Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 7

One day Ramchandra Dutt sent Rakthuram to Dhakshineshwar.  Sri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa was preparing to leave to Kamarpukur at the advice of the doctors.  Latu instantly said “ Thakurji , I want to be in the service of you. I do not want to go back to work in the house.” Thakurji laughed at Latu and said ‘ You cannot stay here,  I am going out from here, I am not well, I am going to get some fresh air, I do not know when I will be back to Dhakshineshwar. You better go back to Dutt's family and work sincerely.”  Latu became depressed after listening to Thakurji, he was thinking that If Thakurji is not staying in Dhakshineshwar, he felt nothing to do here; he sincerely wanted to serve Thakurji.  Paramahamsa understood the mind of little Rakthuram and said “ Latu, we should not go against the will of people who fed us. Your Master is your Annadhatha who is the provider of the meal, without informing him leaving the work is a sin. Dutt is a great man; he was taking care of your needs and sending you here very often to keep you cheerful.  When I come back from the village, you also come and join me.”

Later, Latu Maharaj used to discuss with his inmates of the Ashram about the mercy of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He always remembers the advice of Thakurji before leaving to Kamarpukur.  Though Thakurji advised him enough to how to please the family of Dutt, his grief of separation from Thakurji was not leaving him, he passed days of extreme grief and agony.  Sometimes, he leaves to Dhakshineshwar without informing the Dutt family and sits near the banks of river Ganga, he did not find peace here too.  He goes to Panchavati and spends hours in solitude, he sits in a corner of the temple silently; people thought he must have got shouting from the Dutt family.  There was Ramlal Dhadha who was working in the shrine of Dhakshineshwar, he took great care of Rakthuram.  One day he arrived near Ganga Ghat to give Prasadh to Rakthuram, saw he was prostrating before waters of Ganga.  Suddenly he saw Ramlal Dhadha and asked, “ Where did Paramahamsa Mahashay go?” Ramlal Dhadha shocked at his question.  He said “ Mahashay did not go anywhere, he is here only, he did not go to the village,” Ramlal Dhadha took effort to convince the boy that Thakurji went to his village Kamarpukur, but Latu did not believe it, he could feel the constant presence of Sri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa in his life.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 6

There was an unexpected event that took place in Ramachandra Dutt’s house.  They used to send fruits and sweets to Dhakshineshwar to offer Thakurji.  On that day there was no one to take the offerings to Thakurji.  Little Rakthuram said “ Kindly give it to me, I will take it to Thakurji. I have been to Paramahamsa’s shrine once.”  That day he arrived at Dhakshineshwar with all the fruits and sweets around twelve in the afternoon.  He saw Thakurji from the distance, he offered humble Pranams to Thakurji, and they together arrived in his chamber.  That day Rakthuram could witness the afternoon Harathi Dharshan of Ma Kali, he felt extremely happy.  After Harathi Dharshan, they used to bring offerings to Thakurji in his chamber.  Thakurji advised Latu to take the offerings of Lord Vishnu. He was very considerate of Latu who was not used to the Bengali cuisine that is why he asked to consume offerings of Lord Vishnu.  Rakthuram said “I can eat whatever you give, I will not eat anything other the one you give.”  Thakurji burst into laughter and said “ This boy is too smart. He wants to get a share from me.” After consuming a meal, he stayed with Thakurji in the chamber until in the evening, seeing he is not leaving Thakurji asked “It is going to be evening, don’t you want to go back? Do you have money to go back?” Rakthu put his hands inside the pocket and took the coin out.  After coming back from Dhakshineshwar there were huge changes that took place in Rakthuram, previously he used to finish work at ease, but now a day’s his work became sluggish, and it has created unpleasantness in the Dutt family.   Ramchandra Dutt was worried about the boy little Rakthuram.  One day Dutt Sahib said to Thakurji “Now a day’s Latu behaving differently, he is not working properly, he sits eyes closed in a corner of the house and his eyes overflow with tears, he will not even answer to anyone’s call, if we ask the reason for tears, he won’t answer.  Seeing his strange behavior, my wife is very much concerned about this child.”  Thakurji said “It happens to people when they visit here. It is nothing,  his heart wants to be here.  Whenever time permits send him here.” 

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 5

One day Rakthuram asked Babuji “ Babu, I want to visit Dhakshineshwar with you.” He was so surprised to hear that from little boy Rakthuram, he happily took Rakthuram with him to Dhakshineshwar.  Dutt Sahib and Rakthuram arrived in Dhakshineshwar, unfortunately, Thakurji was not in his chamber.  So he advised Rakthuram to stay in the Veranda and went in search of Thakurji.  After some time, both arrived together in the patio, suddenly Thakurji looked at the small boy standing on the Veranda. Thakurji asked “ Ram, did you bring this child with you? I can see divine symbols in this small boy.” They continued the conversation and went inside the chamber, Rakthuram understood this was the holy man he wanted to meet in all his life.  He went inside the chamber of Thakurji and prostrated before him, he stood there with folded hands.  Thakurji was giving lectures “people who have blessed with the divinity would attain supreme wisdom and knowledge in their birth.  They remain unchallenging like a rock that faces the blow of big waves but does not move away from its place and stands firm.” saying so Thakurji touched Rakthuram.  Soon he felt some divine powers entering through his body and disappeared instantly,  Rakthuram’s eyes were overflowing with tears, Ramchandra Dutt and Thakurji were watching the child, it continued for an hour or so.  Ramchandra Dutt asked, “How long he will continue crying like this?” Thakurji touched Rakthuram affectionately, soon he regained his normalcy.  Thakurji advised Ramchandra Dutt to send Rakthuram frequently to Dhakshineshwar, he said to Rakthuram “I have informed your Master,  come here often.”

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

Ramachandra Dutt  was a staunch devotee and disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he regularly visits Dhakshineshwar during weekends and stays in the shrine.  Every Saturday he meets Thakurji and listens to his lectures, after coming back from Dhakshineshwar he could not stop all those memories of lectures of Thkurji, so he used to share those nectars like lectures of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa with all his friends who attend in his home.  Rakthuram used to hear all those inspiring lectures of Thakurji while passing through the chamber of Dutt Sahib, he was mesmerized and felt a divine pull to listen to more and more lectures of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.  Soon the innocent child Rakthuram drawn towards the nectar-like lectures of Thakurji, he used to contemplate upon Thakurji and sincerely desired to meet Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa once in a lifetime. He asks himself ‘Do I get his Dharshan at least once?'  he keeps contemplating upon the lectures of Thakurji with tears overflowing, he wipes off tears and keeps thinking of Thakurji in leisure hours.  Gradually, people of the Dutt family noticed the little Rakthuram’s devotion to Thakurji growing too fast.  Mrs, Dutt thought he must have been missing his uncle and mother, now a day’s his uncle does not make a visit to enquire about him,  Mrs. Dutt consoled little Rakthuram who could not control his yearning to meet Thakurji, and listening to his speeches, he thought of going to Dhakshineshwar several times, but he had no courage to go alone, he was completely new to this city.  He was too busy with the work at home, he could not share his feelings with Babuji or Ma, but he knows for sure that Babuji conducts a trip to Dhakshineshwar every week to meet Thakurji. 

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 3

Dutt family used to call Rakthuram as Laltu, later Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa named him Letu and Latu.  After initiating to Sanyasa he was addressed as Swami Adhbudhanandha as he was completely mysterious in his behavior and conversation.  During leisure hours in the Dutt house, he used to practice wrestling in the backyard.  One day a friend of Ramchandra Dutt said that children who are practicing wrestling should not be appointed as a servant at home, Ramchandra Dutt got irritated and said “ You do not know about the health and fitness, with the practicing of wrestling the children will not be drawn towards sensual pleasures, they remain fit and capable to protect themselves from dangers,” but his friend said, “ But his behavior is too strange.” Ramchandra Dutt annoyed and said “ You want to employ a servant who is feeble and weak as you so that you need not feed them with good food.  They are servants, not animals or dogs or cats. You are ready to feed dogs but not humans.  It is not the right attitude to differentiate owner and servant.”  Another friend of Dutt Sahib brought a complaint about Rakthuram who gets vegetables from the market at a reasonable price, he assumed Rakthuram pilfering pennies while buying vegetables for home.  One day he approached little Rakthuram and said, “ Hey boy, are you stealing money out of the vegetable purchase.” Rakthuram was infuriated at the insult of this man, he could not tolerate the blame, he said “ Babu/Master, listen to me carefully, I am a servant certainly, but not a thief or ungrateful, now onwards don’t dare to talk to me like this, If so you will receive impolite answer from me.”  The man cannot control his anger after hearing from after all a servant; he immediately reported this incident to Ramchandra Dutt.  Dutt Sahib said, “ I know him very well, he is illiterate, but he is not a thief, whenever he requires anything to buy for himself, he will ask his mother.” This remark about a servant is very rare in those days, the friend of Dutt Sahib got stunned.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 2

Rakthuram and his uncle arrived in Kolkata in search of a livelihood.  He was very much concerned about the little boy Rakthuram who was studious to understand the reason for the loss of his uncle’s land and house.  He felt deeply depressed leaving his favorite village, he had many thoughts crossing over his little brain and had no heart to leave his village or childhood mates, wrestling ground, playground of Kabadi, beautiful atmosphere of the village, ponds, rivers, streams, greens,  and shrine.  The beautiful sites of the village were often poped on in his mind, leaving him in utter despair.  After arriving in Kolkata, his uncle was anxious about little Rakthuram, usually, people will work in the city pulling Riksha or working in rich personalities houses.  His uncle was confident that he can survive anywhere in the city, but he was deeply worried about the little boy Rakthuram.  One day he met his village man Phoolchand, he was working in a wealthy man Ramchandra Dutt’s house.  Phoolchand understood the miserable situation of Rakthuram’s uncle and promised to keep Rakthuram in a rich man’s house to work.  He informed, “ Rakthu should work hard, he should please the owners, otherwise my job will be in trouble.” His uncle said, “ Do not worry, Rakthuram is a sincere and honest child, he will work hard.”  Soon Rakthuram got to work in the house of Ramchandra Dutt, his duties were buying vegetables at reasonable rate from the market, he should pick and drop the children of Dutt Sahib to school, or take them out for fun trip, assisting Dutt Sahib with his personal work like bringing water and taking care of his needs, he should work at the order of wife of Dutt Sahib.   He very well got adjusted with the new work and the people in the Dutt family, with his hard work and sincerity he gained the love from this family.  He used to call Dutta Sahib as Babuji and his wife as Ma, and the children as brother and sister, he easily mingled with the Dutt family.   

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

Baba Rakthuram was born in a small village Chapra, in Bihar.  He was born in a very poor family, his parents worked in the agricultural field of villagers, they find it very difficult to meet the necessities of the family; they had to keep working so hard with their poor health.  Those days’ wages were very low; this couple had no land or means of living.  Rakthuram became an orphan at the age of five; his parents were passed away due to ill health.  Therefore Rakthuram lived a dull life, no one to shower love and affection from an early year of childhood.  There was his maternal uncle who lived in the same village, he had no children, he adopted Rakthuram.  His uncle had a little piece of agricultural land, he was far better off than Rakthuram’s father.  During this period Rakthuram used to take up small jobs of the villagers, but God had some other plans for him.  Eventually, his uncle had lost the small piece of land owned due to debt and became penniless.  People of these parts usually conduct the search for a job in big cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, or Ahembadabad. 

There was an interesting story behind the name Rakthuram, once his mother with her infant rushed to the Temple of Lord Rama in her village, her only child was afflicted with small-pox, the condition of the child became critical, and she had intense faith on Lord Rama that he will save her child. She cried in front of the idol of Lord Rama “ Hey Bhagavan, kindly save my child, I have no one other than this child, kindly protect my child from this illness.  I shall visit your shrine on a daily basis.”  Shortly her prayers were answered, the child was saved from the critical condition, in this way he was blessed with the new life by the grace of Lord Ramachandra, therefore this child was named as Rakthuram who was protected by Lord Rama.