Biography of ‘Swami Brahmananda’
Swami Brahmananda, born Rakhal Chandra Ghosh, was one of the direct disciples of Ramakrishna and the first president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. Rakhal Chandra Ghosh (Swami Brahmananda) was born on 21 January 1863 at Sikra Kulingram, a village 39 km from Calcutta, in the present North 24 Parganas district. His father Ananda Mohan Ghosh was a landlord. His mother Kailas Kamini was a pious lady and a devotee of Shri Krishna who gave her son the name Rakhal (meaning the boy-companion of Shri Krishna).
After Rakhal had finished the primary education, he was sent to Calcutta in 1875 and admitted into an English High School. In Calcutta, he came in contact with Narendra Nath, afterward known as Swami Vivekananda, who was then the leader of the boys of the locality. Narendra, with his dynamic spirit and born leadership, cast his influence over others and carried them along the path he thought right.
After establishing Belur Math monastery when Swami Vivekananda got Ramakrishna Math registered as a Trust, Swami held this post till the end of his life. Swamiji gave over the responsibility of running the organization, to Swami Brahmananda, remembering that Sri Ramakrishna had once remarked that Rakhal had the capacity to rule a kingdom.
The Ramakrishna Mission, which had been founded by Swami Vivekananda as an Association, was revived and registered during his time. His stress on contemplative life served to counterbalance the activities undertaken by the monks. During those difficult formative years he gave great stability to the Sangha. During his tenure as the Head, he also guided many earnest spiritual seekers by taking them under his protection, thus fulfilling Swami Vivekananda’s prophetic remark that Swami Brahmananda was veritably a spiritual dynamo.
Swami Brahmananda passed away on 10 April 1922. Swami Vivekananda had said Swami Brahmananda is a “treasure-house of spirituality”.
