Swami Muktidanandaji takes over as President

Mysuru: A warm send off was accorded to the Swami Atmajnanandaji, President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama of Mysuru, who is taking take charge of Ramakrishna Mission, Chandigarh, as Secretary and a rousing welcome was accorded to Swami Muktidanandaji who has been reappointed as President of RK Ashrama, Mysuru.

The event was held at Shambhavanandaji Hall at Ramakrishna Ashrama premises last evening. It may be mentioned here that Swami Muktidanandaji, who was serving as the President of RK Ashrama, Mysuru, was transferred to Mumbai RK Ashrama in October, 2016.

Addressing a large number of devotees and Ashrama pontiffs, Swami Atmajnanandaji said that Sri Ramakrishna was still alive through Ramakrishna Sangha and was constantly guiding the Mission to serve the society. “By selflessly serving Ramakrishna Mission establishments, the Brahmacharis, Pontiffs and Volunteers are offering pujas to Sri Ramakrishna,” he said.

“The Ramakrishna Mission’s soul is Sri Ramakrishna and we must dedicate our lives to the great saint. Other individuals do not matter. Day in and day out, we must develop spiritual qualities and Sri Ramakrishna is at the centre of all our activities,” he said and added, “Even Swami Vivekananda had bequeathed all his achievements to Sri Ramakrishna thereby started a tradition and we are continuing the tradition.”

Dwelling upon the post of Presidents of Ramakrishna Sangha, units and branches, Swami Atmajnanandaji said that the Mission appoints Presidents only to head that particular branch. “The real service is done by volunteers and Brahmacharis. We must remember this,” he opined.

Praising the devotees of Mysuru, he said that the devotees considered works at the Ashrama as their duty and used to perform them diligently. “I am indebted to them as they have offered immense service to the Mission,” he said.

Making a special mention of Swachh Mysuru Abhiyan, he recalled that the Ramakrishna Ashrama had launched a series of cleanliness campaigns in city and the programmes were conducted for 40 Sundays and had brought in a change in people’s mindset on cleanliness.

Lauding the efforts of Swami Atmajnanandaji in taking the Mysuru branch into new heights in the last two-and-a-half years, Swami Muktidanandaji said that the large number of devotees at the programme was a testimony to the works of Swami Atmajnanandaji. He requested the cooperation of devotees, volunteers, Brahmacharis and Pontiffs for him to run the Ashrama and the institutions associated with it effectively. Later, members of many associations felicitated Swami Atmajnanandaji.