A new chapter opened in Bihar’s long history of spiritual excellence when Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah started a centre at Chapra on Ramanavami, 2003. This centre has historical significance, for Chapra is the birth place of Swami Adbhutananda (Latu Maharaj), the only sannyasi disciple of Sri Ramakrishna who was born outside Bengal. Incidentally, it is the first centre of the Mission in Bihar to have been started after the independence of India

Swami Adbhutananda was born in an extremely poor low cast family known as ‘Rakhturam’ in his childhood, he was orphaned very early in life and was taken to Calcutta as a boy of five. During this period his name got changed to Latu. Destiny brought him to Sri Ramakrishna who recognised the great spiritual potential of the young boy and started training him and educating him in spiritual life. Latu Maharaj was completely unlettered, but was admired even by Swami Vivekananda for his spiritual eminence and it was Swamiji who gave him the name Swami Adbhutananda "the wonderful" [creation of Sri Ramakrishna]. Today many books in different languagess are published on this unlettered, illiterate, shepherd-turned-saint who showed from his life and attainments that spiritually has no prerequisite other than absolute sincerity.

Chapra is situated at the confluence of Ganga and Saryu, two most sacred rivers of India. The Gandak too flows on the other side of Chapra and merges into Ganga some 50 kms from the town. Chapra have an long tradition and glorious part. It was shelter to sages Gautam Vishwamitra ( who retrieved Gayatri Mantra through unwavering tapasya), and Dadhichi (renowned for giving away his bones even while alive for the welfare of the society). According to folklore, the Chapra centre is situated where sage Dadhichi’s ashrama used to be. The town also gave the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Sri Ramakrishna has, as if, taken the self sacrifice of Dadhichi, the spiritual intelligence and illumination of Vishwamitra, and the perfect character of Latu Maharaj to fuse them all to once again rekindle the embers of this place into a conflagration to burn down the ages old encrustations of poverty, ignorance and superstition in order to bring light, strength and joy to Chapra and its surrounding areas. By the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna very soon Chapra is going to become famous as a pilgrim centre for the devotees who consider themselves blessed to pay homage to the land which gave birth to Swami Adbhutananda.