MAHENDRANATH GUPTA a.k.a. “M”

Mahendranath Gupta (1854-1932) was a householder-disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.  After some time working for the government and a merchant house, he began teaching English, psychology, and economics at various colleges.  Eventually he became headmaster of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Secondary School.  There he was called "Master Mahashay," just as he was often addressed in Ramakrishna's circle, where he was also referred to simply as "M."  He came to Dakshineswar in 1882. 

From his diaries, M compiled the Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, translated as The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, which is an almost stenographic record of many of Ramakrishna's conversations and activities.  It is a five-volume work published consecutively in the years 1902, 1904, 1908, 1910 and 1932. The Kathamrita is regarded as a classic and revered among the followers of Ramakrishna as a sacred scripture.

Initially when M began writing the diaries, he had no plans of publication.  Regarding his methodology, he said, "I wrote everything from memory after I returned home. Sometimes I had to keep awake the whole night.  Sometimes I would keep on writing the events of one sitting for seven days, recollect the songs that were sung, and the order in which they were sung, and the samadhi and so on."  In each of his Kathamrita entries, M records the time and place of the conversation or activity.  

In 1932, when the fifth volume of the Kathamrita was at the printers, M died at his home, now called Kathamrita Bhavan.  He was seventy-eight years old.  The home is located near the Thanthania Kali Temple in Calcutta.  Kathamrita Bhavan is a place of pilgrimage for followers of Ramakrishna due to the many visits there by Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi.  Several relics associated with their lives are there as well.