The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda - Swami Siddheswarananda
Brahmachari Muktachaitanya
The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda
By Swami Siddheswarananda
The following letter written by 'Gopal' in 1922 to his father, who was then the third prince of Cochin and later became the Maharaja, gives a clear and vivid account of the Mahasamadhi (Final Illumination) of Swami Brahmananda of revered memory, the first President of the Ramakrishna Order and the Ramakrishna Mission. 'Gopal', who joined the monastery at Madras in 1920, was given sannyasa by Swami Shivananda in 1923 and became Swami Siddheswarananda. He was one of our most popular monks, and successfully worked in Mysore (1925-37) and later in France (1937-57) till his death. He has several books in French to his credit. He was also editor of Vedanta, a periodical conducted by Centre Vedantique Ramakrichna at Greetz.
Shri Ramakrishna Math
Mylapore, Madras.
18.4.1922
My dear Father,
Swami Sharvanandaji and I returned here safe and sound on the 15 th instant. At last the quite unexpected happened. Shri Shri Maharaj entered in to Mahasamadhi on 10th night at 6 minutes to 9 (?). You know he completely got over the cholera and he was fast recovering his health. At that stage his old complaint, diabetes, began to work. He began to sink fast. He could take only very little food, and the wastage was double or treble the quantity consumed.
The passing away of Shri Maharaj was a unique event and could be expected only of this spiritual son of Shri Ramakrishna. Some five or six days before the mahasamadhi, he said he was not going to retain the body. He told Swami Abhedananda that he was going to give up his body. Swami Abhedananda replied that he must keep the body for some years more. 'Can you forcibly retain me?' Maharaj asked. 'It is your wish. If you wish a little you can do so. Will you wish, Maharaj?' Swami Abhedananda asked, at which Maharaj only smiled. Maharaj told his sevaks (attendants) also that he was going to give up the body, and anyone wishing to do seva (service) to him could finish it then. Such an attitude on the part of Maharaj frightened us. At that time the allopathic doctors where full of hope. At last they also became desperate. Ayurvedic treatment was begun. Maharaj was suffering terribly. Yet he was exceptionally calm, and when the doctor asked him about this, he only replied by quoting the verse, sahanam sarvaduhkhanam apratikar purvakam (quiet endurance of all afflictions), and Swami Saradananda also tried to bring his mind to the body and was telling him that they would all go together to Bhuvaneswar after his cure was over, but Maharaj only replied, 'All that Lila (play) of mine is over'.
Then occurred an event unparalleled in the biography of the great ones since the time of Shri Ramakrishna. It was the eighth night of Maharaj's illness. Though suffering terribly from a burning sensation and pain, he was exceptionally calm. It was 8 p.m. Maharaj called his disciple and attendant who had been doing untiring service to him for six years, and addressing him in the most affectionate terms blessed him saying, 'My son, my child, you have been doing seva to a teacher, what shall I tell you? By my blessing, you will get Brahmajnana. You will realize Brahman. Don't be afraid, my boy'. Then he began to call, one by one, his disciples who were there, and blessed them all, consoling them in the most endearing terms, giving them abhayam (gesture implying that there is nothing to fear), asking them to immerse themselves in the thought of God. Meanwhile his mind was climbing up and up into the regions of bhava-samadhi. He was seeing Shri Ramakrishna's luminous form, always by him, and Maharaj in the most endearing words was asking him, 'Where is my Vivek, my Vivekananda?', and Shri Ramakrishna showed him his beloved brother. Seeing the vision of Swamiji, Maharaj said, 'Oh, I recognize you'. He called for all of his brothers who were with Shri Ramakrishna, and he showed him all. Then away from the region of forms and visions, he entered into the region of Pure Intelligence – Brahman. Coming down from that state he turned to his children, and feeling sorry for them he told those around him, 'My boys, ah, you are not able to cut through and get away from Maya, so you are not seeing the visions I am seeing'. He then called for Krishnalal (Swami Dhirananda, one of the old disciples of Swami Vivekananda, whom Maharaj loved much). The very name Krishna threw his mind off from the physical plane and he found himself standing before the most lovely form of Lord Krishna and so Maharaj wept with joy. You know that Shri Ramakrishna had said that Shri Maharaj was the real Rakhal of Brindaban, the eternal playmate of Shri Krishna. So with all the flush of joy on seeing his divine playmate, in bhava Maharaj said, 'Oh, where are my anklets? Let me go and dance with Krishna.' Swami Shivananda (Shri Mahapurush Maharaj), who was then seeing the way in which Maharaj was addressing Krishna in the most sweet words, pointed out that since the time of Shri Ramakrishna, whom he and his fellow-disciples had seen in similar bhava addressing the Lord, they had almost forgotten Shri Ramakrishna's bhavas, and only now, after thirty-six years, in these moments of Shri Maharaj's spiritual mood, they could remember in full what Shri Ramakrishna was. Swami Shivananda and Swami Saradananda said that Maharaj was then exactly like Shri Ramakrishna, and it is said they even found the body of Maharaj like his. Maharaj remained in this mood for a long time. Coming down from this mood he turned to the disciples and said, 'My Krishna is not the Kathor Krishna, my Krishna is not the hard Tapasvi Krishna, my Krishna is the 'Gopi-Krishna'. In these words he gave the key to his whole life. Whoever had seen Maharaj and studied him could not but be struck by his boyish, childlike nature: his whole attitude towards life was that he was playing with it.
After this he was continually seeing Shri Krishna and Shri Ramakrishna, now and then speaking about those beautiful eyes of Lord Krishna, his 'Lotus face' and his blue colour. He was seeing the boy Krishna holding him as a chum on his shoulder, and telling him 'Come away, come away'. As he descended from those spiritual trances, he began to speak to those around him about the highest Brahmajnana, repeating now and then ' Om Brahmatmane namah, Om Paramatmane Namah' etc. I already told you now he blessed the group of people around him. His heart expanded further and blessed all those who had at any time served him. Calling Shri Ramakrishna, he was praying for the welfare of all his spiritual children. Then his heart expanded and blessed all the devotees of the Lord and all the world. You can understand how a Buddha can bless the whole world only by seeing this. This began from 8 p.m., and till 7 a.m. next day, he was in bhava-samadhi all through. Sharvananda Swami got a good share of the blessings. Maharaj was telling him that he was always with him and that he need not have any fear. Some he asked to love him, some he asked not to forget him. In the same spiritual mood he called Swami Shivanandaji (Mahapurush Maharaj) and addressing him respectfully, as he was elder to Maharaj, asked him to remain at Belur Math and look after the members, thus handing over charge, in a way, to Mahapurush. Mahapurush was asking him now and then, 'What do you want, Maharaj?' to which he replied, 'Amritam. The sweet nectar of the Lord's name and nothing more'.
Next day when the doctor came (the doctor is a good friend of Maharaj, and one who had seen Shri Guru Maharaj), he told him, 'I am going to Shivaloka'. The whole of the 9th instant he was exceptionally calm though suffering terribly. I went to see him on the 9th. It was heart-rending to see him greatly reduced. On the 9th night he vomited three or four times. This depressed the heart very much and we were awaiting the end soon. I was very fortunate to be with him during the last moment. Just a few moments before the end I managed to get a seat near his feet and touch them. With two hundred devotees around him, and with all his brothers such as Swami Shivananda, Swami Saradananda, Master Mahashay and others, with all of us repeating the name of Shri Ramakrishna by his side, Maharaj entered the final illumination. There was a complete calmness on the face. Generally his eyes were very powerful as if fathoming the depths of everything. During the last moment they became a thousand times more brilliant than in normal times and concentrated as on some distant object. His face expressed his deep meditation. He brought his hands to his breast in salutation, and silently breathing, entered into mahasamadhi.
It is with great difficulty that I have managed to write these details to you. My heart is full. The stunning effect of grief and the agony of despair are only thickening every minute. Our only consolation is the blessing he has poured on all of us, and the assurance of safety he has given us. He has said, 'If there is a necessity to take up a body, I shall come again'. His last advice to everyone was to immersed in the thought of God. So we are all deeply intent on following his advice, and praying that his divine spirit, though freed from the body, may always help us in the many difficulties of our life.
………
I remain.
Yours affectionately
( Sd.) Gopal
--0o-o0--
Ankur Acharya
The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda
By Swami Siddheswarananda
The following letter written by 'Gopal' in 1922 to his father, who was then the third prince of Cochin and later became the Maharaja, gives a clear and vivid account of the Mahasamadhi (Final Illumination) of Swami Brahmananda of revered memory, the first President of the Ramakrishna Order and the Ramakrishna Mission. 'Gopal', who joined the monastery at Madras in 1920, was given sannyasa by Swami Shivananda in 1923 and became Swami Siddheswarananda. He was one of our most popular monks, and successfully worked in Mysore (1925-37) and later in France (1937-57) till his death. He has several books in French to his credit. He was also editor of Vedanta, a periodical conducted by Centre Vedantique Ramakrichna at Greetz.
Shri Ramakrishna Math
Mylapore, Madras.
18.4.1922
My dear Father,
Swami Sharvanandaji and I returned here safe and sound on the 15 th instant. At last the quite unexpected happened. Shri Shri Maharaj entered in to Mahasamadhi on 10th night at 6 minutes to 9 (?). You know he completely got over the cholera and he was fast recovering his health. At that stage his old complaint, diabetes, began to work. He began to sink fast. He could take only very little food, and the wastage was double or treble the quantity consumed.
The passing away of Shri Maharaj was a unique event and could be expected only of this spiritual son of Shri Ramakrishna. Some five or six days before the mahasamadhi, he said he was not going to retain the body. He told Swami Abhedananda that he was going to give up his body. Swami Abhedananda replied that he must keep the body for some years more. 'Can you forcibly retain me?' Maharaj asked. 'It is your wish. If you wish a little you can do so. Will you wish, Maharaj?' Swami Abhedananda asked, at which Maharaj only smiled. Maharaj told his sevaks (attendants) also that he was going to give up the body, and anyone wishing to do seva (service) to him could finish it then. Such an attitude on the part of Maharaj frightened us. At that time the allopathic doctors where full of hope. At last they also became desperate. Ayurvedic treatment was begun. Maharaj was suffering terribly. Yet he was exceptionally calm, and when the doctor asked him about this, he only replied by quoting the verse, sahanam sarvaduhkhanam apratikar purvakam (quiet endurance of all afflictions), and Swami Saradananda also tried to bring his mind to the body and was telling him that they would all go together to Bhuvaneswar after his cure was over, but Maharaj only replied, 'All that Lila (play) of mine is over'.
Then occurred an event unparalleled in the biography of the great ones since the time of Shri Ramakrishna. It was the eighth night of Maharaj's illness. Though suffering terribly from a burning sensation and pain, he was exceptionally calm. It was 8 p.m. Maharaj called his disciple and attendant who had been doing untiring service to him for six years, and addressing him in the most affectionate terms blessed him saying, 'My son, my child, you have been doing seva to a teacher, what shall I tell you? By my blessing, you will get Brahmajnana. You will realize Brahman. Don't be afraid, my boy'. Then he began to call, one by one, his disciples who were there, and blessed them all, consoling them in the most endearing terms, giving them abhayam (gesture implying that there is nothing to fear), asking them to immerse themselves in the thought of God. Meanwhile his mind was climbing up and up into the regions of bhava-samadhi. He was seeing Shri Ramakrishna's luminous form, always by him, and Maharaj in the most endearing words was asking him, 'Where is my Vivek, my Vivekananda?', and Shri Ramakrishna showed him his beloved brother. Seeing the vision of Swamiji, Maharaj said, 'Oh, I recognize you'. He called for all of his brothers who were with Shri Ramakrishna, and he showed him all. Then away from the region of forms and visions, he entered into the region of Pure Intelligence - Brahman. Coming down from that state he turned to his children, and feeling sorry for them he told those around him, 'My boys, ah, you are not able to cut through and get away from Maya, so you are not seeing the visions I am seeing'. He then called for Krishnalal (Swami Dhirananda, one of the old disciples of Swami Vivekananda, whom Maharaj loved much). The very name Krishna threw his mind off from the physical plane and he found himself standing before the most lovely form of Lord Krishna and so Maharaj wept with joy. You know that Shri Ramakrishna had said that Shri Maharaj was the real Rakhal of Brindaban, the eternal playmate of Shri Krishna. So with all the flush of joy on seeing his divine playmate, in bhava Maharaj said, 'Oh, where are my anklets? Let me go and dance with Krishna .' Swami Shivananda (Shri Mahapurush Maharaj), who was then seeing the way in which Maharaj was addressing Krishna in the most sweet words, pointed out that since the time of Shri Ramakrishna, whom he and his fellow-disciples had seen in similar bhava addressing the Lord, they had almost forgotten Shri Ramakrishna's bhavas, and only now, after thirty-six years, in these moments of Shri Maharaj's spiritual mood, they could remember in full what Shri Ramakrishna was. Swami Shivananda and Swami Saradananda said that Maharaj was then exactly like Shri Ramakrishna, and it is said they even found the body of Maharaj like his. Maharaj remained in this mood for a long time. Coming down from this mood he turned to the disciples and said, 'My Krishna is not the Kathor Krishna, my Krishna is not the hard Tapasvi Krishna, my Krishna is the 'Gopi-Krishna'. In these words he gave the key to his whole life. Whoever had seen Maharaj and studied him could not but be struck by his boyish, childlike nature: his whole attitude towards life was that he was playing with it.
After this he was continually seeing Shri Krishna and Shri Ramakrishna, now and then speaking about those beautiful eyes of Lord Krishna, his 'Lotus face' and his blue colour. He was seeing the boy Krishna holding him as a chum on his shoulder, and telling him 'Come away, come away'. As he descended from those spiritual trances, he began to speak to those around him about the highest Brahmajnana, repeating now and then ' Om Brahmatmane namah, Om Paramatmane Namah' etc. I already told you now he blessed the group of people around him. His heart expanded further and blessed all those who had at any time served him. Calling Shri Ramakrishna, he was praying for the welfare of all his spiritual children. Then his heart expanded and blessed all the devotees of the Lord and all the world. You can understand how a Buddha can bless the whole world only by seeing this. This began from 8 p.m., and till 7 a.m. next day, he was in bhava-samadhi all through. Sharvananda Swami got a good share of the blessings. Maharaj was telling him that he was always with him and that he need not have any fear. Some he asked to love him, some he asked not to forget him. In the same spiritual mood he called Swami Shivanandaji (Mahapurush Maharaj) and addressing him respectfully, as he was elder to Maharaj, asked him to remain at Belur Math and look after the members, thus handing over charge, in a way, to Mahapurush. Mahapurush was asking him now and then, 'What do you want, Maharaj?' to which he replied, 'Amritam. The sweet nectar of the Lord's name and nothing more'.
Next day when the doctor came (the doctor is a good friend of Maharaj, and one who had seen Shri Guru Maharaj), he told him, 'I am going to Shivaloka'. The whole of the 9th instant he was exceptionally calm though suffering terribly. I went to see him on the 9th. It was heart-rending to see him greatly reduced. On the 9th night he vomited three or four times. This depressed the heart very much and we were awaiting the end soon. I was very fortunate to be with him during the last moment. Just a few moments before the end I managed to get a seat near his feet and touch them. With two hundred devotees around him, and with all his brothers such as Swami Shivananda, Swami Saradananda, Master Mahashay and others, with all of us repeating the name of Shri Ramakrishna by his side, Maharaj entered the final illumination. There was a complete calmness on the face. Generally his eyes were very powerful as if fathoming the depths of everything. During the last moment they became a thousand times more brilliant than in normal times and concentrated as on some distant object. His face expressed his deep meditation. He brought his hands to his breast in salutation, and silently breathing, entered into mahasamadhi.
It is with great difficulty that I have managed to write these details to you. My heart is full. The stunning effect of grief and the agony of despair are only thickening every minute. Our only consolation is the blessing he has poured on all of us, and the assurance of safety he has given us. He has said, 'If there is a necessity to take up a body, I shall come again'. His last advice to everyone was to immersed in the thought of God. So we are all deeply intent on following his advice, and praying that his divine spirit, though freed from the body, may always help us in the many difficulties of our life.
.........
suchay deshpande
Thank You Maharaj....This incident in swami brahmanandajis Life of his last days inspired me very much and the last advice which he gave to all his disciples i,e to think of god always inspired me very much and i will try to follow it till my last breath.....As i have been initiated into ramakrishna order yesterday itself at Hyderabad by Revered Srimat Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj into Mantra Diksha, i am still more inspired by this life of swami Brahmannada ji maharaj.Thank You maharaj for sending this story.
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:22:50 +0530
From: muktach...@gmail.com
To: holy_t...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [holy_trinity:2959] The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda - Swami Siddheswarananda
The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda
By Swami Siddheswarananda
The following letter written by 'Gopal' in 1922 to his father, who was then the third prince of Cochin and later became the Maharaja, gives a clear and vivid account of the Mahasamadhi (Final Illumination) of Swami Brahmananda of revered memory, the first President of the Ramakrishna Order and the Ramakrishna Mission. 'Gopal', who joined the monastery at Madras in 1920, was given sannyasa by Swami Shivananda in 1923 and became Swami Siddheswarananda. He was one of our most popular monks, and successfully worked in Mysore (1925-37) and later in France (1937-57) till his death. He has several books in French to his credit. He was also editor of Vedanta, a periodical conducted by Centre Vedantique Ramakrichna at Greetz.
Shri Ramakrishna Math
Mylapore, Madras.
18.4.1922
My dear Father,
Swami Sharvanandaji and I returned here safe and sound on the 15 th instant. At last the quite unexpected happened. Shri Shri Maharaj entered in to Mahasamadhi on 10th night at 6 minutes to 9 (?). You know he completely got over the cholera and he was fast recovering his health. At that stage his old complaint, diabetes, began to work. He began to sink fast. He could take only very little food, and the wastage was double or treble the quantity consumed.
The passing away of Shri Maharaj was a unique event and could be expected only of this spiritual son of Shri Ramakrishna. Some five or six days before the mahasamadhi, he said he was not going to retain the body. He told Swami Abhedananda that he was going to give up his body. Swami Abhedananda replied that he must keep the body for some years more. 'Can you forcibly retain me?' Maharaj asked. 'It is your wish. If you wish a little you can do so. Will you wish, Maharaj?' Swami Abhedananda asked, at which Maharaj only smiled. Maharaj told his sevaks (attendants) also that he was going to give up the body, and anyone wishing to do seva (service) to him could finish it then. Such an attitude on the part of Maharaj frightened us. At that time the allopathic doctors where full of hope. At last they also became desperate. Ayurvedic treatment was begun. Maharaj was suffering terribly. Yet he was exceptionally calm, and when the doctor asked him about this, he only replied by quoting the verse, sahanam sarvaduhkhanam apratikar purvakam (quiet endurance of all afflictions), and Swami Saradananda also tried to bring his mind to the body and was telling him that they would all go together to Bhuvaneswar after his cure was over, but Maharaj only replied, 'All that Lila (play) of mine is over'.
Then occurred an event unparalleled in the biography of the great ones since the time of Shri Ramakrishna. It was the eighth night of Maharaj's illness. Though suffering terribly from a burning sensation and pain, he was exceptionally calm. It was 8 p.m. Maharaj called his disciple and attendant who had been doing untiring service to him for six years, and addressing him in the most affectionate terms blessed him saying, 'My son, my child, you have been doing seva to a teacher, what shall I tell you? By my blessing, you will get Brahmajnana. You will realize Brahman. Don't be afraid, my boy'. Then he began to call, one by one, his disciples who were there, and blessed them all, consoling them in the most endearing terms, giving them abhayam (gesture implying that there is nothing to fear), asking them to immerse themselves in the thought of God. Meanwhile his mind was climbing up and up into the regions of bhava-samadhi. He was seeing Shri Ramakrishna's luminous form, always by him, and Maharaj in the most endearing words was asking him, 'Where is my Vivek, my Vivekananda?', and Shri Ramakrishna showed him his beloved brother. Seeing the vision of Swamiji, Maharaj said, 'Oh, I recognize you'. He called for all of his brothers who were with Shri Ramakrishna, and he showed him all. Then away from the region of forms and visions, he entered into the region of Pure Intelligence - Brahman. Coming down from that state he turned to his children, and feeling sorry for them he told those around him, 'My boys, ah, you are not able to cut through and get away from Maya, so you are not seeing the visions I am seeing'. He then called for Krishnalal (Swami Dhirananda, one of the old disciples of Swami Vivekananda, whom Maharaj loved much). The very name Krishna threw his mind off from the physical plane and he found himself standing before the most lovely form of Lord Krishna and so Maharaj wept with joy. You know that Shri Ramakrishna had said that Shri Maharaj was the real Rakhal of Brindaban, the eternal playmate of Shri Krishna. So with all the flush of joy on seeing his divine playmate, in bhava Maharaj said, 'Oh, where are my anklets? Let me go and dance with Krishna.' Swami Shivananda (Shri Mahapurush Maharaj), who was then seeing the way in which Maharaj was addressing Krishna in the most sweet words, pointed out that since the time of Shri Ramakrishna, whom he and his fellow-disciples had seen in similar bhava addressing the Lord, they had almost forgotten Shri Ramakrishna's bhavas, and only now, after thirty-six years, in these moments of Shri Maharaj's spiritual mood, they could remember in full what Shri Ramakrishna was. Swami Shivananda and Swami Saradananda said that Maharaj was then exactly like Shri Ramakrishna, and it is said they even found the body of Maharaj like his. Maharaj remained in this mood for a long time. Coming down from this mood he turned to the disciples and said, 'My Krishna is not the Kathor Krishna, my Krishna is not the hard Tapasvi Krishna, my Krishna is the 'Gopi-Krishna'. In these words he gave the key to his whole life. Whoever had seen Maharaj and studied him could not but be struck by his boyish, childlike nature: his whole attitude towards life was that he was playing with it.
After this he was continually seeing Shri Krishna and Shri Ramakrishna, now and then speaking about those beautiful eyes of Lord Krishna, his 'Lotus face' and his blue colour. He was seeing the boy Krishna holding him as a chum on his shoulder, and telling him 'Come away, come away'. As he descended from those spiritual trances, he began to speak to those around him about the highest Brahmajnana, repeating now and then ' Om Brahmatmane namah, Om Paramatmane Namah' etc. I already told you now he blessed the group of people around him. His heart expanded further and blessed all those who had at any time served him. Calling Shri Ramakrishna, he was praying for the welfare of all his spiritual children. Then his heart expanded and blessed all the devotees of the Lord and all the world. You can understand how a Buddha can bless the whole world only by seeing this. This began from 8 p.m., and till 7 a.m. next day, he was in bhava-samadhi all through. Sharvananda Swami got a good share of the blessings. Maharaj was telling him that he was always with him and that he need not have any fear. Some he asked to love him, some he asked not to forget him. In the same spiritual mood he called Swami Shivanandaji (Mahapurush Maharaj) and addressing him respectfully, as he was elder to Maharaj, asked him to remain at Belur Math and look after the members, thus handing over charge, in a way, to Mahapurush. Mahapurush was asking him now and then, 'What do you want, Maharaj?' to which he replied, 'Amritam. The sweet nectar of the Lord's name and nothing more'.
Next day when the doctor came (the doctor is a good friend of Maharaj, and one who had seen Shri Guru Maharaj), he told him, 'I am going to Shivaloka'. The whole of the 9th instant he was exceptionally calm though suffering terribly. I went to see him on the 9th. It was heart-rending to see him greatly reduced. On the 9th night he vomited three or four times. This depressed the heart very much and we were awaiting the end soon. I was very fortunate to be with him during the last moment. Just a few moments before the end I managed to get a seat near his feet and touch them. With two hundred devotees around him, and with all his brothers such as Swami Shivananda, Swami Saradananda, Master Mahashay and others, with all of us repeating the name of Shri Ramakrishna by his side, Maharaj entered the final illumination. There was a complete calmness on the face. Generally his eyes were very powerful as if fathoming the depths of everything. During the last moment they became a thousand times more brilliant than in normal times and concentrated as on some distant object. His face expressed his deep meditation. He brought his hands to his breast in salutation, and silently breathing, entered into mahasamadhi.
It is with great difficulty that I have managed to write these details to you. My heart is full. The stunning effect of grief and the agony of despair are only thickening every minute. Our only consolation is the blessing he has poured on all of us, and the assurance of safety he has given us. He has said, 'If there is a necessity to take up a body, I shall come again'. His last advice to everyone was to immersed in the thought of God. So we are all deeply intent on following his advice, and praying that his divine spirit, though freed from the body, may always help us in the many difficulties of our life.
.........
Jai kumar Shinde
Thank You Maharaj....This incident in swami brahmanandajis Life of his last days inspired me very much and the last advice which he gave to all his disciples i,e to think of god always inspired me very much and i will try to follow it till my last breath.....As i have been initiated into ramakrishna order yesterday itself at Hyderabad by Revered Srimat Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj into Mantra Diksha, i am still more inspired by this life of swami Brahmannada ji maharaj.Thank You maharaj for sending this story.
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:22:50 +0530
From: muktach...@gmail.com
To: holy_t...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [holy_trinity:2959] The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda - Swami Siddheswarananda
The Passing away of Swami Brahmananda
By Swami Siddheswarananda
The following letter written by 'Gopal' in 1922 to his father, who was then the third prince of Cochin and later became the Maharaja, gives a clear and vivid account of the Mahasamadhi (Final Illumination) of Swami Brahmananda of revered memory, the first President of the Ramakrishna Order and the Ramakrishna Mission. 'Gopal', who joined the monastery at Madras in 1920, was given sannyasa by Swami Shivananda in 1923 and became Swami Siddheswarananda. He was one of our most popular monks, and successfully worked in Mysore (1925-37) and later in France (1937-57) till his death. He has several books in French to his credit. He was also editor of Vedanta, a periodical conducted by Centre Vedantique Ramakrichna at Greetz.
Shri Ramakrishna Math
Mylapore, Madras .
18.4.1922
My dear Father,
Swami Sharvanandaji and I returned here safe and sound on the 15 th instant. At last the quite unexpected happened. Shri Shri Maharaj entered in to Mahasamadhi on 10th night at 6 minutes to 9 (?). You know he completely got over the cholera and he was fast recovering his health. At that stage his old complaint, diabetes, began to work. He began to sink fast. He could take only very little food, and the wastage was double or treble the quantity consumed.
The passing away of Shri Maharaj was a unique event and could be expected only of this spiritual son of Shri Ramakrishna. Some five or six days before the mahasamadhi, he said he was not going to retain the body. He told Swami Abhedananda that he was going to give up his body. Swami Abhedananda replied that he must keep the body for some years more. 'Can you forcibly retain me?' Maharaj asked. 'It is your wish. If you wish a little you can do so. Will you wish, Maharaj?' Swami Abhedananda asked, at which Maharaj only smiled. Maharaj told his sevaks (attendants) also that he was going to give up the body, and anyone wishing to do seva (service) to him could finish it then. Such an attitude on the part of Maharaj frightened us. At that time the allopathic doctors where full of hope. At last they also became desperate. Ayurvedic treatment was begun. Maharaj was suffering terribly. Yet he was exceptionally calm, and when the doctor asked him about this, he only replied by quoting the verse, sahanam sarvaduhkhanam apratikar purvakam (quiet endurance of all afflictions), and Swami Saradananda also tried to bring his mind to the body and was telling him that they would all go together to Bhuvaneswar after his cure was over, but Maharaj only replied, 'All that Lila (play) of mine is over'.
Then occurred an event unparalleled in the biography of the great ones since the time of Shri Ramakrishna. It was the eighth night of Maharaj's illness. Though suffering terribly from a burning sensation and pain, he was exceptionally calm. It was 8 p.m. Maharaj called his disciple and attendant who had been doing untiring service to him for six years, and addressing him in the most affectionate terms blessed him saying, 'My son, my child, you have been doing seva to a teacher, what shall I tell you? By my blessing, you will get Brahmajnana. You will realize Brahman. Don't be afraid, my boy'. Then he began to call, one by one, his disciples who were there, and blessed them all, consoling them in the most endearing terms, giving them abhayam (gesture implying that there is nothing to fear), asking them to immerse themselves in the thought of God. Meanwhile his mind was climbing up and up into the regions of bhava-samadhi. He was seeing Shri Ramakrishna's luminous form, always by him, and Maharaj in the most endearing words was asking him, 'Where is my Vivek, my Vivekananda?', and Shri Ramakrishna showed him his beloved brother. Seeing the vision of Swamiji, Maharaj said, 'Oh, I recognize you'. He called for all of his brothers who were with Shri Ramakrishna, and he showed him all. Then away from the region of forms and visions, he entered into the region of Pure Intelligence - Brahman. Coming down from that state he turned to his children, and feeling sorry for them he told those around him, 'My boys, ah, you are not able to cut through and get away from Maya, so you are not seeing the visions I am seeing'. He then called for Krishnalal (Swami Dhirananda, one of the old disciples of Swami Vivekananda, whom Maharaj loved much). The very name Krishna threw his mind off from the physical plane and he found himself standing before the most lovely form of Lord Krishna and so Maharaj wept with joy. You know that Shri Ramakrishna had said that Shri Maharaj was the real Rakhal of Brindaban, the eternal playmate of Shri Krishna. So with all the flush of joy on seeing his divine playmate, in bhava Maharaj said, 'Oh, where are my anklets? Let me go and dance with Krishna .' Swami Shivananda (Shri Mahapurush Maharaj), who was then seeing the way in which Maharaj was addressing Krishna in the most sweet words, pointed out that since the time of Shri Ramakrishna, whom he and his fellow-disciples had seen in similar bhava addressing the Lord, they had almost forgotten Shri Ramakrishna's bhavas, and only now, after thirty-six years, in these moments of Shri Maharaj's spiritual mood, they could remember in full what Shri Ramakrishna was. Swami Shivananda and Swami Saradananda said that Maharaj was then exactly like Shri Ramakrishna, and it is said they even found the body of Maharaj like his. Maharaj remained in this mood for a long time. Coming down from this mood he turned to the disciples and said, 'My Krishna is not the Kathor Krishna, my Krishna is not the hard Tapasvi Krishna, my Krishna is the 'Gopi-Krishna'. In these words he gave the key to his whole life. Whoever had seen Maharaj and studied him could not but be struck by his boyish, childlike nature: his whole attitude towards life was that he was playing with it.