Facts file of Sri Ramakrishna 75th Birth Anniversary - Presided over by Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi in 1911 - 1912

These are the facts. We hope to follow up with the reasonings soon.

1. In 1911, it was not fully known that the Birth year of Sri Ramakrishna is 1836. For various reasons it was thought to have been 1833. Though Swami Saradananda had conclusively found the correct year, it had not yet become official. But we may take it for fact that Swami Saradananda would have surely informed Mother about the correct year.
http://ramakrishnaashrama.blogspot.in/2011/04/holy-mother-sarada-inaugurates-75th.html

2. In 1911, the situation in Northern India, espepcially in Bengal, was not suitable for organising public events on a grand scale. The normal preaching work was not going well in these parts. But the position was very encouraging in the South.
http://ramakrishnamissionreports.blogspot.in/2011/10/first-general-report-1912.html (search for the word 'political')

3. Early December 1910, Mother starts for Kothar. She has very pleasant days there.

4. She reaches Madras on the 11th of February 1911. Swami Ramakrishnananda the Apostle to the South is earnestly at her service. Swami Nirmalananda, called the Protector of the Southern Direction (Digpal) by Swami Brahmananda has already sent Swami Vishuddhananda to receive her. Why he could not himself come will be explained below.

5. About a month earlier, fervent devotees from Haripad had come to Swami Ramakrishnananda to invite him to Haripad to preside over the Ramakrishna Anniversary Celebrations there. Swami  Ramakrishnananda was not physically keeping well and he knew he had to be in Madras to serve Mother at that time. He introuced the devotees to Swami Nirmalananda who was in Madras on a visit, perhaps in connection with making arrangements for Mother's South India visit.

6. Thus Swami Nirmalananda was committed to conduct the Sri Ramakrishna Anniversary Celebrations in Haripad on behalf of Swami Ramakrishnananda who would then be able to serve Mother with a carefree heart.

7. Thus Holy Mother is the direct cause of Swami Nirmalananda's first visit to Kerala.

8. When her disciple Swami Vishuddhananda bowed down to her on the 11th of February 1911, the queries `How are you' and `How is Tulasi' are the most likely first two ones. And the obvious answer to this possible second querry would be 'Tulasi Maharaj is going to Travancore area for Thakur's Birthday Celebrations'.

9. So it happens this way, that the report of the start of the Sri Ramakrishna's 75th Birth Anniversary Celebration is conveyed to Mother.

But this is putting the cart before the horse.

The correct statement would be :

So Our Divine Mother, through Her own sweet will (for she is Ichamayi), playfully (She the Lila Vinodini), arranged in this way to launch the 75th Birth Anniversary Celebrations, at Kerala (Haripad), the land of Mother worship coupled with Krishna worship.

10. Early March, she is physically present in Madras when the 75th Birth Anniversary Celebrations were going on gloriously. This is perhaps the first time that Mother attends Sri Ramakrishna's Birth
Celebrations.

11. There were temple festivals going on in Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane; Mother going there at this time makes it doubly festive. She was living opposite the Kapaleswar Temple during Shivaratri. Her attendants and relatives visit the place. She visits the temple at a suitable day. Whereever she goes people get tangible spiritual joy and they cry out with joy, the name of Sri Ramakrishna to her who is always immersed in Ramakrishna (gata prana) and who always is eager to hear his name (Tan Nama Sravana Priya).

12. On the Chaturdashi following the Shiva Chaturdashi the Mother is in Rameswaram, worshipping Shiva with 108 silver bel leaves. On the way in Madurai the abode of Minakshi [The Goddess with eyes (as long and wide) as a fish] and the play ground of  Sundareswara Shiva, she looks wide-eyed at the divine plays of Sri Ramakrishna and has immense joy setting off earthen lamps afloat in huge ponds.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

13. On the way back, Swami Ramakrishnananda in the midst of his strenuous services, gives a speech in Madurai.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

14. Mother reaches Bangalore on the morning of 25th March. There had just been a great festivity in connection with the Ramakrishna Birth Anniversary and Mother's presence takes their joy to a crescendo. Mother becomes a Joy giving Kalpataru as she raises her hand in blessing after alighting from the pheaton car and as she walks afloat in Bhava. She later climbs the Rock and looks at the South western setting sun. Swami Ramakrishnananda recites the Mangala Stotra and Swami Nirmalananda requests Her to do Japa which seals her blessings.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

15. During her stay in Bangalore it is sure that Swami Nirmalananda gives the report of the great devotion of the people of Travancore. This surely draws forth her blessings on them. The coast of Kerala lies at the line of her grace ladden gaze at the south western setting sun.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

16. Mother is in Rajamundry by the Godavari for a day or two. The region becomes all the more blessed.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

17. Mother is in Puri during Vasanta Navaratri. The festival becomes doubly joyful.

18. Mother is in Belur Math on May 1, 1911, Akshaya Trithiya Day. This was the joyful reception given by the devotees of the region and the monks of the Math, after they hear soul stirring reports of wonders wrought by Mother's grace in the South.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

19. Mother reaches Jayarambati. Radhu's marriage serves as the consolidation point of the future monks from rural Bengal.

20. Earlier, Koalpara ashrama had been slowly getting into shape. It all started with a  school teacher Kedar from near about Koalpara meeting Swami Nirmalananda and Swami Dhirananda while they were going to Jairambati to meet the Mother. Tulasi Maharaj was going there to meet the Mother after his return from America. Kedar had read Swami Vivekananda and had received inspiration to serve the country. Swami Nirmalananda advises Kedar to meet the Mother. Swami Nirmalananda's personality and Swami Dhirananda's tender love impresses Kedar. Kedar listens to the advice received and meets the Mother. A group starts to gather. This group becomes consolidated in 1911.  Radhu's marriage functions as the focus.


21. Mother formally installs Sri Ramakrishna in Koalpara. And she installs herself too alongside him. Koalpara becomes the first place on earth where the two deities sit together. The first real Ashrama in rural Bengal comes into being. This serves to attract more people into the fold. Calcutta had been all about city. Sargachi had been wholly about service to the poor. The composite Ramakrishna Model of Work and Worship takes its first form in rural Bengal in Koalpara in 1911.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees.

22. Durga Puja is celebrated with image after a long gap.

23. Mother visits Belur Math during Sri Ramakrishna Birth Anniversary Celebration 1912. This is perhaps the first time Mother is visiting Belur Math at the time of Sri Ramakrishna Birth Celebrations. 

Thus Mother seems to have brought the 75th Birthday Celebrations to a grand conclusion with her direct blessings.

Kotar was like the first little pitcher of water. Haripad was the appetizer. Madras looks like the main dish. Madurai, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Rajamundry, Puri, Jayarambati and Koalpara were great
dishes. Belur Math 1912 is the grand conclusion.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna, hail the devotees wherever Mother goes.

It has been a wonderful and blissful experience travelling with Holy Mother Sarada Devi as she, as it were, took the the Celebration of the 75th Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna fully into her own hands and went about with it all over the country. She even seems to have arranged for the Celebrations to be conducted in areas not physically visited by her in the country or abroad. It was absolutely thrilling for the undersigned self to have come across this fact serendipitously.

I am rather sad that this particular affair seems to be coming to a conclusion. But I take heart from the fact that there is still Mother at Varnasi from 1912 November onwards for 72 days (I would tag it with three days she spent at Rameshwaram to make it 75 for Rameshwar-Kashi) That is a fitting conclusion to the 75th Anniversary. Living Durga staying for 75 days in the region of the Eternal Siva in the ancient holy city of Varanasi, just after she has celebrated the 75th Birth Anniversary of the Incarnate Deity.

So, yes, there is still an after dinner course. Annapurna will surely fulfill our wants. She is Anandamayi and will be Anandapurani.

May Mother be with us for ever and ever.

Jai Ma Jai Ramakrishna

Yours truly,

Swami Sampurnananda