An Intra-faith Religious Conference at Sridham Nabadwip to commemorate 125th Anniversary of the Ramakrishna Mission was conducted on 9 and 10 December 2023. More than 850 followers each day, including Revered Monks, delegates from 16 districts of 3 states and guests, and the press, participated in the grand occasion.
The holy presence of Srimat Swami Bhajananandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, including the speeches and bhajans by other monks, respected speakers and singers, set the tone of this programme at a very high spiritual and devotional note.
9 December 2023: Day 1
It was commenced with Vedic Chanting by Sri Rakasashi Panda and Sri Soumyajeet Acharya (both trainee teachers of RKMSM).
Swami Amareshwarananda, Secretary, Nabadwip Centre welcomed all the delegates and guests to Nabadwip.
Sri Pundarikaksha Saha, MLA, Nabadwip & Shri Biman Krishna Saha, Chairman, Nabadwip Municipality said that humanity is the main current of every religion.
Swami Balabhadranandaji Maharaj, Assistant General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math discussed in his inaugural speech about the variations & individuality of different streams of Hindu religion and that, in only Hindu religion the ultimate truth can be approached from various viewpoints and various paths.
The keynote speaker Sri Shrivatsa Goswami, Acharya, Radharaman Temple, Vrindavan explained how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu brought a change in the social and religious structure of the society through his bhakti movement. He also quoted that there is one solution to every problem which is “Know Thyself” i.e. know yourself to know the truth.
The Presidential address was delivered by Swami Suparnanandaji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark. He talked about the divinity in every creature and emphasised on the idea that service is the ultimate religion.
Devotional songs were offered by Sri Raju Pramanick, accompanied by Sri Raju Basak in Tabla.
The inaugural session ended with chanting the Shanti Mantra and it was anchored by Sri Sabyasachi Mondal, Vice President, Ramakrishna Mission, Nabadwip and Dr. Siharan Chakraborty, President, Ramakrishna Mission Nabadwip.
10 December 2023: Day 2
Shri Brajkishore Swain, Retired Professor, Jagannath University, Puri in his inaugural speech explained Bhakti in various forms. He said bhakti is a divine experience, the terminus to jnana, and the supreme love of God.
Swami Tattwasarananda, Principal, Brahmachari Training Centre, Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math said that Shakti worship, especially worship of Mother Goddess, is a special asset of India and Bengal, and it was practised in India during prehistoric times, even during the Harappa-Mohenjo Daro civilization. Regarding Advaita Tattva he mentioned that Brahman and Brahmashakti are the same and this realisation is the essence of Advaita Vedanta.
Dr. Palash Ghorai, Assistant Professor, Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College, said “Shiva is the main deity of the Shaivites. This Shiva is actually the eternal consciousness, i.e. Chaitanya”.
Swami Tattwavidanandaji Maharaj, Assistant General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math said in his speech “although all religions aim at attaining God, yet differences remain between them, which is very unfortunate. This conference is to eradicate this divisiveness.”
Srimat Swami Bhajananandaji Maharaj, Vice-president, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, stated how Shri Ramakrishna is the Prophet of Inter religious harmony and the Prophet of intra religious harmony also.
On the second day of the conference, the audiences were moved by the musical prowess of Swami Animeshanandaji Maharaj, Belur Math; Sri Pritam Katham, Asst. Professor, Mugberia Gangadhar Mahavidyalaya, East Midnapore; Sri Chandi Prasad Banerjee, Nabadwip; Sri Soumen Mukhopadhyay, and Sri Animesh Das.
The sessions were anchored by Dr. Siharan Chakraborty, President, Sri Sabyasachi Mondal, Vice President and Sri Sandip Pal, Assistant Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Nabadwip.
