Sri Ramakrishna: A Divine Incarnation

What is the Vedanta preached by Sri Ramakrishna? A brief answer is found in this selection from Synthesis of Vedanta, published last year by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. The book is itself a compilation from two books by the author – Sri Ramakrishna: Life and Teachings and Bhakti Schools of Vedanta. Swami Tapasyananda (1904 – 1991) was one of the Vice-presidents of the Ramakrishna Order. Cover page artist: Sri Maniyam Selvan, Chennai.

- SWAMI TAPASYANANDA

Towards the close of 1865, some three or four months after Sri Ramakrishna had completed the sadhana of madhura-bhava, there arrived at Dakshineswar an august personage who was to play an important role in Sri Ramakrishna’s life. That was Tota Puri, a sannyasin of the Naga sect, who was an adept in Advaita Vedanta, and who, as a symbol of his having overcome bodyconsciousness, went about naked from one holy place to another. Sri Ramakrishna called him Nangta, or the Naked One. He is said to have practised Advaita discipline for forty years on the banks of the Narmada and to have attained nirvikalpa samadhi. After that, it was his habit to go about the country, always staying in the open, and never remaining in any place for more than three days. As Rani Rasmani’s temple extended hospitality to all wandering ascetics, Tota Puri also halted there on his return journey from Gangasagar. Sri Ramakrishna soon got acquainted with him, and Tota recognised in the former a highly competent spiritual aspirant to whom he felt inclined to impart the spiritual illumination he had gained.