Monastic Name: Swami Turiyananda

Pre-Monastic Name: Harinath Chattopadhyaya?

January 1863
Born on 3rd January to Chandranath Chattopadhyaya an orthodox Brahmin who worked for a British firm in Kolkata, and had the power to foretell the future. His mother Prasannamayi died from a rabid jackal's bite when he was three years old.

1876-77
Met Sri Ramakrishna for the first time at the age of 13 or 14 at Dinanath Basu's house in Kolkata.

Probably in 1880
Went to Dakshineswar and visited the Master again, and gradually became familiar with Sri Ramakrishna.

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

1889 - 1897
Left the Baranagore Monastery and went to Rishikesh, Gangotri, and other places in the Himalayas, and settled in Rajpur on the Mussoorie hills to practise Sadhana. He also travelled with his brother disciples to various places in the country.

June 1899
Left for England and America with Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita. He gave lectures on Vedanta on Swamiji's command. He was a living example of Vedanta to all.

July 1900
On the train from New York to California, just before Swamiji got off the train at Detroit, he asked Swamiji about his future work, and was told "Go and establish the ashrama in California. Hoist the flag of Vedanta there. From this moment, destroy even the memory of India. Mother will do the rest". He then established the "Shanti Ashrama"

At the 'Shanti Ashrama'
He freely distributed the greatest spiritual treasures of Vedanta to the American students. He lived a life and trained enabled others to live the life as well.

January 1901 (for a few months)
Went to San Francisco for medical care as his body was keeping ill. There also he would conduct meditation class everyday, and lectures on the Gita and Raja Yoga.

Late 1901
Went back to Shanti Ashrama for 5 months, and then due to ill health, left for India in May 1902 (after a period of 2 years 9 months stay in the US). He handed the Ashrama to one of his disciples - Gurudas. His only desire at this time was to see Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda)

July 1902
During his voyage, he learnt from a passenger's newspaper that Swamiji had passed away, and changed all plans for work. Now he wanted to immerse his life in meditation and austerity.

October 1902
Went to live at Vrindavan like a traditional monk, and was later (1903) joined by Swami Brahmananda. There also he gave classes on the Bhagvata.

1905 - 1910
Travelled to Devgiri, Kurukshetra, Nangol, Kankhal, Almora and Puri. He was joined by Brahmachari Gurudas from America in 1907. During this period, he practised severe austerities neglecting his body completely, and thus also suffering tremendous ill health.

1910 - 1911
Went to Belur Math and stayed there for a short while. He then proceeded to Puri where Swami Brhmananda was already living.

1912 - 1917
Travelled to Dehra Dun, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Kankhal, and Almora. In 1917 he came back to Kolkata, and underwent several surgeries.

February 1919
Left for Varanasi and lived there till the end of his life for 3½ years.

21 July 1922
Passed away at 6.45 pm, at Varanasi.

Turiyananda was indeed an awakener of souls. His fiery words to his students were: "Clench your fists and say: I will conquer! Now or never - make this your motto, even in this life I must see God. That is the only way. Never postpone."

Compiled from various sources

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