Introduction

When one speaks of Vivekananda, one cannot forget the individual who guided him and shaped his life
in this way. Yes, we are talking of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The man was well-versed in religion,
music and a pioneer of modern thinking in 19th century Bengal.

About Ramakrishna Paramahamsa(1836–1886)

Ramakrishna was born in 1836 in the village of Kamarpukur in Hooghly, West Bengal, or the Bengal
Presidency as it was then known. Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya was his birth name. Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa's family was extremely pious, and it was his father who gave him the name Ramakrishna.
After studying in a village school for 12 years, Ramakrishna gave it up as he was not interested in
traditional education. Because Kamarpukur was on the way to several holy places, he would interact
with religiously educated people.

As a result, Ramakrishna became well-versed in the Puranas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the
Bhagavata Purana. He knew how to read and write in Bengali.
In 1855 the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar built by Rani Rasmani was consecrated and Ramkumar
became the chief priest in that temple. When he died a few months later, Ramakrishna was appointed
the priest. So, in 1855, he became the priest at Dakshineswar Kali Temple. By

1856 he was in complete charge of the temple. He believed he would have visions of the Goddess Kali
and also would dress up as a woman as part of his spirituality. He believed only by doing so could a
man conquer passion.
In 1859 he got married to Sarada Devi. She was 5 and he was 23, but back then it was not unusual. As
she grew up, she became a follower of his teachings. At the age of 18, she joined him in
Dakshineswar.

He also involved himself in other religions like Islam and Christianity as he felt the good points of all
faiths were common. He had followers as far from Europe in what he practiced.
The most influenced follower was Vivekananda. Narendranath Dutta, as he was called then, went to
Ramakrishna and was influenced by the modern interpretation of Indian traditions which harmonised
Tantra, Yoga and Advaita Vedanta.
It was Vivekananda who established the Ramakrishna Order and Ramakrishna Mission later on.
In 1886 Ramakrishna died due to throat cancer. But his legacy lives on. Even now people visit
Dakshineswar and Ramakrishna Mission to see the good work that is being carried forward in his name
from generation to generation.