakrishna at Belur Math, which he successfully did and dedicated in January 1938 as already indicated. He then returned to Allahabad and passed away on the 25th April the same year. The body was consigned to the sacred waters of the Triveni, at the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati. Some teachings:
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Swami Premananda (1861 – 1918)
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Swami Saradananda (1865 – 1925)
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Swami Ramakrishnananda (1863 – 1911)
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Swami Turiyananda (1863 – 1922) Swami Turiyananda A few people, there are, who appear to life in this world, but do not really belong here. Swami Turiyananda was one of them. Born in a religious family, of Brahmana parents, on the 3rd January, 1863, Harinath Chattopadhyaya – that was his pre-monastic name – was given to much orthodox observances even in his younger days. An innate desire for liberation in this very life, kindled by the study of Vedantic works brought him to Sri Ramakrishna. The Master through his deep spiritual insight and all-encompassing love, quickly won his heart. Not only that, he soon discovered and destroyed two unhealthy trends in his personality – abhorrence of womankind and excessive reliance on self-effort.After accepting the monastic robes and vows, Harinath became ‘Swami Turiyananda.’ His orthodox mental makeup made him undertake long and arduous journeys as an itinerant monk, and practice severe austerities as also study of the scriptures. Though he had great love and respect for Swami Vivekananda, he was at first averse to active missionary work. But Swamiji’s love melted his heart. He accompanied Swamiji to the United States and worked there for about three years. The Shanti Ashrama in California was practically his creation.After returning to India he spent his days mostly in austerity and in training the younger generation of monks. His burning spirit of renunciation, deep faith in the Divine Mother, and insight into the intricacies of the scriptures left an indelible impression on everyone that came into contact with him. His fortitude and the control he could exercise over his body were astonishing.He left the body on the 21st July, 1922. Some teachings:
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Swami Abhedananda (1866 – 1939) Swami Abhedananda His very first discourse on Advaita Vedanta delivered at London was an instant success. He later shifted to New York. He toured and lectured very extensively in the West (both U.S.A. and Europe) for a quarter of a century. His lectures attracted the cream of Western intellects as also earnest seekers of Truth. He returned to India in 1921 and formed a ‘Ramakrishna Vedanta Society’ in Calcutta to carry on his work in his own way. When he gave up the mortal coil on the 8th September, 1939, the era of the direct Sanyasin disciples of the Master came to an end.Author of several exquisite Sanskrit hymns on Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi – the most popular one being ‘prakritim paramam’- Swami Abhedananda was a rare combination of several talents like intellectual acumen, devotional fervor and yogic introspection. He was a good speaker and a prolific writer.Known as Kaliprasad Chandra in his pre-monastic days, he was born on the 2nd October 1866 in Calcutta to enlightened parents, both to whom were deeply devoted to Mother Kali. Even from his boyhood days, he was inclined towards the study of Sanskrit. As he grew up he was drawn to the study of philosophical works, both eastern and western. His desire to become a yogi brought him to Sri Ramakrishna who immediately recognized him as a disciple of his inner circle. He progressed speedily in the inner life under the guidance of the Master.After the demise of the Master, Kali accepted Sannyasa along with the other disciples and became ‘Swami Abhedananda.’ He was given to much study and contemplation during the early days of his monastic life earning for himself the nickname ‘Kali Tapasvi.’When Swami Vivekananda wanted a proper assistant to continue the work in the West, he naturally thought of Swami Abhedananda. Some teachings:
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Swami Adbhutananda (~ – D. 1920) Swami Adbhutananda Swami Vivekananda once declared that Latu (the pre-monastic name of Swami Adbhutananda) was the greatest miracle of Sri Ramakrishna. If an orphan servant boy who had absolutely no knowledge of even the alphabets could rise to such a state of sainthood that scholars of great book-learning would sit at his feet and listen spellbound to his words of wisdom, it was nothing short of a miracle that Sri Ramakrishna brought about. Hence, the appropriateness of his name (adbhuta = wonder). The early life of the Swami is shrouded in mystery. Born in a remote village of Bihar, and orphaned at a tender age, the boy was later brought to Calcutta by his uncle. Good fortune favored him by getting him the job of a servant in the house of Sri Ramachandra Datta, a great devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. The religious atmosphere in the house helped unfold his religious temperament. The frequent errands to Dakshineswar brought him into close contact with Sri Ramakrishna who graciously accepted him as a disciple. Later on, as Sri Ramakrishna felt the need for an attendant, Latu started living with him and serving him. Since the guru was all in all for him, his service was exceptionally devoted.After the demise of the Master, Latu embraced monastic life and became ‘Swami Adbhutananda.’ Though he lived a mendicant’s life, he seldom moved away from Dakshineswar, his holiest place of pilgrimage. Through hard austerity and long bouts of meditation he was able to live constantly in God.He lived for an unusually long period of nine years at the house of Balaram Bose, another great devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. It was during this period that many earnest seekers would meet him and get their doubts resolved.He spent his last days at Varanasi where he breathed his last on April 24, 1920. Some teachings:
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Swami Niranjanananda (~ – D. 1904) Swami Niranjanananda Nityaniranjan Ghosh, more commonly known as Niranjan, was probably born in the village Rajarhat-Vishnupur (Bengal), but lived in Calcutta with his uncle. Physically well-built and majestic in appearance, he had somehow become associated with a group of spiritualists who had found in him a very good medium. Having heard about the great spiritual power of Sri Ramakrishna, Niranjan came to Dakshineswar one day. During this very first visit, the great Master told him, ‘My boy! If you think of ghosts and spooks, ghost and spook will you become! But if you think of God, divine will be your life. Which do your prefer?’ And this converted him from spiritualism to spiritual life. Though frank and openhearted, he was subject to loosing temper and consequently all sense of proportions. Sri Ramakrishna took special care to help him overcome this weakness. Niranjan was one of the few who served the Master day and night during his last illness. After his demise he took sannyasa along with others and become ‘Swami Niranjanananda.’ He was mainly instrumental in getting the major portion of the ashes of Sri Ramakrishna, to be later interred at the new Math built by Swami Vivekananda. He had a deep devotion for the Holy mother. Though tender at heart, he could be fiercely stern in the face of hypocrisy. He breathed his last on the 9th May, 1904 . |
Swami Trigunatitananda (1865 – 1914) Swami Trigunatitananda When Swami Turiyananda returned to India from San Francisco, it was Trigunatitananda who was entrusted with the responsibility of organizing the Vedanta work there. It was he who built the first Hindu Temple in the West.The depression brought about by the loss of a gold watch led the young Sarada Prasanna to Dakshineswar seeking peace. Master Mahashaya, the celebrated author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna who was his teacher, led him to his future guru. The first visit itself forged strong links between them. Fearing that his religious inclination and frequent visits to the Saint of Dakshineswar might ultimately induce him to become a monk, his relatives tried hard to change is mind, taking recourse to, in the process, religious rites and charms. But nothing worked. And, Sarada Prasanna became ‘Swami Trigunatitananda.’The Swami had a strong constitution and was a dare-devil. During his itinerant days he had often been on the brink of disaster and was miraculously saved. It is said that he once underwent surgery for fistula without anesthetics.Ever eager to serve others, the famous relief work he organized at Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh) bears testimony to his service attitude. At the behest of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Trigunatitananda started the Udbodhan, the Bengal Monthly of the Ramakrishna Order, and assiduously built it up. The great life came to an abrupt end as a result of a mad man’s act of throwing a bomb. He breathed his last on the 10th January, 1914. Some teachings:
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Swami Advaitananda (1828 – 1909) Swami Advaitananda The Swami passed away on the 28th December, 1909 at the ripe old age of eighty-one.The darkness of a crisis in life often acts like the twilight before dawn leading to the effulgence of the sun. When Gopal Chandra Ghosh of Sinthi (Calcutta) lost his wife and was heartbroken, that very grief led him to Sri Ramakrishna, seeking relief. The contact thus established through a crisis ultimately led to glorious spiritual heights.Gopalda – as he was endearingly called – was older than even Sri Ramakrishna. Nevertheless, the attitude of reverence and devotion he cherished towards Sri Ramakrishna, his guru, was unflinching. It was his good luck that made him instrumental in the birth of the future Ramakrishna Order of monks by gifting a few pieces of ochre-coloured cloths of Sri Ramakrishna who personally distributed them among Narendra, Rakhal and others including Gopal himself, during his last days at Cossipore.Along with Tarak (Swami Shivananda), Gopalda was he first to join the Baranagore monastery after the departure of the Master from this world. The monastic name given to him was ‘Swami Advaitananda.’ He spent a few years at the monastery, shifted to Varanasi for about five years and returned to the newly established Math at Alambazar, and later at Belur.His advanced age prevented him from taking active part in his missionary activities of the new organization. |
Swami Subodhananda (1867-1932) Swami Subodhananda He was a wonderful combination of compassion, love, childlike simplicity and profound spiritual wisdom.His pre-monastic name was Subodh Chandra Ghosh. He was born in Calcutta on the 8th November, 1867. His parents were deeply religious by nature which automatically left its influence on the son also.Coming to know of Sri Ramakrishna through a Bengali book of his teachings, Subodh lost no time in meeting the Saint of Dakshineswar. Even during the first two visits, Sri Ramakrishna gauged the spiritual potential of the boy and put him into a deep meditation by mystic methods.At the behest of Swami Vivekananda, but most reluctantly, Swami Subodhananda rose to speak before a gathering of monks and novices of the Math. And lo! There was an earth-quake! (It was the earthquake of 1897). It was really an ‘earth-shaking’ speech! Whether the speech was ‘earth-shaking’ or not, the Swami could certainly help even the lowliest in spirits, to shake off his dejection. Subodh joined the Baranagore monastery along with the other disciple of the Master and got name ‘Swami Subodhananda’ after ordination. Because of his simple and childlike nature, he was endearingly called ‘Khoka Maharaj’ (khoka=child) by his monastic brothers. After much austerities and itinerant life, the Swami settled down to a life of service to the suffering humanity. He was very actively associated with many of the relief works of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was extremely liberal in the matter of initiation also, especially towards the weaker sections of the society, whom he tried to help in all possible ways. The Swami passed away on the 2nd December 1932. Some teachings:
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Swami Yogananda (1861 – 1899)
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