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.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 13

One day a staunch devotee arrived in Dhakshineshwar, he was too haughty so Latu became angry upon him, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa saw the conflicts between the two.  Once the devotee left the scene, Thakurji called Latu and said “ Latu, whoever comes to visit the shrine should be treated with kindness, devotees are coming to shrine after extreme exhaustion of worldly matters, they are here in a search of peace and love, therefore you should not behave harshly to them.” Later Thakurji sent Latu to pacify the devotee,  Thakurji asked, “ did you convey my Pranams to him?” Latu was surprised why Thakurji should bow before a devotee, Latu kept silent.  Thakurji said “ Go once again and convey my Pranams to him.” Latu sincerely followed the instruction of Thakurji, when the devotee heard this from Latu, he wept bitterly.  Latu understood the depth of devotion from him.  Later, Latu Maharaj adopted his Master’s nectar-like advice to instruct his disciples.

One day a wealthy man offered Pranams with folded hands before Latu Maharaj, he said “A devotee should pay obeisance with the head bow down at the feet Saints and holy men.” even Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also mention the same.  When the wealthy man asked the reason, Latu Maharaj described a story.  Once  Girish Babu offered Pranams to Thakurji with folded hands, Thakurji also did the same to him, later he bowed head down before Thakurji, even Thakurji did the same, finally, Girish Babu bowed his head down at the feet of Thakurji and received blessings from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 12

Swami Bhramanand was a favorite disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who undertook the proceedings of the Mutt.  Once, Thakurji asked Bhramanand to prepare Pan for him, but he refused to do that, Latu witnessed their relationship as son and father.  Latu said, “ you are not listening to Thakurji and giving back the answer, it is not good.” Bhramanand became angry, they both had an argument, Bhramanand said: “ I do not know how to fix pan, don’t teach me lessons.”  They continued to have arguments of devotion to Thakurji.   Thakurji takes pleasure in these silly arguments of his disciples.  Thakurji called Ramlal to watch these arguments between his two favorites disciples, asked Ramlal to name the sincere devotee of Thakurji, Ramlal said: “ Bhrmanand is a superior devotee.” Latu became very angry to hear this, Thakurji continued to laugh at them saying that Ramlal was right because Bhramanand was not serious in his arguments but  Latu was angry. Thakurji said, “ How can my devotee get angry in front of me, so Bhramanand is a superior devotee, only Chandal will get angry, anger will take away the devotion and concentration of the devotee.”  Latu felt ashamed after listening to Thakurji,  Latu gave up his anger and cried “ Thakurji, I will not show anger in front of you” Thakurji said “ This body had a desire to eat pan, Bhramanand refused to feed it, if the soul has the desire to do so, Bhramanand will not refuse,” after sometime Latu went to prepare Pan for Thakurji.  In this way, Thakurji kept advising about spirituality and stirred the emotions in Latu.  Once Thakurji asked, “ You are a devotee of Lord Ram, tell me what’s he doing at this moment?” Latu innocently replied “ How do I know about Lord Rama’s deeds?” many a time Thakurji intent to say himself as Lord Rama, but Latu failed to understand it.  After these incidents, Latu always considered Paramahamsaji as Lord, Thakurji took all the effort to educate him with the knowledge of the supreme Lord.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 11

Latu Maharaj visits many places and holy men, wherever he goes he became favorite of all, he used to share knowledge with the people that all he has learned from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who always says “The pure heart always attracts all, keep the intellect free from impurities, accept truth as a vow, don’t let anyone exploit you, contemplate upon supreme Lord to get rid of troubles, He always protects his devotees from the troubles, if not finding peace by reciting Nama, spend time close to Ma Kali and sit in her shrine or  rush to me.”  Latu Maharaj said “ Thakurji taught me to take pleasure in booze, not that ordinary one, it is supreme one, remembrance of Supreme Lord. The ordinary people introduce their children  to drugs, medicines, women, wealth, and  money, which can cause only addiction and never get peace or pleasure, but my Guruji taught me to take pleasure in the supreme Bhramam and this is the supreme drug that overpowers all other drugs.”  One devotee said to Latu Maharaj “We are also used to this type of drug reciting the names of Lord, but our cries often remain unnoticed,” Latu Maharaj said “ Your cries are definitely reaching to supreme Lord, you are crying for money, that is why you have money, when you start praying that I do not want money, wealth, fame, position, etc.. and when you pray that I want supreme Lord, He will definitely come to you.” 

Paramahamsaji knows that Latu is uneducated; he realized that Latu needs to learn something for the survival, he was taught the basic lessons.  But he had to drop that idea shortly because Latu was finding it difficult to learn.  Thakurji accepted him as he was, it was before the arrival disciples like Bhramananda and Swami Vivekananda.  Latu used to listen to more and more lectures on spirituality, he had an interest in wrestling, therefore, he used to consume a quite big meal. One day Thakurji scolded him not to give importance to meals which could bring distraction in meditation, after listening to this he gradually reduced the intake of the meal.  Initially, he felt it is difficult, eventually, he adapted to it and became one of the great Yogi.  One day he had wrestled with Bhramanandji, in that Latu was not able to perform well, Thakurji understood that he has drastically reduced the intake of the meal because of that he was growing weak. After this incident, Thakurji always took Latu with him while consuming meals, he used to keep his share on Latu’s plate, and gradually he learned to eat the required meal to keep him fit.  He left wrestling and started regular exercises.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 1o

 During this period of time, Sri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa was establishing a group of Youngsters to employ them in a mission for the development of the society, the group of young men was appointed as his disciple, who can carry out his mission, and Latu was also one among them, others were Swami Vivekananda, and Swami Bhramanand.  It was in the year 1880; an unfortunate event took place in Dhakshineshwar,  Hridhaynath who was the cousin of Thakurji working in the shrine was removed from the service of the shrine due to some malpractices by the son in law of Rani Rasmoni who was in charge of the temple of Dhakshineshwar.   Thakurji was ashamed of his atrocities and was deeply disturbed by his wicked deeds.  On the other hand, Hridhaynath was taking good care of Thakurji while he was troubled with the throat cancer, after removing him from the shrine, Thakurji became helpless.  It was difficult for the people there to give a bath, feed and take care of Thakurji.  Soon Thakurji thought of Latu, once there arrived Rambabu, he said “ Latu is a sincere servant, he is too devoted and good-hearted, I want him in my service, will you give him to me?. He is not happy to stay in your house anyway; if he stays here it would be helpful for me.”  Thakurji’s orders were sincerely followed; Rambabu brought Latu to Dhakshineshwar forever.