The Story of an Epoch

by Swami Shraddhananda

It is lovely to watch a tiny seed sprout into a tender plant which latergrows to be a gigantic tree Equally interesting and instructive is it to study the early phase of the Ramakrishna Movement, which has come to represent the finest in our national consciousness and the most universal in spiritual outlook. While the Direct Disciples of the Master formed the first generation of pioneers in this saga, the second generation is ably represented by Swami Virajananda, who was initiated by the Holy Mother and given the ochre robe by Swami Vivekananda. In due course he became the sixth President of the Sri Ramakrishna Order, and set a very good example of the ideal Sannyasi of Swamiji's conception, combining as he did in himself work and worship, thought and meditation. His adventurous spiritual career, which has been so lovingly sketched by Swami Shraddhanada of our Sacramento Centre, throws a flood of light on the formative period of the Ramakrishna Movement.