Sri Ramakrishna’s advent during the later
part of nineteenth century reestablished the eternal truths
practiced and enunciated clearly by the ancient Rishis and
specially represented through the Upanishads. On the one hand
the various sects of Hinduism fought among themselves to show
the supremacy of their path and, on the other, a section of
educated Indians thoroughly rejected the ancient principles
of Vedanta influenced by the English teachings.
Sri Ramakrishna whose entire life was full
of God Consciousness undertook serious attempts to realise
the various paths for God realisation. The spiritual austerities
lasted 16 ( sixteen ) years. This period is full of many wonderful
incidents unheard of in any recorded hagiology . He succeeded
in practicing not only the various major religions of the
world but also the many sects of Hinduism. He found out the
truth - the only aim of human life is God - realisation. Each
and every path leads to the same truth and there were as many
opinions with so many paths.
Born in Kamarpukur village of West Bengal
India in 1836, he passed his childhood in calm and serene
atmosphere of the village, when he grew up, he refused to
learn ‘bread-winning education’ and later came to the Dakshineswar
Temple of Kolkata to help his elder brother Ramkumar. He spent
30 years of his life there engaged in spiritual austerities
and later among the devotees. During his last days when he
was suffering from throat cancer and was staying at Cossipore
in Surthern Kolkota, he was instrumental in laying the foundation
of Sri Ramakrishna Order with many householder disciples and
specially chosen seventeen monastic disciples. His most beloved
disciples was Narendranath, later came to be known as Swami
Vivekananda. He passed away in 1886. His legacy of the true
meaning of Vedanta is being carried out today by the “Sri
Ramakrishna Movement” consisting mainly of Sri Ramakrishna
Math and Mission with headquarters at Belur,Kolkota,Howrah
many ashramas run by sadhus and household disciples. He left
his mortal body in 1886.
