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Swami Nirmuktananda, who was the oldest
monk (103 plus) among us passed away today sometime after eight
in the morning in Belur Math.
All of us were very fond of him. We had
for him the respect one has for a dear great grandfather. We got
inspiration from the way he went about his daily routine - a simple pleasant
one. It was clear to us that he was a contented man. He conversed with every
one of us, young and old, mischief-minded and solemn mannered, more than a thousand monks, and innumerable
devotees, in a whole hearted manner. He told us a bit about how he served Swami
Akhandananda. He told us of his Guru Swami Sivananda (Mahapurushji). We had
fun indulging him in his pet hobby of palmistry.
That he had made peace with himself and
the world and with God, was clearly evident in the sweet and quiet manner he
went about during the last few years and especially during the last few days.
He was telling he was going to go away. He was saying that last night too. He
had his breakfast today. Then he was alone. Two rings of the calling bell were
heard. Then they found him on the floor with the peaceful expression of a baby.
It is certain that he knew the very minute
of his departure. To Swami Ranganathananda his brother-disciple he once asked
‘Will I have Mukti?’ Swami Ranganathananda replied, ‘You will have Mukti, but I
will have to come once again and do Vivekananda’s Work.
Now we know yet another one of the
innumerable ways by which saints proceed to Freedom.
This is Obituary from Belur Math's website :
We are sorry to announce the passing away of Swami Nirmuktanandaji (Upen Maharaj) on 1 March at 8.05 am at Belur Math. He was 103 and had been suffering from some old-age ailments for a few years. An initiated disciple of Swami Shivanandaji, he joined the Order at Varanasi Sevashrama in 1931 and had Sannyasa from Swami Virajanandaji in 1943. Besides his joining centre, he served at Contai, Jamtara, Bhubaneswar, Kankhal and Deoghar centres. He was a sevak of Swami Akhandanandaji from 1934 to 1936. He had been staying at Belur Math since 1973. His loving disposition, gentleness, amiability and spiritual stature endeared him to all and evoked their deep respect and affection. He was keenly interested in the various developmental and service activities of our Order and kept himself updated about them. He was a good scholar of Sanskrit and even at an advanced age maintained the habit of regular study of the traditional Sanskrit scriptures as well as Ramakrishna‑Vivekananda literature. His life and presence were a great source of inspiration for all who came in contact with him. In him the Order has lost one of its venerable senior monks.
From : http://www.belurmath.org/news_archives/
This is Obituary from Belur Math's website :
We are sorry to announce the passing away of Swami Nirmuktanandaji (Upen Maharaj) on 1 March at 8.05 am at Belur Math. He was 103 and had been suffering from some old-age ailments for a few years. An initiated disciple of Swami Shivanandaji, he joined the Order at Varanasi Sevashrama in 1931 and had Sannyasa from Swami Virajanandaji in 1943. Besides his joining centre, he served at Contai, Jamtara, Bhubaneswar, Kankhal and Deoghar centres. He was a sevak of Swami Akhandanandaji from 1934 to 1936. He had been staying at Belur Math since 1973. His loving disposition, gentleness, amiability and spiritual stature endeared him to all and evoked their deep respect and affection. He was keenly interested in the various developmental and service activities of our Order and kept himself updated about them. He was a good scholar of Sanskrit and even at an advanced age maintained the habit of regular study of the traditional Sanskrit scriptures as well as Ramakrishna‑Vivekananda literature. His life and presence were a great source of inspiration for all who came in contact with him. In him the Order has lost one of its venerable senior monks.
From : http://www.belurmath.org/news_archives/
