From the write-up below we find that the Swami's last act was to conduct his Sarira Ratha on its routine daily round of temples in the early morning and then to lay it down quietly and neatly on the bare floor of earth inside his allotted room to be dutifully collected for its due dismantlement into its constituent elements.
It must have been this meticulousness, quietude and reliability that had marked him out for the tough and thankless job of being the 'bado babu' of 'Mission Office' during the times of Swami Vireswarananda ji and Gambhirananda ji. He was still occupying the same chair when I joined the Mission in 1980. I too experienced a little of his quiet charm and silent efficiency on my numerous visits to Belur Math in the years 1980-82. Then he went abroad (Boston, Providence, San Diego and Netherlands) and I saw him but rarely. I have heard of him being fondly spoken of by his contemporaries.
A diligent Dutchman indeed in every good sense of the term.
My pranams to this gentle soul.
He leaves behind scores of disciples. Holding on to Guru's counsels and acting on them with steadfastness is the best form of paying tributes to one's Guru. Holding on to to his/her name and form come next in importance. May all disciples gain this wisdom is my prayer.
Hari Om Ramakrishna!
It is with great sadness that we report the passing away of Swami Sarvatmanandaji, who was the resident swami for the San Diego Vedanta Monastery from 1997 - 2000.
Swami Sarvatmananda was born on Kalpatura Day, January 1, 1937. Befitting his auspicious birth anniversary, he joined the Ramakrishna Order at the Cossipore center in 1964, after completing his education at Calcutta University. He served at the Ramakrishna Mission center in Shillong from 1965 to 1968, when he went to Belur Math for two years in Training Centre, The new Swami remained at Belur Math, serving in the Mission’s Headquarters Office until Fall of 1985.
The Swami arrived in America in October 1985 as assistant minister to Swami Sarvagathananda, serving the Vedanta Societies of Boston and Providence. In April 1997, Swami Sarvatmananda was posted to Hollywood as an Assistant to Swami Swahananda and was made the resident Swami of the San Diego Monastery in October of that year.
Swami Sarvatmananda brought the qualities of simplicity, self-reliance, devotion, and motherly love with him to San Diego, qualities he quietly passed on to any who had the opportunity to observe this monk’s life up close. Whether washing dishes after his meal or fixing a tarp over a leaking shed, he undertook whatever task Mother placed before him with care and equanimity. Puja and arati were transformed into simple expressions of pure love for Thakur and Mother as he encouraged devotees who wanted to learn ritual to, yes, observe certain practices; yet as affirmed by Krishna and Sri Ramakrishna, he taught that the one essential element is love. Creatures were observed responding to Swami Sarvatmananda’s gentle nature. Despite an imaginably harrowing experience of being kept in a black, yard-sized trashbag while their pond was being refurbished, these same fish would swim into his hands whenever he reached into the pond. And upon overhearing that a devotee who had limited mobility had not seen the “monk turtle” that had found refuge in the garden, the swami disappeared. When next seen, he was holding the gerua-striped tortoise for the devotee to see.
When news came that Swami Sarvatmananda was being transferred to The Netherlands he was taught simple Dutch phrases by a San Diego devotee who, being from Holland himself, felt the Swami’s desire to greet the devotees in their native language would be appreciated. He served as the Head of the Netherlands center from May 2000 until he retired and returned to Belur Math in 2014. He entered Mahasamadhi on the morning of October 12, 2015, soon after being seen making morning pranans at the temples. His remains were found on floor of his room after his having left the body earlier.
Swami Sarvatmananda was born on Kalpatura Day, January 1, 1937. Befitting his auspicious birth anniversary, he joined the Ramakrishna Order at the Cossipore center in 1964, after completing his education at Calcutta University. He served at the Ramakrishna Mission center in Shillong from 1965 to 1968, when he went to Belur Math for two years in Training Centre, The new Swami remained at Belur Math, serving in the Mission’s Headquarters Office until Fall of 1985.
The Swami arrived in America in October 1985 as assistant minister to Swami Sarvagathananda, serving the Vedanta Societies of Boston and Providence. In April 1997, Swami Sarvatmananda was posted to Hollywood as an Assistant to Swami Swahananda and was made the resident Swami of the San Diego Monastery in October of that year.
Swami Sarvatmananda brought the qualities of simplicity, self-reliance, devotion, and motherly love with him to San Diego, qualities he quietly passed on to any who had the opportunity to observe this monk’s life up close. Whether washing dishes after his meal or fixing a tarp over a leaking shed, he undertook whatever task Mother placed before him with care and equanimity. Puja and arati were transformed into simple expressions of pure love for Thakur and Mother as he encouraged devotees who wanted to learn ritual to, yes, observe certain practices; yet as affirmed by Krishna and Sri Ramakrishna, he taught that the one essential element is love. Creatures were observed responding to Swami Sarvatmananda’s gentle nature. Despite an imaginably harrowing experience of being kept in a black, yard-sized trashbag while their pond was being refurbished, these same fish would swim into his hands whenever he reached into the pond. And upon overhearing that a devotee who had limited mobility had not seen the “monk turtle” that had found refuge in the garden, the swami disappeared. When next seen, he was holding the gerua-striped tortoise for the devotee to see.
When news came that Swami Sarvatmananda was being transferred to The Netherlands he was taught simple Dutch phrases by a San Diego devotee who, being from Holland himself, felt the Swami’s desire to greet the devotees in their native language would be appreciated. He served as the Head of the Netherlands center from May 2000 until he retired and returned to Belur Math in 2014. He entered Mahasamadhi on the morning of October 12, 2015, soon after being seen making morning pranans at the temples. His remains were found on floor of his room after his having left the body earlier.
