Shuddhananda
This article uses secondary sources that critically analyze them.(May 2014) ) |
Shuddhananda | |
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Vivekananda | |
Honors | President of the Ramakrishna Order from May 1938 to October 1938 |
Shuddhananda who was the fifth president of the
Pre Monastic Life
Shuddhananda's pre-monastic name was Sudhir Chandra Chakravarty. He was born as son of Ashutosh Chakravarty in 1872 in Serpentine Lane in Calcutta. He studied at the City College of the University of Calcutta,[3] prior to joining the Alambazar Math of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. He had a group of friends all of whom became directly associated with Ramakrishna order in the later years as monks and all were disciples of Vivekananda. They were Khagen or Vimalananda, Kalikrishna or Virajananda, Haripada or Swami Bodhānanda Puri and Govinda (Shukul) or Swami Atmānanda Puri.[2]: 12 He spent most of his time in spiritual pursuits and reading and discussing religious books in the company of his friends. They also formed a debating club.[2]: 13 At this stage Sudhir was interested in the practice of Yoga and learnt it from Panchanan Bhattacharya or Arya Mission, a disciple of Shyamacharan Lahiri or Lahiri Mahasaya.[2]: 13
Introduction to Ramakrishna Order
In 1890, he came in contact with devotees of Ramakrishna at the Baranagar Math and Kankurgachi Yogodyan. Yogananda was the spiritual mentor of the group.[2]: 14 Advaitananda provided him with a copy of the Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, a small book compiled by Sureshchandra Dutta, a householder devotee of Ramakrishna.[2]: 14
Introduction to Vivekananda and his teachings
Sudhir, like other youths of his time in India, was greatly inspired by the stirring lectures of Vivekananda in the
Monastic Life and contributions
Initiation and service
Sudhir joined in Alambazar Math in April 1897. Vivekananda would call Sudhir affectionately as Khoka (small boy). Sudhir was initiated by Vivekananda into monastic vows (sannyasa) in May 1897 and was named as Shuddhananda (Shuddha: pure). His brother was
In company of the other direct disciples of Ramakrishna
Before taking monastic vows Shuddhananda had spent many days in Almora practising spiritual disciplines under Swami Niranjanānanda Puri, a direct monastic disciple of Ramakrishna. In September 1898 they came to Varanasi and stayed in the garden house of Banshi Dutta. However the austerities took a toll on the health of Shuddhananda. At this point Charuchandra, later Shubhananda, and Kedarnath, later Achalananda served and nursed him back to health.[2]: 31 Shuddhananda mentioned more than once that Niranjanananda's influence had contributed greatly to his spiritual progress.[2]: 33 He was also intimate with Ramakrishnananda. Later, at the behest of Vivekananda, Shuddhananda worked as an assistant to Trigunatitananda, who was the editor of Udbodhan, the Bengali magazine of the Ramakrishna Order.[2]: 33
Meeting Bhaskarananda
While staying in Varanasi, Shuddhananda had the opportunity of meeting Bhaskarananda, who was famous as a saint of Varanasi. Bhaskarananda had pleaded with him to help him in meeting Vivekananda.[2]: 32
Character
Spiritual practices and selfless service formed the backbone of his monastic life. He would conduct scriptural classes for the monastic inmates despite his busy schedule. He established a study circle in Belur Math to enable brother monks to learn the essence of the scriptures. He always mixed freely with the junior monks and addressed them as brother senior monks used to call him as "book of reference" on scriptures.[2]: 39 He looked upon the activities of the Ramakrishna Order as the worship of the divinity in the form of the Holy Trio.[2]: 41 He inspired other monastic organizations to follow a life of purity dedicated to God based on mutual love and affection among monastic inmates.[2]: 42 He did not like any special arrangement to be made for him and stopped the authorities from doing the same towards the end of his life.[2]: 50
Quotes
- "The purpose behind every work that Mission undertakes is to reveal Sri Ramakrishna's glory. Seeing our work people should be attracted not to us but to Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji. Revealing their glory is the purpose of our lives, the purpose of Ramakrishna Mission."[2]: 41
- "She (Sarada Devi) is indeed a mother in every sense of the word, the Mother of the Universe. Such tolerance, such greatness and such spiritual power can be combined only in the Mother of the Universe. There was no end to her compassion and her love knew no discrimination."[2]: 46
- "The struggle between the internal forces of a man and his environment is what is meant by spiritual practice. Hence for progress in spiritual life there are two distinct courses. One is to tear oneself away from the natural environment and find a more congenial one, while the second is to remain in the same environment and try to overcome one's innate tendencies by waging a constant war against them and thereby becoming spiritually strong".[2]: 51
Contributions, honorariums and legacy
Swami Shuddhananda served as the in charge of the first students' boarding house in Belur Math.[2]: 34
Editor of Udbodhan
When Trigunatita left for the Americas in 1902, Shuddhananda was asked to take the editorship of Udbodhan by Saradananda and Brahmananda. For the next ten years, Shuddhananda managed the affairs of Udbodhan. He focussed on translating and publishing in Bengali Vivekananda's speeches and writings. Under his new role the Udbodhan magazine got many pioneering writings like the Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master or Sri Sri Ramakrishna Leela Prasanga by Saradananda and the Bengali version of The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna or Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Mahendranath Gupta.[2]: 35
Trustee of Belur Math
In 1903 Shuddhananda was appointed one of the trustees of the Belur Math. Apart from his usual organizational activities, he was actively involved in instilling and infusing the ideals of his master among the youth. He led the effort of setting up a Vivekananda Society in Calcutta to spread the ideas and ideals and would contribute actively to the cause.[2]: 35 He organized study circles and joined discussions on Vedanta among youth. He also encouraged his brother disciple Swami Virajananda to publish the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Shuddhananda was also responsible for planning and organizing the historic first Monk's Conference of Ramakrishna Order in Belur Math. The report of the convention says, it was only through the unbounded enthusiasm and unremitting labour of swami Shuddhananda that the convention materialized.
Secretary of Belur Math
Shuddhananda was appointed as the Secretary in 1927 after the death of Saradananda. He occupied this post until 1934, except for a short spell from 1930 to 1931 when he had to take rest on account of ill health.[2]: 38
Ramakrishna Centenary, 1936-1937
Shuddhananda was nominated as the president of the celebration committee for the birth centenary celebration of Ramakrishna in 1936. The centenary celebration included a Parliament of Religions in Calcutta, which was chaired by among other dignitaries, Rabindranath Tagore.[8]
Vice President and President of the Ramakrishna Order
In February 1937 Shuddhananda was elected as the Vice President of the Ramakrishna Order. In May 1938, he was elected as the President after the demise of Vijnanananda. He was the fifth president of the order. He occupied the position until his death in October 1938.
Literary accomplishments
He is renowned in literary and cultural circles as the translator of most of
Final Days
Shuddhananda suffered from ill health owing to the spiritual practices and hard work.
References
- ^ a b c d Vedanta Society, St. Louis. "Swami Shuddhananda". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9788175052468.
- ^ Datta-Ray, Sunanda K. (21 April 2007). "Belief into fetish". The Telegraph. Calcutta: telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ISBN 8185301174.
- ^ ISBN 8185301174.
- ISBN 8185301174.
- ISBN 8185301174.
- ^ Ghanananda, Swami (1938). Religions of the World Volume 1. Kolkata: Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
Related links
- RKM: President's site - Swami Shuddhananda
- Bengali book "Swamijir Padaprante" by Swami Abjajananda translated into English by Mrs. Chhaya Ghosh and published by Advaita Ashrama under the title "Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda : Inspiring life stories of some principal disciples of Swami Vivekananda"