Swami Gautamananda
Swami Gautamananda ji Maharaj (born 1929) is an Indian swami. He is the 17th President of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He succeeds Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj who passed away on 26 March 2024.
Biography
Swami Gautamananda was born in Bangalore in 1929 and received spiritual initiation in 1955 before embracing monastic life in 1956, joining the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi. He spent six years in Delhi learning monastic life. He took his brahmacharya vows in 1962 and sannyasa ordination in 1966, receiving the name Swami Gautamananda. He then served at Mission centers in Sohra and Mumbai for about twelve years before being appointed head of the Aalo center in Arunachal Pradesh in 1976.
During his thirteen-year tenure in Aalo, Swami Gautamananda significantly contributed to the education of tribal children, elevating the center to national prominence. In 1990, he became a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission. Subsequently, he briefly headed the Raipur and Narainpur centers in Chhattisgarh, as well as the Saradapitha center in Belur. He then served as the secretary of Saradapitha between 1992 and 1995 before moving to Chennai.
During his visit to Durban, Swami Gautamananda also made a trip to the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Asherville on Monday, February 11, 2013. Additionally, he was interviewed by Smt. Veena Lutchman on Lotus Radio as part of the popular Hindu program 'Bhakti Sangeet' on Sunday, February 10, 2013, between 5 and 6 pm. This interview was broadcast nationwide across South Africa.
Biography
Swami Gautamananda was born in Bangalore in 1929 and received spiritual initiation in 1955 before embracing monastic life in 1956, joining the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi. He spent six years in Delhi learning monastic life. He took his brahmacharya vows in 1962 and sannyasa ordination in 1966, receiving the name Swami Gautamananda. He then served at Mission centers in Sohra and Mumbai for about twelve years before being appointed head of the Aalo center in Arunachal Pradesh in 1976.
During his thirteen-year tenure in Aalo, Swami Gautamananda significantly contributed to the education of tribal children, elevating the center to national prominence. In 1990, he became a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission. Subsequently, he briefly headed the Raipur and Narainpur centers in Chhattisgarh, as well as the Saradapitha center in Belur. He then served as the secretary of Saradapitha between 1992 and 1995 before moving to Chennai.
During his visit to Durban, Swami Gautamananda also made a trip to the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Asherville on Monday, February 11, 2013. Additionally, he was interviewed by Smt. Veena Lutchman on Lotus Radio as part of the popular Hindu program 'Bhakti Sangeet' on Sunday, February 10, 2013, between 5 and 6 pm. This interview was broadcast nationwide across South Africa.
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