Swami Advaitananda (Buro Gopal)
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Swami Advaitananda, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, the mystic saint from Bengal in late nineteenth century, was also known as Buro Gopal or the aged Gopal. He was senior to Sri Ramakrishna in age and took monastic vows at an advanced age. He played a crucial role during the early years of Ramakrishna Mission
.
, whose name appears in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
. Gopal was married and at the time of meeting Sri Ramakrishna for the first time he was more than 50 years old. At the death of his wife he received a great shock and was taken by a friend to Sri Ramakrishna for assuaging his grief. The Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, 1943, pages 134-135
On his first visit Gopal was not very impressed with Sri Ramakrishna, but a few more visits onwards he became devoted to the master. The teachings of Sri Ramakrishna made a lasting impression upon him and he thought of renouncing the world. He used to serve Sri Ramakrishna and his devotees in various ways, by buying provisions and running errands. It was Gopal who distributed the twelve ochre clothes in the presence of Sri Ramakrishna to the first bunch of monks of Ramakrishna order, which included Swami Vivekananda
.
After the passing away of master, Gopal had no where to go. Therefore the Baranagar Math was started with him as the first inmate. He was soon joined by Narendra Nath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda), Rakhal (later Swami Brahmananda), Kali (later Swami Abhedananda
), Latu (later Swami Adbhutananda
) and other direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, who also renounced material life and embraced spiritual life.
After staying for a few years in Baranagar Math, Swami Advaitananda travelled to Benaras where he practised austerities for around 5 years. Here he stayed in a small room, used to wake up at 4 AM every day, even during the winter, and go for a bath in Ganga, after which he did his spiritual practices for the day. He lived on madhukari i.e. begging small quantities of cooked food from various places, as per the injunctions of the scriptures. He spent time mostly in contemplation.
When Swami Vivekananda
returned to India after his historic visit to West to spread the message of Vedanta
, Swami Advaitananda returned to Alambazar where the Ramakrishna Math
was shifted. Afterwards when the new monastery in Belur Math
was established he used to stay mostly there and looked after gardening and other managerial affairs. All these work were done by him very scrupulously and systematically. Even in his old age he was self-supporting. He would not like anybody to take the trouble of attending to his personal needs. Being the oldest in age, he was looked upon with affectionate regard by all his brother-disciples, with whom he had a very healthy relationship despite the age difference.
After his return to the monastery, Swami Advaitananda's special duty was to look to the levelling of the newly purchased land at Belur and the repair of the old structures there. The land had been in use for repair of steamers etc. and was hence full of pits and canals. All this meant strenuous work. When the monastery became fully established there, he willingly took up the duty of looking after the comforts of the monks and producing vegetables etc. for offering to the Master. He made strenuous efforts to mould his life according to the life and example of the Master, and would sometimes express disappointment that he fell so short of the ideal. Swami Advaitananda
Being very old he could not take up any public activity like philanthropy, missionary or charity. His monastic life was quite simple. However he carried on with austerities and meditation till his last days.
He travelled extensively and visited, at one time or other in his life, sacred places like Kedarnath, Badrinarayan, and Hardwar in the north, Dwaraka in the west, and Rameswaram and other places in the south.
He was in sound health throughout his life, even at an advanced age. He even accompanied the holy mother Sri Sarada Devi in some of her travels. After suffering for some time from stomach trouble, be passed away on 28 December 1909, at the age of eighty-one.
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...
.
Pre monastic days
Gopal Chandra Ghosh was born on 28 August 1828 in a village called Rajpur (Jagaddal) in 24 paraganas, a few miles away from Calcutta, to one Govardhan Ghosh. He lived in Sinthi in Calcutta. Little is known about his early life and education. He was an employee in a shop in Chinabazar,which belonged to Beni Madhav Pal, an illustrious member of the Brahmo SamajBrahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
, whose name appears in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna translated by Swami Nikhilananda is an English translation of the Bengali religious text Sri Sri Rāmakrishna Kathāmrita...
. Gopal was married and at the time of meeting Sri Ramakrishna for the first time he was more than 50 years old. At the death of his wife he received a great shock and was taken by a friend to Sri Ramakrishna for assuaging his grief. The Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, published by Advaita Ashrama, 1943, pages 134-135
On his first visit Gopal was not very impressed with Sri Ramakrishna, but a few more visits onwards he became devoted to the master. The teachings of Sri Ramakrishna made a lasting impression upon him and he thought of renouncing the world. He used to serve Sri Ramakrishna and his devotees in various ways, by buying provisions and running errands. It was Gopal who distributed the twelve ochre clothes in the presence of Sri Ramakrishna to the first bunch of monks of Ramakrishna order, which included 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...
.
After the passing away of master, Gopal had no where to go. Therefore the Baranagar Math was started with him as the first inmate. He was soon joined by Narendra Nath Dutta (later Swami Vivekananda), Rakhal (later Swami Brahmananda), Kali (later Swami Abhedananda
Swami Abhedananda
Swami Abhedananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who Swami Vivekananda sent to the West to head the Vedanta Society, New York in 1897, and spread the message of Vedanta, a theme on which he authored several books through his life, and subsequently founded the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math,...
), Latu (later Swami Adbhutananda
Swami Adbhutananda
Swami Adbhutananda , born Rakhturam, was a direct monastic disciple of Ramakrishna, a mystic of nineteenth century Bengal. He is familiarly known as Latu Maharaj among the followers of Ramakrishna. Swami Adbhutananda was the first monastic disciple to come to Ramakrishna...
) and other direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, who also renounced material life and embraced spiritual life.
Monastic Life
In 1887 Gopal along with other disciples took up monastic life and came to be known as Swami Advaitananda (Advaita - Monism, ananda - bliss. One of the major characteristics of Swami Advaitananda was his neatness and cleanliness. He was an embodiment of order and method. Ibid. pages 135-136After staying for a few years in Baranagar Math, Swami Advaitananda travelled to Benaras where he practised austerities for around 5 years. Here he stayed in a small room, used to wake up at 4 AM every day, even during the winter, and go for a bath in Ganga, after which he did his spiritual practices for the day. He lived on madhukari i.e. begging small quantities of cooked food from various places, as per the injunctions of the scriptures. He spent time mostly in contemplation.
When 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...
returned to India after his historic visit to West to spread the message of Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, Swami Advaitananda returned to Alambazar where the Ramakrishna Math
Ramakrishna Math
Ramakrishna Math is a religious monastic order, considered part of the Hindu reform movements. It was set up by Swami Vivekananda to follow the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna...
was shifted. Afterwards when the new monastery 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...
was established he used to stay mostly there and looked after gardening and other managerial affairs. All these work were done by him very scrupulously and systematically. Even in his old age he was self-supporting. He would not like anybody to take the trouble of attending to his personal needs. Being the oldest in age, he was looked upon with affectionate regard by all his brother-disciples, with whom he had a very healthy relationship despite the age difference.
After his return to the monastery, Swami Advaitananda's special duty was to look to the levelling of the newly purchased land at Belur and the repair of the old structures there. The land had been in use for repair of steamers etc. and was hence full of pits and canals. All this meant strenuous work. When the monastery became fully established there, he willingly took up the duty of looking after the comforts of the monks and producing vegetables etc. for offering to the Master. He made strenuous efforts to mould his life according to the life and example of the Master, and would sometimes express disappointment that he fell so short of the ideal. Swami Advaitananda
Being very old he could not take up any public activity like philanthropy, missionary or charity. His monastic life was quite simple. However he carried on with austerities and meditation till his last days.
He travelled extensively and visited, at one time or other in his life, sacred places like Kedarnath, Badrinarayan, and Hardwar in the north, Dwaraka in the west, and Rameswaram and other places in the south.
He was in sound health throughout his life, even at an advanced age. He even accompanied the holy mother Sri Sarada Devi in some of her travels. After suffering for some time from stomach trouble, be passed away on 28 December 1909, at the age of eighty-one.
See also
- Swami Saradananda (Sarat Maharaj)Swami Saradananda (Sarat Maharaj)Swami Saradananda, born as Sarat Chandra Chakravarty in 1865, was one of the direct monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and was the first Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, a post which he held till his death in 1927...
- 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...
- Swami RamakrishnanandaSwami RamakrishnanandaSwami Ramakrishnananda is one of 16 apostles or direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna* Pre-monastic name : Shashi Bhushan Chakravarty* Date of Birth : 13 July 1863* Place of Birth : Ichapur in Hooghly district, West Bengal...
- Swami Yogananda (Yogin Maharaj)Swami Yogananda (Yogin Maharaj)Swami Yogananda was a direct monastic disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the 19th century saint and mystic, although he took his formal initiation from Sarada Devi, the holy mother of Ramakrishna Order and spiritual consort of Ramakrishna. He was the first vice president of Ramakrishna Mission...
- Swami AdbhutanandaSwami AdbhutanandaSwami Adbhutananda , born Rakhturam, was a direct monastic disciple of Ramakrishna, a mystic of nineteenth century Bengal. He is familiarly known as Latu Maharaj among the followers of Ramakrishna. Swami Adbhutananda was the first monastic disciple to come to Ramakrishna...
- Swami Brahmananda
- Swami Niranjananda (Niranjan Maharaj)
- Swami AbhedanandaSwami AbhedanandaSwami Abhedananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who Swami Vivekananda sent to the West to head the Vedanta Society, New York in 1897, and spread the message of Vedanta, a theme on which he authored several books through his life, and subsequently founded the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math,...
- Swami Vijnanananda
- Swami SubodhanandaSwami SubodhanandaSwami Subodhananda , born as Subodh Chandra Ghosh, was a direct monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century saint and mystic from India. Being youngest of all direct monastic disciples, he was affectionately known by his brother monks, whose leader was Swami Vivekananda, as "Khoka"...
- Swami NirmalanandaSwami NirmalanandaSwami Nirmalananda, born as Tulasi Charan Dutta in Calcutta, was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the 19th century mystic and saint from India, and Swami Vivekananda, the great philosopher monk from India who established the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission...
- Baburam Maharaj (Swami Premananda)Baburam Maharaj (Swami Premananda)Baburam Maharaj was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century saint and mystic from Bengal, India. He was born in Antpur in the Hoogly district of Bengal in the year 1861. Baburam, as he was called in his pre monastic days, was also related to Balaram Bose, a leading householder...
- Swami Akhandananda
- Swami TrigunatitanandaSwami TrigunatitanandaSwami Trigunatitananda, premonastic name Sarada Prasanna Mitra, was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century Indian mystic and saint. He established the monthly Bengali magazine Udbodhan of Ramakrishna Math and later at the behest of Swami Vivekananda, he went to America in 1902 and...
- Swami Shivananda
- Swami Vijnanananda