The Chronological History
Holy Mother’s Blessings
In the year 1911, the train in which Holy Mother was traveling to Chennai made a halt at the Waltair (present-day Visakhapatnam) station. Holy Mother was attracted to a picturesque countryside, clear sky, heavenly sun, hills wrapped in lush green forests and brimming rivulets. Enchanted by its beauty, she is said to have exclaimed, “See, see, it looks just like a picture!” Swami Gambhiranandaji mentions in his book “Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi”: “This health resort and port town, hanging on the sides of a hillock, attracted Mother by its beauty”.
This Port Town is surrounded by the Simhachalam Hill Range to the west, the Yarada Hills to the southeast, and Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary to the northwest. Situated between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, the city is rightly nicknamed as the “City of Destiny “and the “Jewel of the East Coast”. This old Port City also called as Vizagapatnam or Vizag which was a notable town in the erstwhile Madras Presidency is now a health resort, a metropolitan city, a prime-shipping port and headquarters for Eastern Naval Command.
Mahapurush Maharaj’s Visit
In 1924, Swami Shivananda Ji Maharaj (Mahapurush Maharaj), enroute to Chennai, halted for a few days at Visakhapatnam on the request of local devotees. Two grand functions were arranged in his honor. The Swami’s narration of the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna created a spiritual stir amongst the people present.
During this visit Mahapurush Maharaj also went to Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swami temple in Simhachalam, eleven miles away from the place where Maharaj stayed. After having Darshan of the deity Varahalakshmi Narasimha, Mahapurush Maharaj said: “I saw as though a lion was standing there and filling the whole temple with its sparkling light. I never had a Darshan of Narasimha Swami before.”
During his second visit two years later in the month of May 1926, Mahapurush Maharaj along with Swami Sharvananda Ji, Swami Yatiswarananda Ji and others halted at Visakhapatnam spending there about three to four days. Mahapurush Maharaj delivered talks on these days and the local people felt happy to listen about Sri Thakur and Swamiji. The Swamis’ visits and Mahapurush Maharaj’s talks on Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda left a lasting spiritual impression on the minds of the visitors and devotees.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The idea of starting a branch of Ramakrishna Mission could become a reality only fourteen years after Mahapurush Maharaj’s visit to the town. Initially the Ashrama was started in a rent-free house at Chengalraopet, and continued to function from there for the next three years.
Swami Nishreyasanandaji Maharaj was deputed to start a centre in Visakhapatnam in 1938. It was Sri Kancharla Ramabrahmam – a devout businessman and an ardent friend of the Ramakrishna Mission who took care of the Swami’s stay in the port town.
In 1938, a plot of land near the Beach in Maharanipeta was procured from the Government through the help of local devotees, well-wishers and admirers. In November 1939 the center was formally affiliated to Belur Math, the Headquarters of Ramakrishna Order.
On the 5th May, 1940 the foundation stone for the first building of the Ashrama was ceremoniously laid by Swami Madhavananda Ji Maharaj and the building was inaugurated in October of the same year. Sri Kancharla Ramabrahmam contributed abundantly for building the main Ashrama building which was a spacious shelter facing the beach consisting of a Shrine room, a Prayer hall, two living rooms and an Office room. Later his sons added another block to the same which served as the Monks’ quarters and the kitchen.
Swami Virajananda ji’s visit
Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj - a disciple of the Holy Mother and the sixth President of the Ramakrishna Order came to this town sometime in the month of April in 1939. People of the town gave him a grand public reception in the Town Hall there with Mr. A.S.P. Aiyar, the District Judge, presiding over the meeting.
Later Srimat Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj once again visited the Ashrama in August 1946 and August 1947 in order to recuperate his health. He spent many days here during both his visits. The location of the Ashrama in a salubrious spot overlooking the Bay of Bengal presenting to the view the glory of the rising Sun and the waves of the ocean harmoniously rolling in perpetual succession about a hundred yards from the Ashrama made the place particularly appealing to the President Maharaj during his stay.
With the procurement of lands in the ensuing years the Ashrama could widen its activities in the educational and medical fields. In the year 1985 Swami Gambhirananda Ji Maharaj, the President of the Ramakrishna Order laid the foundation stone for the new temple and the monks’ quarters and the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna was consecrated by Srimat Swami Bhuteshananda Ji Maharaj in January 1991.
On the 5th May, 1940 the foundation stone for the first building of the Ashrama was ceremoniously laid by Swami Madhavananda Ji Maharaj and the building was declared open in October of the same year.
In 1941 a Home for students was started.
From December 1941 to 1946 the Ashrama was temporarily shifted to Tanuku in West Godavari district.
After relocation a building for the Students’ Hostel was constructed. In 1987 the first floor was added to this building.
In 1958 the Ashrama started “Sri Sarada Bala-Vihar”, a pre-primary school which was upgraded up to fifth standard in 1960. With the addition of sections up to Xth class it was renamed as Ramakrishna Mission High School in 1988.
On 3rd January, 1963 “Vivekananda Hall”, an auditorium at the school premises to hold large gatherings and cultural programmes was inaugurated by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the President of India.
On 10th September 1985, Swami Gambhirananda Ji Maharaj, the President of the Ramakrishna Order laid the foundation stone for the temple and the monks’ quarters.
On 19th March, 1987 Swami Ranganathananda Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone for the charitable dispensary building.
In January 1991, the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna was consecrated by Srimat Swami Bhuteshananda Ji Maharaj, the President of the Ramakrishna Order.
On 9th September 1991 a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda was unveiled by Sri Krishna Kanth, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
In 1992 a dispensary was opened in the Ashrama premises. The same was converted to serve the palsied children at free of cost since 1997.
In 1993 Swami Ranganathananda Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone for the library and on 25th May, 1997 he inaugurated the same.
On 1 March 2018 Vivek Institute of Excellence (VIE) was started.
On the 5th May, 1940 the foundation stone for the first building of the Ashrama was ceremoniously laid by Swami Madhavananda Ji Maharaj and the building was declared open in October of the same year.
In 1941 a Home for students was started.
From December 1941 to 1946 the Ashrama was temporarily shifted to Tanuku in West Godavari district.
After relocation a building for the Students’ Hostel was constructed. In 1987 the first floor was added to this building.
In 1958 the Ashrama started “Sri Sarada Bala-Vihar”, a pre-primary school which was upgraded up to fifth standard in 1960. With the addition of sections up to Xth class it was renamed as Ramakrishna Mission High School in 1988.
On 3rd January, 1963 “Vivekananda Hall”, an auditorium at the school premises to hold large gatherings and cultural programmes was inaugurated by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the President of India.
On 10th September 1985, Swami Gambhirananda Ji Maharaj, the President of the Ramakrishna Order laid the foundation stone for the temple and the monks’ quarters.
On 19th March, 1987 Swami Ranganathananda Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone for the charitable dispensary building.
In January 1991, the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna was consecrated by Srimat Swami Bhuteshananda Ji Maharaj, the President of the Ramakrishna Order.
On 9th September 1991 a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda was unveiled by Sri Krishna Kanth, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
In 1992 a dispensary was opened in the Ashrama premises. The same was converted to serve the palsied children at free of cost since 1997.
In 1993 Swami Ranganathananda Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone for the library and on 25th May, 1997 he inaugurated the same.
On 1 March 2018 Vivek Institute of Excellence (VIE) was started.
The Course of Vizag Work- 1938-1947 June
1. Letter to Prof. Seshadri and others sent from Madras failed. The only recommendation which succeeded was one from an old Malabar student of mine, who had got Medical degree from Waltair Medical College. I met him at Madras itself. Mr. P.K. Nair of East Coast Battalion, Vizag, on this recommendation, was my host for a month.
2. Dr. C.K, Prasada Rao (devotee of Sri Arobindo), on the strength of the recommendation from T. Narasimha Sarma of Chagallu Ashrama, gave his small house free of rent for 3 years. A few Friends collected small amount for my Food, which I cooked myself. Upanishads classes and regular public lectures continued almost unbroken at Vizag itself for 3 years. I could get ONLY less than Rs.10/- a month on an average, plus materials for cooking from half a dozen friends. This opened my eyes to the need for contacting other areas.
3. There were two rivals in the field: - 1. Swami Omkar's centre at Waltair. Local enthusiasm favoured him; for he was a local-man; and he was helped by sister Sushila, an American lady. 2. Prema Samaj, a rising volunteer organization. Dr. Perraju, the Municipal Chairman and others were its supporters and office-bearers. Mr. Ramabrahmam was its President. Mr. Ramabrahmam was our Treasurer too. The problem was how to utilise this very man and raise up our institution. The second son of Prema Samaj founder was taken as free boy from Form III, and educated up to Senior Inter. I kept also Mr. Ramabrahmam's own sons along with me as part of a Students Home. Mr. Ramabrahmam naturally felt he should help our mission substantially before he could help the other two institutions. The result was the grant of 2 buildings, in due course --- both given UNASKED.
I did not wish to depend upon one individual alone or one place alone. The base was to be widened. I got into touch with others who, along with me, enacted a drama at Vizag. Since big men did not co-operate, (why the Swami wanted a drama was a wonder to them) we could get only Rs.299/-. This was meant for a small soap industry to be started at the Ashrama, the experts being Mr. M. Ranga Rao (Diploma holder for soaps etc.) disciple of Akhandanandaji, and Mr. Rapaka Satyanarayana (similar Diploma holder), disciple of Sw. Vijnananandaji,---- both hosts of Pratap and Poorna Maharaj at their Penugonda homes for over one year. Those young men were the wardens of our new Students' Home, at Vizag and later on at Tanuku. Strangely enough the soap industry could not be started, as the funds had to be diverted for building a small room on the Ashrama's own site. How that happened is strange.
4. The house-owner wanted the house back. Meanwhile the northern part of the present site had been got and a foundation stone laid by Sw. Madhavanandaji. That site is ¼ mile away from any well. Mr. Ramabrahmam who was ready to erect a building free, wanted water supply. The Municipal Chairman said he would give a special connection with a corked tube-well in the stream 1/4 mile up, if Mr. Ramabrahmam accumulated materials on the spot. This deadlock continued for over one year. And one day Sw. Saswatanandaji, Chief Supervisor of Vizag centre, while returning from Belur, remarked (he may have forgotten it now) that mine was the worst record in the Mission, and advised me to go to Belur and get the Ashrama cancelled. Since the situation in my opinion was not so BAD, I resolved to enact the drama quickly, and utilise its funds to OPEN UP an old ordinary well, whose bare outlines were just visible near our site. On the fourth day of digging, PURE WATER was found; and I shifted my stay to the bare jungle and mound, in our own site, with just the sky alone above me. With the help of three trusted friends, Mr. Kalekoori Suryanarayana (retired head accountant), Mr. S. Krishnamurthy (now Sub-Magistrate) and Mr. K. Satyanarayana (now Dy. Tahsildar), I quickly erected four walls on the bare mound (where some old broken pieces of an old wall were still standing) and thatched it. Gradually this was extended a bit with verandah and another simple room, all thatched--- and electrified. Thus we stood on our OWN feet, on our OWN site, sanctified by the foundation-stone.
5. Mr. Ramabrahmam and the Chairman found that solution of the problem was made by me, irrespective of outside help, except the "unwanted" drama!!! The drama had for its plot a drunken barrister helped by the Ramakrishna Mission Swami, whom he had previously failed to support for his "Ashrama industries" at Vizag!!! I myself acted as the Swami on the stage; and Mr. Ramabrahmam, Chief Asst. of the Oriental office, played the part of the barrister. This Mr. Ramabrahmam looked after Home along with Mr. Ranga Rao and others till I vacated to Tanuku. The Chairman's tube-well was no more in need; neither perhaps Mr. Ramabrahmam's gift. But Mr. Ramabrahmam far from feeling upset, cheerfully and lovingly started bringing materials for building.
6. Strangely, the front plot, for which we had in vain struggled for over a year, was not offered by the Govt. free of charge, like the northern part; the house was therefore erected by Mr. Ramabrahmam on it, instead of the spot of the foundation-stone. Water supply was abundant; and the plot being on the road-side, with easy access for carts, a bigger building than the original plan was gladly constructed by Mr. Ramabrahmam. This was opened in October. But war forced to vacate it in December. Sw. Vireswaranandaji, who came to "inspect" our centre, was perhaps annoyed that we had already packed and despatched half the goods to Tanuku, while he was under the impression that it was all hastily done. But that evening, when he wanted to leave Vizag, he could not get easily into the train, I was told, owing to rush of people away from Vizag into safer areas.
Tanuku was selected for ---- (1) The Headmaster was my friend, and our Home boys could, with his help get promotion, in spite of low marks in some subjects that may be caused as result of troubles caused changes of text-books. Tanuku belonged to West Godavari District, while between Vizag district and it, was East Godavari district, with Rajahmundry and Cocanada as chief towns. (2) Rajahmundry was unsafe, owing to the possibility of its bridge being a target of the enemy. (3) Rajahmundry was like an island, preventing me from collecting money, which, local people thought, should go only to THEIR SAMITHI,- ---a kind of unspoken motto for some people there, who worked behind the scenes.
8. Tanuku being in an area of vast rich lands, and lakhiers we got a good response for the Students' Home. The number of students who wanted to benefit by the residential system went up by leaps and bounds. Since we arranged residential teachers to help the boys in their studies as well, our Hostel was called a school by all. And the need for such an institution at Vizag was proved at Tanuku during the war camp period. Our religious propaganda, backed by the Students' Home work easily brought about Rs.2000/- annually, Rs.1500/- of which went for the upkeep of five free boys. Many of the towns and villages were either tapped for propaganda or drawn upon for the supply of rich paying boys.
When Germany surrendered, and Japanese war was still going on, we returned to Vizag. Slowly a kitchen block and separate block for students were constructed, and a skeleton Home run in spite of lack of space and host of other troubles. Contact was kept up with Tanuku and a neighbouring areas, which proved to be the source of funds. Vizag helped with buildings, whose total value can be now put at Rs.25000/-. Meanwhile Mr. Ramabrahmam fell ill. The President Maharaj too fell badly ill and came to Vizag.
Duty required that the Ashrama should nurse BOTH. I, personally nursed Mr. Ramabrahmam over seven months of his fatal disease, running up and down twice a day on an ordinary cycle. Attempts to purchase a motor-cycle or car for Ashrama's collection work etc. had proved in vain. Even Mr. Ramabrahmam had often wondered WHY the SWAMI should go in for a car or a motor-cycle, when his FUNDS were low. But this disease with ME as constant nurse, using an ordinary cycle, pained him; and he realised that a motor-cycle was NEEDED at least from THEN. I got one for Rs.450/- and used it just about 10 days before his death on June 27th, 1946. Dr. Perraju treated Mr. Ramabrahmam and the President Maharaj BOTH. Strangely, it looked as if the President Maharaj came ONLY for 2 things (1) to teach Mr. Ramabrahmam that he could bear things calmly when the President himself was suffering calmly, (2) to give him Sri Guru Maharaji's own Charana-Amritam for conscious drinking a few hours before death. President Maharaj improved steadily and returned after about 5 months at Vizag. I tried desperately to get a bigger motor-cycle with a side-car, so that President Maharaj could feel less like a "prisoner", and enjoy an hour's ride along the beach in the beautiful evenings, which we, with our young healthy limbs, could enjoy. Mr. Ramabrahmam's car could, of course, now and then, be counted upon for this service, but to give us two miles of running, it had to travel every time an additional to and fro distance of 6 miles. With petrol ration, and that giving only about 12 to 13 miles per gallon, it became necessary for the Ashrama to go in for a car of its own, preferably a Baby. Such a thing was got through Swami Anantanandaji and influence with the Hindusthan construction Co., Bombay, who instructed their Vizag branch to sell us MDV 191 for a nominal sum of Rs.500/-.
We got news about this car through Mr. R. Lakshmipathi. With a little overhauling costing about another Rs.500/-, it will run smoothly for another six years. It served President Maharaj in his second year's stay here for his health. The Ashrama is now having a small motor-cycle and a car for keeping in touch with the town. The car can normally be used for bringing interested people from the town to see our Ashrama, and to drop them back in the town. Once in a way, a few of such people may help to erect a building or two.
9. More land is available (1) in front of the University. Mr. Satteyya Chetty of Perala estate has promised in writing to give us 1800 sq. yards of his lands opposite the exit gate of the University, provided the Govt. agreed to change it from estate poramboke to private house sites. The President Maharaj put a foundation stone in it for a library to serve the University area. That was when Mr. Chetty and we thought it was his own land, (2) to the south of the stream. Alienation proceedings have gone 90% and we may get it in about the beginning of 1948. It is suited for a small school. Local boys will come to us in their own conveyances when the school establishes name as good as the mission's (Christian) school in the town. Till that time we may have to run with outside boys, perhaps at the slight loss. Parents want their boys of Form I to VI to be put into our institutions at Madras; but they suffer from want of space, and also from want of facilities for Telugu medium of instruction. There is thus a good field; the experiential stage will be only for one year at most. The land aimed at is about 1 and 1/3 acres, free from Govt. It is too big a contiguous slice to left off, fearing financial loss for one year. Later on we shall suffer from want of land, if this goes away now. We have got permission for an elementary school already. We have also about Rs.5000/- deposit. We have also rooms for Forms I and II to begin with.
After all Form I is only Sixth standard of an Ele. school with English added. If my study of Andhra parents is right, there will be a rush of boys, if we start announcing in time.
10. Funds: Nil, normally, unless the Swami moves about and serves small towns and villages outside Vizag, where the Prema Samajam is all-powerful and collects nearly Rs.2000/- a month. The Endowments Board passed a half-favourable order some time back, enabling us to get money for lectures delivered on behalf of the Temple. This served well for about one year. We tried to get the order modified, but something has blocked the order. A trial may procure a more favourable order! If it comes, a scheme can be drawn up by which for an average of 10 days per month, set apart for temple speeches, we get about Rs.1500/-in excess of expenditure for travel, equipment etc. A scheme can also be drawn up to contact about 50 villages annually, each village contributing about Rs.25/- for mission's work and propaganda.
At present we started a plan of keeping Rs.116/-as fixed deposits @ about 3%, whenever anyone or a village contributes that amount in a lump. In that case, 365 such endowments will enable the Mission daily to spend its interest, Rs.3/-per day. Up to date, we have 30 endowments like it. Mr. D Ramakrishna Rao has given Rs.1116/- as a big lump. Its interest is to be used chiefly for railway fare to go twice to Rajahmundry for speeches. The total deposit, got like this, can be shown as deposit for a school's recognition.
The work has slowly evolved to this extent. We took no loan, nor asked for any worker. Most workers were of this locality. Bhaskar is an old student of mine and Tyagisananda. He is a probationer. Shastry Junior, now at Madras, was "recruited at Tanaku". My lecture in the Intermediate College (Mental Power House) acted as one of the spurs for his renunciation. This land will yield, but SLOWLY.
What is done is done; would it were better for Lord's sake
Nishreyasananda 1 December, 1947