Swarupananda, born on 8 July 1871 and passed away on 27 June 1906, was a direct disciple of Vivekananda and served as the first president of the Advaita Ashrama, established by Vivekananda in 1899 in Mayavati, near Champawat. This ashram is a branch of the Ramakrishna Math, a religious monastic order founded by Vivekananda based on the teachings of his guru, Ramakrishna. Swarupananda also served as the editor of Prabuddha Bharata, an English-language monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order, from 1898 until 1906, when it shifted its base from Chennai.[1] After initiating Swarupananda into the monastic order, Vivekananda expressed to Sara Bull and other friends his enthusiasm, stating "we have made an acquisition today".]
Pre Monastic life
Swarupananda was originally known as Ajay Hari Banerjee before he became a monk. He was born on 8 July 1871 in Bhawanipur, Calcutta, to a well-to-do Brahmin family. His early experiences with sorrow and suffering in life led him to develop a spiritual outlook.[3] Swarupananda formed a close friendship with Satishchandra Mukherjee, a patriot, and scholar in his later years. Together, they established a school that aimed to impart knowledge of Indian scriptures and Sanskrit education with the goal of spreading noble ideas among the student community.[4] Ajay became the first editor of the monthly magazine, named Dawn, which they started. In 1897, Ajay inspired Satishchandra to establish the Dawn Society.[5] The journal Dawn made significant contributions to national education and the freedom movement. Until Ajay Hari became a monk, he and Satishchandra served as joint editors of the magazine. [5]

Meeting with Vivekananda

Ajay Hari Bannerjee first encountered Vivekananda after the latter's return to India in April–May 1897, at Nilambar Mukherjee's Garden House in Belur.[5] Prior to being initiated into the monastic order, Ajay met with the Swami multiple times. According to Swami Swarupananda's diary, he took the vow of renunciation on Tuesday, March 29, 1898.[6]

Advaita Ashrama and Prabuddha Bharata: ContributionsAdvaita Ashrama, Mayavatirewrite

Swarupananda was initially married, but chose to live as a Brahmachari, or celibate, at his parents' home in Calcutta. After visiting the Belur Math several times, he decided to leave home and become a full-time disciple of Vivekananda. Within a few days of his stay at the Math, Vivekananda initiated him into the monastic order (sanyas) on 29 March 1898.[8]

John Henry Sevier, a disciple of Vivekananda, came to India with him and his wife Charlotte after meeting Vivekananda during his visit to London. With Swarupananda's help, Sevier found an old tea estate suitable for the Ashram near Almora in July 1898. The land was purchased and construction of the Advaita Ashrama began.[9] The ashram was formally opened on 19 March 1899, which was the birth anniversary of Ramakrishna according to the Hindu calendar, with Swarupananda as its first head.[10][11]

Sister Nivedita became a monastic disciple of Vivekananda and took sanyas four days prior to Swarupananda at Belur in March-April 1898. Swarupananda taught her Bengali and Hindu religious literature every day. Later, under his guidance at Almora, she began reading the Bhagavad Gita.[8]

The publication of Prabuddha Bharata, the official journal of the Ramakrishna Order, was halted abruptly due to the death of its editor, B. R. Rajam Iyer, who was only twenty-four years old, on 13 May 1898 in Chennai. Vivekananda, who was resting at Almora at the time, asked Sevier and his wife to revive the magazine. The next issue of the magazine was published from Thompson House in Almora town in August 1898, with Swarupananda as its editor. In 1899, the magazine shifted its base with the opening of the ashram in Mayavati, near Almora.[12]

 Swarupananda was a disciple of Swami Vivekananda and became a full-time disciple after leaving his early marriage and receiving sanyas from Vivekananda in 1898. He played an important role in establishing the Advaita Ashrama, which had its formal opening on 19 March 1899 with Swarupananda as its first head. During his tenure as editor of Prabuddha Bharata, the official journal of the Ramakrishna Order, he disseminated the ideals of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, earning much appreciation from intellectuals. Vivekananda himself praised Swarupananda's work in a letter.

As president of the Mayavati ashrama, Swarupananda was close to Captain and Mrs. Sevier, and he initiated several activities for the upliftment of tribal and poor people in the region. He established two schools, one in Mayavati and the other in the village of Shore for local children, and also started a charitable dispensary that still serves the people of the region. He arranged to teach Hindi and English to the tribal employees of the Ashrama and travelled to various places to spread secular and spiritual knowledge among local people.

Swarupananda also worked on relief efforts for those affected by famine, earthquakes, and other disasters. He regularly practiced spiritual austerities and built a hut near the ashrama for meditating in seclusion. He worked with youth and students to spread the message of Vivekananda and was invited by the His Highness of Baroda to preach Vedanta. He wrote several articles in Prabuddha Bharata and authored the English translation of Bhagavad Gita. He also worked on collecting and publishing Swami Vivekananda's works, but his short lifespan prevented him from completing the project.