Lucknow |The serene atmosphere of Ramakrishna Math, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow, resonated with devotion and reverence as devotees gathered to celebrate the Jayanti of Swami Subodhanandaji Maharaj, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The day-long celebration began early in the morning, marked by sacred chants, devotional hymns, and a spiritual discourse that illuminated the saint’s life and teachings.
The program commenced at 5:00 a.m. with the sound of the conch and the Mangalarati, followed by Vedic chanting, recitation of Narayana Suktam, and group singing of “Jaya Jaya Ramakrishna Bhuvan Mangala” under the guidance of Swami Muktinathanandaji Maharaj, President of the Math.
At 7:15 a.m., Swami Muktinathanandaji delivered an online Satsang, focusing on Swami Subodhanandaji’s simplicity, humility, and dedication to service. The evening session began at 6:35 p.m. with the Sandhyarati, followed by the chanting of “Saparsada Sri Ramakrishna Stotram” led by Swami Ishtakripanandaji.
In his keynote discourse titled “Simplicity Personified – Swami Subodhanandaji”, Swami Muktinathanandaji shed light on the saint’s remarkable life. Born as Subodh Chandra Ghosh on November 8, 1867, in Kolkata, he met Sri Ramakrishna in 1885 and later took monastic vows at the Baranagar Math, receiving the name Swami Subodhananda. As the youngest among the disciples, Swami Vivekananda affectionately called him ‘Khoka’, meaning ‘child’, and deeply trusted him for his innocence and devotion.
Swami Muktinathanandaji recounted that Subodhanandaji was among the eleven trustees appointed by Swami Vivekananda in 1901 for the Belur Math Trust. His life was marked by tireless service — notably during the 1908 famine in the Chilka region, where he dedicated himself to relief work without concern for his own health, eventually falling ill in service to humanity.
He often taught, “God helps those who help the poor and needy.” Swami Subodhanandaji was also a disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and it was believed that those who sought refuge at the Ramakrishna Order would attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The event concluded with Ramanama Sankirtan led by Swami Vishwadevanandaji, followed by distribution of prasad among all devotees, bringing the spiritually charged celebration to a graceful close.
🕉️ The life of Swami Subodhanandaji continues to inspire seekers to live with simplicity, compassion, and selfless service — values that remain timeless in today’s world.
