Swami   Shivananda  (1854 - 1934)

Swami Shivananda, the second Presidnet of the Ramakrishna Order, was popularly known as ‘Mahapurush Maharaj.’ Born probably in 1854 at Barasat of West Bengal, in a respectable and deeply religious family, Tarak – that was his original name – got a good education, both secular and spiritual. When he was working in Calcutta in an English Firm, he got an opportunity of seeing Sri Ramakrishna about whom he had already heard. Later, when he met Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar, the later was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was the son of Ramkanai Ghosal, his old friend. Needless to say that Tarak had the full approval of his father for becoming the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.

Tarak was the first person to join the monastery at Baranagore after the demise of the Master, and was christened ‘Swami Shivananda’ while receiving the monastic orders. Though Tarak had been married, he had successfully kept up the vow of brahmacharya (celibacy). This made Swami Vivekananda remark in later days that he was a ‘Mahapurush’. This name stuck and be became known as ‘Mahapurush Maharaj’. Like his brother-disciples, he also spent a few years as an itinerant monk. But he had to settle down at the monastery in 1897 after the triumphant return of Swami Vivekananda from the West.

For some time he was in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) also, preaching Vedanta at the behest of Swami Vivekananda. He also took a leading part in the first plague relief work of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1899. It was he who started the Ashrama at Varanasi.

But the most memorable part of his life was during his stewardship of the Ramakrishna Organizations as the President from 1922 to 1934, when he blessed a large number of people with initiation and brought spiritual solace and comfort to thousands of devotees. He passed away on the 20th February, 1934 after a protracted illness which, never alienated him from his Lord whose presence he was constantly aware of. He was one of the finest examples of the fact that the beauty and sublimity of the inner life of a holy man can never be described in words but can only be

Swami  Subodhananda  (1867 - 1932)

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. He was a wonderful combination of compassion, love, childlike simplicity and profound spiritual wisdom.His premonastic 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.

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.

Teachings

Before the Lord enters the temple of anyone of His children’s hearts, he fills it with devotion, faith and love, just as a king sends different pieces of furniture and vessels to a subject’s house which he intends to visit. Else, where can the poor subject get all those things? The Lord grants devotion, faith and love, just because He will come.