Ramakrishna Paramahansa - The Apostle of India

The Ramakrishna Mission is well known all over the world as organizations that are run very efficiently and cater to people belonging to all religions, castes and faiths. However, large segments of Indian society do not know much about its founder, Ramakrishna Paramahansa. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, the story of Ramakrishna's life is a story of religion in practice. He was the living embodiment of Godliness and his life was an object lesson in ahimsa ( Non Violence). His love knew no limits, geographical or otherwise. Ramakrishna was born in a Brahmin family in Calcutta on February 17, 1836. It is said that when he was born, an astrologer had predicted that 'the child would reside in a temple, be revered by people, would found and be the head of a new religious order and would have numerous disciples'. The impressions and influence that he imbibed since childhood persisted for a long time, but during the course of his spiritual practice, he shed all inhibitions. He would partake of food served to beggars and freely mix with the lowest people including prostitutes. As Gandhiji did later, Ramakrishna Paramahansa often visited the homes of dalits and untouchables, cleaned their house and ate with them. His teachings came in the wake of a new spiritual awakening - an Indian renaissance. In those times, India had come under the influence of materialistic forces that questioned the existence of 'dharma' (religion) and India's spiritual heritage. It was Ramakrishna's broad outlook and metaphoric discourses that saved India from a major materialistic onslaught. His teachings could be comprehended by every person as it was not restricted to any religion, sect or nation. He believed in the religion of humanity and cut across all geographical, religious and racial barriers and boundaries. He stressed that only genuine mutual respect can help us realise the golden principle of 'Live and let live'. He always cautioned that the world belonged to God and not to human beings.  Through his teachings, seekers of all religions can find courage and faith, hope and illumination. One comes to know that man's sincere prayer is always answered and everyone becomes perfect through the grace of God. His words convey conviction about the inner divinity of man and the spiritual foundation of the universe. Knowledge, and not ritualistic religion was the cornerstone of Ramakrishna's philosophy. He inspired, among many others, German philosopher Max Muller and Nobel Prize winner French dramatist Romain Rolland. It was through such western scholars and later through his most beloved disciple, Swami Vivekananda, that the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa spread throughout the world and drew many westerners to India.