When I came to Banagram Ashram first, then the only old man was Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj there. He was then 60/65 years old. Then Guru Maharaj was 30/31 years old. Trishan Maharaj, Swami Swarupananda Maharaj or Murari Maharaj were of His same age. Dipti Maharaj and Hari Maharaj were junior to Him then.Dipti Maharaj, Swami Akhandananda Maharaj, Swami Atmananda Maharaj were perhaps of the same age. Mihir Maharaj was also of their same age then. Mama Maharaj i.e Swami Keshabananda Maharaj and Swami Shankarananda Maharaj were senior to Guru Maharaj. The only maharaj who was 60/65 years old then, was Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj. He constructed an earthen cave under the banyan tree of Banagram Ashram, adjusting the root of this tree. He lived in this cave. Then no maharaj of the ashram lay seperately. It was not possible also. Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj was the only maharaj who lived seperately because of the accommodation, made under this banyan tree.
Then very few devotees came to ashram and the devotees went to see the cave, made by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj – maharaj was also pleased to show this cave to the devotees. That time Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj recited the Gita (the holy book of Hindus) and the scriptures, with the help of sweet note of his voice. The hymn towards Guruji i.e ‘Shuddhan, Buddhan…..’ was composed by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj.He also wrote the music of this hymn. Maharaj belonged to East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Perhaps his parents lived in Tripura. That’s why his style of talking was like the people of East Bengal. He joined Bharat Sevashram Sangha taking sannyas (sannyas i.e the rituals of becoming a monk) in his young age. Long days he served in this institution as an assistant or head monk. Before joining Banagram Ashram, he left that institution and he was leading austere aesthetic practice in the lap of the Himalayas ( Uttar Kashi or Rishikesh) taking a vow of silence. In that situation, he met 24/25 years old young monk Swami Paramananda. He told us the story of that unworldly feeling and experience. When he saw Gurudeb (Swami Paramananda), he thought he surely met the lord Shiva. He wasted no time to introduce himself to Guru Maharaj, just he met Him. After this incident, he joined Banagram Ashram within 1/2 years, taking permission from Guruji.
Here his duty was ( which we saw) to recite the scriptures, to teach the inhabitants of the ashram vedic mantra, to recite the Gita, the scriptures etc in the appropriate music and rhythm. Besides these duties, he beautified the ashram planting many flower shrubs and other trees and made the ashram as if Tapoban Ashram of the ancient age. It is difficult to talk how much hard work he did in that time. In that old age, he prepared the hard soil of the shore of the pond of Banagram Ashram to plant and this was not so easy to others in that age. He succeeded in that work which was almost impossible.The beautification of Guruji’s cottage, with the help of these trees – all these activities were implemented by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj. Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj started the beautification of the place around Guruji’s cottage. Long days later, a brahmachari named Manojit (Swami Basudebananda) started to help Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj in the beautification of the place around Guruji’s cottage. Beside this activity, Swami Basudebananda Maharaj played the harmonium (a musical instrument) during the prayer in the morning and evening of the ashram. After Swami Basudebananda Maharaj – Mrityunjoy Maharaj of the kitchen of the ashram, started to play the harmonium during the prayer in the morning and evening in the ashram.
[Translated by Ramprasad, a former student of Banagram Ashram.]
Then very few devotees came to ashram and the devotees went to see the cave, made by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj – maharaj was also pleased to show this cave to the devotees. That time Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj recited the Gita (the holy book of Hindus) and the scriptures, with the help of sweet note of his voice. The hymn towards Guruji i.e ‘Shuddhan, Buddhan…..’ was composed by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj.He also wrote the music of this hymn. Maharaj belonged to East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Perhaps his parents lived in Tripura. That’s why his style of talking was like the people of East Bengal. He joined Bharat Sevashram Sangha taking sannyas (sannyas i.e the rituals of becoming a monk) in his young age. Long days he served in this institution as an assistant or head monk. Before joining Banagram Ashram, he left that institution and he was leading austere aesthetic practice in the lap of the Himalayas ( Uttar Kashi or Rishikesh) taking a vow of silence. In that situation, he met 24/25 years old young monk Swami Paramananda. He told us the story of that unworldly feeling and experience. When he saw Gurudeb (Swami Paramananda), he thought he surely met the lord Shiva. He wasted no time to introduce himself to Guru Maharaj, just he met Him. After this incident, he joined Banagram Ashram within 1/2 years, taking permission from Guruji.
Here his duty was ( which we saw) to recite the scriptures, to teach the inhabitants of the ashram vedic mantra, to recite the Gita, the scriptures etc in the appropriate music and rhythm. Besides these duties, he beautified the ashram planting many flower shrubs and other trees and made the ashram as if Tapoban Ashram of the ancient age. It is difficult to talk how much hard work he did in that time. In that old age, he prepared the hard soil of the shore of the pond of Banagram Ashram to plant and this was not so easy to others in that age. He succeeded in that work which was almost impossible.The beautification of Guruji’s cottage, with the help of these trees – all these activities were implemented by Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj. Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj started the beautification of the place around Guruji’s cottage. Long days later, a brahmachari named Manojit (Swami Basudebananda) started to help Swami Tapeshwarananda Maharaj in the beautification of the place around Guruji’s cottage. Beside this activity, Swami Basudebananda Maharaj played the harmonium (a musical instrument) during the prayer in the morning and evening of the ashram. After Swami Basudebananda Maharaj – Mrityunjoy Maharaj of the kitchen of the ashram, started to play the harmonium during the prayer in the morning and evening in the ashram.
[Translated by Ramprasad, a former student of Banagram Ashram.]