Akhandananda
Encyclopedia
Swami Akhandananda was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th century mystic. He was the third president of the Ramakrishna Mission
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately.
Swami Akhandananda (1864–1937) was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th century mystic. He was the third president of the Ramakrishna Mission
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately.
Swami Akhandananda (1864–1937) was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th century mystic. He was the third president of the Ramakrishna Mission
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 316
, who called him lovingly as Ganges. He was also very devoted to the holy mother Sri Sarada Devi. When hard work in Murshidabad took a toll on his health, the holy mother had him brought to Calcutta for treatment and took special care of him.
Swami Akhandananda also initiated Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the second sarsanghachalak of the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh.
He participated in the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936 in Calcutta. In February 1937 he fell ill and was brought to Calcutta. He died in Belur Math
on 7th February 1937.
to begin rural development work—even before the Mission was established.
The distressing sorrows and suffering of the masses pulled him down to the plains, and to them he became a harbinger of peace and succour. Sacrificing his Himalayan bliss, he chose to be with poor. Akhandananda practised till the very end of his life his Master's call: Worship jiva as Shiva. He was one of the pillars of the Ramakrishna Movement's service activities.
His experience as a wandering monk, like those of Swami Vivekananda
moved him to take steps to remove the distress and misery of the masses. Swami Vivekananda’s encouraging letter from America which was sent as a reply to Swami Akhandananda’s request to Swamiji for guidance pushed him further, and in 1894 Akhandananda began his campaign against poverty. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Vadodara website http://www.rkmvadodara.com/lifeofDD.asp#14
The idea of working for the poor was conceived while he stayed in Jamnagar with Jhandu Bhatt, the famous ayurvedic physician, who served his patients with exceptional devotion. Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 135
While in Khetri, Rajasthan
during 1894, he went about from door to door, all alone to bring awareness in the people about the utility of education, and it was because of his efforts that the number of students in the Khetri Rajya English School rose from 80 to 257. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 317
Under his inspiration the Maharaja of Khetri Ajit Singh arranged for the education of the Golas and also set up a permanent Education Department to open schools in the villages. Akhandananda also arranged for the publication of a newspaper on agriculture in order to educate the farmers of that area. He also contacted renowned landlords in the numerous village of Khetri
, inspiring them to take some concrete steps towards removing the miseries of their poor labourers. At the instance of the Swami the Sanskrit school in Khetri was converted to Vedic school and he raised subscriptions to purchase books for the poor students. He fed the Bhils, an aboriginal tribe, in Uadaipur. He left Rajputana in 1895 and returned to the Alambazar Math, the new monastery of the Ramakrishna disciples. He first came in contact with widespread famine during his travel in the Murshidabad district of Bengal. He sought help from his brother disciples in 1897 and Swami Vivekananda, who had returned to India by then, sent two monks with money.
On 1 May 1897 Swami Vivekananda
inaugurated the Ramakrishna Mission
, and on 15 May Swami Akhandananda opened a relief centre in the temple premises of Mrityunjay Bhattacharya of Kedar-Mahula in Murshidabad to save people from an all-devouring famine. Though rice was difficult to procure at that time, he managed to procure some with the help of other people and with much trouble. Then he distributed equally among the poor, weighing the rice himself on a scale. This was the first public service work done by the Ramakrishna Mission
.
Swami Akhandananda started an orphanage in Mahula, Bengal
, on 31st August 1897, and then established the first Rural Branch Centre of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission
in Mahula. In 1899, he opened an Ashrama in Shivnagar near Sargachi which continued for 14 years. Genesis of RKM Sargachhi http://www.rkmsargachi.org/url/genesis.html In 1899, he opened a free school there to deal with the problem of illiteracy in the locality. A carpentry and a weaving section also were added to revive those perishing village industries and make the boys self-reliant. Cotton-cultivation was taught to the rural women to enhance their family income. In 1913 the present Ashrama was found on a 13 acres land in March 1913.
He also led in relief activities in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar and during the Munger
earthquake in Bihar. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 321
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Initial Years
Swami Akhandananda was born as Gangadhar Ghatak (Gangopadhyay) on 30 September 1864, in Ahiritola area of western Kolkata, to Srimanta Gangopadhyay and Vamasundari Devi. He came from a respectable Brahmin family. He was orthodox in nature and was dubbed as oldish by Sri Ramakrishna. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 314 From his very childhood, Gangadhar was so compassionate that he once gave his own shirt to a poor classmate whose shirt was torn. Without telling his parents, he would give food to beggars. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Vadodara website http://www.rkmvadodara.com/lifeofDD.asp#14 He was a strong moralist and always helped his wayward friends. Gangadhar was a vivacious, handsome boy in childhood. Gifted with prodigious memory, Gangadhar mastered the English alphabet in one day. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Fiji http://www.rkmfiji.org/node/47Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
You are Hari-das, the servant of Hari . Is it possible for you to exist without remembering the Lord? -- Sri Ramakrishna to HarinathHe is a Yogi according to the Gita -- Sri Ramakrishna...
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Pre monastic days
Gangadhar’s father found a job for Gangadhar in a merchant’s office. Gangadhar worked there a few days and then gave it up. He then fully engaged himself in spiritual disciplines and service to the master.Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
Travels
Gangadhar took his monastic vow in 1890 in Baranagar Math, in presence of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately.
Swami Akhandananda (1864–1937) was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th century mystic. He was the third president of the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Initial Years
Swami Akhandananda was born as Gangadhar Ghatak (Gangopadhyay) on 30 September 1864, in Ahiritola area of western Kolkata, to Srimanta Gangopadhyay and Vamasundari Devi. He came from a respectable Brahmin family. He was orthodox in nature and was dubbed as oldish by Sri Ramakrishna. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 314 From his very childhood, Gangadhar was so compassionate that he once gave his own shirt to a poor classmate whose shirt was torn. Without telling his parents, he would give food to beggars. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Vadodara website http://www.rkmvadodara.com/lifeofDD.asp#14 He was a strong moralist and always helped his wayward friends. Gangadhar was a vivacious, handsome boy in childhood. Gifted with prodigious memory, Gangadhar mastered the English alphabet in one day. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Fiji http://www.rkmfiji.org/node/47Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
You are Hari-das, the servant of Hari . Is it possible for you to exist without remembering the Lord? -- Sri Ramakrishna to HarinathHe is a Yogi according to the Gita -- Sri Ramakrishna...
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Pre monastic days
Gangadhar’s father found a job for Gangadhar in a merchant’s office. Gangadhar worked there a few days and then gave it up. He then fully engaged himself in spiritual disciplines and service to the master.Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
Travels
Gangadhar took his monastic vow in 1890 in Baranagar Math, in presence of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately.
Swami Akhandananda (1864–1937) was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th century mystic. He was the third president of the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
, a philanthropic and spiritual organization. He was a pioneer in terms of establishing Ramakrishna Mission as a philanthropic organization working for the welfare of poor and orphans and also for providing relief to the affected and needy.
Initial Years
Swami Akhandananda was born as Gangadhar Ghatak (Gangopadhyay) on 30 September 1864, in Ahiritola area of western Kolkata, to Srimanta Gangopadhyay and Vamasundari Devi. He came from a respectable Brahmin family. He was orthodox in nature and was dubbed as oldish by Sri Ramakrishna. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 314 From his very childhood, Gangadhar was so compassionate that he once gave his own shirt to a poor classmate whose shirt was torn. Without telling his parents, he would give food to beggars. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Vadodara website http://www.rkmvadodara.com/lifeofDD.asp#14 He was a strong moralist and always helped his wayward friends. Gangadhar was a vivacious, handsome boy in childhood. Gifted with prodigious memory, Gangadhar mastered the English alphabet in one day. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Fiji http://www.rkmfiji.org/node/47Gangadhar first met Sri Ramakrishna, the famous mystic and saint whom he later adopted as his Master, in 1884, when he was nineteen years old, in the temple of Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
. He visited Sri Ramakrishna for the first time in the company of his friend Harinath (later Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
Swami Turiyananda (Hari Maharaj)
You are Hari-das, the servant of Hari . Is it possible for you to exist without remembering the Lord? -- Sri Ramakrishna to HarinathHe is a Yogi according to the Gita -- Sri Ramakrishna...
). He had first seen Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Dinanath Bose at a very young age. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 313 Sri Ramakrishna did not want him to be over orthodox and therefore introduced him to Narendranath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
). Gangadhar was favourably impressed with Narendranath and became devoted to him, a devotion which lasted throughout his life and which later prompted him to take up service as the primary work over spiritual practices. During his visits to Dakshineswar, Gangadhar received instructions on meditation from Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133
Pre monastic days
Gangadhar’s father found a job for Gangadhar in a merchant’s office. Gangadhar worked there a few days and then gave it up. He then fully engaged himself in spiritual disciplines and service to the master.Gangadhar served Sri Ramakrishna during the illness of the latter. After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, when the Baranagar Math was formed by Narendranath and other brother disciples, Gangadhar renounced his family life and embraced a life of travel with consent from his family and set foot for the Himalayas.
Steeped in the Vedantic lore and experience, his mind ever pined to be absorbed in the bliss of the Himalayan solitude. In 1887, after visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, he travelled to Tibet where he lived in Lhasa and elsewhere for three years, returning to India in 1890 The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 315 .
Gangadhar's entire travel account is recorded in his book Smriti-Katha (From Holy Wanderings to The Service of God in Man). He travelled hundreds of miles in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas without carrying any money or extra clothing.
Travels
Gangadhar took his monastic vow in 1890 in Baranagar Math, in presence of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
and was given the name of "Akhandananda" (Akhanda - undifferentiated, ananda - bliss, one who finds supreme bliss in the undifferentiated nature of the Truth). After his return, he had frequent correspondence with Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
, then at Ghazipur, who induced him to join him in travelling in some places of the Himalayas because of the latter's experience and familiarity in those terrains. Accordingly, Swami Akhandananda came to Baranagore monastery, and after spending a few happy months with his brother-disciples, sharing his experiences with them, he set out in July 1890, with Swami Vivekananda on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on the RMIC site http://www.sriramakrishna.org/akhandananda.php Visiting important places on the way they reached Almora, but the illness of one or the other plagued their journey and they returned via Tehri to Dehra Dun, from where Swami Akhandananda proceeded to Meerut for treatment. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
also joined him in Meerut and they met some other brother disciples. After five months of association Swami Vivekananda left them and Akhandananda followed him surrepticiously, going from one province to another in his search, but everywhere he narrowly missed meeting him. Finally he met Vivekananda again in Kutch where Swami Vivekananda entreated him to follow a separate course. Accordingly Swami Akhandananda continued his pilgrimage separately. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 316
Intellectual Pursuits
During his days of wandering in the Himalayas, he studied Avadhuta Gita at Srinagar in Garhwal. In 1891, while resting at Etawah, he spent most of his time reading the Mahabhashya, Patanjali’s voluminous commentary on Panini’s Sanskrit grammar, as well as Sridhara Swami’s commentary on the Bhagavadgita. In Jamnagar in 1892, he studied the Charaka-Sushruta Samhita with the help of the Sanskrit lexicon Shabdartha Chandrika Kosha and also Shukla Yajur Veda. In Udaipur he read the Vedantic text of Panchadasi. He also learned Hindi grammer from Bhasha Bhaskara, to correct his Hindi pronunciation. In Indore, he completed a reading of the entire Valmiki Ramayana over a period of eighteen days. Later in Mahula he undertook a critical study of Yogavasishtha Ramayana. Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 133Relationship with Swami Vivekananda and the Holy Mother
Swami Akhandananda was an ardent follower of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
, who called him lovingly as Ganges. He was also very devoted to the holy mother Sri Sarada Devi. When hard work in Murshidabad took a toll on his health, the holy mother had him brought to Calcutta for treatment and took special care of him.
Final Years
Swami Akhandananda became the vice president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1925 and the third president after the demise of Swami Shivananda in 1934. He initiated a number of people after assuming office. However he continued to stay at Sargachhi.Swami Akhandananda also initiated Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the second sarsanghachalak of the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh.
He participated in the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936 in Calcutta. In February 1937 he fell ill and was brought to Calcutta. He died in Belur Math
Belur Math
' or Belur Mutt is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta...
on 7th February 1937.
Service
Swami Akhandananda was the first monk of the Ramakrishna order, who gave shape to the cherished desire of Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
to begin rural development work—even before the Mission was established.
The distressing sorrows and suffering of the masses pulled him down to the plains, and to them he became a harbinger of peace and succour. Sacrificing his Himalayan bliss, he chose to be with poor. Akhandananda practised till the very end of his life his Master's call: Worship jiva as Shiva. He was one of the pillars of the Ramakrishna Movement's service activities.
His experience as a wandering monk, like those of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
moved him to take steps to remove the distress and misery of the masses. Swami Vivekananda’s encouraging letter from America which was sent as a reply to Swami Akhandananda’s request to Swamiji for guidance pushed him further, and in 1894 Akhandananda began his campaign against poverty. Biography of Swami Akhandananda on RKM Vadodara website http://www.rkmvadodara.com/lifeofDD.asp#14
The idea of working for the poor was conceived while he stayed in Jamnagar with Jhandu Bhatt, the famous ayurvedic physician, who served his patients with exceptional devotion. Akhandananda: Service as Worship, by Swami Devarajananda, Prabuddha Bharat, January 2009, page 135
While in Khetri, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
during 1894, he went about from door to door, all alone to bring awareness in the people about the utility of education, and it was because of his efforts that the number of students in the Khetri Rajya English School rose from 80 to 257. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 317
Under his inspiration the Maharaja of Khetri Ajit Singh arranged for the education of the Golas and also set up a permanent Education Department to open schools in the villages. Akhandananda also arranged for the publication of a newspaper on agriculture in order to educate the farmers of that area. He also contacted renowned landlords in the numerous village of Khetri
Khetri
Khetri Nagar is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is part of Shekhawati region. Khetri is actually two towns, the first "Khetri Town" was founded by Raja Khet Singhji Nirwan. The other is the town of "Khetri Nagar", which is about 10 km away from Khetri. It is known for...
, inspiring them to take some concrete steps towards removing the miseries of their poor labourers. At the instance of the Swami the Sanskrit school in Khetri was converted to Vedic school and he raised subscriptions to purchase books for the poor students. He fed the Bhils, an aboriginal tribe, in Uadaipur. He left Rajputana in 1895 and returned to the Alambazar Math, the new monastery of the Ramakrishna disciples. He first came in contact with widespread famine during his travel in the Murshidabad district of Bengal. He sought help from his brother disciples in 1897 and Swami Vivekananda, who had returned to India by then, sent two monks with money.
On 1 May 1897 Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
inaugurated the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
, and on 15 May Swami Akhandananda opened a relief centre in the temple premises of Mrityunjay Bhattacharya of Kedar-Mahula in Murshidabad to save people from an all-devouring famine. Though rice was difficult to procure at that time, he managed to procure some with the help of other people and with much trouble. Then he distributed equally among the poor, weighing the rice himself on a scale. This was the first public service work done by the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
.
Swami Akhandananda started an orphanage in Mahula, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, on 31st August 1897, and then established the first Rural Branch Centre of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
in Mahula. In 1899, he opened an Ashrama in Shivnagar near Sargachi which continued for 14 years. Genesis of RKM Sargachhi http://www.rkmsargachi.org/url/genesis.html In 1899, he opened a free school there to deal with the problem of illiteracy in the locality. A carpentry and a weaving section also were added to revive those perishing village industries and make the boys self-reliant. Cotton-cultivation was taught to the rural women to enhance their family income. In 1913 the present Ashrama was found on a 13 acres land in March 1913.
He also led in relief activities in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar and during the Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
earthquake in Bihar. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943, page 321
Literary works
- In the Lap of the Himalayas
- From holy wanderings to the service of God in man -
- The call of the Spirit: Conversations With Swami Akhandananda - Swami Nirmayananda
Further Reading
- God lived with them: Life stories of sixteen monastic disciples, by Swami Chetanananda, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, ISBN: 81-7505-189-1
- The Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, page 313-326, published by Advaita Ashrama, Mayawati, 1943