The Light of the Modern World: The Universal Significance of Sri Ramakrishna's Avatarhood and Message

Swami Bhajanananda

jul 2016 · Advaita Ashrama (A publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India)

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Sri Ramakrishna is regarded variously as a saint, sage, spiritual leader, world teacher, prophet, Avatara of the present age and so on. Finding these terms unsatisfactory, the noted British author Christopher Isherwood described Sri Ramakrishna as a “phenomenon”. The present book published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, is a modest attempt to understand that phenomenon in the context of world thought currents and in the light of authentic sources.

According to Swami Vivekananda, “With the birth of Sri Ramakrishna the Golden Age has begun.” But today, such an assertion may appear preposterous, with no sign of such a beginning visible. Who was Sri Ramakrishna? What was the purpose of his advent? What is the true dimension of his personality? Was he an Avatara? What is the role of an Avatara? Devotees, followers, and admirers of Sri Ramakrishna encounter these questions at some juncture of their life's journey. And in answer to these questions lies the opening to the realm of an ineffable “Light”, which is the “Light of the Modern World”.

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Swami Bhajanananda is a senior Trustee of Ramakrishna Math and member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was formerly an Editor of Prabuddha Bharata for several years, and is currently an Assistant Secretary of the world-wide Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math.