Prime Minister Modi also mentioned his close relationship with Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math. (File)
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday penned down his thoughts on Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj, Swami Atmasthananda ji Maharaj and how their lives embody the true essence of service and spirituality, which the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission embody.
In his heartfelt letter, Prime Minister Modi wrote that Smaranananda’s demise was a personal loss. The Prime Minister also recalled his visit to Calcutta earlier this month where he met Swami Smaranananda.
“Amid the hustle and bustle of the grand festival of the Lok Sabha elections, the news of the death of Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj brought my thoughts to a standstill for a few moments. Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj was a pioneer of India’s spiritual consciousness and His passing is like a personal loss. A few years ago, the demise of Swami Atmasthananda Ji and now the departure of Swami Smaranananda Ji on his eternal journey has left many people sad. My heart, like that of millions of devotees, saints and followers of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, is deeply saddened,” PM Modi wrote on the Namo app.
“During my visit to Kolkata earlier this month, I had gone to the hospital to inquire about the health of Swami Smaranananda Ji. Like Swami Atmasthananda Ji, Swami Smaranananda Ji also devoted his entire life to spreading the ideas of Acharya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Mata Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda around the world. As I write this article, the memories of meetings and conversations with him are refreshed in my mind,” he wrote.
Prime Minister Modi also mentioned his close relationship with the Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math.
“In January 2020, during my stay at Belur Math, I meditated in Swami Vivekananda’s room. During that visit, I had a long conversation about Swami Atmasthananda Ji with Swami Smaranananda Ji,” he added.
He further said that their holy thoughts and knowledge satisfied my spirit.
“It is well known that I had a close relationship with Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math. As a seeker of spirituality, I have met several saints and mahatmas and have been to many places over the course of more than five decades. Even in Ramakrishna Math, I came to know the saints who devoted their lives to spirituality, among whom personalities like Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji were prominent. Their holy thoughts and knowledge satisfied my spirit. In the most important period of my life, such saints gave me the learned true principle from Jan Seva, hello Prabhu Seva,” he added
He further said that the lives of Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji are an indelible example of the motto of Ramakrishna Mission ‘Atmano Mokshaartham Jagaddhitaaya Cha’.
“We are all inspired by the work being done by the Ramakrishna Mission for the promotion of education and rural development. The Ramakrishna Mission works for India’s spiritual enlightenment, educational empowerment and humanitarian services. In 1978, when the disastrous flood struck Bengal, the Ramakrishna Mission the victory I remember when an earthquake struck Kutch in 2001, Swami Atmasthananda Ji was one of the first people who called me and offered all possible help for disaster management on behalf of the Ramakrishna Mission. The Ramakrishna Mission has done a lot helped people affected by the earthquake,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said that in recent years, Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji, while holding different positions, laid great emphasis on social empowerment.
“Those who know the lives of these great personalities will surely remember how serious these saints were towards modern education, skills and women empowerment,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi further said, “Of his many inspiring qualities, one thing that impressed me the most was Swami Atmasthananda Ji’s love and respect for every culture and tradition. The reason for this was that he was constantly traveling and had spent long periods of time in different parts of India. He learned to speak Gujarati while living in Gujarat. He even spoke to me in the language and I enjoyed listening to his Gujarati!’
The Prime Minister said that these principles are eternal and will act as our source of strength as we embark on the journey of developing a Viksit Bharat during the Amrit Kaal.
“At various points in India’s development journey, our motherland has been blessed by many saints and seers like Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji, who have ignited the spark of social change. They have motivated us to work with a collective spirit and tackle all the challenges facing our society. These principles are eternal and will act as our source of strength as we embark on the journey of developing a Viksit Bharat during the Amrit Kaal,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“Once again, on behalf of the entire nation, I pay tribute to such holy souls. I am confident that all people involved in the Ramakrishna Mission will continue to move forward on the path they have shown. Om Shanti,” he added.
The head of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Smaranananda Maharaj, died at the age of 95 due to age-related ailments, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission said on March 27.
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