One day a young boy in his teens visiting the temple garden of Rani Rasmani at Dakshineswar had a desire for a flower. The boy took a man passing by for a gardener and asked him to pluck the flower for him. The man, who was none other than Shri Ramakrishna himself, willingly obliged. So the young boy got the flower all right, but in the process, himself became a ‘flower plant’ to be tended by the great gardener of lives.
The name of the boy was Yogindra Nath Chaudhury. He belonged to a religious, aristocratic Brahmin family in Dakshineswar. From his boyhood he was of a contemplative temperament. He was simple in his habits and never hankered after any luxury. He was a bit reserved and taciturn by nature. He commanded love and respect from all.
When Yogin went to meet Shri Ramakrishna, the latter recognized the spiritual potentiality of the boy and advised him to come to him from time to time. Yogin was charmed with the warmth and cordiality with which he was received; and he began to repeat his visits as often as he could.
Alarmed at Yogin’s growing indifference to the affairs of the world, his parents trapped him in marriage. Though married, the world could not drag his mind to worldliness.
By nature he was indrawn, gentle and shy. It was difficult for him to hurt even an insect. But sometimes too much gentleness becomes a source of trouble rather than virtue. Just as pure gold cannot be shaped into ornaments but has to be alloyed with a small quantity of other metals, Shri Ramakrishna had to alloy him with a bit of harshness to counter his too gentle a personality that could not last in this mundane world.
Though Yogin trusted a man easily and had the simplicity of a child, he was not a simpleton. Rather he had a keen discriminating mind and was critical in his outlook. Yogin, with all his devotion to the Master, kept his critical faculty alert and did not fail to test him in case of a doubt.
Yogin grew spiritually under the keen care of the Master. Afterwards when Shri Ramakrishna fell ill and was under medical treatment at Cossipore, he was one of those disciples who laboured day and night in attending to the needs and comfort of their beloved Master. Long strain on this account told upon the frail health of Yogin, but the devoted devotee worked undauntedly. It soon became apparent that no amount of care on the part of the disciples could arrest the progress of the Master’s disease. His life was despaired off. One day he called Yogin and asked him to read out to him a certain portion of the Bengali almanac, date by date. When Yogin had reached a certain date and read it, Shri Ramakrishna told him to stop. It was the date on which the Master passed away.
The Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramakrisna threw all into deep gloom. To recover from this shock the Holy Mother went to Vrindaban with Yogin (Swami Yogananda), Kali (Swami Abhedananda), Latu (Swami Adbhutananda), Golap-Ma (disciple of Shri Ramakrishna), Lakshmi Devi (niece of Shri Ramakrishna), and Nikunja Devi (wife of “M”, author of The Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna). At the end of a year the Holy Mother returned to Calcutta. After staying there for a fortnight, Yogin, who now became Swami Yogananda, escorted the Holy Mother to Kamarpukur, from where he went out for Tapasya. His service to the Holy Mother was wonderful. In looking after the comfort of the Holy Mother, he threw all personal considerations to the wind. He saw the living presence of the Master in her. To serve her with all devotion and care was to him his best religion. Whenever the Holy Mother left her village home for other places Swami Yogananda used to be on attendance almost invariably. Most of the intermediate periods in the early years he spent in Tapasya at various places, practicing rigorous austerities and strict spiritual disciplines, which was too much for his sensitive constitution and as a result his health broke down completely. This compelled him to return to Calcutta. But his bright, ever smiling face belied his illness, and was a source of much attraction. So great was his amiability that whoever would come in contact with him would be charmed with him. One would at once feel at home with him. There were many who were set on the path of renunciation and God realization after coming in contact with him.
Swami Yogananda had an organizing ability, even against tremendous odds. He organized large-scale celebrations of the birthday anniversary of Shri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar as well as Belur. He was also the moving spirit behind the grand reception given to Swami Vivekananda on his triumphant return from America for the first time. When the Ramakrishna Mission Society was officially started, Swami Yogananda became its Vice-president.
Swami Yogananda commanded respect for his sterling saintly qualities. But what distinguished him among the disciples of the Master was his devoted service to the Holy Mother. He was one of the earliest monks who discovered the extraordinary spiritual greatness of the Holy Mother, hidden under her simplicity. The conviction led to an unquestioning dedication to her. Swami Yogananda was the first initiated disciple of the Holy Mother. He served the Holy Mother with matchless devotion till the last day of his life.
Swami Yogananda was the first among the monastic disciples of the Master to enter Mahasamadhi. Swami Vivekananda was greatly moved at the premature passing away of Swami Yogananda and very emotionally remarked, “This is the beginning of the end. A beam is down and now the rafters will fall one after another.” The Holy Mother also said: “This is like a brick falling out of the wall of the building; it is an evil omen.” She cherished his memory affectionately forever.
Swami Yogananda commanded great love and respect from all the lay and monastic disciples of the Ramakrishna Order. He was one of those whom the Master spotted out as “Ishwarakotis” or “godlike souls” – the souls that are eternally free from the bondage of karma and come to this world solely for the good of humanity.
