RKM Mumbai

Swami Turiyananda Tithi Puja
2023-01-05 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Kolkata)
Swami Turiyananda
Pre-Monastic Name: Harinath Chattopadhya
Place of Birth – North Kolkata
Date of Birth – 3rd January 1863
Swami Turiyananda was born on 3rd January 1863 to Chandranath Chattopadhya an orthodox Brahmin who worked for a British firm in Kolkata, and had the power to foretell the future.
He met Sri Ramakrishna for the first time some time in 1876-77, at the age of 13 or 14 at Dinanath Basu’s house in Kolkata.
Around 1880, he went to Dakshineswar and visited the Master again, and gradually became familiar with Sri Ramakrishna.
In January 1887, he took final monastic vows with other brother disciples by performing the traditional viraja homa in front of the Master’s picture.
A few years later, he left the Baranagore Monastery and went to Rishikesh, Gangotri, and other places in the Himalayas, and settled in Rajpur on the Mussoorie hills to practise Sadhana. He also travelled with his brother disciples to various places in the country.
In June 1899, he left for England and America with Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita. He gave lectures on Vedanta on Swamiji’s command. He was a living example of Vedanta to all. In July 1900, on the train from New York to California, just before Swamiji got off the train at Detroit, he asked Swamiji about his future work, and was told “Go and establish the ashrama in California. Hoist the flag of Vedanta there. From this moment, destroy even the memory of India. Mother will do the rest”. He then established the “Shanti Ashrama”
At the ‘Shanti Ashrama’, he freely distributed the greatest spiritual treasures of Vedanta to the American students. He lived a life and trained enabled others to live the life as well.
In late 1901, due to ill health, left for India in May 1902 (after a period of 2 years 9 months stay in the US). He handed the Ashrama to one of his disciples – Gurudas. His only desire at this time was to see Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda). During his voyage, he learnt from a passenger’s newspaper that Swamiji had passed away, and changed all plans for work. Now he wanted to immerse his life in meditation and austerity.
The then went to live at Vrindavan like a traditional monk. He travelled to many place, and practised severe austerities neglecting his body completely, and thus also suffering tremendous ill health.
In February 1919, he went to Varanasi and lived there till the end of his life for 3½ years. He passed away at 6.45 pm on 21 July 1922, at Varanasi.
Swami Turiyananda was indeed an awakener of souls. His fiery words to his students were: “Clench your fists and say: I will conquer! Now or never – make this your motto, even in this life I must see God. That is the only way. Never postpone.”
There will be a discourse on the Life of Swami Turiyananda by Swami Jyotiratmananda on Thursday, 5th January 2023 after Evening Arati at Universal Temple, Ramakrishna Math, Mumbai.
The discourse will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

Ekadasi / Ram Naam Sankirtanam
2023-01-02 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-12-19 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-12-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-11-20 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-11-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-10-21 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-10-06 17:00 - 19:00, 2022-09-21 17:00 - 19:00 and 3 more dates
Ekadasi is one of the regular festivals celebrated in all centres of the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission across the world and Ramnama Sankirtanam is sung by the congregation on this day.
The singing of this Sankirtanam was started by Srimat Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj who was the spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna. He was also the first President of the Ramakrishna Sangha.
Once during the singing of the Sankirtanam in the Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama at Varanasi, Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj had the Darshan of Sri Hanuman.
The 108 slokas of the Ramnama Sankirtanam, contain a brief and succinct description of the Divine Play of Maryada Purshottam Sri Rama – as if the ocean has been filled into a small pot! (The cassette/ CD for the Ramnama Sankirtanam is also available at the bookshop.)
The Ramnama Sankirtanam would be streamed live one hour before evening arati on our youtube channel www.youtube.com/rkmkhar

KALPATARU DAY 2023
2023-01-01 | Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Marg 12th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400052, India
KALPATARU DAY
Sunday, 1st January 2023
On the occasion of Kalpataru Day Temple will remain open in the afternoon from 2.30 pm onwards besides the usual time.

Swami Saradananda Tithi Puja
2022-12-28 18:30 - 21:00
Swami Saradananda
Premonastic name: Sharat Chandra Chakravarty
Date of Birth: 23 December 1865
Place of Birth: Kolkata

Born in an affluent family, Sharat was always calm and quiet and pious in his boyhood. He joined the medical college with the idea of becoming a doctor, but discontinued his studies in order to serve Sri Ramakrishna. Along with his cousin Shashi (who stayed with Sharat’s family) he joined the Brahmo Samaj, and in 1883 they went together to Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna drew them to him like a powerful magnet. During the Master’s last illness Sharat also, like Shashi, dedicated himself to serving the Master day and night.
After the Master’s passing, Sharat joined the Baranagar monastery and took the vows of sannyasa assuming the name Swami Saradananda. After spending a few years in pilgrimage and tapasya along with his brother monks, he returned to Baranagar Math in 1891. When Swami Vivekananda started extensive preaching work in the West, and felt the need for another brother monk to assist him, Swami Saradananda was brought to the United States in 1896. His calm and gentle disposition, courteous and loving manners and able exposition of Vedanta won him many friends and admirers in America.

But Swami Vivekananda, who founded the Ramakrishna Mission soon after his return to India in 1897, saw that a highly capable person like Saradananda was necessary to manage the affairs of the Math and the Mission. So Saradananda was called back to Kolkata and made the General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and the Mission, a post which he held for nearly three decades till the end of his life. By his mature wisdom, clear thinking, the strength of mind and devotion to Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother, he guided the course of the twin organizations in those formative years when political agitation against the British rule was gaining momentum in India.

Apart from his important work as General Secretary, Swami Saradananda is remembered for several other types of great service that he rendered. The first one was his taking over the Udbodhan, the Bengali journal of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, as its editor and publisher in 1902 when Swami Trigunatitananda left for America. The second one was taking upon himself the full responsibility of looking after the needs of the Holy Mother whether she stayed in Jayrambati or Kolkata. His third work was writing the monumental biography of Sri Ramakrishna known as Sri Ramakrishna Lila Prasanga in Bengali (translated later into English under the title Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master). His last great work was the construction of the temple dedicated to Holy Mother in 1921 on the spot where her sacred body was cremated in Belur Math, and another temple at Mother’s birthplace in Jayrambati in 1923.
He was loved and respected by hundreds of people. He was a great support, especially to women. In the first week of August 1927 he suffered a stroke. Two weeks later on 19 August 1927, he breathed his last.

Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-saradananda/

There will be a discourse on Life of Swami Saradananda by Swami Tannamananda on Wednesday, 28th December 2022 after Evening Arati at Universal Temple, Ramakrishna Math, Mumbai.
The discourse will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

CHRISTMAS EVE
2022-12-24 18:00 - 20:30 | Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Marg 12th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400052, India
CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION
SATURDAY, 24TH DECEMBER 2022

Time
Programme

6.15 pm
Evening Arati of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna

6.45 pm
Worship of Lord Jesus Christ and Christmas Carols

7.00 pm
Discourse on Importance of Christmas Eve in Ramakrishna Order and Reading from The Holy Bible (in English)

7.30 pm
Closing Song

Live streaming of Christmas Eve would be made through the link www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live.

Swami Shivananda Tithi Puja
2022-12-19
SWAMI SHIVANANDA
Pre-monastic name: Taraknath Ghoshal
Date of Birth: 16 December 1854
Place of Birth: Barasat, east of Kolkata
Special Puja and Homa will be performed on the occasion of Tithi Puja of Swami Shivananda on Monday, 19th December 2022 from 7.00 am onwards. There will be also a discourse on the Life of Swami Shivananda by Swami Divyeshananda after Evening Arati at Universal Temple, Ramakrishna Math, Mumbai.
PROGRAMME DETAILS

SWAMI SHIVANANDA
In accordance with the custom of those days, Tarak was married in his teens but, with the consent of his young wife, he lived an absolutely chaste life. Years later, when Swami Vivekananda came to know of this, he called him ‘Mahapurush’ which meant ‘great soul’, and since then he came to be known as ‘Mahapurush Maharaj’.
After completing school final, Tarak took up a job in order to help his father. But he used to practice spiritual disciplines. He saw Sri Ramakrishna for the first time at the house of Ramachandra Datta in May 1880. A few days later he went to Dakshineswar and surrendered himself fully to Sri Ramakrishna. From then on he began to practice intense prayer and meditation under the Master’s guidance. Three years later his wife died; Tarak renounced hearth and home and started living sometimes in a devotee’s house and sometimes in lonely places.
After the Master’s mahasamadhi, when Baranagar Math was started, Tarak was one of the first to join the brotherhood. With sannyasa ordination, he received the name Shivananda. He, however, spent several years leading an intensely contemplative life at different places in north India, and returned to Math in 1896.
When Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, he sent Swami Shivananda to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to spread Vedanta there. A year later Swami Shivananda returned to Math. In 1902, just before Swami Vivekananda’s mahasamadhi, he went to Varanasi to start the Advaita Ashrama thereof which he remained the head for seven years. In 1910 he was elected Vice-President of Ramakrishna Mission. In 1922, after the passing of Swami Brahmananda, he became the second President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. He travelled to different places blessing sincere seekers with spiritual initiation. Like Swami Brahmananda, he stressed meditation along with work. He gave great importance to prayer as a form of Sadhana. He was full of love and compassion, and sincere seekers flocked to him.
In April 1933 he suffered a stroke and developed paralysis of one side. On 20 February 1934, a few days after Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday, Mahapurush Maharaj left the body for the heavenly abode. His memory is kept alive at Belur Math in the small room adjacent to the Old Shrine.
source: https://belurmath.org/swami-shivananda/

Holy Mother Tithi Puja
2022-12-15
Ma Sarada Devi Tithi Puja
Holy Mother Tithi Puja will be celebrated on Thursday, 15th December 2022.

Live streaming of the function would be made through the link www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live.

Click Here To Download the Programme Details
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Swami Premananda Tithi Puja
2022-12-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Marg 12th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400052, India
SWAMI PREMANANDA
Pre-monastic name : Baburam Ghosh
Date of Birth : 10 December 1861
Place of Birth : Antpur, a village 30 miles from Kolkata.

Baburam first heard about Sri Ramakrishna from the great devotee Balaram Bose to whom his elder sister was married. While studying at the Metropolitan Institution, Rakhal (later known as Swami Brahmananda) was his classmate. One day Rakhal took Baburam to Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna recognized Baburam to be an extraordinarily pure soul (“pure to the marrow of his bones”), an ishvarakoti. Soon Baburam lost interest in his studies and came to live with Sri Ramakrishna as his attendant. During the Master’s last illness at Cossipore, Baburam was one among those who nursed him round the clock. After the Master’s passing, when the new Monastic brotherhood was formed at Baranagar, Baburam joined it.

He underwent sannyasa ordination and assumed the name Premananda. Except for short pilgrimages, he spent his days mainly at the monastery when it was in Baranagar and also when it was shifted to Alambazar. When Belur Math was established, Swami Premananda took charge of worship in the shrine. Later he became the Manager of the Math. The pure unconditional love that he radiated exerted tremendous influence on those who came into contact with him, and hundreds of devotees flocked to see him. He had a motherly interest in feeding people, but he also inspired them with his spiritual exhortations which flowed out from the depths of his heart. Towards the end of his life, he went on a tour of East Bengal. There his radiant personality and inspired talks created great enthusiasm, particularly among the youth. On his return, he fell seriously ill and passed away at Balaram Babu’s house on 30 July 1918.

Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-premananda/

There will be a discourse on Life of Swami Premananda by Swami Jiveshwarananda on Thursday, 1st December 2022 after Evening Arati at Universal Temple, Ramakrishna Math, Mumbai.
The discourse will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

Guru Nanak Jayanti
2022-11-08 18:30 - 20:30
There will be a discourse on Life & Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji by Swami Divyeshananda after evening Arati. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live.

Swami Vijnanananda Tithi Puja
2022-11-07 18:30 - 20:00
SWAMI VIJNANANANDA
Pre-monastic name : Hari Prasanna Chatterjee
Date of Birth : 30 October 1868
Place of Birth : Etawah in Uttar Pradesh

Hari Prasanna had the good fortune to see Sri Ramakrishna when he was a small boy. He met the Master when he was studying at St. Xavier’s College where Sharat (later, Swami Saradananda) was his classmate. During the first meeting, Sharat was with him. Later he visited the Master alone several times. Sri Ramakrishna gave him important instructions regarding spiritual life and blessed him in several ways.
After completing his studies in Kolkata, Hari Prasanna went to Bankimpur in Bihar and entered Patna College to study for BA degree. There he learned about the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna and also saw him in a vision. After graduation, he went to Poona College of Science to study Civil Engineering. After receiving his engineering degree in 1892 he got the job of district engineer at Gazipur. However, the fire of renunciation which Sri Ramakrishna had lighted in him, was burning, and he finally renounced the world in 1896 and joined the Alambazar Math where the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna were staying.

When the Belur Math property was purchased, Hari Prasanna’s knowledge of engineering proved to be a great asset. His first task was to remodel the existing building and build new ones including the shrine. The consecration of the new premises took place on 9 December 1898. Another major work he executed at Belur Math was the construction of a strong embankment on the bank of the Ganga in front of the main building. Another most important work that he undertook was the preparation of a plan for a new temple of Sri Ramakrishna based on the ideas given by Swami Vivekananda and supervising its construction. On 9 May 1899 Hari Prasanna formally took sannyasa and assumed the name Vijnanananda.

Swami Vivekananda asked Vijnanananda to start a new centre in Allahabad and, accordingly, Vijnanananda left Belur Math in 1900. In Allahabad he lived a more or less secluded life, immersed in sadhana, reading and writing. He also went on pilgrimage to many places. On the demise of Swami Akhandananda, the third President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Swami Vijnanananda became the next President in March 1937. As President of the Order, Vijnanananda was full of love and compassion and initiated many people into spiritual life. On 14 January 1938, Swami Vijnanananda performed the dedication of the new temple of Sri Ramakrishna at Belur Math. He spent his last days in Allahabad and entered mahasamadhi on 25 April 1938.

Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-vijnanananda/

There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Vijnananandaji Maharaj after evening arati. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

Swami Subodhananda Jayanti
2022-11-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Mission Marg 12th Road, Khar (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400052, India
SWAMI SUBODHANANDA
Pre-monastic name : Subodh Chandra Ghosh endearingly called ‘Khoka Maharaj’
Date of Birth : 8 November 1867.
Place of Birth : Kolkata
Born in an affluent family, Subodh was spiritually inclined from boyhood. While studying in class eight he heard about Sri Ramakrishna from his father who was a follower of Brahmo Samaj. One day in 1884 Subodh walked all the way to Dakshineswar in the company of a friend. Sri Ramakrishna received them with great love. After that Subodh went to the Master several times. Owing to the opposition of his parents, he could not stay with Sri Ramakrishna or serve him during his last illness. But the Master understood his difficulty and made him his own through his boundless love.
He joined the Baranagar Math and was ordained a sannyasin bearing the name Subodhananda. Since he was only nineteen and the youngest of the group, he was endearingly called ‘Khoka’ (which means ‘child’) by Swamiji and other monastic brothers. He spent several years travelling in different parts of India performing tapasya. After Swami Vivekananda’s return from the West when Belur Math monastery was established, he felt himself quite at home there. He visited East Bengal (now Bangladesh) twice and inspired many people with his talks and loving conduct. All through his life he combined in himself the simplicity of a child and the wisdom of an illumined soul. He passed away in Belur Math on 2 December 1932.
Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-subodhananda/
There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Subodhanandaji Maharaj after evening arati by Swami Tannamananda. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

SRI SRI KALI PUJA
2022-10-24 19:00 - 2022-10-25 16:00

Sri Sri Lakshmi Puja
2022-10-09 18:00 - 2022-10-10 17:00

SRI SRI DURGA PUJA
2022-10-01 - 2022-10-05
Sri Sri Durga Puja will be celebrated at the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission premises from Saturday, 1st October 2022 to Wednesday, 5th October 2022 as per the given programme details. All are cordially invited to attend the puja and other functions.

SHASHTHI - SATURDAY, 1ST OCTOBER 2022
06.40 a.m. Kalparambha
06.40 p.m. Bodhan, Amantran & Adhivas
SAPTAMI - SUNDAY, 2ND OCTOBER 2022
06.40 a.m. Saptami Puja
MAHASHTAMI - MONDAY, 3RD OCTOBER 2022
06.40 a.m. Ashtami Puja
09.30 a.m. KUMARI PUJA
04.14 p.m. to 05.02 p.m. SANDHI PUJA
MAHANAVAMI - TUESDAY, 4TH OCTOBER 2022
06.40 a.m. Puja
12.45 p.m. HAVAN
VIJAYADASHAMI - WEDNESDAY, 5TH OCTOBER 2022
07.30 a.m. Dashami Puja
08.50 a.m. Pushpanjali
09.15 a.m. Darpan Visarjan
04.00 p.m. Immersion of image at Gandhi Ghat, Juhu
DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME DETAILS

Swami Akhandananda Tithi Puja
2022-09-25 19:00 - 21:00
SWAMI AKHANDANANDA
Pre-monastic name : Gangadhar Gangopadhyay
Date of Birth : 30 September 1864
Place of Birth : Kolkata

Born in an orthodox family Gangadhar lived a pure, disciplined life from boyhood. At the age of nineteen he went to Dakshineswar Kali temple. Sri Ramakrishna received him cordially and gave him several instructions. Since then he started visiting the Master and also cultivated friendship with the other young disciples, particularly with Naren (later, Swami Vivekananda).
When the Baranagar Math was formed after Sri Ramakrishna’s mahasamadhi, Gangadhar did not join it immediately. Instead, he set out on a long pilgrimage in 1886 which took him to different places in the Himalayas and Tibet. After three and a half years, he returned to Baranagar monastery in June 1890. He then took sannyasa vows formally and assumed the name Akhandananda.

In mid-July 1890 Swami Akhandananda again set out, this time in the company of Swami Vivekananda, on a pilgrimage which took them to different places in the Himalayas. When Swamiji left for the West, Akhandananda continued his wanderings in western India. Towards the end of 1895 he returned to the Math which had been shifted to Alambazar in Kolkata. When Swami Vivekananda, after his return from the West, reached Kolkata in February 1897, Swami Akhandananda enthusiastically participated in the reception accorded to Swamiji.

After a few days, when Swamiji left for Darjeeling, Akhandananda travelled towards Murshidabad. Reaching there he was distressed to find a famine raging. He immediately started famine relief work with whatever he could collect. Later Swami Vivekananda sent more funds and the relief operation was organized on a full scale. This was the first relief operation organized by Ramakrishna Mission.

After relief work Akhandananda started an ashrama with an orphanage in Sargachhi, in the Murshidabad district. He served the orphan boys as manifestations of God.
In 1934, after the passing away of Swami Shivananda, Swami Akhandananda became the President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. From that time he divided his time between Belur Math and Sargachhi. He participated in the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936. Owing to old-age ailments he became weak. He passed away on 7 February 1937.

Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-akhandananda/
There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Akhandanandaji Maharaj after evening arati by Swami Devakantyananda. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

Japa Yajna
2022-09-25 06:00 - 18:00
Ramakrishna Math, Mumbai is observing “AKHANDA JAPA YAJNA ANUSHTHAN” for Devotees on SUNDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER 2022 From : 6.00 am. To 6.00 pm. at Universal Temple of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna.

The minimum Time Slot is for 1 hour.
Multiple & continuous slots can be selected.
Register the name(s) with time slot preference at our office between 9.00 am to 11.30 am and 4.30 pm to 6.30. pm or over phone 022-61818000 or email us at mumbairkm@gmail.com before 21st September 2022.

(Note: Chairs will be provided for Senior Citizens or those in need)

Swami Abhedananda Tithi Puja
2022-09-19 19:00 - 21:00
SWAMI ABHEDANANDA
Pre-monastic name : Kali Prasad Chandra
Date of Birth : 2 October 1866
Place of Birth : North Kolkata

Born in a fairly well-to-do family, Kali had a great eagerness to learn yoga from his boyhood. He gained a good grounding in Sanskrit and English. At the age of 18, when he was studying for the school final examination, he went to Dakshineswar and met Sri Ramakrishna. Under the guidance of the Master, Kali practised meditation and was soon blessed with several visions.

Kali became a frequent visitor to Dakshineswar. He served the Master during his last illness. After the Master’s passing away, he joined the Baranagar Math and underwent sannyasa ordination, assuming the name Swami Abhedananda. At the Baranagar Math he used to shut himself up in a room and do intense meditation or study. This earned him the sobriquet “Kali Tapasvi”. He spent several years visiting places of pilgrimage on foot.

In 1896 Swami Vivekananda brought him to London for Vedanta work there. The next year he crossed over to USA and was given charge of the newly founded New York Vedanta centre. His profundity of scholarship, incisive intellect and oratorical power elicited widespread admiration, and people thronged to listen to him. He was also a prolific writer and his books on life after death, etc are famous.

After his long and successful work in America Swami Abhedananda returned to India in 1923. Soon he established a separate organization named Ramakrishna Vedanta Math and started living at the new centre. However, he maintained cordial relationship with his brother monks at Belur Math which he visited occasionally. He presided over the Parliament of Religions at the Town Hal, Kolkata, as a part of the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Sri Ramakrishna.

He left the mortal frame on 8 September 1939. Of all the contributions that Swami Abhedananda made to Ramakrishna Movement, the most widely appreciated and enduring one is his composition of sublime and beautiful hymns (in Sanskrit) on Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi. His hymn to Holy Mother beginning with Prakritim paramam abhayam varadam, which is sung in many ashramas and homes, is unrivalled in the depth of conception and felicity of expression.

source: https://belurmath.org/swami-abhedananda/
There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Abhedanandaji Maharaj after evening arati by Swami Kalyanatmananda. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

SRI SRI GANESH PUJA 2022
2022-08-31 - 2022-09-02

Swami Advaitananda Tithi Puja
2022-08-26 19:00 - 21:00
SWAMI ADVAITANANDA
Pre-monastic Name : Gopal Chandra Ghosh
Place of Birth : Jagaddal, 24 Parganas

Early Life
Swami Advaitananda in his pre-monastic days was known as Gopal Chandra Ghosh. He was the oldest of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, being older than even the Master by a few years. Besides, as there were two Gopals, Sri Ramakrishna would address Swami Advaitananda as ‘aged Gopal’ while others would call him Gopalda or Gopal the elder brother. His father was Govardhan Ghosh, and he was born in a village called Jagaddal in 24 Parganas, but usually, he lived in Sinthi near Calcutta. Gopal was an employee in a shop in Chinabazar, Calcutta, belonging to Beni Pal of Sinthi. Beni Pal was a devout Brahmo, and in the religious celebrations which he performed at his place, the Master would also occasionally be present on invitation. Perhaps it was at these meetings that Gopal first met the Master.
With Sri Ramakrishna
Gopalda was a married man. At the death of his wife, he received such a great shock that he did not know what to do. A friend, who was a devotee of the Master, asked him to go to Dakshineswar, which he did. Gopalda did not profit much by the first visit, nor did he find anything very remarkable in the Master. But his friend insisted on his repeating the visit, for holy men do not often reveal themselves at once. Gopalda complied, and this time he was caught in the love of Sri Ramakrishna. As he began to frequent Dakshineswar, the overwhelming burden of his grief was completely removed. The Master’s simple explanation of the unreality of the world made a deep impression on his mind, and he began seriously to think of giving up the world in search of God. Ultimately he renounced the world and devoted himself heart and soul to the service of the Master in his last illness. He was very neat and clean and the embodiment of method and orderliness. These traits in him received great appreciation from the Master. His service to the Holy Mother was equally wholehearted. As the bashful Mother did not talk with anyone except the old Gopalda, the young Latu, and a few others, Gopalda used to attend to her needs.
One day Gopalda expressed a desire to the Master to distribute some ochre cloths and rosaries to monks. On this, the Master replied, ‘You won’t find better monks than these young boys here. You may give your clothes and rosaries to them.’ Thereupon Gopalda placed a bundle of saffron cloths before the Master, who distributed them among his young disciples.1 Thus was sown the seed of the future Ramakrishna Order.
At the Cossipore garden-house Swami Vivekananda, then Narendranath, when sitting one day in meditation was lost to outer consciousness. His mind flew beyond the realm of relative consciousness and was merged in the Absolute. Gopalda became terrified and rushed to the Master to report that Narendra was dead. The Master understood that it was a case of Nirvikalpa Samadhi and assured Gopalda accordingly. After some time Narendra regained normal consciousness.

Tapasya in Varanasi
After the passing away of the Master, Gopalda had no home to go to. So, with himself and Shivananda as the first inmates, was started the monastery at Baranagore. After staying in this monastery for a few years, he went to Varanasi where he practised austerities for about five years. One who had the privilege of staying with him at Varanasi says that his regularity in spiritual practices was wonderful. Very early in the morning, even in the severe wintry days of Varanasi, he would get up and go to the Ganga for a bath. From there he would return shivering with cold but his mind absorbed in reciting some Sanskrit hymns. The programme of the whole day was fixed, and he would follow it without the least deviation for days, months, and years. At that holy city, he lived on Madhukari, small quantities of cooked food collected from various houses so that it might not be taxing to a single individual. Adjacent to a place where an image of Shiva was installed, he occupied a small room, but how neat and clean that small room was! Everything kept in its proper place, the room at once gave indication of great taste and orderliness. His steadiness would cause wonder to those who watched him. He was quite indifferent to worldly sights and sounds and followed his own tenor of life in the contemplation of the divinity from day to day without any break.

Life at Belur Math
When Swamiji returned to India and organised the Ramakrishna Brotherhood, Swami Advaitananda, the name he was given when he became a monk, returned to the Math at Alambazar. Afterwards, he stayed mainly at the new monastery at Belur Math, where he looked after the management of various affairs of the monastery, specially the garden work. But all work he undertook or supervised had to be done very systematically and with scrupulous care. The young novitiates could hardly rise to his standard of perfection as regards work and for that reason they had a very hard time with him. Many of them would receive mild rebukes from old Gopalda, but they would take his criticisms more as a token of affection than as any indication of bitterness. Gopalda, however, would say later, ‘The Master has shown me that it is He who is manifested through all. Then whom to blame or whom to criticise?’ After this experience, Gopalda ceased from finding fault with anyone however great might be the latter’s errors.
Even in his old age, he was self-supporting. He would not like anybody to take the trouble of attending to his personal needs.
Being the oldest in age, he was looked upon with affectionate regard by all his brother disciples. But they also enjoyed making fun with him. Swamiji composed a comical verse in order to tease Gopalda, but that really indicated in what great esteem Gopalda was held by all.
Old Gopalda, too, had his moments of humour, though it might be at the cost of others. Swami Vijnanananda related one such incident. ‘He (Gopalda) and Nityananda Maharaj were staying at Belur Math with several monks and brahmacharins. Calling them, Swami Nityananda said, “Well, look here, come and dig up this plot of land. I shall raise brinjals and potatoes here.” They started digging up. Seeing this Gopalda said, “Oh, what a hard labour they are put to! Come away, all of you boys. Should they be made to work so hard?” Gopalda took them along with him. Then he told them quietly, “You brothers dig up this plot for flower beds.” The soil of the latter plot was harder than the first. Swamiji and other monks had a hearty laugh when they heard Gopalda saying that. I am, therefore, always reminded of Gopalda when someone takes pity on another and wants to make him comfortable.’ In those days of hard work, the monks knew how to lighten the burden through humour.
But Gopalda was not always successful with all. He disliked tea, while Swami Subodhananda cherished it. Gopalda warned all that if they drank tea, it would lead to dysentery. But Swami Subodhananda asserted emphatically that each drop of tea in the cup would produce a drop of blood.
After his return to the monastery, Gopalda’s special duty was to look to the levelling of the newly purchased land at Belur and the repair of the old structures there. The land had been in use for repair of steamers and was hence full of pits and canals. All this meant strenuous work. When the monastery became fully established there, Gopalda willingly took up the duty of looking after the comforts of the monks and producing vegetables. for offering to the Master.
Gopalda made strenuous efforts to mould his life according to the life and example of the Master, and would sometimes express disappointment that he fell so short of the ideal. But this feeling of disappointment indicated only his real spiritual height. Because of his age, Gopalda did not engage himself in any public activity, philanthropic, missionary, or otherwise, so that his monastic life was quite uneventful. But so long as he was in the physical body, he definitely set an example to all, and he was the source of inspiration to many. His uniform steadfastness in sadhana till the last days of his life elicited admiration, if not reverence, even from his brother disciples. His love for truth was wonderful. He heard the Master say that one should not twist truth even to make fun. Gopalda obeyed this instruction in letter and spirit and insisted on others doing likewise.

Mahasamadhi
He travelled extensively and visited, at one time or other in his life, sacred places like Kedarnath, Badrinarayan, and Hardwar in the north, Dwaraka in the west, and Rameswaram and other places in the south. He kept sound health till the good old age he lived to. After suffering for some time from stomach trouble, he passed away on 28 December 1909, at the age of eighty-one.

There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Advaitanandaji Maharaj after evening arati by Swami Devaswarupananda. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live

Swami Niranjanananda Tithi Puja
2022-08-12 19:00 - 21:00
SWAMI NIRANJANANANDA
Pre-monastic Name : Nityaniranjan Ghosh
Date of Birth : Some day in 1862
Place of Birth : Rajarhat-Vishnupur, W.B.

Born in a middle class family, Niranjan came under the influence of a group of occultists when he was a teenager, and it was in their company that he first visited Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar. The Master took Niranjan aside, and cautioned him about the dangers of occult practices. Niranjan followed the Master’s advice and began to practise meditation under the direction of Sri Ramakrishna.
During the Master’s last illness Niranjan served the Master with unflinching devotion. After the Master’s passing, when the new monastic brotherhood was formed at Baranagar, Niranjan joined it and after sannyasa assumed the name Niranjanananda. After staying at the Math for three years, he went on pilgrimage to different places in India, and also visited Sri Lanka.

Swami Niranjanananda was very much devoted to Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. Towards the end of his life he went to Hardwar for tapasya. There he had a severe attack of dysentery and passed away on 9 May 1904.

Sri Ramakrishna regarded Niranjan as an ishvarakoti, an ever-perfect soul endowed with special divine attributes.

Source: https://belurmath.org/swami-niranjanananda/
There will be a discourse on the life & teachings of Swami Niranjananandaji Maharaj after evening arati by Swami Divyeshananda. The discourse will be streamed live on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/rkmkhar/live
