Revered Srimat Swami Somanandaji Maharaj, the senior most monk of the Ramakrishna
Order, attained mahasamadhi at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, 4th of August, 2018. He has
completed 98 years.
The devotees can have darshan and pay their homage to the sacred mortal remains
of Revered Maharaj till 11 a.m. on 5th August, 2018, in the Old Shrine.
Srimat Swami Somanandaji Maharaj had mantra diksha, and sannyasa in 1948, from
Most Revered Srimat Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj, the sixth President of the Ramakrishna
Order.
Revered Maharaj served along with former Minister of Education, Sri Avinashilingam,
in Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya for several years. Serving in the field of education, he
was a guiding light to several students for forty years. He served as the head of
Ramakrishna Ashrama, Salem, for many years. Since then he had been staying in Sri
Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.
Simple and easily approachable, Revered Maharaj blessed several devotees with his
guidance during his long holy life.
Self-reliant and strong-willed, Revered Maharaj, till his last moment, took the name of
Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna and lived in a blissful state.
His demise is a great loss to all monks and devotees who were deriving inspiration
from his holy life. We pay our most respectful homage to him.
- Swami Gautamananda (Adhyaksha, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.)