Swami Smaranananda, the president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, passed away at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan hospital at 8.14pm on Tuesday.

He was 94 and the 16th president of the order.

Swami Smaranananda was elected the president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission at a meeting of the board of trustees of the Math and the governing body of the Mission at Belur Math on July 17, 2017.

Senior monks of the order said the president was not keeping well for the last few months. On January 18, he was admitted to Peerless Hospital in Calcutta with fever and other complications. Subsequently, he was shifted to the Seva Pratishthan on January 29.

“Despite the best available medical treatment, Maharaj’s condition continued to gradually deteriorate and he finally passed away on Tuesday night. The cremation will take place at Belur Math on Wednesday around 9am,” said Swami Suvirananda, general secretary of the Math and Mission. “His mahasamadhi has left a huge void that is difficult to fill.”

The gates of Belur Math, which were left open to his followers and disciples all through Tuesday night, will remain so till the last rites are completed on Wednesday, senior monks of the order said.

As the news spread, condolences kept pouring in from all over the country and beyond.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had a close relationship with Swami Smaranananda for years.

“Srimat Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj, the revered President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, dedicated his life to spirituality and service. He left an indelible mark on countless hearts and minds. His compassion and wisdom will continue to inspire generations.

“I had a very close relation with him over the years. I recall my visit to Belur Math in 2020 when I had interacted with him. A few weeks ago in Kolkata, I had also visited the hospital and enquired about his health,” the Prime Minister said on his X handle. “My thoughts are with the countless devotees of the Belur Math. Om Shanti.”

In her message, chief minister Mamata Banerjee conveyed her condolences to all his fellow monks, followers and devotees.

“Deeply saddened at the news of the demise of Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, the Revered President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. This great monk during his lifetime has given spiritual leadership to the world order of the Ramakrishnaites and remains the source of solace for millions of devotees across the globe. I convey my deepest condolence to all his fellow monks, followers and devotees,” the chief minister said on her X handle.

Bengal’s leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, also expressed grief at Swami Smaranananda’s death. “My thoughts and prayers are with the countless people associated with Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission,” he said in a post on X.

Swami Smaranananda was born at Andami village in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, in 1929. He came in contact with the Mumbai branch of the Ramakrishna order when he was about 20 years old. Inspired by the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, he joined the Mumbai ashram in 1952 at the age of 22 and embraced monastic life.

The same year, Swami Shankarananda, the seventh president of the Ramakrishna order, gave him mantra diksha (spiritual initiation). He also received brahmacharya vows in 1956 and sannyasa vows from Swami Shankarananda and acquired the name “Swami Smaranananda” in 1960.

From the Mumbai centre, Swami Smaranananda was transferred in 1958 to the Calcutta branch of the Advaita Ashrama, the publication centre of the Ramakrishna Math. He served at both Mayavati and Calcutta centres of the Advaita Ashrama for 18 years.

For a few years he was the assistant editor of Prabuddha Bharata, the English journal of the Ramakrishna order which was started by Swami Vivekananda. Swami Smaranananda worked to improve the standard of publications of the Advaita Ashrama, a section of senior monks of the order said.

In 1976, Swami Smaranananda was posted to the Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha, an educational complex near Belur Math, as its secretary.

During his long tenure of about 15 years there, the educational and rural welfare work of Saradapitha saw tremendous development. He, along with his monastic assistants, took up extensive relief operations during the devastating flood in Bengal in 1978.

From Saradapitha, Swami Smaranananda was posted to Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, as its head in December 1991. He was appointed a Trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and Member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1983.

Twelve years later, in April 1995, Swami Smaranananda joined the headquarters of the order at Belur Math as an assistant secretary, and after two years, he took charge as the general secretary of the twin organisations.

As the general secretary, Swami Smaranananda steered the worldwide Ramakrishna Movement for a decade until May 2007 when he was elected a vice-president of the order.

In July 2017, he became the president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

Swami Smaranananda travelled extensively in India and different parts of the world, visiting many branches of the Math and Mission and also unaffiliated centres, spreading the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and Vedanta among a vast number of people. He also gave mantra diksha to thousands of spiritual seekers.

Swami Smaranananda was a voracious reader and a deep thinker. He has contributed a number of articles to various journals of the Ramakrishna order. Collating his articles and talks, books have been brought out, of which Smriti-Smaran-Anudhyan and Chintan-Manan-Anushilan are in Bengali, and Musings of a Monk in English.

Swami Smaranananda was loved and respected by all for his spiritual wisdom, simplicity, unassuming nature, sense of humour and spiritual fervour.