Purushottamananda
From Freepedia
Swami Purushottamananda(1931-2005) was born in June 14 1931 at Moodahadu, a village near Saligrama in the district of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka as Ramachandra Bayari. He studied till metriculation and served as a teacher in Malpe and [Madikeri].
He joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1960 as a brahmacharin in Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama (presently Ramakrishna Math), Bull Temple Road, Bangalore. He was an initiated disciple of Swami Yatishwarananda, the then president of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore and Vice President of the Ramakrishna Order. He, as brahmachari Mukunda chaitanya, underwent probationer's training at the Belur Math, headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission for 2 years.
He served at the Bangalore centre for about 33 years (up to 1993), and successfully managed several of its activities. During this time, as in-charge of Vivekananda Balaka Sangha and Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha (the twin organizations for the character development of youth), he guided and won the hearts of thousands of students. He was always a centre of attraction for the youth, especially those with an inclination for renunciation and service. Many young men and women have taken to the life of service by his inspiration, several of whom later joined the Ramakrishna Math and the Sarada Math.
During May 1993 - Nov 2000, Swami Purushottamanandaji served as the President of the Ramakrishna Saradashram at Ponnampet, Kodagu; and conducted a number of spiritual retreats and other programmes. The shrine and the prayer-halls were renovated and sadhu-nivas (monks' quarters) were constructed.
In November 2000 he took over as the President of the newly-affiliated Ramakrishna Mission ashrama at Belgaum. The historic building in Belgum sanctified by the stay of Swami Vivekananda in 1892 for 12 days, was gifted to the Ramakrishna Mission by the Govt. of Karnataka. Swami Purushottamanandaji was instrumental in renovating this monument, and constructing a magnificent temple of Sri Ramakrishna in the adjacent land of this monument in January 2004. The Sarada Mantap (Kitchen and Dining Hall Block of the monastery) and the Sadhu Nivas (Monks' Quarters) also form part of the new centre.
Even while building the impressive temple at Belgaum, Revered Swamiji was instrumental in spreading the message of Sri Ramakrishna- Vivekananda throughout North Karnataka especially in Dharwad, Bijapur, Hubli and Gadag.
The Swami, endowed with a divine voice, was greatly appreciated for his soulful singing, and was instrumental in popularizing the Bhajan culture. His recordings are highly sought after among the devotees of Order. The Swami was also a gifted orator; his weekly and other discourses on various spiritual topics were attended by thousands of devotees.
He was a successful writer, too, and authored dozens of books (mostly in Kannada). The three exhaustive biographies that he wrote on Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda are known as much for their authenticity as for their literary quality. The biography of Vivekananda won him the 'Vishwamanava' award of the De. Ja. Gou. Trust. His other booklets on the myriad aspects of character development were very well received and ran into several editions, and were translated into several languages. Some of them, written exclusively for students, saw print runs of over a lakh.
The Swami was instrumental in the setting up of several voluntary organizations, Satsangs, as well as private Ramakrishna Ashramas throughout Karnataka. He took a very active role in spreading the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, through his discourses, bhajans, and Satsang programmes.
Rev. Swami Purushottamanandaji, died on the morning of Friday, the 25 February 2005 at 6.18 a m, at the Narayana Hridayalaya, due to a massive heart attack. He was 73. Thousands of devotees paid their tearful last respects to the Swamiji.
- Books by Swami Purushottamananda
- Yugavatara Shri Ramakrishna (Vol. I to Vol. IV) - a biography of Sri Ramakrishna in Kannada
- Shri Sharadadevi Jeevanaganga - a biography of the Holy Mother Shri Sharadadevi
- Veera sanyasi, Vishwa Vijeta, Vishwa manava Swami Vivekananda - a biography of Swami Vivekananda in 3 volumes
- Brahmananda Vachanasudhe - a biography of Swami Brahmananda
- Booklets by Swami Purushottamananda
- English
- Letter to a student
- Secret of Concentration
- Kannada
- Vidyarthigondu Patra
- Adhyayanadalli Ekagrate
- Dheerateya Dundhubhi
- Kabeera Beerida Belaku
- Sadyakke ishtu saaku
- Audio recordings - CDs and Cassettes
- Prarthana Pushpanjali - recording of his live performance at Ramakrishna Institute of Culture, Kolkota
- Bhakthi Geetam - Live Performance at Ramakrishna math, Chennai
- Bhakthi Sudha - assorted bhajans and namavalis
- Bhajana Mala - assorted bhajans and namavalis
- Shiva Shakti Mala - Sanskrit and Hindi devotional songs
- Sri Ram Aradhana - Sanskrit and Hindi devotional songs
- Sri Krishna Bhajans - Sanskrit and Hindi devotional songs
- Bhajans(Vol-4) - Hindi devotional songs
- Bhajans(Vol-5) - Hindi and sanskrit devotional songs
- Stotras and Bhajans
- Arati & Sankirtana - Sanskrit devotional songs
- Bhajanakusumanjali - Kannada & Hindi devotional songs
- Baarenna Thaayi - Kannada devotional songs
- Kabeera Beerida Belaku (vol. I & II) - Hindi & Kannada
- Lectures in Audio Cassettes and CDs
