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{{Distinguish | Swarupanand}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{religion primary|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Swarupananda
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
| image = Swarupananda.png
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ajay Hari Bannerjee
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1871|07|08}}
| birth_place = [[Bengal]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1906|06|27|1871|07|08}}
| death_place = [[Nainital]]
| nationality = Indian
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Monk, editor of [[Prabuddha Bharata]]
| years_active =
| known_for = [[Vedanta]]
| notable_works =
| style =
| denomination = 
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| awards =
}}

'''Swarupananda''' (8 July 1871 – 27 June 1906) was a direct [[monastic]] disciple of [[Vivekananda]] and the first president of the [[Advaita Ashrama]], set up by Vivekananda in 1899 at [[Mayavati]], near [[Champawat]]. The [[ashram]] is a branch of the religious [[monastic order]], [[Ramakrishna Math]], also set up by Vivekananda on the teachings of his guru [[Ramakrishna]].

Swarupananda remained as editor of ''[[Prabuddha Bharata]]'', an English-language monthly journal of the [[Ramakrishna Order]], when it shifted base from [[Chennai]] in 1898 and remained so till 1906.<ref>{{cite book|last=Swarupananda|first=Swami |title=Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|page=1|chapter=Preface to first edition}}</ref>

Vivekananda exclaimed to Sara Bull and other friends about the young disciple whom he had initiated into the monastic order, "we have made an acquisition today."<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 125">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=125}}</ref>

==Pre Monastic life==
Swarupananda's pre monastic name was Ajay Hari Bannerjee. He was born on 8 July 1871 at Bhawanipur in Calcutta, in a well-to-do Brahmin family.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 125"/> Early experiences with sorrows and tribulations in life and human misery inspired him to develop a spiritual outlook.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 126">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=126}}</ref>
He developed friendship with [[Satishchandra Mukherjee]], who was in his later years a patriot and a scholar, and together started a school for imparting knowledge of Indian scriptures and Sanskrit education. The aim of the school was spread noble ideas among student community.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 127">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=127}}</ref> They also started a monthly magazine, named as Dawn and Ajay became its first editor. In 1897 Ajay inspired his friend Satishchandra to start the Dawn Society.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 128">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=128}}</ref> The journal Dawn had made a lot of contribution to national education and to the freedom movement. Till Ajay Hari embraced monastic life, he and Satishchandra acted as joint editors.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 128"/>

==Meeting with Vivekananda==
Ajay first met Vivekananda after the latter's return to India, in April–May 1897, in Nilambar Mukherjee's Garden House in Belur.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 128"/> He met the Swami several times, before the latter initiated him into the monastic order. According to Swami Swarupananda's diary, he was initiated into the vow of renunciation on 29 March 1898, Tuesday.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 130">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=130}}</ref>

==Advaita Ashrama and Prabuddha Bharata: Contributions==
[[File:Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, a branch of the Ramakrishna Math, founded on March 19, 1899.jpg|right|280px|thumb|[[Advaita Ashrama]], Mayavati]]
Swarupananda was married early in his youth, but continued to live as a Brahmachari or celibate at his parents' home in Calcutta. After three or four visits to the [[Belur Math]], he decided to leave home and become a full-time disciple of Vivekananda, and within a few days of his stay at the Math, he was initiated into the monastic order, ([[sanyas]]),<ref>{{cite book|title=A Comprehensive Biography of Swami Vivekananda |author=Sailendra Nath Dhar |publisher=Vivekananda Prakashan Kendra |year=1976 |page=1057}}</ref> by Vivekananda on 29 March 1898.<ref name=ad/>

Meanwhile, [[John Henry Sevier]] who had earlier come in contact with Vivekananda during his visit to London and become his disciple, travelled to India with Vivekananda, along with his wife Charlotte. Sevier, with the help of Swarupananda, found an old tea estate suitable for the Ashram, at Mayavati, near [[Almora]] in July 1898. Soon the land was purchased and construction commenced.<ref name=maya>[http://www.advaitaashrama.org/others/mayavati_route.pdf Mayawati Route – Visitors Booklet of Advaita Ashrama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121190710/http://www.advaitaashrama.org/others/mayavati_route.pdf |date=21 November 2008}} ''[[Advaita Ashrama]].''</ref> The [[Advaita Ashrama]] had its formal opening on 19 March 1899, which happened to be the birth anniversary of [[Ramakrishna]] ([[Hindu calendar]]), that year, with Swarupananda its first head upon its opening.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Vedanta Kesari |location=Madras |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math |year=1979 |page=212 |contribution=Swami Swarupananda |author=Raghaveshananda}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Banhatti|first=G.S.|title=Life and Philosophy of Swami Vivekananda|page=43|chapter=The torch ablaze}}</ref>

[[Sister Nivedita]] had become a [[monastic]] disciple of Vivekananda when she took [[sanyas]] four days prior to Swarupananda at Belur, in March–April 1898. Swarupananda taught her Bengali and Hindu religious literature every day. Later at [[Almora]] under his guidance she started reading the [[Bhagavad Gita]].<ref name=ad>{{cite book |title=The Life of the Swami Vivekananda, by His Eastern and Western Disciples, the Advaita Ashrama, Himalayas |author=Advaita Ashrama |author-link=Advaita Ashrama |publisher=[[Advaita Ashrama]] |year=1947 |pages=220–221 |quote=Under the influence of the Swami Swarupananda I began seriously the attempt at meditation. And if it had not been for this help of his, one of the greatest hours of my life would have passed me by.}}</ref>

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 then resting at [[Almora]], 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, then in 1899 it shifted base with the opening of the ashram in a secluded hilly region in Mayavati, near Almora.<ref>[http://www.advaitaashrama.org/prabuddha_bharata.html Prabuddha Bharata] ''[[Advaita Ashrama]]'' website.</ref>

During his editorship, Prabuddha Bharata became a powerful medium for disseminating ideals of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda and earned much appreciation from the intellectuals.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 134" /> Vivekananda had also praised Swarupananda's work in one of his letters.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 134">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=134|quote='Tell Swarup that I am very much pleased with his conducting of the paper. He is doing splendid work.}}</ref><ref name="Letters of Swami Vivekananda 1900">{{cite web|last=Swami Vivekananda|first=Letters of|title=Letters of Swami Vivekananda|url=http://www.vivekananda.net/knownletters/1900NewYork.html}}</ref>

Swarupananda became the president of the Mayavati ashrama. He was very close to Captain and Mrs. Sevier. The most memorable event during his tenure was the visit of Vivekananda to Mayavati in January 1901, after his return from his second visit to the West. He discussed about his ideas of the work to be carried out from the Ashrama with Swarupananda.<ref name="Life of Swami Vivekananda">{{cite book|last=Virajananada|first=Swami|title=Life of Swami Vivekananda by Eastern and Western disciples|year=1947|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=978-8175050440|pages=712–713|url=https://archive.org/details/LifeOfSwamiVivekanandaVolume1}}</ref>

Swarupananda was keen to work for the upliftment of the tribal and the poor people in the region. He initiated education of [[hill people]] in modern methods of cultivation to address their acute poverty and shortage of food. He established two schools, one in Mayavati and the other in the village of Shore for the local children.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 135">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=135}}</ref> He also started a charitable dispensary which even today serves the people of the region.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 135"/> He also arranged to teach Hindi and English to the tribal employees of the Ashrama. He would travel to [[Nainital]], Almora and other places to spread both secular and spiritual knowledge among local people.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 135"/>

In 1899, he worked to provide relief to the local people who were affected by a terrible famine in the Kishangarh area, near [[Jaipur]]. There he worked with [[Swami Kalyanananda]], his brother disciple. He also begged from door to door in Nainital for Swami Kalyanananda to enable him to serve the old and sick monks and poor people in Haridwar and Rishikesh.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 135"/> In 1902, he went to [[Allahabad]] for giving lectures on [[Vedanta]] and inspired the local people to start a permanent centre there.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 135"/> In 1905 when the [[Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharmashala]] region was hit by a severe earthquake, Swarupananda collected funds for the relief work and directed the work.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 136">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=136}}</ref>

He was regular in his spiritual practices and austerities, apart from the various secular activities that kept him engaged. He built a hut near the ashrama which came to be known as Swarupananda hut, for the purpose of meditating in seclusion. He worked among youth and students to spread the message of Vivekananda.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 137">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=137|quote='It is in the student community alone that all our hope rests for the future.'}}</ref> He was also invited by [[His Highness of Baroda]] to preach Vedanta, together with Swami Vivekananda. But Vivekananda could not come owing to his ill health.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 137"/> Another important project in which Swarupananda worked was collection and publication of Swami Vivekananda's works, but he could not finish it owing to his short lifespan. As a distinguished scholar he wrote several articles in Prabuddha Bharata and strongly rebutted the criticisms of a certain Professor Fraser on Vivekananda in ''Hindustan Review'' magazine.<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 138">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=138}}</ref> He authored the translation of [[Bhagavad Gita]] in English.

==Last days==
The location of Mayavati however didn't suit Swarupananda well, as the constant uphill and downhill of Mayavati terrain, took a toll on his heart. In November 1901 he was recuperating in Calcutta with Vivekananda;<ref>[[s:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Letters - Fifth Series/CCVII Margo|Letter to Sister Nivedita]] ''The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'', Volume 9, Letters – Fifth Series/CCVII Margo, 12 November 1901.</ref> while he continued to edit the magazine and run the ashram for another six years until his 1906 death in [[Nainital]]. He suffered from pneumonia after being drenched by rain while travelling to Nainital and died on 27 June 1906. His obituary in Prabuddha Bharata was written by [[Sister Nivedita]].<ref name="Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda p. 139">{{cite book|last=Abjajananda|first=Swami|title=Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda|date=August 2003|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|location=Mayavati|isbn=9788175052468|page=139}}</ref>

== Literary works ==
* {{cite book | title = Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita | publisher = [[Advaita Ashrama]] | year = 1909 |isbn =81-7505-096-9|url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbg/index.htm }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=The life of the Swami Vivekananda, by his eastern and western disciples, the Advaita Ashrama, Himalayas |author-link=Advaita Ashrama |publisher=[[Swami Virajananda]] |year=1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u79dAAAAIAAJ}}
* {{cite book |title=Sister Nivedita's lectures and writings: hitherto unpublished collection of lectures and writings of Sister Nivedita on education, Hindu life, thought and so on |author-link=Sister Nivedita |author=Margaret Elizabeth Noble |publisher=Ramakrishna Sarada Mission |year=1975 |oclc=561170378 |page=256}}
* ''Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda'', by Swami Abjajananda, Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, 2003, {{ISBN|9788175052468}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikisource|The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Letters – Fifth Series/CXXXIV S|Swami Vivekananda's letter to Swami Swarupananda, March 1899}}
* [http://www.advaitaashrama.org/prabuddha_bharata.html Prabuddha Bharata Homepage]

{{Swami Vivekananda}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swarupananda, Swami}}
[[Category:1871 births]]
[[Category:1906 deaths]]
[[Category:Monks of the Ramakrishna Mission]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu monks]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian translators]]
[[Category:Indian magazine editors]]
[[Category:Monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda]]
[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian translators]]
[[Category:Scholars from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Missionary linguists]]

Swarupananda - Revision history

imported>Riquix: /* Further reading */