Ramakrishna Movement in Haripad :- from archives of the Vedanta Kesari

Ramakrishna Movement in Haripad (Kerala)

Entries from the Archives of The Vedanta Kesari

From 1922 to 2000

(references given at the end of each entry)

Reference: 1

A few months after his return to Madras Swami (Swami Ramakrishnananda) went to Bangalore. No centre was opened at Trivandrum as Swami probably thought the number of persons who took real interest in the movement was too few to justify a Sannyasin being spared for the work. As a result of the Gita classes a small Vedanta Society was started in Trivandrum soon after to keep up the spirits of the few who took interest in Vedantic culture, and matters went on like this until January 1912 when Swami Nirmalanandaji of the Bangalore Math came to Haripad, a village in middle Travancore, where I (Tampi) was stationed at the time, on the invitation of the local Vedanta Society.

1922, July, p.107

—Swami Ramakrishnananda, The Movement in Travancore, By K. Padmanabha Thampi, B.A., B.L

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Reference: 2

Swami Nirmalanandaji Maharaj, the President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Banglore, has just returned to his headquarters after four months of tour and work in Kerala. He visited all the Maths in Travancore and opened a new Ashrama at Muttam, some four miles distant from the Ashrama at Haripad. Seven more Brahmacharins were, this time, initiated in Sannyas. A new Ashrama is under construction at Ottapalam. Two plots of land, one at Trichur and the other at Ollur, inCochin, were given by devotees for Ashramas.

1925, October, p.234

—News And Reports: Swami Nirmalanandaji in Kerala

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Reference: 3

Swami Nirmalanandaji Maharaj, the President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Banglore, has just returned to his headquarters after four months of tour and work in Kerala. He visited all the Maths in Travancore and opened a new Ashrama at Muttam, some four miles distant from the Ashrama at Haripad. Seven more Brahmacharins were, this time, initiated in Sannyas. A new Ashrama is under construction at Ottapalam. Two plots of land, one at Trichur and the other at Ollur, inCochin, were given by devotees for Ashramas.

1925, October, p.234

—Swami Nirmalanandaji in Kerala

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Reference: 4

This report, sent to us by a devotee of the Ramakrishna Movement in Kerala, gives a detailed history of the work of theMissionthere for the last two years. Thirteen years of silent, steady work by Swami Nirmalanandaji had already borne fruit in about seventeen young men girding up their loins to devote themselves to the cause of Renunciation and Service under the flag of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna and the growth of four centres of work at Haripad, Tiruvella, Quilandy and Trivandrum and the widespread distribution of the Mission literature in Malayalam by the publication department at Trivandrum. The period under review opens with the auspicious and solemn function of receiving into the Monastic Order of Ramakrishna eleven disciples in the Haripad Ashrama thus carrying out the first item in the programme of work proposed by Swami Vivekananda for Modern India, viz., Man-making which was the method suggested and adopted by the Swami himself. Then followed the grand opening ceremony of the Brahmananda Memorial Mutt atTrivandrumin March, 1924, with a splendid public demonstration which gave a new start to the march of events in future…

Mention is next made of the increasing local support and the growing appreciation of the work of the oldest centres at Haripad, Tiruvella, and Quilandy. Attached to the Ashrama at Haripad have been working a Primary School for the “depressed classes,” a Weaving Institute, and a Medical Dispensary for the poor. The Wearing institute in particular has trained up and sent out twelve boys, all of whom have started independent work of their own and are making a living out of that profession and many of whom, it is noticed, belong to the ” depressed ” classes….

Mention is next made of a donation by a devotee of Rs. 3,000 towards the expenses of the Pooja in the Brahmananda Ashrama at Trivandrum, of another Rs. 400 for the roofing of the newly put up shed there, of an acre of paddy land yielding an annual income of Rs. 50 for the Ashrama at Haripad and of another plot of land in Pattenamthitha Taluq. But with all this the income of the Ashramas ” is hardly adequate to keep them above want and penury ” and we trust that the appeal for more funds to enable the movement to extend its activities will meet with a generous response from the public….

1925, December, p.315

—Report of the Ramakrishna Mission Work in Kerala, 1924-1925.)

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Reference: 5

The Birth-day was also celebrated at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Bangalore; Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Haripad, Malabar . . .

—1928, April, p.480

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Reference: 6

Srimat Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj, the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math andMission, arrived atTrivandrum, on the 6th of June, on a visit to all the Centres of the Math in Kerala. …

After leaving Trivandrum, he visited Haripad, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Vaikom, and Kaladi in theTravancoreState. He also visited the Math Centres at Trichur inCochinState and Ottapalam in Malabar District. In all these places he was given public addresses.

1940, August, p.P-157

—Swami Madhavanandaji’s tour in Kerala

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‘Reference: 7

Glimpses of Maharaj (Swami Brahmananda) P. Seshadri

Once Sri Tampi went to Belur Math accompanied by a Brahmachari of the Ramakrishna Ashrama at Haripad to pay his respects to Maharaj. The Brahmachari was all eagerness to be initiated by Maharaj and made his humble request for that purpose. …The next day, the Brahmachariwas duly initiated. His devotion to Maharaj knows no bounds. He would often say how much he used to feel blessed in the presence of Maharaj during the morning Bhajan at Belur Math. He took Sannyasa after some years.

1957, May, p.7

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Reference: 8

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda ideas had a great impact on Kerala….

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Haripad : The Ramakrishna Ashramas in Kerala were started with the inspiration of Swami Ramakrishnanandaji and the fondling care of Swami Nirmalanandaji, the former visiting Trivandrum as early as 1904 and the latter from 1911 onwards. Sri Padmanabhan Tampi (Swami Parananda) was the main organiser of Haripad Ashrama. Sri Venkatasubrahmanya Iyer (Swami Chitsukhananda) gave the land and Sri Subbaraya Iyer donated a handsome amount. The Ashrama was consecrated on 4th May, 1913. This is the first Ramakrishna Ashrama in Kerala. Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj visited this Ashrama in 1916. Along with the normal activities of the Ashrama, it renders services to children and Harijans. This along with the following five Ashramas is managed by a committee….

—1957, September, pp.230-231

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Reference: 9

Some time later, Swami Nirmalananda asked me whether I had paid my respects to Maharaj. On my answering in the negative the Swami took two devotees and me to Maharaj and introduced us. When it was told that I was a native of Haripad, a village in Travancore, Maharaj benignantly remarked: ‘One from Haripad (the feet of Hari, the Lord), He should be a Bhakta.’ I. felt blessed.. . . Maharaj stayed at Quilon that time for ten days. My mind grew restless day by day. Some aspirants had been initiated by Maharaj at Haripad and Kanya Kumari. I was very eager to get initiation. A week had passed and there was no talk, not even a hint about it. I spent sleepless nights in silent tears because of the thought that I might be deprived of that Grace even after seeing Maharaj. It would seem that Maharaj had little sleep. After all had retired, I could see Maharaj coming out of his room and pacing up and down with measured steps. That sight would aggravate my feelings and I would pray from the depth of my heart for his grace.

One night, Swami Nirmalananda called me aside and asked me whether I wished to be initiated by Maharaj. I answered that if he thought me fit, I would very much like to have that rare blessing. Then the Swami said: ‘ Initiation and the like cannot be given without asking. Why have you not asked Maharaj to bless you?’ I remained silent. The Swami again asked, ‘Do you really want it?’ I merely replied, ‘If you think me fit.’ Then, he took me to Maharaj and requested him for my sake. Maharaj said that he would give me initiation the next morning if he felt well. We took leave of Maharaj. The Swami told me, ‘Bring some fruits and flowers tomorrow morning after your bath. Do not take coffee or anything else. Maharaj will give initiation if he feels well. You should not be disappointed even if he does not give.’

My joy knew no bounds. But I had one regret however. A friend at Haripad who was initiated by Maharaj, had informed me that he as well as others had given clothes etc. as offerings (Dakshina). I had only a rupee. So, I requested a friend to try to get for me a sum of not less than five rupees the next morning. He returned early in the morning and said that he could not get for me anything. I was sorely disappointed. Another friend who was overjoyed at my being promised initiation had undertaken to supply me with fruits and flowers and hence I had no difficulty on that score.

The 27th December was the date fixed for initiation. When I returned after bath that morning I found Swami Nirmalananda sitting alone in the veranda. I ventured to ask him this question, ‘Should I buy…’ On the evening of the initiation day, Swami Nirmalananda suddenly turned to me and said: ‘We have engaged a special steam launch to take us to Ernakulam. You need not spend money unnecessarily. You can come along with us and we will drop you at Trikkunnapuzha (a village about 5 miles from Haripad, my native place).’… When the boat reached Trikkunnapuzha, I went to Maharaj to take leave. He said, ‘ You promised to come along with us. Why do you drop midway? This is bad.’ I told him that my native place was Haripad and that I would like to go to my house. He asked me as to how far Haripad was from there. I informed him. Then he sweetly remarked: ‘When I see you, I also like to go to Haripad.’

—1957, October, pp.259-261

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Reference: 10

While the activities of the Ramakrishna Math were developing inMadras, the beginnings of the work in Malabar were made by Swami Nirmalananda, who in January 1909, took charge of the Bangalore Ashrama. For nearly a quarter of a century he worked, withBangaloreas his base of operations.

In February 1911 he was invited to Haripad in Travancore, eighty miles north of Trivandrum, to preside over Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday celebrations organised by the Vivekananda Association, of which Sri Padmanabhan Tampi was the president. In September of the same year he visited Trivandrum on invitation from the Vedanta Society, of which Dr. Raman Tampi was the president. Dr. Tampi became a staunch supporter of the Math’s work in Trivandrum. Swami Nirmalananda stayed there for some time and gave classes and public lectures. In 1912 he visited Badagara and Quilandy in British Malabar and made contacts which later on blossomed forth into centres of activity. On 4th May 1913 the first Ashrama in Kerala was opened at Haripad, and the second in June 1914 at Quilandy. When Swami Brahmananda visited Kerala in 1916, Swami Nirmalananda requested him to lay the foundation stone of the Trivandrum Ashrama on 9th December 1916. The consecration of this Ashrama came off in March 1924. Between 1925 and 1935, nearly half a dozen centres were opened in different parts of Kerala. . . Swami Saswatananda went on lecturing tours to Kerala and developed close associations with the centres at Trivandrum, Tiruvella, Haripad etc. He leftMadras in February, 1944 to join the Headquarters, and was succeeded by Swami Kailasananda in September 1944.

—1972, August, pp.177-182

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Reference: 11

A new centre of the Ramakrishna Math has been started at Haripad in Kerala with the land, buildings, etc., received from Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Haripad. Its address is, Ramakrishna Math, P.O. Haripad, Dist.Alleppey, Kerala- 690 514.

—2008. August, p.319

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Reference: 12

Foundation stone for the proposed temple at Ramakrishna math, Haripsd, the first new building at the Ashrama complex was laid on 28 January, 2009. In this connection a public meeting was also held by a large procession of devotees, school children and general public.

—2009, April, p.159

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