Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath was a highly revered spiritual master in India, who dedicated his life to promoting the essence of Indian scriptures and the Vedic spiritual path. He believed in the power of Divine Chanting Naam of Hare Krishna Hare Ram, which he regarded as the omnipotent "Tarak Brahma Naam," the chant of soul deliverance in Kali Yuga, and the key to attaining "Moksha" or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Throughout his life, Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath wrote more than 150 books, established more than 60 temples and ashrams across India, and founded the spiritual organization Akhil Bharat Jaiguru Sampradaya. He was also the initiator of multiple magazines, including Pather Alo, Devjan, JaiGuru, Arya Nari, Paramananda, and The Mother.
Due to his teachings and contributions to the spiritual realm, Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath continues to be revered and worshipped as an incarnation of the Lord himself, and his disciples regard him as an eternal source of spiritual enlightenment and soul succor for all seekers.
Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath was born as Probodh Chandra Chattopadhyay on 6 Falgun 1892 in Keota village of Hooghly district, West Bengal. His parents were Pranhari Chattopadhyay and Mallabati Devi. His father was a pious Brahmin who worked as a village physician in Dumurdaha, Hooghly district.
During his childhood, Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath had a divine experience while listening to the Mahamantra, where he attained Samadhi during the Kirtan. However, it was initially thought that he had fainted. An ascetic later informed his grandmother that he had not fainted but attained Samadhi. He was brought back to consciousness by spraying holy Ganges water on him and singing Lord Rama's name.
Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath's family deity was Brajanath (Krishna). Unfortunately, his mother, Malyavati Devi, passed away in 1896. After her death, his father married Giribala Devi. His father passed away in 1912.
Education
Omkarnath attended a village school but then determined that Dasarathidev Yogeswar of Digsui village should be his guru.[5][8]: 133 Though he was admitted to the Bandel Church School for a quite of time to pursue Western Education, he left that school for is earnest interest in Indian Sankritised Education system. Thereafter he studied at Yogeswar's house, where he undertook daily chores as well as spiritual education. In 1918, Probodh was meditating at about midnight when he visualised the god Shiva along with the Durga, the Divine Mother.[9]
Later, Omkarnath saw his previous birth on the day of Saraswati puja. Through this he came to believe that he was a famous worshipper of the goddess Kali in previous life.[10]
Spiritual quest
Guru Dasarathidev had named him Sitaram, the name Omkarnath was a divine revelation which was later formally conferred by Swami Dhruvananda Giri. Thus, Probodh came to be known as Sitaramdas Omkarnath. He had heard the Hare Krishna MahaMantra as a Divine Sound during his austere meditation in a cave at Ramashram, Dumurdaha, Hooghly. Later, he heard a divine voice say "O Sage, dive in". Still Sitaram was not ready for giving spiritual initiation to masses, and he waited for direct command. At Puri, Orissa, Sitaram visualised Jagannath in a halo[11] and Jagannath gave the instruction — "Go, Go, Go and give the Name".[8]: 134 Thereafter, Sitaram started spreading the Lord's name on a mass scale.[8]: 136
As a preacher/guru
After getting what is believed to be the Divine instruction, Omkarnath began to preach Nam all across India.[12] Temples were established and renovated, the poor were fed, clothes were distributed, help was given to the fathers of marriageable daughters, taking on the responsibility of lifetime maintenance of hundreds of poverty-stricken families, establishment of free schools for poor students, setting up 29 Akhanda Naam Kirtan centres across India, establishing temples and ashrams, and several other activities of the kind went on continuously.[8] Though he was a follower of both Ramanuj and Ramanandi sect, he himself developed a unique philosophical school named "Avinava Pranab-vad"
Millions of men and women took spiritual initiation from Sitaram. His reputation spread and people gathered in large numbers wherever he resided. Sitaram was respected by contemporaries such as Anandamayi Ma, Mohanananda Brahmachari, Dalai Lama, Vilayat Inayat Khan, Swami Chidananda, Jain Muni Sushil Kumar and others.[8][10] He was believed to be an incarnation of Lord Sri Ramachandra, and is one of the most spiritually powerful and sound people that ever existed in human history. He is also one of the purest people who have ever existed.
Omkarnath's life was associated with many unexplained incidents and miracles, which have been documented in books and newspapers by prominent personalities. One such incident was reported by the writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen, who witnessed a medical miracle. Her father, Naren Dev, was in a coma for several days, but when Omkarnath came and touched him, he opened his eyes, spoke and within a week had begun walking again.
There are also reports of revival from death at a Calcutta Medical College. Padmalochan Mukerjee was declared dead, but when Omkarnath arrived and touched him, he revived in front of Sister G. Wood, who was overwhelmed by the incident.
General Sujan Singh Uban has also described that Omkarnath had foreseen the Indo-Pakistan war of December 1971 and that during the war, a supernatural power of Omkarnath had given him an extraordinary victory. Uban felt the powers of Omkarnath in many aspects of his personal life.
Omkarnath passed away in the early hours of 6 December 1982. His body was placed at Sri Ramashram, Dumurdaha, so that people could pay their respects. He was cremated on a sandalwood pyre on 8 December.