Swami Kutasthananda ji - Suresh Maharaj - My Homage - Part 1

Begumpet in Hyderabad had the good fortune of having a Ramakrishna Ashrama sometime since 1920s or 1930s. Swami Yogeshwarananda, a monk of high academic qualification and a relative as well as a disciple of Ramachandra Dutta who was originally sent by Swami Brahmananda to head the first Ramakrishna Mission centre in Bangalore, in Ulsoor, had started this as a sub-centre of it. But by that time he had ceased to be a Ramakrishna Mission member and the ashrama under him had also consequently become separate. The Hyderabad Ashrama did moderately well as long as Yogeshwarananda was alive after which it started declining.

A studious and enthusiastic boy by name Shankar from Kerala joined Ramakrishna Mission very early in his life, grew up into a very likeable young monk, served the ashramas where he was posted in various capacities, like cook, dishwasher, inspirational speaker, etc. and continuing to keep learning, gained the trust of the elders, was given leadership opportunities in Burma, Karachi, Delhi and then Institute of Culture. He did well in all places until he had some difficulties in the administration of the last place. He was replaced by a brother monk and then he found himself in a sort of wilderness for some years, which he used well by going to different countries around the globe on successful lecture tours. Then he was given charge of this, by now much reduced Begumpet centre. He was Swami Ranganathananda.

To maintain an ashrama is a stupendous task, I am now beginning to learn more and more as I find myself having to look after several budding ashramas in different parts of India. The most important and most lucky thing will be having an enthusiastic volunteer willing to stay and do the ABCs of an ashrama routine.

Begumpet which by then had limped its way to Secunderabad, found such a lucky mascot in the arrival of a boy by name Suresh.

Now Begumpet’s successor ashrama at Domalguda is a big centre with many monks. It all begun with this Suresh.

Suresh became, in due course, Swami Kutasthananda.

He passed away yesterday (15 May 2018) at about 2.30 pm at a hospital in Ongole (Andhra Pradesh). He was 68.

More about him to be continued ...

Hari Om Ramakrishna

The following is from Beur Math's pages :

Obituary 

Swami Kutasthananda (Suresh)

We record with sorrow the passing away of Swami Kutasthananda (Suresh) at a hospital in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, on 15 May at 2.30 pm.  He was 68 and had been suffering from psychiatric problems and other ailments for some years.  Initiated by Swami Vireshwarananda ji Maharaj, he joined the Order in 1974 at Secunderabad centre (which was later moved to Hyderabad) and received sannyasa diksha from Swami Gambhirananda ji Maharaj in 1988.  He served at Belur Math and Secunderabad (Hyderabad), Chennai Math, Chennai Mission Ashrama, Chennai Students’ Home, Contai, Tiruvalla, Malliankaranai, Ponnampet, Ootacamund, Kadapa, Barisha, Visakhapatnam, Vrindaban, Kalady, Kozhikode and Ghatshila centres. Owing to his health problems he was brought back to Belur Math in 2016.  Later on, he had been undergoing treatment at different places under the care of Hyderabad centre.  The Swami was austere and amiable by nature.

See : http://media.belurmath.org/news-bulletin-01-june-2018-1897