Kolkata: Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, president of the Belur-headquartered Ramakrishna Math and Mission, died of age-related ailments in Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan here on Sunday evening. He was 98.
The monk, who was elected President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission on December 3, 2007, had been admitted to Seva Pratishthan hospital from February 21, 2015 for treatment of old-age ailments.
"With deep sorrow we announce the passing away of Swami Atmasthanandaji, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, on Sunday, at about 5:30 pm at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata," said a statement from the Math.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The demise of Swami Atmasthanandaji is a personal loss for me. I lived with him during a very important period of my life."
The monk and Modi go back a long way. Swami Atmasthananda had arrived in Rajkot in 1966 to head the RKM Ashram there. It was in Rajkot that a young Modi, inspired by Swami Vivekananda, reached the Ashram to take refuge. When Modi expressed his desire to become a monk, after spending sometime in the ashram under the tutelage of Atmasthananda, the monk told him that sanyas was not for him. And that Modi's work was among people and not in seclusion.
PM Modi said, "Swami Atmasthanandaji was blessed with immense knowledge and wisdom. Generations will remember his exemplary personality. Whenever I would visit Kolkata, I would always make it a point to seek the blessings of Swami Atmasthanandaji. As President of Ramakrishna Mission set up by Swami Vivekananda, Swami Atmasthanandaji worked tirelessly and spread its influence globally."
President Pranab Mukherjee has written toSwami Suvirananda, the General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission conveying his condolences on the passing away of Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.
In his message, the President has said, “I am sad to learn about the demise of Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.
A constant crusader for spiritual values, Swamiji's teachings of service to mankind have great relevance in the present world. Swamiji's words and wisdom will always remain a source of inspiration to all his followers and humanity at large, guiding them on the path of love and compassion. A pious soul, who was always concerned about the welfare of society, Swamiji travelled extensively across the country and the world spreading the message of Ramakrishna Mission.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences and convey them to the countless followers of Swamiji in India and abroad”.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the ailing Maharaj hours before his death, condoled the passing away of the revered monk. "Saddened that Swami Atmasthanandaji, president, Ramakrishna Math and Mission, passed away today at Seva Pratishthan. I paid my last visit to him this afternoon. A life of outstanding social and religious service. This is an irreparable loss to mankind," she said. "In this moment of loss, I convey my condolence to all his associates in Ramakrishna Math and Mission. May his soul rest in peace," she added.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also condoled the death. He had been on ventilation since Saturday night. "In spite of best medical attention, his condition became worse and he passed away around 5.30pm on June 18," said Swami Suvirananda, RKM general secretary. The cremation will take place at Belur Math on Monday around 9.30pm.
Born on the holy Buddha Purnima day in May 1919 at Sabajpur near Dhaka, he joined the Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math on January 3, 1941 at the age of 22 years.
The cremation will take place at Belur Math on Monday at about 9.30 p.m and the gates of Belur Math will remain open tonight and through Monday till the last rites are completed, it added.
Born in May 1919, at Sabajpur near Dhaka, he received "emantra diksha" from Swami Vijnananandaji Maharaj (a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna) in 1938 and joined the Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math in 1941 at the age of 22.
In 1945, Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj, the sixth President of the Order, gave him Brahmacharya vows and in 1949, Sannyasa vows and the name Swami Atmasthananda.
After serving the Order at Belur Math and the branches at Deoghar (Vidyapith) and Mayavati (Advaita Ashrama), he served Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj himself for a long time and spent several years in his company in the solitude of Shyamla Tal in the Himalayas.
In 1952, he was posted to Ranchi TB Sanatorium branch as an Assistant Secretary. He worked hard to expand itss services in many ways. Sent to Rangoon Sevashrama as its Secretary in 1958, he developed its hospital to make it the best hospital of Burma (Myanmar) at that time.
He was elected a Trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and Member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1973.
In 1975, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the twin organisations.
Under his stewardship as Relief Secretary, the Math and Mission conducted massive relief and rehabilitation operations in various parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
He became the General Secretary of the Math and Mission in 1992 and continued to be in that post for five years till 1997 when he became a Vice-President of the Order.
