Sumana Mukherjee / New Delhi

Swami Gautamananda Maharaj on Wednesday took over as the 17th President of the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission to illuminate millions of lives with his divine guidance

Ramakrishna Mission has always been the pioneer to resuscitate the society and its people since the Pre-independence era of the nation.

Based on the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Mission has been silently serving the society since its beginning at the turn of the twentieth century.

The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations. Headquartered at Belur Math on the bank of river Ganga in West Bengal

Ramakrishna Mission is revered around the world as charitable, philanthropic, non-profit, non-governmental organizations started by Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Gautamananda succeeds his predecessor and the 16th President of the Mission, Swami Smaranananda, who passed away on March 26 in Kolkata aged 95.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his best wishes to Swami Gautamananda Maharaj on being elected as the 17th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

My deepest respects and best wishes to Most Revered Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj on being elected as the President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. I am sure that he will guide our society to greater wisdom and compassion.

The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna… pic.twitter.com/ZVsYCDBM9U

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2024

Swami Gautamananda is originally a resident of Tamil Nadu, though he was brought up mainly in Karnataka. He joined the order as a monk at the New Delhi unit of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.

Later, he travelled throughout the country serving the countrymen following the lessons of 'human service' always propagated by Swami Vivekananda.

Before taking over as the acting President, he handled the daily affairs of the Chennai unit of Ramakrishna Mission as the senior-most trustee and Vice President.

He was appointed a Trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in 1990. In 1995 he took charge of the Ramakrishna Math in Chennai as its Head.

"The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission has a very special place in the lives of countless Indians. Their efforts to further popularise the ideals of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maa Sharada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda are noteworthy," he added.

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Swami Gautamananda, who is in his late eighties, has won the hearts of millions of devotees with his inspirational speeches.