Lamp of love in people’s hearts
In appreciation of Swami Atmaghanananda’s service as ‘Vice-President
of Ramakrishna Mission, Ceylon Branch’. He has been transferred to India
and taken up his new position as ‘Secretary. Vivekananda University
College, Chennai.
On April 22nd students, teachers and parents gave a fond farewell to
the outgoing Swamiji of the Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo.
After completing a long 16 years of fruitful service to the public of
Sri Lanka, Swami Atmaghanananda was to leave for India the next day to
take up his new position as Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith
(Vivekananda College), 45 Oliver Road, Mylapore, Chennai. The atmosphere
in the Mission on that weekend was very unusal.
Waves of sadness prevailed the air with streams of people entering
and leaving the Ashram.
Many were with flowing tears and few were struggling hard to control.
Mothers were weeping; children were sobbing. Every move of the crowd,
every word uttered evidenced the breath of Swami Atmaghanananda’s noble,
selfless service to humanity.
People of different religions, caste and creed see him as a lovable,
simple, true sanyasin imbibing all the virtues of Swami Vivekananda and
a shining example for humanity.
His every move exemplifies that he is truly an incarnation of the
spirit of genuine renunciation. Meeting him in his room was a source of
great inspiration and joy.
It was a delight to hear him talk on various aspects of day to day
life with a crystal clear mind and childlike spontaneity. he was a
counsellor, mentor, teacher and a friend to all those who approached him
with various problems. Many felt a great solace in his tender care and
genuine concern in their welfare. Scriptures say ‘Love is God.
God is love, Where there is love, there God is certainly evident’.
Swamiji adopts this as his motto and transforms the love into service an
the service into worship and people in turn recognise him as a true
reflection of the ‘Premaswaroopa’ and adore him as ‘A Living God’
Ramakrishna Mission is well-know among all religious communities of
Sri Lanka as an Organisation that fosters harmony and unity among
people. Swamiji very much focused on nurturing individual towards
building a harmonious society with due respect to their beliefs and
religion.
In the recent years it had been an accepted tradition to have Swamiji
as a guest of honour or as a guest speaker in almost every religious
function, educational forums or cultural seminars.
On hearing Swamiji speak with such eloquence, or on listening to him
play the harmonium himself and sing with such mastery and devotion, it
would be difficult to resist the feeling that he has been divinely
shaped for the noble mission on which he is engaged.
His countenance reflects the ‘Divinity’ within, producing a magnetic
field which invariably draws the gathering towards the path of
spirituality.
In scriptures, it is said ‘spiritual life is not mere idle talk; it
is not mere sensation: it is a life of fullness and perfection and he
who leads a spiritual life is a centre of great spiritual force,’ Yes,
in these sixteen years, this force empowered with a dynamic personality,
ever radiating bliss and resonating spiritual energy drew all those who
came in contact with him and were enthraled by his dedication to
practical religion human welfare.
It is his adherence to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, ‘Religions
is living in God; it is neither merely a belief nor discussion about
God’. that enabled him to draw the masses bypassing the boundaries of
ethnicity under the present vulnerable political situation of Sri Lanka.
Swamiji’s transfer has left an irreplaceable vacuum and will be
dearly missed for his compassion, tender care and simplicity which have
touched the hearts of many in the spirit of service Swamiji will ever be
in the hearts of Sri Lankans as an embodiment of ‘Divine Love’.
The waves of Indian Ocean wouldn’t dare to drift,
As we have tightly tide Thyself in our Hearts -
Like it happened to Lord Krishna
No words can express our gratitude for all that we received,
our Thanks to that ‘Special Mother’ for giving Thyself to the world,
And to ‘The Lord’ for having Thyself in our lives,
Though Thou art miles apart in Thy presence,
Resides in our hearts as Jasmine and fragrance,
And would stay in our memories until we last breathe.
- SIVA |