Sri Ramakrishna: God of All
ΠΠ° Π΅-ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³Π°Π²Π°
Swami Vivekananda once said: βSri Ramakrishna is not exactly what the ordinary followers have comprehended him to be. He had infinite moods and phases.β On another occasion he said, βBasketfuls of philosophical books can be written on each single sentence spoken by the Master!β
The thought-provoking essays of this book are the results of the revered authorβs reverential reflection on that great life. It is hoped that a study of them will help the readers towards acquiring deeper reverence and comprehension of Sri Ramakrishnaβs sublime life and profound teachings.
ΠΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈ ΠΈ ΡΠ΅ΡΠ΅Π½Π·ΠΈΠΈ
ΠΠ° Π°Π²ΡΠΎΡΠΎΡ
Swami Atmasthananda was the 15th president of the Ramakrishna Order. He received spiritual initiation from Swami Vijnanananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and Sannyasa from Swami Virajananda, a disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and monastic disciple of Swami Vivekananda.
After serving the Order at Belur Math and the branches at Deoghar Vidyapith in 1941 for few months and Mayavati Advaita Ashrama for nearly 3 years, he was offered the opportunity to serve the then Sixth President Swami Virajananda from 1944. He spent several years in his company in the solitude of Shyamla Tal in the Himalayas and also in Belurmath up to 30 May 1951. In 1952, he was posted to Ranchi TB Sanatorium branch as an Assistant Secretary. He worked hard to expand its services in many ways for more than 6 years (1952- 1958). He was then sent to Rangoon (Yangon) Sevashrama as its Secretary in 1958. He developed the Sevashrama hospital and it soon became the best hospital of Burma (Myanmar) at that time. When military rulers took over Rangoon Sevashrama, he returned to India in 1965. He was posted to Rajkot branch as its head in March 1966. The temple of Ramakrishna at Rajkot Ashrama was built on his initiative.
He was elected a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1973. In 1975, he was appointed an Assistant Secretary of the twin organisations. He was also appointed Secretary of the relief operations of the Math and Mission. Under his stewardship, the Math and Mission conducted massive relief and rehabilitation operations in various parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. He became the General Secretary of the Math and Mission in 1992 and continued in that post until 1997, when he became a Vice-President of the Order on 22 May 1997.
As a Vice-President of the Math and Mission, he travelled extensively in various parts of the country and visited many branches of the Order and some unaffiliated centres. In 1998, he visited various places in USA, Canada, Japan and Singapore. He also went to Malaysia, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at different times. In all those places, he spread the message of Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Vivekananda and Vedanta and also gave spiritual initiation (mantra diksha) to many seekers.
Swami Atmasthananda was elected as the 15th President of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission on 3 December 2007.
