A new chapter opened in Bihar’s long history of spiritual luminescence when Ramakrishna Mission Belur, Howrah started a center at Chapra on Ramanavmi, 2003. This center has a historical significance, for Chapra is the birthplace of swami Adbhutananda (Latu Maharaj), the only sanyasi disciple of Sri Ramakrishna born outside Bengal. Swami Adbhutananda was born in an extremely poor family of an underprivileged caste. Know as Rakhuturam in his childhood, he was orphaned very early and was taken to Calcutta where he got employment as a household servant in a cultured family. During that period came to be called Latu (dear one) and Latu, the name which stayed with him.

Destiny brought him to Sri Ramakrishna who recognize the great spiritual potential of the boy and started training him, to bring out his spiritual development. Strangely, one is surprised to learn, Latu Maharaj was completely unschooled and unlettered, but was praised even by Swami Vivekananda for his good qualities of head and heart. It was Swamiji who gave Latu the name Swami Adbhutananda (Wonderful Creation of Sri Ramakrishna). Today several books in different languagess are published about this unlettered, literate, shepherd boy –turned saint Latu Maharaj, who showed in his life and attainments that spiritually has no greater prerequisite than absolute sincerity.