Welcome to South Africa!
His Holiness Sri Swami Sarvarupanandaji Maharaj, the Head of our Sri Lanka Ramakrishna Mission arrived in Durban today. He was visibly joyful in paying a 10 day visit to this Rainbow nation where in many places he will participate in the 156th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. He was warmly welcomed at the airport by Swamis Brahmarupanandaji, Saradaprabhanandaji, self and Chairperson Ramesh Ishwarlaal with some senior officials of the Centre. I cannot but remember Revered Sarvarupanandaji’s amiable nature when he was part of a team of monks who came to Seva Pratishthan to assist the Administrator-monks during service dislocation for a short period. He could carry every one with him by his jovial and pleasant behaviour.
Early days
Revered Maharaj started as a volunteer in the Salem Ashram in 1962. He formally joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1969 and was initiated into spiritual life by Srimat Swami Vireswaranandaji – the 10th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission and also was ordained a monk of the Ramakrishna Order in 1979.
Stint of service
He has served extensively in many of the Ramakrishna Branches starting at the Salem Ashram from 1969 to 1982, at the Singapore Ashram from 1983 to 1991 and a short period at the Sevaprathistan Hospital. From 1991 to 1998 he served at the Madurai Math, and 1998 to 2004 at the Coimbatore Vidyalaya.
In 2004 he was appointed the President of the Ooty Math where he served till 2006. In 2006 he was appointed the Head of the Ramakrishna Mission in Colombo, and continues to serve in this capacity currently.
Colombo Centre
The Colombo Centre is engaged in a number of ongoing spiritual and welfare programmes to assist the communities of Sri Lanka. These include: spiritual discourses and retreats, medical services, poverty relief, education for youth and personality development, Sunday School for religious education where nearly a 1000 children attend weekly. Of special significance is the work done at times of natural disasters, the most recent being the Tsunami – when 1000’s of families were affected. The Mission adopted a village and built 116 two storey houses to rehabilitate those affected. The Mission is also currently engaged in assisting Internally Displaced People due to the civil war in Sri Lanka. More than 46,000 people are being fed and provided assistance every month.
His public program in South Africa would be as below.
| DATE | PROGRAMME |
| Saturday,12 December | Birth Anniversary Celebration of Sri Sarada Devi Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, Headquarters, 8 Montreal Road, Glen Anil |
| Sunday,13 December | Conference on “Parenting – A Hindu Perspective”(Hosted by the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram) Time : 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Venue : University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus |
| Monday,14 December | Programme at Phoenix Sub-Centre Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, 17 Foresthaven Drive, Phoenix |
| Tuesday,15 December | Programme at Gauteng Sub-Centre Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Venue : Eagle Canyon Golf Estate, Club House, Blueberry Street, Honeydew, Johannesburg |
| Wednesday,16 December | Programme at Newcastle Sub-Centre(for all Northern KZN Sub-Centres/ Satsang groups) Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 4:00 – 6.00 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, cnr of Centre & Green Streets, Newcastle |
| Thursday,17 December | Programme at Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple Topic : “The Glory of Divine Mother” Time : 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Venue : 7 Maharaj Street, Gandhi’s Hill, Tongaat |
| Friday,18 December | Programme at Chatsworth Sub-Centre Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, 26 Moorcross Drive, Moorton, Chatsworth |
| Saturday,19 December | Programme at Ramakrishna Centre, Headquarters Topic : “Life & Teachings of Holy Mother” Time : 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, Headquarters, 8 Montreal Road, Glen Anil |
| Sunday,20 December | Vedanta Retreat Topic : “Vedanta in Everyday Life” Time : 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Venue : Ramakrishna Centre, Headquarters, 8 Montreal Road, Glen Anil (Registration for the above programme is essential. |
Vedanta in Practice 
Respected Maharaj,
After the celebrations of HOLY MOTHER’S Birthday, SA again stands to gain from the visit of Revered Colombo Maharaj.
Thakur, Ma and Swamiji are continously emanating rays of hope and freedom for the masses around the world. This is one another such effect from the HOLY TRIO.
May the generations of South Africans benefit from this guidance!
With pronam,
Yours in the Lord
Ritayan
Kolkata, India
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An excellent review of the monastic career of Revered Sarvarupanandaji maharaj.
Thanks!
Regards
Sambhanthan
Malaysia
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Revered and dear Maharaj,
Pranam.
I am glad to know that Srimat Swami Sarvarupanandaji Maharaj is with you at Durban. Devotees will have nice time in hearing from him. Please request Maharaj to talk about his holy pilgrimage to Amarnath and Kailash shrines.
With love and pranam,
Swami Nishthatmananda
Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India
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Pranam from Hariharan
What a lovely profile of my dear and revered Swami Sarvarupanandaji, the Swami whom I had the blessing to know since the 80s. Happy that Maharaj had come down there to give a spiritual treat to our devotes at the rainbow nation.
I feel sorry to miss you all.
Maharaj will win several hearts by opening Mother`s compassion to them all.
with pranams to you, Ramakrishna maharaj and Saradaprabhanandaji
Dr Y Hariharan
Ramakrishna Vijayam, Chennai Math, India
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Nice to know that the Swamiji, or Ramakrishna Maharaj as fondly remembered by us.
Had a wonderful time whenever we had his blessed presence.
Gowri Balasubramanian
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Gowri
Yes, its true that ‘Ramakrishna’ was the pre-monastic name of Revered Swami Sarvarupanandaji. His father was an initiated disciple of Swami Shivanandaji (Mahapurush Maharaj), a direct disciple of our Master. Thats why he named his son after his ishta-devata.
He is all smiles and would converse with such bubbling enthusiasm that listeners are delighted everywhere. His visit to our country was enjoyed by all the devotees here. For devotees, ‘santanki seva’ – ‘service to saints’ is an indispensable method in developing bhakti at the Lord’s feet. It is said that God’s grace flows to those who render devoted service to saints.
May you all be benefited by your proximity with the sadhus!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Respected Swamiji,
The first time we met Revered Sarvarupanandaji at the Salem Ashram, and then visited him when he was in the Vidyalaya in Coimbatore. And then, when we were living in Tanjore, he visited often, and blessed us with his overnight stay, since there was no ashram then. He visited our place just before his Kailash pilgrimage and then just after, when he presented us with the photos and delighted us with his experiences.
That was the last time, we met him, and after that whenever I tried to contact him through e-mail, I couldn’t. Now thanks to your blog, which I am sure, through Sri Gurumaharaj’s blessings, we managed to contact him, and I am really happy to inform you that he has written us a mail.
Thanks Swamiji, and namaskar!
Gowri Balasubramanian
Tamil Nadu, India
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