Swami Prameyananda - Belur Math

lived up to Vireswarananda’s expectations in this regard. Many sevaks
came and went but Prameyananda stuck to his post through rain and shine,
never going on pilgrimage or for tapasya. His young shoulders carried
a mature head and he always had an air of seriousness about him, his
lightheartedness notwithstanding. His unbroken stay with Prabhu Maharaj
(Swami Vireswarananda) enabled him to familiarize himself with the tasks
of the Sangha’s President and Vice-Presidents. He had the rare gift of
conveying harsh truths sweetly. He was very disciplined in his work and
always very punctual. Not the one to waste anything of Thakur’s, he would
correspond wherever possible through postcards or inland letters. Once an
inland letter was used to reply to a devotee’s inland. At this he remarked,
“You could have used a postcard rather than the inland letter. Learn to be
thrifty. Whatever you can save can be used for Thakur’s seva.” He would
write on the inner portions of used envelopes rather than use fresh paper.
He was known for his brief but complete replies; brevity of speech was
one of his hallmarks. He was also instrumental in arranging for interactions
between the Training Centre brahmacharins with President Maharaj.
On the 13 March 1985, Swami Vireswarananda attained Mahasamadhi.
Prameyananda then for the first time ventured on a pilgrimage to the
Himalayas. But he was very soon called back by the Belur Math authorities
and sent to Baghbazar Math, Kolkata, as editor of Udbodhan the Bengali
journal of the Order. He served in this capacity from November 1985 to
September 1987. The editorials of the Udbodhan during this period bear
ample testimony to his mastery of the Bengali language. He was an expert
in tracing the source of the quotations cited by various writers. It was during
this time that Vishwa-chetanaaye Sri Ramakrishna was published as a part
of Sri Ramakrishna’s 150 th birthday celebrations. He has authored two
books in Bengali: (a) Seva-adarshe Ramakrishnananda, and (b) Puja Vijnan.
Some errors of omission and commission noticed in the first edition of
Swami Shankaranandajir jeevanee o smriti Katha were rectified by
Prameyananda before the second edition was published.
His Udbodhan days were cheerfully spent in the company of monastic
brothers and devotees. He was known always for not losing his temper.
He was ever keen to finish the task at hand promptly, without keeping
any work pending. He also strengthened the financial position of the
Udbodhan. He was one of the pioneers in organizing the National Youth
Day programmes.
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In April 1987 Swami Prameyananda was made a trustee of the Ramakrishna
Math and a member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission.
In September of the same year he came to stay at Belur Math as its manager.
Subsequently, in March 1997 he was made treasurer of the Math and the
Mission.
As manager he spent a long twenty-two years at the Belur Math and was
associated with a variety of programmes relating to the Math and the
Mission. All through his life he maintained a strict routine of rising early,
doing japa and meditation, making pranams at the various shrines, and
attending to his office work. Every morning he would assign the daily tasks
to the section heads. Over the years the number of devotees coming to
Belur Math kept on increasing. Swami Prameyananda was responsible for
bringing about comprehensive changes in the arrangements for prasad
distribution, contributing to the convenience of devotees. Under his able
supervision, the centenary of the Chicago Parliament of Religions and that
of the Ramakrishna Mission were celebrated at Belur Math in 1994 and
1998. Always a votary for a change for the better, he would never lose
sight of the Sangha’s traditions in this regard. The new Training Centre
for brahmacharins, the Water Treatment Plant, Sadhu Niwas for visiting
monks, renovation of the guesthouse for devotees, construction of the
Sanskriti Bhawan (Cultural Hall) and shifting the Ramakrishna Museum
to its new building were some of the noteworthy projects undertaken during
his time. The Ramakrishna Sangha has always had a tradition of devotional
singing. In keeping with this tradition, he appointed music teachers for the
brahmacharins of Training Centre and also kept a room free for daily music
practice after evening meditation.
He always encouraged planting of trees and plants which help to maintain
a serene ashrama atmosphere. His ever watchful gaze would help the timely
treatment of diseased trees. He would express displeasure if trees or plants
were cut or felled without any reason. He knew the name of every plant and
tree in Belur Math and the history behind them. As at the Udbodhan, at
Belur Math also he contributed in substantial measure to strengthening the
Math’s financial base. Needless to say, the goodwill of numberless devotees
that he built over his long stay at Belur Math stood him in good stead in
this regard. In many an adverse situation and in his dealings with monastics
of various backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and temperaments, and the
Belur Math’s army of volunteers, he displayed ample fortitude and adroitness.
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