Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 12 JUNE: Vice-President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission Swami Shivamayanandaji died at a city hospital on Friday night due to COVID-19.
Informing this in its official Facebook Page, Belur Math said, “With deep sorrow we announce the passing away of Revered Swami Shivamayananda ji (Ranen Maharaj), a Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, at Seva Pratishthan, Kolkata, on 11 June 2021, at 9.05 pm, due to severe Covid pneumonia. He was 86 and had been suffering from hypertension, bronchial asthma and kidney disease for some years.”
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of Swami Shivamayanandaji Maharaj of Ramakrishna Math.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Swami Shivamayanandaji Maharaj of the Ramakrishna Math was actively involved in a wide range of community service initiatives focused on social empowerment. His contributions to the worlds of culture and spirituality will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. Om Shanti.”
Condoling his death, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said: “Deeply condole the passing away of Revered Swami Shivamayanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission at Seva Pratisthan Kolkata.”
“He attained mahasamadhi today (11 June, 2021) at 9:05 pm due to severe Covid pneumonia,” Mr. Dhankhar, a regular visitor to RKM centres, tweeted.
The senior monk, who was 86 years old, was admitted to the RKM Seva Pratisthan on May 22 with mild respiratory distress. He tested positive for COVID-19 on that day itself and was on mechanical ventilation since June 10 after being put on non-invasive ventilation since May 28.
He breathed his last at 9:05 pm.
Born in Bihar on December 20, 1934, Swamiji was a disciple of Swami Vishuddhanandaji Maharaj, who joined the order in Belur Math in 1959 and received “Sanyas Diksha” from Swami Vireshwaranandaji Maharaj in 1969.
After serving the order at various Seva Pratisthan centres in various capacities, he started his spiritual ministration at the RKM in 2016 by giving “diksha” to devotees.
In 2017, he was elected as the vice-president of the twin organisations, the office he held till the end, along with the office of the head of the Cossipore Math.
The seer, whose name was Ranen Mukherjee before “sanyas”, was suffering from hypertension, bronchial asthma and kidney disease for some years.
Tags: #SwamiShivamayananda #RamkrishnaMathAndMission #BelurMath #COVID19India
Inputs: Publications
