One wonders what is the psyche of a fundamentalist? What is it that spurs them on their mission of hatred? How should one deal with such a person? We were lucky to witness an interaction between a handful of SIMI activists and His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a couple of years ago. We felt that the same would be of relevance and could serve as an eye-opener in the current scenario. The backdrop for this article is one of Sri Sri’s tours of Kerala in the first week of December 2000. A series of Anandotsavams had been planned in various cities of Kerala to coincide with Sri Sri’s visit to those cities. Sri Sri ‘s visit was expected to attract huge crowds running into several hundred thousands and the local organizers spared no effort in ensuring the smooth conduct of such public meetings. The planning for these functions began several months before the actual event and drew upon the efforts of hundreds of enthusiastic Art of Living volunteers. A week before the tour commenced, towards the end of November there was a surprise in store. The newspapers announced that SIMI – Student Islamic Movement of India had called for a general strike (hartal) all over Kerala on December 6th, being the Babri Masjid demolition day. Coincidentally, an Anandotsavam had been planned on December 6th at Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. The police also warned that they had received bomb threats. However, when contacted. Sri Sri assured Xavier, the president of the organizing committee that "Satsang will happen". On December 6th, though the newspapers had announced that the function was cancelled and the police had withdrawn their permission due to the bomb scare, more than a lakh of people attended the satsang. The following day, Sri Sri gave an audience to the SIMI leaders. Four leaders from SIMI came to meet Sri Sri at the residence of one of the organizers. Following their entry, an air of tension enveloped the hall where hundreds were waiting to meet with Sri Sri. Naseeb, one of the devotees, guided them to the room where Sri Sri was sitting with a few of us. They (the SIMI leaders), were dashing youths in their mid 20’s. One of them was carrying the holy Koran. They were little stern and stiff. Their eyes were fixed and seemed to reflect an inner fire. They looked prepared to repulse anything that Sri Sri would tell them and most unlikely to listen to reason.

Sri Sri was His usual smiling self.

The stage was set. It had all the signs of a classic confrontation. On one side were the brash youth – intemperate, impatient, driven by ideology and out to prove their superiority. On the other was a youthful, realized sage, unperturbed, offering sane explanations that echoed an uncommon depth and breadth of understanding. Those of us in the room, were eager to see how Sri Sri would deal with these firebrands. Sri Sri embraced them and offered them chairs to sit. There was not an iota of difference in His attitude. Any casual onlooker could be forgiven for thinking that Sri Sri considered these gentlemen as amongst His most ardent devotees. Perhaps the only difference that we could see was that they were seated on chairs while the rest of us were on the floor! For us, it was yet another opportunity to witness the unconditional love that Sri Sri exemplifies.

The leader of the group spoke first. He asked

SIMI: You had wanted to meet with us.

SRI SRI: Yes. I wanted to understand why your organization was opposed to the Anandotsavam.

SIMI: We thought that holding an Anandotsavam (celebration) on December 6th was a deliberate move to insult our religious sentiments. Do you know about our religion?. Do you believe in the Koran at all?

SRI SRI: Yes of course.

SIMI: (Not expecting this answer, pointing to the Koran, they shot the next question) We believe that Koran is the only knowledge. What about you?

SRI SRI: This is one amongst the various knowledge revealed to man from time to time.

SIMI: But God has said this is the only knowledge. The way of the Koran is the only way. There is no other way.

SRI SRI: This message can be found in scriptures of all religions. In the Vedas it is said "Naanyah Panthaah Ayanaaya Vidyate" meaning "There is no other way but the way of Truth!" The same is said in the Bible, Jesus says, "To go to my father, you have to go through me. I am the only way".

SIMI: But our scripture says worshipping any form or idol is evil, it is blasphemy.

SRI SRI: What is Good and Evil after all? It is relative. Relative existence is not the complete picture For example: Milk is good, but too much milk can kill you. Poison is harmful, but a drop of poison can save your life. Most lifesaving medicines have poison written on them! These are neither absolutely good nor bad they are just there. Truth transcends duality, and God is the Absolute and only Truth. So, where is the place for evil?

SIMI: Yet you Hindus worship many Gods, whereas our ideal is there is only one God and His message is what is required to go to heaven.

SRI SRI: There is only one god in many forms…

SIMI: (Restless and unwilling to listen to any explanation, they interrupted Sri Sri.) But the Koran says you should only worship Allah who is formless whereas the Hindus worship idols which are only stones.

SRI SRI: At this, Sri Sri suddenly asked them: Do you honour the Koran?

SIMI: (They seemed a little taken aback at this question from Sri Sri and with a righteous air answered). Yes, it is God’s word!

SRI SRI: Do you honor the Mecca?

SIMI: Yes, of course! That is our sacred place.

SRI SRI: So also, Hindu’s honour God’s creation as God. Just like sound (Koran), the crescent moon, Kaaba and the month of Ramadan are sacred for you, Hindus consider the River Ganges, the Himalayas, Saints as sacred. See, a picture of your daughter is not your daughter, but you still adore the daughter’s picture. When you see the picture aren’t you reminded of your daughter?

(They nodded a yes)

SRI SRI: So also, a symbol is not God but is honoured as God. This sense of honouring and sacredness makes you awake and alive. That is why the ancient Rishis said to feel the entire creation and your whole life as sacred. They considered God as omnipresent, as inseparable from His creation; like the dance and the dancer.

Sri Sri elaborated further – Spirit loves diversity. Is there only one type of vegetable or fruit? God created many type of fruits and vegetables. There is not just one type of tree, not just one type of snake, cloud, mosquito….Even you change your dress for different occasions. So how could this consciousness that manifested this whole creation be monotonous? There is only one God in many forms. Only one God is advocated. When you accept the variety of Divinity, you cease to be a fanatic and fundamentalist. A pregnant silence filled the room as they looked at each other expecting the other to speak. Then as a face saving measure, the SIMI leader replied, "I will need to go and consult my higher scholars." With a compassionate expression on His face, Sri Sri said: Never mind, (with a wave of His hand) forget about religion. We are all human beings. Let us have a peaceful society. Let us focus on development.

SIMI: No No No! What are you saying? You are talking about this world. What we do here is immaterial. The Koran tells us that what matters is what you get in eternal life and not to worry about material life. By doing service to the society you will simply remain here. You have to obey Allah. Allah is the only God and Mohammed is the last prophet.

SRI SRI: At this Sri Sri stopped them and after a pause asked them: Do you think the Sikh Gurus are not prophets. Isn’t Mirabai a prophet? What about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?

Once again, there was silence. Their expressions had changed. The rigidity had weakened and in its place was some confusion/uncertainty. Sri Sri seemed totally at ease unmindful of the challenges posed at Him.

SIMI: No! You can go to heaven only if you believe in Allah and the Koran.

SRI SRI: No my dear – there was Buddha, Mahavira, Nanak, Jesus, Shankara… Do you think they are not in heaven? If not, then I would rather be with them!

SIMI: You are such a nice person, but we pity you because you cannot get the truth. You can’t go to Allah. You can’t be rewarded by Allah. God will never show mercy on you.

SRI SRI: Never mind. (with a mischievous smile ) I will be with these people (Shankara, Jesus, etc.)

(Even as we were admiring Sri Sri’s patience and objectivity, we were concerned at the wrong indoctrination that these youths had been subjected to. We also observed a few others who were in the room were getting a little restive, possibly wondering why Sri Sri was spending so much time with these people who were obviously not at all receptive and that too when hundreds were waiting outside just for a glimpse of Sri Sri.)

SIMI: Do you know, that over 1400 years ago, in the middle of the desert, God revealed the secrets of creation. Even when there was no science, God said that the Atom is the smallest particle!

SRI SRI smiled and said: Yes, the same is there in the shaastras too which were known more than 10,000 years ago. In the shaastras it is said that the Earth is over 19 billion years old! Truth is beyond time and space. It is not confined to one time or one place One needs to have a scientific spirituality.

As if to conclude the conversation Sri Sri gave them Ladoo as prasad. By now there were traces of a smile on their faces. When they were about to leave He gave them a hug. They definitely seemed to be less stern than earlier. Could their attitude have changed? We wondered whether this (‘changed attitude’) would persist or would they go back to their old fanatic ways. But one thing was for sure, Sri Sri had made an impression that they would not forget!

Later, while Sri Sri was having His lunch, someone asked Him, "Why is that Islam is producing so many terrorists all over the world? No other religion has given rise to so many terrorists in the world. What is the reason?"

SRI SRI: Look at the commitment and the fire in them. Take the good from them and learn what you should not be doing. Don’t label them as bad people. They have not been imparted the knowledge of Vedanta. (Then as He was adding ghee to the chilli powder) He smiled and said "In this creation, there is a place for everything."

Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Deva
Once upon a time SHANKARACHARYA stepped to world and show the light of jnana (knowledge to get mokhsa) then after a long time GOURANGA DEV who sho the light of prema (mokhsa by the help of prema) But they are in different time. But we get the both at same time by one and only Sri Sri Guru Dev Thakur Maharaj. Today is His birth day. How lucky we are...................

Here is some things about Sri Sri Thakur.

YEAR-1880
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On Thursday, 19th of August, at 2:00 AM, a son was born to Bhubanmohan Bhattacharya and Yogendramohini at Radhakantapur, the maternal home. The child was named Nalinikanta who in time became known as our beloved Shri Shri Thakur. It happened to be the auspicious day of Jhulan Purnima in the month of Shraban.

YEAR-1889
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At the age of nine, thakur saw Devi Durga in the form of a young girl with ten arms at the family Chandi Mandap near his home at Kutabpur.

YEAR-1891
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When Nalinikanta turns eleven, his father Bhubanmohan performed his Upanayan (the sacred thread ceremony) at Radhakantapur.

YEAR-1892
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At the age of twelve, Nalinikanta started visiting Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, a renowned literary figure of Bengal and engaged in many spiritual and intellectual discussions with him.

YEAR-1893
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THAKUR’S mother Yogendramohini passed away suffering from Asiatic Cholera.

YEAR-1895
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(1) After passing out from Dariapur Middle English School, Nalinikanta started attending Meharpur High School.
(2) Nalinikanta went to Dhaka Survey School (renamed as Ahsanullah School of Engineering and currently Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology).

YEAR-1897
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(1)While still in Survey School, at the age of seventeen (16 years and 6 months) Nalinikanta got married to Sudhanshubala (Rani), the daughter of late Baidyanath Mukhopadhyay of Halisahar, now in West Bengal.

(2)After two years of study in Dhaka Survey School, Nalinikanta taught for some time at lower primary school at Kutabpur while waiting for a job outside. Around the same time, he demonstrated his creative literary talents by writing dramas like Shobha Bilap or Taranisen Badha, and Bhagabatir Nikah and poems like Marma Gatha and novels like Charubala.

YEAR-1898
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THAKUR’S novel Sudhansubala was written. Nalinikanta got a job as an overseer in Dinajpur Distict Board.

YEAR-1899
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Nityananda Pustakalaya of Calcutta published Nalinikanta’s novel Sudhansubala. Nalinikanta got a respectable job as Supervisor at Narayanpur in the estates of Krushna Pramada Dasi.

YEAR-1901
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One night, in the month of September around 9 PM, Sudhansubala took her last breath and left the world.
At that moment, Nalinikanta was at work in Narayanpur attending to some urgent papers. Around the time of his wife’s eternal departure, the lamp on the table he was working on slowly became dim and he saw Sudhansubala standing by the side of his table. Her complexion was radiant but her face was pale and gloomy and she did not say anything. He got frightened and screamed. The figure vanished leaving Nalinikanta disturbed over the event. He left for Kutabpur as soon as he got leave from service and heard the sad news from villagers on his way.

Nalinikanta found out the details of his wife’s last moments and her last words for him. Despite best efforts, he could not overcome his grief. In the following days, he had glimpses of Sudhansubala’s astral figure twice, which left him wondering about the existence of the soul after death.

Nalinikanta asked his father to perform the Shradha and left for Calcutta to attend an urgent case. During this period, one night, Sudhansubala appeared before Nalinikanta in her astral form and requested him to perform the Shradha. The next morning, Nalinikanta made all arrangement for the Shradha and kept the articles liked by her as offering. He then remembered Sudhansubala and waited for her to accept the offerings. As time passed and Sudhansubala did not appear to take offerings he got annoyed and then started taking the offering himself. At that moment, Sudhansubala appeared again in her astral form and asked him to refrain from eating because they were her left over.

After repeated visions of his deceased wife, the belief in the existence of life after death got firmly rooted in Nalinikanta’s mind.

After repeated visions of his deceased wife, the belief in the existence of life after death got firmly rooted in Nalinikanta’s mind.

Meanwhile, Nalinikanta got transferred to Kumira.

In his quest to get connected to his wife, Nalinikanta joined the Theosophical Society in Calcutta and later travelled to the society headquarters at Adyar near Madras (Chennai). After having learnt the techniques of attracting souls, he got to hear his wife through a medium. He was not satisfied and still had a lot of unanswered questions.

Nalinikanta returned to his work at Kumira but kept an eye on any saints visiting Calcutta. Around November-December 1901, he heard about Swami Purnananda, an ex-professor who enjoyed a good deal of reputation. Nalinikanta finally got a chance to meet Swami Purnananda at Calcutta and narrated his story to which Swamiji advised him that the Sadhana to reach the Mother of the Universe (Adyashakti Mahamaya) will lead him to his wife as well.

Back at Kumira, one night in the month of Margasira, Nalinikanta woke up with the room illuminated and found a tall and radiant saint standing beside him. The saint offered him a single-lettered mantra written in red sandal paste on a Bilwa (wood apple tree) leaf and vanished.

In the search of finding the method of recitation of the mantra, Nalinikanta met a number of saints at many holy places and finally ended up in Kashi. Without any answer in sight, he became confused and frustrated, and decided to end his life. That night, a Brahmin appeared in his dream and advised him that his guru is the famous Tantrik saint Bamakhepa of Tarapith in the district of Birbhum.

YEAR-1902
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(1) (Month of Magha/Phalgun)

Per his dream, Nalinikanta went to Tarapith and surrendered to Bamakhepa. Under the tutelage and supervision of his Tantrik Guru, Nalinikanta learnt all the practices in connection with the tantrik way of sadhana leading to see the Cosmic Mother in just 20 days. On the midnight of the 21st day, the Krushna Chaturdasi (night before new moon), at a cremation ground, he started chanting the mantra given by his guru. First, Mahashakti (omnipower) appeared in the form of his beloved wife Sudhansubala and subsequently revealed her divine cosmic form. She granted him the boon of appearing in the form of Sudhansubala whenever he would wish. This was Shri Shri Thakur’s enlightenment in Tantrik Sadhana.
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(2) (month of Chaitra)

Nalinikanta returned to Kumira and enjoyed the company of the Universal Mother in the form of Sudhasubala. However, when he tried to touch her, the image would dissolve (merge) into his body. Nalinikanta then went back to Bamakhepa seeking an answer to this enigma. Bamakhepa posed his questions to Tara Devi and her answer was that Nalinikanta must seek sannyas in the Vedantic line under the guidance of a Gyani Guru.

Nalinikanta resigned from his job and started his quest for Gyani Guru. He visited different places of India before finally meeting Swami Sachchidananda Saraswati, a renowned vedantic saint at Ajmer in the state of Rajasthan. At the first sight, Nalinikanta remembered that the saint was the same person who offered him the single-lettered mantra at Kumira. Then he stayed in his Guru’s ashram at Pushkar as a sebak and led a life of Brahmachari.

YEAR-1903
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On the 11th day of Bhadrava (July-August), Nalinikanta was initiated into Sannyasa and was named “Nigamananda” by his guru. He had mastered with ease the secrets of the knowledge of the Nigama (Vedas). In order to realize the deeper spiritual import of four great sayings of Vedas, as a sannyasi, Swami Nigamananda had to undertake a pilgrimage to the four dhams.

He was accompanied by Swami Sachchidananda to Badrinath and on the way they stopped at Gouri Maa’s ashram. She was a renowned female Yogic saint. During this visit to Badrinath, Swami Nigamananda learnt the method of realizing the Mahabakya of Vedas, “Ayamatama Brahma”. After returning from Badrinath, Shri Shri Thakur went to visit the remaining three dhams, Dwarka, Rameswar and Puri alone where he realized the “Tatwam Asi”, “Aham Brahmasmi” and “Pragyanam Brahma” Mahabakyas respectively.

Upon his return from his pilgrimage of the four dhams, his guru advised him to search for his Yogi Guru for yoga sadhana and acquire the knowledge of Bramha through “Nirbikalpa Samadhi”.

Swami Nigamananda started his journey to search for a Yogi Guru towards the end of winter. While wandering through the forests of Kota, he met two young women, who he later found out were yoginis. Per their direction, he left for Calcutta.

Continuing his quest, around the month of May-June, Swami Nigamananda travelled eastward to Kamakshya and Parasuram Tirtha now in Arunachal Pradesh. At Parasuram Tirtha, he fell ill with fever and dysentery but recovered with the help of the tribal people in that area. One day while enjoying the natural beauty of the hills, he wandered into the jungle and was lost and decided to rest the night in the hollow of a big tree trunk. Towards dawn, he met a saint with a radiating glow below the tree. This was his Yogi Guru Swami Sumerudasji. Under his guidance, for a period of three months, Swami Nigamananda read yogic scriptures and learnt and practiced methods of Yoga Sadhana.

Per the direction of his Yogi Guru, Swami Nigamananda left and went on to stay at the home of Sarada Prasad Majumdar, zamindar of Haripur in Pabna district (now in Bangladesh) and started practising yoga.

YEAR-1904
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Over a period of nine months, thakur made a good progress in yogic practices. However, due to some interruptions and external disturbances, he had to leave Haripur for Guwahati. He ended up staying at the home of Yajneswar Biswas, a senior government officer, and continued practicing yoga. He practised meditation (Samadhi) for one whole day, then three days and finally for seven days at a stretch before coming back to senses. This state is called the “Sabikalpa Samadhi”.

One day in the month of Pousha, he went up the hills of Kamakshya and found a lonely spot where he sat and started his meditation. Shri Shri Thakur succeeded in reaching “Nirbikalpa Samadhi”, the ultimate attainment in Yoga Sadhana. During the sublime state of this Samadhi, he had a firm and exuberant feeling of “I am Guru”. His face was beaming an aura of radiance.

He was eager to meet his guru, Swami Sachchidananda, to tell him about it and hence bade farewell to Yajneswar Biswas and his wife, Saraju Devi. He went to Kumbhamela at Ujjain and found that his Gyani Guru was also there. By the direction of Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Shringeri Math, his Gyani Guru Swami Sachchidananda bestowed on him the title of Paramahansa with approval of all saints present there. From that day, his full name was Paribrajakacharya Paramahansa Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Dev.

Per his Gyani Guru’s direction, Shri Shri Thakur gave dikshya to Yajneswar Biswas and his wife Saraju Devi.

YEAR-1905
--------------
In the month of Magha, Shri Shri Thakur was in Kashi and had a chance to meet Devi Annapurna in the form of an old lady. Later that night Devi appeared in his dream and advised him to perform Bhaba Sadhana. Shri Shri Thakur then decided to see Gouri Maa whom he had met on the way to Badrinath with Swami Sachchidananda during his Paribrajaka period. He learnt Prema Sadhana from Gouri Maa and attained Bhaba Samadhi.

Shri Shri Thakur returned to Guwahati and then went to Garohill in Assam, which was later known as Garohill Yogashram (now in Meghalaya) and started a lower primary school for the children of the Hajong inhabitants in that area.

During this period, the divine mother appeared before him in her physical body of flesh and blood, and lavished all love, humor and joys of the universe on him.

A few days later, the divine mother reminded him of his responsibility as a Guru. She granted Shri Shri Thakur two boons, the first one was “those who accept him as guru would attain salvation in three births even though they go against him in the later part”, and the second one was “those who will continue to be his disciples to the end will attain liberation in one life whether they perform sadhana or not”.

It was here, Shri Shri Thakur wrote the book ‘Yogi Guru’ in just 14 days.

‎YEAR-1906
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During the first quarter of the year, Shri Shri Thakur went to public.

Later, he stayed at the house of Umacharan Sarkar of Beniachar in Mymensing.

YEAR-1907
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A young man named Chandicharan Das, having read Shri Shri Thakur’s first book, “Yogi Guru”, came to him and became his sebak. He was later known as Swami Chidananda after taking sannyas from Shri Shri Thakur.

Shanti Ashram was founded at Durgapur near Kumilla (Comilla). Later it was moved to Dhaka. During this period Shri Shri Thakur wrote the book “Gyani Guru” in 21 days.

YEAR-1908
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Shri Shri Thakur’s third book, “Gyani Guru” was published on the 2nd day of the month of Bhadrab. Under his guidance, in the month of Kartik, the first issue of the monthly magazine, “Arya-Darpan”, was published.


YEAR-1909
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Shri Shri Thakur visited the ancestral home of Dr. Nrupendra Chandra Roy of Dhaka.
On the 16th day of month of Jyastha, Shri Shri Thakur gave dikshya to Priyanath Khasanabish, who was later known as Swami Premananda.

On the day of Laxmi Purnima, Dr. Rajachandra Dhar, who was later known as Swami Swarupananda, met Shri Shri Thakur for the first time.

YEAR-1910
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Shri Shri Thakur’s book, “Bramhacharya Sadhan”, was published from Shanti Ashram of Durgapur.

On the 21st day of the month of Ashadha, Shri Shri Thakur gave dikshya to Dr. Rajachandra Dhar (later Swami Swarupananda) and his wife.

‎‎YEAR-1911
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While staying at Shanti Ashram in Dhaka, Shri Shri Thakur wrote “Tantrik Guru” in 7 days. The book was published on the day of Jhulan Purnima.

On the 26th day of the month of Margasira, “Anatha Niketana” was started.

Later that year, Shri Shri Thakur wrote the book “Premika Guru” in 17 days.

YEAR-1912
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On the 14th day of the month of Magha, Shri Shri Thakur went to Kokilamukh in Assam with Rajachandra Dhar to look at the land for the new ashram.

On the 22nd day of the month of Phalgun, the ashram was shifted from Dhaka to Kokilamukh in Assam state.
On the auspicious day of Akshaya Trutiya in the month of Baisakha, Shri Shri Thakur set up the Shanti Ashram at Kokilamukh. The seat of Gurubramha was established. On the day of Rasa Purnima, Shri Shri Thakur’s book, “Premika Guru” was published.

YEAR-1913
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Shri Shri Thakur visited his birthplace at Kutabpur.

YEAR-1914
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On the 12th day of the month of Baisakha, Shanti Ashram was renamed as Saraswata Math and Shri Shri Thakur gave Sannyas dikshya to seven of his disciples on that day. During the month of Chaitra, Shri Shri Thakur along with his disciples travelled to the Kumbhamela at Haridwar.

YEAR-1915
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The first Bhakta Sammilani was organized at Saraswata Math and was attended by eleven bhaktas – seven Sannyasis and four Grihastha devotees. They were Swami Bodhananda, Swami Chidananda, Swami Swarupananda, Swami Yogananda, Swami Sudhananda, Swami Premananda, Swami Saradananda, Khepadas Bhattacharya, Banamali Sarakar, Surendramohan Dasgupta and Nagendranath Rai.

YEAR-1917
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(1)On the 3rd day of the month of Phalgun, Saraswata Ashram was established in a
rented house in the Jariyatuli area of Dhaka.

(2)In the month of Chaitra, Shri Shri Thakur bought land in Maynamati with the
purpose of establishing an ashram. Subsequently in 1919, with the hardwork and
dedication of Kumarananda Brahmachari, (later Swami Atmananda Saraswati), a
beautiful ashram was built there.

YEAR-1919
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On the auspicious day of Jhulana Purnima, Shri Shri Gouranga-Sebashrama was established at Boguda (Bogra). It was later renamed as Uttara Bangla Saraswata Ashram.

YEAR-1920
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On the 27th day of the month of Aswin, the Saraswata Ashram in Dhaka shifted to Jayadevpur of Bhawal Pragana. On the day of Akhya Trutiya in 1921, this ashram was established and went on to host the Bhakta Sammilani in 1922. This ashram was later renamed as Madhya Bangla Saraswata Ashram.

YEAR-1923
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He came to Puri in 1923 & stayed in "Nilachala Kutira".

YEAR-1934
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Shree Shree Thakur Established "Nilachala Saraswata Sangha" at Puri on His birthday 24.08.1934 i.e Julana Purnima.

YEAR-1935
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He had taken Mahasamadhi at "Kolkatta" on 29th November 1935.


Other things about Sri Sri Thakur
-----------------------------------
Thakur’s original name was “Nalinikanta Chattopadhyay”. After his ordination as a sannyasi, he came to be known as “Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Paramahansha”.
Nalinikanta was appointed as overseer at the Dinajpur District Board, but he was saddened at the sudden death of his wife, Sudhangshubala. Following the instruction of his guru, he became an ascetic. Nalinikanta wrote several books on ascetic philosophy and TANTRICISM, among them, Brhmacharyasadhan, Tantrikguru, Jnaniguru, Yogiguru, and Premikguru. He also published a religious monthly, Aryadarpan. However, his greatest achievement was the establishment of the Assam-Bengal Saraswata Math (centre for learning) at Kokilamukh, Assam and of five ashrams for sannyasis: Dhaka Madhya Bangla Saraswata Ashram, Bogra Uttar Bangla Saraswata Ashram, Mainamati Purba Bangla Saraswata Ashram, Halishahar Dakshin Bangla Saraswata Ashram and Kharkunama Pashchim Bangla Ashram. He also established 'Rsi Vidyalay', a school for ascetics, and a charitable hospital.