SWAMI RAMAKRISHNANANDA
Even while Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) was in the midst of his arduous labors in the West, he realized that more important work was awaiting him in India. When the great leader returned to the motherland and made his triumphal tour from Colombo to Almora, it was in the city of Madras that he first intimated to eager listeners his plan of campaign. Some of the citizens approached Swamiji with the request that he should kindly send one of his brother disciples to stay in Madras and establish a monastery which would become the center of the religious teachings and philanthropic activities outlined by Swamiji in his addresses delivered in India and abroad. By the way of reply he said, ‘I shall send you one who is more orthodox than your most men of the South and who is at the same time unique and unsurpassed in his worship of and meditation on God.’ The very next steamer from Calcutta brought to Madras Swami Ramakrishnananda. In a few words the leader had summarized the individual characteristics of the apostle in relation to the field of work for which he was chosen. South India has all along been the stronghold of orthodox Hinduism. In order to infuse new life into the ancient religion without breaking the
