User:Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama

The genesis of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysuru may be traced to the visit of Swami Vivekananda to this city of palaces, gardens and rich cultural traditions. During his sojourn across India as a wandering monk the Swamiji stepped into the royal city of Mysore sometime in November 1892. He is believed to have stayed in Mysore for about three or four weeks.

Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer the Dewan of the erstwhile Mysore State who had met Swamiji earlier in Bangalore, was struck by the scholarship and deep knowledge of Vedanta that the illustrious young monk was bestowed with. The Dewan was also impressed by the “princely bearing” of the monk and invited him to Mysore and stay as his guest.

On his arrival in Mysore Swamiji preferred to stay at Niranjana Math to the palatial comfort of the imposing official residence of the Dewan. The Math is situated exactly behind the residence of the Dewan.  After staying in that low roofed place for a few days Swamiji shifted to the Dewan’s residence. The front room in the first floor facing the entrance gate is believed to be the room where Swamiji stayed. It did not take much time for the Dewan, the royalty and the elite citizens to recognise the invaluable treasure of wisdom and character that this unknown monk was gifted with.

Excerpts from the editorial of the Vedanta Kesari, the English monthly magazine of the Ramakrishna Order, published from Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai, of August 1992 about Swamiji’s visit to Mysore:

''‘The Dewan said on one occasion, “many of us have studied much about religion, and yet what has it availed us? Here is this young man whose insight exceeds that of anyone I have ever known. It is simply wonderful. He must have been born a Knower of religion, otherwise how could he at such a comparatively young age have gained all this knowledge and insight?’’''

The Dewan introduced Swamiji to Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar, the Maharaja (also called as Sri Chamaraja Wadiyar''). The young monk’s ‘brilliancy of thought, charming personality, wide learning and penetrating insight' swept the Maharaja off his feet. Swamiji was immediately, made a state guest and given an apartment in the palace itself. The Swamiji advised the king on many important aspects and discussed with him for long, daily.’''