Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 20

In the year 1897 Swami Vivekananda returned from America, all the disciples of Thakurji met him, but Latu Maharaj did not make it.  He thought ‘ I am just an ordinary person with no knowledge of reading or writing, he is returned from a foreign land, he had become reputed person now, did he recognize me?”  But Swami Vivekanand was remembered Latu Maharaj, he did not forget him.  One day Swami Vivekananda arrived to meet Latu Maharaj and embraced him and said “ Latu Bhai, I am your same old Naren. Come with me to Mutt.”  Latu Maharaj came to stay in Belur Mutt, but he was not finding peace here, there were strict disciplines were introduced; all the disciples should get up early in the morning at 3’ o clock.  One day, Latu Maharaj packed his bags and started leaving, Swami Vivekananda asked “ Where are you going? Why are you leaving?” Latu Maharaj said “ Kolkatta.  You have come from a foreign land, you are introducing new rules, I cannot follow them fully, I am not used to it.  I cannot make my mind force to contemplate upon the Lord at the sound of the bell.”  Swami Vivekanand said, “ Then leave”.  Later, Swami Vivekananda rushed to Latu Maharaj and said, “ You come with me, you need not follow any rules, these rules are for people who are newly arrived in the Mutt.”  None of the rules were applicable to Latu Maharaj, he felt awkward living in the Mutt without following its rules.  He was a righteous person, he equally respected all the religions and its festivities, he celebrates Eid, Christmas and all the Hindu festivals with an open heart.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 19

Days went on and on, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was diagnosed with throat cancer, he settled in Shyamapukur for treatment, during these days Latu was always with Thakurji. once Latu Maharaj went in a state of ecstasy, he turned to normalcy at the touch of Thakurji.  After living in Shyamapukur for some time, Thakurji was shifted to Kashipur.  One day he was massaging the head of Thakurji, soon he entered in a state of transcendental.  Once  Ma Sharadha/Sri Ma was visiting Vrindavan, she was followed by Latu Maharaj, he undertook Tapasya for few days and returned to Kolkata, and initiated to Sanyasashrama.

Latu Maharaj immersed in intense practice of meditation and Yoga after the demise of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,  he did not sleep in the night, Swami Sharadanandji used to listen to unique noises from his chamber, he thought it must be the disturbances caused by rats and it continued for another few days.  One day Sharadanandji went to check and saw Latu Maharaj was performing meditation, it was the sounds of the prayer beads rolling between his fingers. During these days, Latu Maharaj goes to sleep immediately after meals, and within a few minutes, he will be in deep sleep and when everyone sleeps he gets up and performs meditation.

Latu Maharaj was not in the mutt or in the devotee’s house for a short period of time.  He settled on the river banks of Ganga and lived on alms, he gets clothing from the family of Ramchandra Dutt, and sometimes he eats Roti or dry channa.  He spends days listening and describing glorious myths of Lord, and singing Bhajans.   During harsh winter he will take a seat inside the empty trains.  


Once Latu Maharaj visited Puri Jagannath, he stood in front of the idol of Jagannatha and prayed “Prabho! Chaithanya Mahaprabhu’s eyes were soaked in tears seeing your glorious face, I yearn to see that face of yours, kindly show me that face.” Latu Maharaj had the same Dharshan of Lord Jagannath which was revealed to Sri Chaithanya Mahaprabhu.  Latu Maharaj appealed to Jagannatha “ I am not able to wander around like old times, I am tired now.” It was true that, If the food is not consumed in the right manner or it is not cooked in a proper manner, it will definitely affect the health of the individual, if the health is not good, nothing can be performed.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 18

One day Thakurji said to the priest of Lord Vishnu shrine, “ Go and find where is Latu? He did not attend to my calls for so long.”  The priest found that Latu was in a state of transcendental, he tried to wake him up but did not, he came back to Thakurji and detailed.  Thakurji sent Naren/Swami Vivekanand, he tried to wake him up, he took a wooden bar and bet on the tree several times which produced loud noises, in this way Naren tried all efforts to distract Latu Maharaj.   Thakurji heard the loud noises he could not sit peacefully in his chamber, he said to Naren “ Do not disturb him.” Naren said “ he is not conscious, so how can he get disturbed? He is completely unconscious.”  Thakurji said “Unless and until the conscious get annulled, wisdom will not shine.”  In this way, there were many incidents happened in the life of Latu Maharaj.

One day he was massaging Thakurji for quite some time,  Thakurji taught him to sit on the Panchamundi Asan which is a very difficult posture to observe and practice meditation, it needs purity of mind and body, celibacy and fitness.  Thakurji never recommends all his disciples to perform meditation sitting on Panchamundi Asan, it requires a lot of concentration and will power, only a very few of them were instructed to do so.  This practice was alarming for Latu, Thakurji realized his trepidation and pacified him.  One day Thakurji told Latu “ You have been staying here so long, go and do some journey to shrines and places, you will feel better.” Latu felt very happy and said, “ Where did I go?” Thakurji said, “ Go to Baburam’s place, you will not find any difficulty.”

Later Baburamji praised Latu Maharaj in this manner “ Once, Latu visited my home, he always used to tell me that he is not feeling good in the house.  My mother used to tell me, find out what’s his difficulty, finally, I understood the reason for not feeling good at home. He was terribly missing Thakurji, even the Mahapurusha felt the same without Latu.  One day Latu cried and told me that he wanted to go back to Dhakshineshwar by tomorrow.  No one had the heart to stop him from his decision.” He arrived at Dhakshineshwar, seeing him back Thakurji asked: “ why did you come back so early?”  Latu said, “ I was not feeling good over there.” Thakurji said “ Why? That place is too good to stay.  Baburam’s mother is a pious woman.  She very well takes care of holy men and saints,”  Latu said, “ I don’t know I was not interested in meditation, or recitation of Nama.”  Thakurji said “ What are you blabbering? Do you think I will be alive always If I am not there will you stop all these.”  Latu started crying “ Kindly accept me as I am, bless me to remain  with you always.” Thakurji laughed and affectionately said, “ See the boy’s smartness.” 

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 17

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa had a few young disciples, he used to sing and dance with them while performing Namasankeerthana.  Once, he was dancing with the tune of music in the shrine of Lord Vishnu, Latu Maharaj produced a shriek, the whole chamber has reverberated with his voice, Thakurji understood it was Latu who envisioned the glorious form of Lord.  Latu Maharaj continued extreme practice of meditation and Yoga, once Thakurji said: “ it is not advisable to dance or shriek too much, you should learn to keep your emotions within you.”

One day  it was early hours of Bhramamuhurtha, all were immersed in meditation in their chambers, Thakurji started singing Bhajans, Latu could not sit in meditation posture, he produced small  cries, Thakurji kept his shoulders tight and made him sit in the same posture. One day it was meditation conducted in the shrine of Lord Shiva, Latu went to transcendental state, and continued to sit hours and hours like a statue.  Thakurji heard from another disciple, he arrived to see Latu and fanned him sitting near to him.  Slowly Latu’s body started shivering with the chillness of the air.  Thakurji said “ Latu, the day is over, who will lighten the lamp?” Latu regained consciousness, he was shocked to see Thakurji fanning him, Latu said “ I was watching the idol of Lord Shiva, suddenly a light appeared and it spread all over the places, after that, I do not remember anything.”  Thakurji said “ Ok. Ok. Who knows how many things you have to witness for the rest of your life.  Go and drink one glass of water.”  

Once Latu Maharaj was performing meditation suddenly he produced shrieking noise touching his face on the ground, Thakurji rushed towards him and kept him sit straight, soon Latu Maharaj regained his consciousness, Thankurji angrily said: “ keep calm, you have envisioned Ma Kali”.  One day Latu Maharaj was sitting on the river banks of Ganga and performing meditation, suddenly Ganga started overflowing, usually, the place where Latu Maharaj was seated remains empty without water, that day waters flooded the entire place and Latu Maharaj was slowly merging inside the water not moving an inch.  Swami Adhvaidhanandha watched this, he rushed to Thakurji and informed the incident, Thakurji came running to Ghat and saw Latu was surrounded by three fourth of water by all sides, he dived into waters and dragged Latu Maharaj out of the water.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 16

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa constantly put an effort to keep his disciples void of impurities like ego and self importance.  Latu Maharaj said “ Once, me and Bhrmanand had received an order from Thakurji to go for begging  alms, whenever we leave the Ashram, Thakurji always remind us that some may give you money, or grains, some may insult you or get angry on you, you have to receive it all with humbleness.” While begging alms, one day a pious man shouted at him. He said “You are young and healthy, can’t work and earn money,” after listening to the words of the pious man Bhramanand became upset, Latu Maharaj convinced him “ Thakurji, already told us to receive whatever we get.” That day they went to beg alms before the house of a widow, she said “ Children, why you want to beg? What’s that make you go for begging?” Latu Maharaj informed the widow that they are following instructions of Thakurji, she blessed them and gave grains.  In this way, they continued begging alms and returned with a bag full of rice to Ashram.  All the incidents were detailed to Thakurji, he said “ That widow said it right. It was Suryanarayan’s blessings always on you both.”

Latu Maharaj was the principal attendant of Thakurji, so has to follow Thakurji on every visit, he had to make frequent visits to the house of a wealthy man’s family in Kolkata.  He had the opportunity to mingle with these people and learned good manners.  Latu Maharaj was so simple and innocent.  Once he was not feeling well, so he went to Thakurji and explained. “whatever happens does not leave contemplating upon Lord, with that your mind will automatically come to be at peace. ”  After receiving an initiation to Sanyasa, Latu Maharaj received the name Swami Adhbhudhanandh, but people were addressed him ‘Latu Maharaj’ he had a mystic way of conversation and action.  Latu Maharaj made it a practice to see the face of Thakurji immediately after waking up in the mornings.  If Thakurji is not in his chamber, Latu Maharaj keeps closing his eyes and scream “ where did you go?” listening to his voice, Thakurji rush towards him, in this way Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Latu Maharaj had a mysterious relationship like father and child.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 15

Once Latu was fanning Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who was lying on the bed, slowly he also felt sleepy.  Thakurji asked Latu “ Do you know Lord sleep or not?” Latu said, “ How do I know Lord sleep or not?” Thakurji laughed and said “ Lord does not get a chance to sleep, he is awake always, he immerses at the service of living beings, therefore living beings sleep peacefully.” After this incident one day Latu  was too tired and fell asleep for hours, Thakurji  was waking him up  saying “ Latu, you should not sleep in the evenings, it is the time for remembering Lord,” Latu jumped up and sat on the floor, after this incident he took a vow not to sleep in the evenings, he sincerely followed this in his whole life.

Once Latu Maharaj was afflicted with fever, he said to Swami Sharadanandji, “ I cannot lay on the bed in the evenings,” he did not listen to Latu Maharaj, he was taking good care of Latu Maharaj,  he said 'a patient should take rest to get rid of illness,' Latu Maharaj said “ If you did not help me to get out of the bed, I have to take shelter of Mahaveerji” Sharanadananji did not pay any attention to him.  Suddenly Latu Maharaj screamed “Jai Bajrangbali Ki” and stood out of the bed with great vigor.  Sharadananji felt angry and said “ You are sick, you should take rest. What are you doing? Go and sleep.” Latu Maharaj said “ I do not know anything, it is the order of my Master that no one should sleep in the evenings. I have to follow the order.”

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 14

There was Ma Sharadha /Sri Ma living in Dhakshineshwar to take care of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, she has to cook meals in large quantities for the disciples and devotees, and there was no one to help her.  Antharyami Thakurji understood the troubles of Sri Ma, and he got up from the seat.  One day after a dip in Ganga, Thakurji saw Latu was sitting silently on the river bank, “ Latu, your mother is taking all the troubles to cook Roti, she needs somebody to help her, she is all alone, go and help her.”  Thakurji took Latu with him and arrived in the kitchen where Sri Ma was cooking Roti, he said: “ This boy is very innocent, if you need any help ask him, he will do it.” Eventually, Latu Maharaj took up the service to Sri Ma. Latu was highly pleased to serve Sharada Ma, on that day onwards, he became one of the main helpers of Ma.

One day Ramchandra Dutt arrived in Dhakshineshwar and said to Thakurji “ What did you teach this boy? He walks eight miles to home” Thakurji said “ I do not remember what did I say. What’s the matter?”Rambabu said “ You have told Latu to stay away from intoxicating drinks, he does not even go near the shops, he takes a long way to reach home,” Thakurji became serious after listening to it. He called for Latu and said “ You need not take a long way to keep you away from the intoxicated drink shops, no sin will come to you if you pass near these shops. I have taught you to contemplate upon Lord, constant remembering of the Lord while doing any work, and completely surrender at His feet, then these intoxicated drinks will not do any harm to you.” In this way, Thakurji took every opportunity to teach Latu Maharaj.