We hear that Swami Ashokananda was the mantra disciple of Swami Vivekananda. But Ashokanandaji had never met Swamiji and had joined the Ramakrishna Order as late as 1921. Swamiji was by then dead and gone. So, how did the initiation take place? If anybody knows how it happened, I will be happy to learn.
A word more and it is this. In the book 'Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda' and in its Bengali original 'Swamijir Padaprantey' by Swami Abjajananda no mention of Swami Ashokananda is there by way of his being mantra disciple of Swami Vivekananda which baffles me further. It may be argued, though, that all the disciples whose lives have been depicted in this book had received monastic vows from Swamiji in person which Ashokanandaji had not and, hence, his biographical study does not find place here.
I remember having read that Ashokanandaji had a spiritual vision of Swamiji when he was initiated by the latter but cannot quite recall the details as to how it all happened. I am eager to learn about this momentous episode from those who know.
Apparently, Ashokanandaji had confided about this spiritual experience of his in which he had received mantra from Swamiji, to Swami Shivananda and had asked him if he still needed formal initiation as is the practice. To that Mahapurush Maharaj had replied in the negative and, thus, Ashokanandaji remained initiated only the way he had been by Swamiji and never received mantra from a living Guru as is commonly the case with others. This episode in his life makes him, to my knowledge, quite a singular case in the history of the Ramakrishna Order.
For further inputs and rectification of errors made by me, if any, I await the responses of my more informed facebook friends.
Jai Swamiji!
Written by Sugata Bose
Photo : Swami Ashokananda
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