Swami Vijnanananda before he took orders was known by the name of Hariprasanna Chattopadhyaya.

It was in the year 1883 that Hariprasanna, then a student of the St. Xavier's College, went to Dakshineshwar with his fellow students Sharat (Swami Saradananda) and Barada Pal. The Master, as was his wont, showed great love and kindness towards Hariprasanna, which bound him indissolubly to him. Young though Hariprasanna was, it did not take him much time to find out that here was a man who was extraordinary in every sense of the word, and he was as much captivated by his words of wisdom as he was drawn by his charming naivety. As the Master soon left for Mani Mallik's house in Calcutta, the three friends followed him there.

Naturally, Hariprasanna returned home very late that night. His mother had been waiting anxiously for him, and when she learnt that he had been to that Brahmin of Dakshineshwar, who was then considered crazy by a section of people, the good lady said in an angry tone, "So you had been to that mad Brahmin who has deranged the brains of no less than three hundred and fifty young men?" In days, after recounting the event, he used to comment, "Derangement of brain indeed! The brain is still deranged." And he would add, "Had I not been caught in the influence of that mad man, who knows where I should have been now - wallowing in the welter of the world?"

Sri Ramakrishna's love for his young disciples or would be apostles was immense. If any of them did not go to Dakshineshwar for a considerable time, the Master would send for him or inquire about him through a messenger. At one time Hariprasanna did not visit Dakshineshwar for a rather long time, and the Master sent word to him through Sharat to come and see him. When Hariprasanna arrived at Dakshineshwar and met the Master, the latter, in an aggrieved tone, asked, "Why is it that you don't care to come here? It is difficult to get you here even after sending a messenger!" The young disciple very frankly said, "I don't always get the mood to come, so I don't." At this the Master simply smiled and said, "You practice a little meditation, I believe?" "I do try to meditate, but how to have good meditation? I don't have any real meditation at all," replied Hariprasanna.

The answer astonished the Master, who remained quiet for a while. Hariprasanna was looking at his face eagerly awaiting the words that would drop from his lips. As he was doing this, the face of the Master changed he looked grave and said, "All right, just go to the Panchavati now and try to mediate." Then he beckoned him to come nearer and wrote something on his tongue with his finger and sent him to the Panchavati: Hariprasanna wended his way towards the Panchavati, but after the Master had touched him, he was in a state of intoxication and could hardly walk. As he sat for meditation at the Panchavati, he became for a long time oblivious of his surroundings and of the outside world. When Hariprasanna returned to his senses, he found the Master seated by his side smiling and gently passing his hands over his body.

After a while the Master broke the silence and asked, "What? Did you have meditation today?" Yes, today I had the experience of a good meditation," said Hariprasanna in astonishment. "Henceforward you will find that you will have good meditation every day", the Master assured him further. Sri Ramakrishna then went to his room accompanied by Hariprasanna to whom he very affectionately gave many instructions about the intricacies of spiritual life. Swami Vijnanananda would say afterwards, I amazed to see his love for us that day. Repeatedly did this occur to my mind: 'Indeed, how much does he think for us!' I had no idea of this. There can be no companion with his love.

After taking his degree of L.C.E. he joined the Government service and rose in the course of a few years to the position of a District Engineer. By that time the monastery at Baranagore had been founded, and the monastic disciples of the Master often became his guests as different places. The flame of renunciation, however, that had been kindled in him by the Master was burning within him, and he found it impossible to remain in the world for a long time.

In the year 1896, shortly before Swami Vivekananda returned for the first time from his triumphant mission in the West, Hariprasanna joined the Brotherhood at Alambazar.

Most of the time he would spend in meditation and study, seeking no company, but not refusing any help to persons who sought it. Thus through the silent influence of his example as well as through personal contact, he changed the course of many lives. It was only in the evening that outsiders were generally allowed to see him. For them he would sometimes hold scriptural classes or would otherwise solve their problems through informal talks.

The Swami was always loath to talk much. Specially with regard to spiritual matters he would dismiss the whole problem with as few words as possible - sometimes in fun and sometimes in a serious mood. But he had a wonderful capacity to satisfy the inquiries even with his short conversation. To persons who would come with any big philosophical problem, he would say, "Just follow the maxims which you have read in the copy books - namely, "Always speak the truth", "To take a thing without the consent of its owner is to steal," and so on. It would be very difficult to draw him out specially on spiritual things, but when he was in a mood to talk, he would at once change the atmosphere and supply spiritual food to the listeners which would give them sustenance for many years to come, if not for their whole lives.

With reference to him, Swami Brahmananda who had great spiritual insight would say, "It is very difficult to know him. He always keeps himself hidden. But he is a knower of Brahman. He has known the Self and is thus satisfied." He was eager to send those boys who had special spiritual aptitude to Allahabad to grow under the inspiration of Swami Vijnanananda.

Swami Vijnanananda was also a great scholar. He was a voracious reader and had varied intellectual interests.

Swami Vijnanananda loved retirement. He was, therefore, not actively engaged in the main work of the Ramakrishna Mission. But whenever his help was necessary he would ungrudgingly give it. His engineering knowledge was particularly useful in this respect. He supervised the construction of some buildings of the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Varanasi, as also of the Swami Vivekananda Temple at the Belur Math. Besides he helped with valuable advice in regard to the construction of other buildings.

On account of his humility and love of retirement, he refused for years on end to be a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math. But when in 1934 after the passing away of Swami Shivananda, the then President of the Ramakrishna Order, the necessity arose for his becoming a trustee, he could not decline it any longer. He became Vice-President of the Order that very year, and on the demise of Swami Akhandananda, the next President, he became the President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in March 1937. Feeling in his heart of hearts the urge to initiate people - weary pilgrims in the wilderness of life - he broke towards the end of his life, his lifelong practice of not initiating anybody, although he was pre-eminently qualified to be a Guru. This sense of duty marked him throughout. Through his grace hundreds of men and women were placed on the path of spiritual progress. During the last few years of his life he travelled extensively and visited many centres of the Ramakrishna Order including Colombo and Rangoon. Everywhere his presence was the occasion of spiritual awakening to innumerable persons.

From the time when the construction of the Sri Ramakrishna Temple at Belur began, he was anxiously watching its completion in order that he might install his great Master there as early as possible. In view of his failing health, it was decided to have the installation ceremony done just after the completion of the main shrine. On 14th January 1938, Swami Vijnanananda performed the dedication of the temple and the consecration of the marble image of Sri Ramakrishna amidst imposing rites - a function which was witnessed by about fifty thousand devotees and spectators. Having done this, he felt that the great task of his life was finished, and he got ready to join his beloved Master. He paid only one more visit to Belur, and that was only on the occasion of the Master's next birthday. He looked very much emaciated, and those who saw him then were apprehensive of the approaching end. Still he initiated hundreds of aspirants, lay and monastic and answered their queries.

Compiled and Edited by Swami Gambhirananada
The Apostles of Sri Ramakrishna
Advaita Ashrama; Mayavati; June 1995

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