We are sorry to announce the passing away of four of our brother-monks during this month.

   Swami Mitanandaji (Manoranjan Maharaj), aged 85, passed away on 15 July at Varanasi under tragic circumstances.  On that day, he had gone to Vishwanath temple in the small hours of the morning but did not return to the Sevashrama.  After a search his dead body was found floating on the Ganges at the Dashashwamedh Ghat at about 8 am.  An initiated disciple of Swami Sharvanandaji, he joined the Order at Varanasi Sevashrama in 1943 and had Sannyasa from Swami Shankaranandaji in 1952.  Besides his joining centre, he served at Belur Math, Kankhal and Lucknow centres.  He also participated in flood relief work at Malda in 1978.  He had been leading a retired life at Varanasi Sevashrama for about ten years.  The Swami was austere and genial by nature.

   Swami Ajaranandaji (Amitabha Maharaj), Head of Saradapitha, met a sudden and untimely death at Bhubaneswar on 15 July at 4.45 pm owing to a massive cardiac arrest.  He was 56.  He had gone to Bhubaneswar Ashrama on the 13th to spend a few days there.  In the afternoon of the fateful day, he suddenly felt acute chest pain and was rushed to hospital, but died before the ambulance carrying him could reach there.  An initiated disciple of Swami Vireshwaranandaji, he joined the Order at Narendrapur centre in 1976 and had Sannyasa from Swami Gambhiranandaji in 1986.  Besides his joining centre, he served at Balaram Mandir and Seva Pratishthan.  He was the Head of Cooch Behar centre for five years, and had taken charge of Saradapitha only five months ago.  His gentle manners had endeared him to one and all, and punctiliousness in work was a notable trait of his character.  In him the Order has lost a promising and energetic member.

   Swami Ekatmanandaji (Ramakrishnan Maharaj) passed away on 18 July at 7.40 pm at Seva Pratishthan, Kolkata.  He was 92 and had been suffering from old-age ailments for some years. Initiated by Swami Virajanandaji, he joined the Order at Mysore Ashrama in 1941 and had Sannyasa from his Guru in 1949.  Besides his joining centre, he served at the Headquarters Office and Coimbatore Mission, Rajkot, Mumbai, Advaita Ashrama (both Mayavati and Kolkata), Vrindaban and Bhubaneswar centres.  He served Swami Atulanandaji at Barlowganj for some months.  He was the Head of Singapore, Chengalpattu, Ootacamund and Shyamla Tal centres.  He had been leading a retired life for about two decades, during which period he stayed at Kankhal, Chengalpattu and Belur Math.  He had an intellectual bent of mind and has to his credit a couple of books and some articles.  The Swami was austere by nature and had strong mental stamina till the end. 

   Swami Nihswanandaji (Balakrishnan Maharaj) expired at our Thiruvananthapuram hospital on 24 July at 5.40 pm owing to cardio-respiratory arrest and multi-organ failure.  He was 87.  Initiated by Swami Virajanandaji, he joined the Order at Bangalore Vedanta College in 1942 and had Sannyasa from Swami Shankaranandaji in 1952.  Besides his joining centre, he served at Mangalore, Mumbai, Rangoon Sevashrama, Rajkot and Thiruvananthapuram centres.  He was the Head of Ootacamund and Delhi centres.  He had been leading a retired life for about two decades, during which period he stayed at Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Nettayam Ashramas.  Simple, austere and jovial by nature, the Swami was respected by all for his sadhu qualities.