SRI RAMAKRISHNA

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Shrine, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

When we read the Biography of SRI RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA, we feel the humble and simple nature of a great spiritual personality the world have seen. Born to pious and devoted parents, he didn’t pursue much material education.

In childhood days itself he exhibited unparallel traits of God consciousness. It is told that once when he was passing through a paddy field, he saw an array of white swans flying in complete unison, he forgot the world and entered into a trance of inexplicable Bliss.

He used to tell that material educative tools always perplexed him particularly Mathematics. He stopped studies and went along with his brother to Dakshineswar near Kolkata.

The childlike purity and simplicity of SRI RAMAKRISHNA attracted Rani Rasmani Devi who was the trustee of Dakshineswar Kali Temple and he was ordained as temple priest.To Ramakrishna, the stone idol was not static but embodiment of pure Consciousness. He used to speak to Mother Kali, offer food as if to his own mother, wave incense and Camphor as if to a Vibrant Human figure. Few could recognize the true devotee in SRI RAMAKRISHNA.

In the garden of Dakshineswar, SRI RAMAKRISHNA undertook serious penances in all the known paths of Indian spirituality. The path of devotion, Knowledge, Hatha yoga and Karma or Action, Tantric rites, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism all were experimented by the sincere SRI RAMAKRISHNA and astonishingly he found out that all paths led him to the one and only God.

His rich contribution to the world was his simple derivation of Rich religious tenets through unparallel parables and dialogues with devotees. He was of the view that there is no point in argument but everyone should strive to realize religion. Each person should exactly find out which path suits him the most flexible,convenient and pursue fervently to reach the goal. Religion is not part-time job but one which should be harmoniously blended with our life.

He had cautioned the world about the dangers of Lust and Wealth in Human Life. We have ample testimonials all over the world how Lust had lured and destroyed people, enormous quarells generated because of wealth. In modern world also we come across heartrending sagas of loss of life due to degeneration of Lust and Wealth.

I believe the biggest Contribution of SRI RAMAKRISHNA to the world is Swami Vivekananda and other monastic disciples who spread benefactory message of Indian spirituality. SRI RAMAKRISHNA gently brought out the spiritual genious in Narendra who became the Cyclonic Hindu Monk without whom Indian Spiritual movement would have not made its mark in the western countries.

We are richly indebted to SRI RAMAKRISHNA for his noble life and teachings. I sincerely believe reading his biography and teachings will instill the sense of simplicity, large heartedness and nobility.