PM Modi shares feelings over passing away of India’s spiritual consciousness pioneer Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj
PM Modi shares feelings over passing away of India’s spiritual consciousness pioneer Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj
Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, for PM Modi, the news of the passing away of Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj brought his mind to a standstill for a few moments. He went on to add that Srimat Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj was a pioneer of India’s spiritual consciousness and his demise is like a personal loss for him.
PM Modi further added that it was just a few years ago, it was the demise of Swami Atmasthananda Ji and now the departure of Swami Smaranananda Ji on his eternal journey has left many people bereaved.
His heart, like that of crores of devotees, saints and followers of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, is deeply saddened.
Earlier this month amidst his visit to Kolkata, he had gone to the hospital to enquire about Swami Smaranananda Ji’s health. Just like Swami Atmasthananda Ji, Swami Smaranananda Ji too dedicated his entire life for spreading the ideas of Acharya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Mata Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda across the world.
While writing this article, the memories of meetings and conversations with him are getting refreshed in his mind.
In January 2020, amidst his
stay at Belur Math, PM Modi meditated in the room of Swami Vivekananda. During that visit, he had a long conversation about Swami Atmasthananda Ji with Swami Smaranananda Ji.
It is widely known that he shared a close bond with Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math. As a seeker of spirituality, PM Modi has met different saints and mahatmas and been to many places over the period of more than five decades.
Even in Ramakrishna Math, he got to know about the saints who dedicated their lives to spirituality, among whom personalities like Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji were prominent.
Their sacred thoughts and knowledge provided contentment to my mind.
In the most important period of my life, such saints taught me the true principle of Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva.Advertisement
We all are inspired by the work being done by Ramakrishna Mission for the promotion of education and rural development. Ramakrishna Mission is working on India’s spiritual enlightenment, educational empowerment and humanitarian service.
In 1978, when the disastrous flood struck Bengal, Ramakrishna Mission won the hearts of everyone with its selfless service. He remembers that when an earthquake ravaged Kutch in 2001, Swami Atmasthananda Ji was among the first people to call him and offer all possible assistance for disaster management on behalf of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Under his direction, Ramakrishna Mission helped many people who were affected by the earthquake.
Over the past years, while holding various positions, Swami Atmasthananda Ji and Swami Smaranananda Ji laid great emphasis on social empowerment.
Those who know the lives of these great personalities will definitely remember how serious these saints were towards modern education, skilling and women empowerment.Among his many inspiring traits, one thing that impressed me the most was Swami Atmasthananda Ji’s love and respect for every culture and every tradition. T
he reason for this was that he used to travel continuously and had spent a long time in different parts of India. He learned to speak Gujarati while living in Gujarat. He used to even speak with me in the language and I loved listening to his Gujarati!At different points in India’s development journey, our motherland has been blessed by many saints and seers like Swami Atmasthananda Ji, Swami Smaranananda Ji who have ignited the spark of societal change.
They have motivated us to work with a collective spirit and address all the challenges our society faces. These principles are eternal and will act as our source of strength as we embark on developing a Viksit Bharat during the Amrit Kaal.Once again, on behalf of the entire nation, he pays homage to such saintly souls.
PM Modi is confident that all the people associated with the Ramakrishna Mission will further move ahead on the path shown by them.Om Shanti.
News Edit K.V.Raman
