Sanatana Dharma Explained

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Swami Vimalanandaji was one of the illustrious savants and sages of Ramakrishna Math who shed lustre on whatever he had handled in his blessed life. He joined the Ramakrishna Order at the age of twenty-six in the year 1929; and had a very active career, holding several important positions in the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, till he attained the age of sixty in the year 1963. Thereafter, during the next twenty-two years, he had a quiet life of Austerity, Contemplation, Meditation and Communion with the Almighty. The last seventeen years of his life were spent at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama at 'Nettayam' an enchanting scenic suburb of Thiruvananthapuram City. Towards the end of 1985, when he took ill, the Swamiji shifted to the Ashrama at Sasthamangalam inside Thiruvananthapuram City; and he attained the feet of the Lord in January 1986.

The name of Swami Vimalanandaji in his 'Poorvashrama' (ie. before ordination as a monk) was Madhavan Unnithan. He was born in September 1903 as the third and youngest child of Eravi Narayanan Thankal and Sreedevi Kunjamma, in a village called 'Pathiyoor' near the town of Kayamkulam. His mother Sreedevi Kunjamma belonged to an affluent and aristocratic family which had descended from the Kayamkulam royal dynasty of yore. Unfortunately, Madhavan lost his mother within two weeks of his birth.

Late P. Seshadri Iyer of Haripad was a great scholar of Sanskrit, an ardent follower of the Advaita Philosophy of Sri Sankaracharya and a legendary polyglot who was reputed to be well-versed in eighteen different languages. About six decades back, in my youth, I had chosen him as my guru for higher studies in Sanskrit.

One day (some time in the year 1960) I was at the residence of my guru; and he was teaching me one of the important scriptural texts in Sanskrit. At that time, a very noble-looking Sanyasin in ochre robes appeared at the gate of the house. To my great surprise, the redoubtable Scholar Seshadri Iyer, who would never lose his cool, suddenly sprang up from his seat and rushed towards the gate and welcomed the visitor warmly and vigorously. After offering pranams, he escorted the Sanyasin into the house with great reverence.

My guru introduced the honoured guest to me as Swami Vimalanandaji of Ramakrishna Order. He told me that in their younger days the two of them were classmates in the Government High School, Mavelikkara, and were hearty companions. The love and warmth which these two great men had felt for each other during their schooldays had never diminished a bit; and had only increased exponentially when they grew up. Both of them were great scholars and therefore they had deep-rooted respect for each other.