A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

Räma Tïrtha, Swämi 148
AVATÄRA of Vi•æu. His story is told at
great length in the RÄMAYAŒA. He is
one of the most popular deities of India,
considered the ideal ruler. Repeating his
name, even wearing cloth on which his
name has been printed, is a favourite
religious exercise. In the countryside
people use ‘Räm, Räm’ as a greeting.
Räma Tïrtha, Swämi
(1873–1906)
A professor of mathematics at Forman
College, Lahore, he became a SAMNYÄSI
in 1901 and went as a preacher of
Vedänta to Japan and the United States
(1902–04), where he gathered a large
following. His Collected Works, consisting
mainly of his lectures, have been
published in 12 volumes by the Rama
Tirtha Publishing League in Lucknow.
Ramakrishna ‘Paramahamsa’
(1834–86)
Possibly the best-known modern Bengali
Hindu saint, who became known
worldwide through the Ramakrishna
Mission. He spent most of his life as
temple priest in Dak•iæeÿvara, a new
Kälï–Durgä temple outside Calcutta,
where he experienced frequent trances
in front of the image of the Goddess
(DEVÏ). A circle of devotees gathered
around him and one of them began noting
down his utterances and conversations
held over the years. The work
became known in its English translation
as The Gospel of Ramakrishna by M.
One of his disciples, Swami VIVEKÄ-
NANDA, began to form a religious order,
the Ramakrishna Mission, after his
death, which engaged in education, disaster
relief, publication of religious
books and preaching.
Ramana Mahar•i (1879–1950)
A widely recognized modern Hindu
mystic, visited by seekers from both
East and West. He experienced death as
a boy of fourteen while fully conscious,
and experientially understood the difference
between the conscious, undying
self and the body, the ‘not-self’. Shortly
after he left home and went to
Tiruvanammalai to become a SAMNYÄSI.
In spite of his vow of silence, people
came to him, asking for his advice. He
set up an ashram, and a group of permanent
followers began to form. Soon
he became a celebrity and was visited by
many important personalities. His teaching
remained the same: seek the true self.
After his death his followers continued
to operate his ashram and to publish
journals and books reflecting his
teachings.
Shrine at the birthplace
of Ramakrishna.
Rämänanda (1400–70)
Founder of the Ÿrï saƒpradäya (sect), in
which Rämä and Ÿita are prominently
worshipped. Rämänanda accepted people
from all CASTES as well as WOMEN
into his order. His twelve principal disciples
formed twelve subsects, called
dvaras. The headquarters of the Ÿrï