Monastic Name: Swami Shivananda

Pre-Monastic Name: Tarak Nath Ghoshal

November 1854
Born on 16th November to Ramkanai Goshal a devout Brahmin and Vamasundari Devi, by the blessings of Tarakeshwar Shiva.

Around 1870 or so
Married against his wishes, but took full responsibility of his wife and gave her spiritual advice and guidance. Was fully absorbed in the idea of how to forget the world and attain Samadhi.

May/ June 1880
Met Sri Ramakrishna for the first time at Kolkata.

Mid 1883
Tarak Nath's wife fell ill and expired

1884
Went on a pilgrimage to Vrindaban and carried some sacred dust and Prasad from the holy city for the Master.

January 1886
Got ochre cloth (monastic robes) and rosaries distributed by the Master among 12 of his disciples.

April 1886
Went to Boudh Gaya with Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) and Kali (Swami Abhedananda) for practicing meditation and austerities. Narendra saw Buddha enter into Tarak's body.

December 1886
Took the vows of renunciation guided by Swamiji, alongwith seven other brother disciples at Antpur on Christmas eve.

January 1887
Took final monastic vows with other brother disciples by performing the traditional viraja homa in front of the Master's picture.

March 1889 - 1896
After having lived with brother disciples and practiced austerities at Baranagore monastery, he felt an urge to lead the free, detached life of an itinerant monk, and went on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. He was in and out of the of the monastery and travelling, till Swami Vivekananda came back from America.

January 1897
Went to Madurai to receive Swamiji on his return from America, and went to Almora with him for rest.

1897 - 1898
Went to Sri Lanka on Swamiji's request to preach Vedanta and stayed there for 7-8 months. There he trained Mrs. Picket and sent her to teach Vedanta in Australia.

1900 - 1902
Travelled with Swamiji (after his return from the West) to various places in Uttar Pradesh, Himalayas, Varanasi, etc.

1902 - 1909
Concentrated on establishing a permanent centre in Varanasi. Handed over its management to his assistant in 1909 and returned to Belur Math.

1910 - 1914
Another round of travels to Kashmir, Amarnath, Kankhal (Hardwar), Almora, and Varanasi. Some of these travels were alone, and some with brother disciples.

1915 - 1920
Stayed at Belur Math and trained young monastics.

1922 onwards - as the President of the Order
Was made a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission by Swami Vivekananda in 1901, and became vice-president in 1910. After the passing away of Swami Brahmananda in 1922, he was elected the President of the Order.

As president, he acted as an instrument in the Master's hands. During his presidency, the activities of the Math and Mission expanded considerably.

1924 - dedications of Temples, and the Golden era for the Order
28 January 1924 - dedicated the Vivekananda Temple
7 February 1924 - dedicated the Brahmananda Temple

During his presidency, stalwart Swamis - Prabhavananda, Dayananda, Madhavananda, Jnaneswarananda, Ashokananda, Nikhilinanda, Vijayananda, Devamatananda, and others were sent to North and South America, and Europe. It was a golden era for the Order in terms of spreading the message of the Master throughout the world.

1924 onwards
Travelled extensively once again, and had many spiritual experiences. Went to South India in 1926, and inaugurated the building of a new ashrama in Ootacamund.

20 February 1934
Nine months after a stroke, and a recent attack of pneumonia, he passed away, his face was beaming with joy, and his hair stood on end - both considered as auspicious signs.

One day he humbly said to a monk: "Look, I am my Master's dog. As a dog protects the precious wealth of its master from robbers, so I am protecting the valuable spiritual treasures [discrimination, renunciation, knowledge, devotion] of the Master in this Monastery. He who stays here like a faithful dog will attain the greatest good."

Compiled from various sources

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