Vimalananda
 | This article uses secondary sources that critically analyze them. (August 2014) ) |
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (August 2014) |
Vimalananda (also called Khagen Maharaj) (1872–1908) was an Indian spiritual writer who was one of the monastic disciples of
Early life
Vimlananda was born Khagendranath Chatterjee in a Hindu Brahmin family in 1872. His father, Benimadhav Chatterjee, was an engineer.[2]: 108 His cousin Haripada Chatterjee, later Bodhananda, was also a monastic disciple of Vivekananda. He was interested in philosophy and spirituality from an early age and by the time he joined Ripon College, he was the leader of a group actively pursuing a spiritual life.[2]: 109 Also in the group was Kalikrishna, later Virajananda, another monastic disciple of Vivekananda and a president of the Belur Math.
In 1890, he passed his matriculation examination and won a scholarship. He continued with his First Arts studies at Ripon College.[2]: 110
Monastic beginnings
Khagen was initiated to Ramakrishna's ideals by reading a collection of his teachings by Sureshchandra Dutta and a biography of Ramakrishna by Ram Chandra Datta. They visited Kankurgachhi Yogodyan on the occasion of celebrating Ramakrishna's birth festival by Ramchandra Dutta. In Ripon College he came in close contact with Mahendranath Gupta, (called "M"), the author of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, who was then a professor in the same college.[2]: 112 M inspired them to visit the monastic disciples of Ramakrishna in Baranagar Math. In 1892, he went to Jayrambati and met Sarada Devi. He was later initiated by her into spiritual life.[2]: 113 He gave up his studies on account of poor health and spent more time in the monastery in the company of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.[2]: 113
Monastic life
In 1897, he met
He came to
Illness and death
In February 1908 Vimalananda was found to have tuberculosis which was then incurable.[2]: 122
After a brief illness he died on 24 July 1908. Eulogizing him after his death,
Oh Man! Will you be able to comprehend this offering by a faithful and devoted disciple of his heart's blood to the lotus feet of his chosen Ideal, this offering of spontaneous love completely devoid of selfish motive or hope of reward, his silent and unassuming worship from his heart away from the public gaze? [4]
Notes
- ^ Vimalananda. "Disciples of Swami Vivekananda". Swami Vivekananda. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9788175052468.
- ^ a b Virajananda, swami. Life of Swami Vivekananda by his Eastern and Western Disciples. Advaita Ashrama. p. 702.
- ^ Swami Vimalananda, a tribute, by Swami Saradananda, Udbodhan Patrika (Bengali), 1908
References
- Abjajananda; Chhaya Ghosh (tr.) (2003) [1964]. Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda : Inspiring life stories of some principal disciples of Swami Vivekananda (in Bengali). Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama. OCLC 60454130.
