SWAMI NIRMALANANDA (TULSI MAHARAJ), THE 17TH DIRECT DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA ... 1

SWAMI NIRMALANANDA (TULSI MAHARAJ), THE 17TH DIRECT DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA ... 1

Among the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Swami Nirmalananda (Tulsi Maharaj) was a prominent member. Following in the footsteps of Swami Ramakrishnananda (Shashi Maharaj), his (Tulsi Maharaj's) tireless exertion set afoot the Ramakrishna Movement in Southern India and spread it far and wide. A true karmayogi established in unflinching devotion to his great Master, Sri Ramakrishna, and to his venerable brother disciple, Swami Vivekananda, who considered his beloved Tulsi an ideal monk, Swami Nirmalananda today is a forgotten monk thanks to his name having been deleted by Belur Math from the list of direct disciples of Thakur. This is indeed unfortunate as despite the sad wrangling over management of the Bangalore Ashrama which was being duly managed by Tulsi Maharaj under the express wish of Swami Brahmānanda who had legally authorised him (Tulsi Maharaj) to act on his (Swami Brahmānanda's) behalf in Southern India but which under altered circumstances unfortunately led to litigation by Belur Math against Tulsi Maharaj, the latter was and remains in truth Thakur's direct disciple, a holy member of His holy entourage of earthly companions this time. That Tulsi Maharaj should be reinstated in the pantheon of Thakur's direct disciples was the lifelong mission of one his dedicated disciples, Sri Brahma Gopal Dutt, whose umpteen attempts in this regard were not considered favourably by Belur Math. He published a book providing the details of the Bangalore controversy and allied materials called 'SWAMI NIRMALANANDA (TULSI MAHARAJ) -- A direct disciple of SRI RAMAKRISHNA : A focus on facts and facets'. This book provides all the evidence and proof of the fact that Swami Nirmalananda was a direct disciple of Thakur. A must read for all.

Written by Sugata Bose