Swami Smarananand Maharaj, president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, died in hospital on Tuesday night due to old age related ailments. His mortal remains were brought from the hospital to Belur Math at 12:30 pm. After this, crowds of devotees started coming to the monastery to pay homage to him.
Body of Swami Smaranand kept in cultural building
His mortal remains were kept in the cultural building. Bali MLA Dr. Rana Chatterjee arrived in the night itself and expressed his condolences and paid tribute to him. Howrah CP Praveen Kumar Tripathi also arrived late in the night. He took stock of the entire preparations. The last rites of the late Maharaj were performed on the banks of Ganga at Belur Math on Wednesday night.
Devotees started reaching Belur Math from Tuesday night itself.
People started coming to Belur Math after hearing the news of his demise from Tuesday night itself. From Wednesday morning, Belur Math was kept for the devotees to have their last darshan. People paid tribute to him by offering flowers and garlands.
PM Modi and CM Mamata Banerjee expressed grief
Many big personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor CV Anand Bose also expressed grief over his demise. General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Swami Suviranand Maharaj said that everyone from the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister has sent condolence messages.
Also Read: Ranchi: Belur Math will become a world class center of current scientific knowledge system: Sunil Varnwal.
Shubhendu Adhikari sent condolence message, Minister Arup Rai reached Belur
Shubhendu Adhikari has also sent a condolence message. Meanwhile, State Food Processing Minister Arup Rai, who reached Belur Math, said that Maharaj was popular all over the world. People have to go one day or the other. Yet he will always live among us all. He loved people. I express my respect towards him as the President of Ramakrishna Mission.
Maharaj was unwell since January 18
95 year old Swami Smaranand Maharaj’s health was unwell for a long time. Swami Smarananand Maharaj, president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, took Mahasamadhi at 8.14 pm on Tuesday night, the mission statement said. Due to fever and other complications, he was admitted to Peerless Hospital in Kolkata on 18 January 2024. After this he was transferred to Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan on 29 January.
Swami ji later started having breathing problems.
Later he started having problems in breathing. After this, he was put on ventilator on March 3. He was admitted to Shishu Mangal Hospital in South Kolkata since March 3. After Swami Smaranand Maharaj was admitted to the hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also posted on her X handle wishing him a speedy recovery. Not only this, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi also came on Kolkata tour, the first thing he did was to meet Maharaj in the hospital and inquire about his well being.
Also Read: Modi became emotional after spending the night in Belur Math, said- felt like coming home.
Swami Smarananand was the 16th president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
Swami Smaranand Maharaj was a senior monk of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission and its 16th president. In 1976, Smaranand Maharaj became the secretary of the educational institution named Ramakrishna Mission Shardapeeth, located near Belur Math. He was involved in various service activities during his 15-year long stay.
Became the head of Ramakrishna Mission in Chennai in December 1991
During the devastating flood of 1978, he came forward for rescue work with the help of monks. In December 1991 he became the head of the Ramakrishna Mission in Chennai. Was elected Vice President of the Association in 2007. Since 2017, he was the President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
Bhandara will be held on 7th April, new president will be elected soon
According to Belur Math sources, Bhandara will be held on 7th April. It is expected that lakhs of devotees will gather. The Governor is also likely to come to Bhandara. It has been told that the new president of Ramakrishna Math will be elected soon. This will take about a month. At present the post of Chairman does not become vacant during this period. An interim president is appointed at that place.
The process of selecting the president will take one month
Interim President The oldest member of the Board of Trustees is elected as the Interim President. All rituals will be performed under him only. After this the president will be elected. It will take a month to complete the entire process. There will be a meeting in this regard soon.