Reminiscences
Lessons from Swamis
October 2021
The Dec 2020 Special Issue of The Vedanta Kesari was on the topic ‘Lessons from Swamis’. New content on this topic is being serialised this year.
The Vedanta Kesari
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Swami Dhyanatmananda
ripendra, who received his mantra-diksha from Swami Shivanandaji, joined the Ramakrishna Order at the Calcutta Students’ Home in 1933. Swami Virajanandaji gave him sannyasa-diksha in 1942. He was associated with the Students’ Home all through his life, was adept in rituals, and was also involved in many relief works. He attained mahasamadhi on 26 March 1986 aged 80 years.
The Koti Yoginis
In 1977, I was the brahmachari worshipping Mother Durga during Durga Puja at Belur Math. On the Ashtami Day a huge crowd of devotees had gathered to witness the Kumari Puja. As per tradition a small girl was being worshipped as the living Durga. Swami Dhyanatmanandaji was the Tantradharak for the worship. In the Kumari Puja schedule, the 64 Yoginis and Koti (1 crore) Yoginis who are eternal associates of Mother Durga are also worshipped. When I was worshipping the Koti Yoginis, Maharaj asked me if I wished to see the Yoginis in person. I immediately said “Yes!” Then in a divinely inspired mood, Maharaj pointed at the large gathering of women devotees seated behind us and said, “See, they are the Koti Yoginis and they are the real associates of Mother Durga.” It gave me a new perception to Koti Yogini worship. — Swami Divyananda, Saradapitha
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Swami Saradeshananda
wami Saradeshananda was a disciple and sevak of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. See Lessons from Swamis, the December 2020 special issue of The Vedanta Kesari for his introduction (https://imedia.chennaimath.org/thevedanta-kesari-december-2020-issue-5723).
