Amrita Bazar
Patrika
(A Report on the Passing of Swami
Sri Yukteswar in Calcutta's Leading Newspaper)
"The death Bhandara
ceremony for Srimat Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri Maharaj, aged 81,
took place at Puri on March 21. Many disciples came down to
Puri for the rites.
"One of the greatest
expounders of the Bhagavad Gita, Swami Maharaj was a great disciple
of Yogiraj Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya of Banaras. Swami
Maharaj was the founder of several Yogoda Satsanga [Self-Realization
Fellowship] centers in India, and was the great inspiration
behind the yoga movement which was carried to the West by Swami
Yogananda, his principal disciple. It was Sri Yukteswarji's
prophetic powers and deep realization that inspired Swami Yogananda
to cross the oceans and spread in America the message of the
masters of India.
"His interpretations
of the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures testify to the depth
of Sri Yukteswarji's command of the philosophy, both Eastern
and Western, and remain as an eye-opener for the unity between
Orient and Occident. As he believed in the unity of all religious
faiths, Sri Yukteswar Maharaj established Sadhu Sabha (Society
of Saints) with the cooperation of leaders of various sects
and faiths, for the inculcation of a scientific spirit in religion.
At the time of his demise he nominated Swami Yogananda his successor
as the president of Sadhu Sabha.
"India is really
poorer today by the passing of such a great man. May all fortunate
enough to have come near him inculcate in themselves the true
spirit of India's culture and sadhana which was personified
in him."
