SWAMI PREMANANDA

Swami Premananda, 1861-1918, was born Baburam Ghosh.  He was a monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who considered him an Ishvarakoti.  Ishvarakotis are eternally free and perfect souls, born on earth for the good of humankind.  An Ishvarakoti, according to Ramakrishna, has at least some of the characteristics of an avatar.  As Ramakrishna put it, Baburam was “pure to his very marrow; no impure thought can ever cross his mind.” 

After Ramakrishna passed away in 1886, Baburam joined his brother disciples at Baranagore, and afterwards at Alambazar.  Baranagore, two miles north of Calcutta, was the site of the first monastery of Ramakrishna’s disciples.  Alambazar, three miles north of Calcutta, between Baranagore and Dakshineswar, was the site of the second Ramakrishna monastery.  This was from 1891-1898.

Swami Premananda went on to become head of the Belur Math, which was founded by Swami Vivekananda and which constitutes the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.  The Belur Math is situated four miles north of Calcutta and was consecrated in 1898.  From 1902-1916, Swami Premananda managed the day to day affairs of the Belur Math, and was vice-president of the Ramakrishna Order.

Among Premananda’s teachings:

--To follow the Master (Ramakrishna) means to practice what he taught.  Nobody can advance by just offering him a few flowers or through some momentary sentimental outbursts.

--Can one become a great devotee of God simply by dancing and jumping, or by quoting plentifully from the scriptures?  What is wanted is freedom from selfishness--freedom from egotism.  Mere talk will not do; this is an age of action.

--Not mere theory; actualize it.  There has been enough talk and writing.  Put the books aside and let your actions speak.  This is what the lives of the Master and Swamiji (Vivekananda) stand for.

--The poor, the weak, the fallen, the ignorant--all these you have to make your own.  And yet I warn you, that in loving one section of society you must not become hateful of any other.