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Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Punyadina

Sri Ramakrishna was born on 18 February 1836 in the village of Kamarpukur about sixty miles northwest of Kolkata. His parents were poor but very pious and virtuous. As a child, Ramakrishna (his childhood name was Gadadhar) was dearly loved by the villagers. From early days, he had strong disinclination towards formal education and worldly affairs. He was, however, a talented boy, and could sing and paint well. He was fond of serving holy men and listening to their discourses. He was oftentimes found to be absorbed in spiritual moods. His father’s death when he was seven years old served only to deepen his introspection and increase his detachment from the world.

As a Priest

Ramakrishna was appointed the priest of Dakshineswar Temple. Ramakrishna developed intense devotion to Mother Kali.

Intense Spiritual Practices

Unaffected by his marriage, Sri Ramakrishna plunged into even more intense spiritual practices. Sri Ramakrishna practised various difficult disciplines of the Tantrik path, and attained success in all of them. He also attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest spiritual experience mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. He remained in that state of non-dual existence for six months without the least awareness of even his own body.

He expressed the quintessence of his twelve-year-long spiritual realizations in a simple dictum: “As many faiths, so many paths.”

Worshipping His Wife

He worshipped her as the Divine Mother in his room at the Dakshineswar temple. They lived immaculately pure lives, and their marital relationship was purely spiritual.

Sri Ramakrishna came into contact with several leaders. His teaching on harmony of religions attracted people belonging to different denominations, and Dakshineswar became a veritable Parliament of Religions.

Devotees

He divided his devotees into two categories. The first one consisted of householders. He taught them how to realize God while living in the world and discharging their family duties. The other more important category was a band of educated youths, mostly from the middle class families of Bengal, whom he trained to become monks and to be the torchbearers of his message to mankind. The foremost among them was Sri Swami Vivekananda, who carried the universal message of Vedanta to different parts of the world and awakened the soul of India.

The Gospel

Sri Ramakrishna did not write any book, nor did he deliver public lectures. Instead, he chose to speak in a simple language using parables and metaphors. His conversations were noted down and published them in the form of a book. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, was released in 1942.

Last Days

Sri Ramakrishna’s developed throat cancer in 1885. He was shifted to a spacious suburban villa where his young disciples nursed him day and night. On 16 August 1886 Sri Ramakrishna gave up his physical body, uttering the name of the Divine Mother, and passed into Eternity.

People across the world especially in India celebrate his death anniversary on this particular day.