Life sketch of Swami Alokananda Saraswati (Bade Sadhu Baba)

Swami Alokananda Saraswati left his mortal frame on Monday, 5th of September 2022 (Bhadra, Shukla Dashami Tithi) at 10.06 AM after a brief spell of illness, at the age of 83 years. Born on Saturday, 14th of October 1939 of a religious family at Kolkata, West Bengal. His father Shri Dhirendra Krishna Mukhopadhyay was disciple of Swami Premananda Bharati and mother Jyotirmoyee Devi was disciple of Swami Vishuddhananda (Gandh baba). Alokananda was the 5th of his six brothers and two sisters.

Since his childhood, Swami Alokananda, along with his studies, was keenly interested in spirituality, and he always kept searching for a Sadguru who would guide him on the religious path. He, and his younger brother, who later became famous as Swami Amalananda Saraswati, went to Puri to meet “Ma Mani”, who was a senior disciple in the lineage of Sadguru Shri Shri Bijoykrishna Goswami. Getting directions from her, the brothers went to Ramchandrapur, Purulia, in West Bengal, to meet Swami Asimananda Saraswati. who would become their guru and eventually gave them Deeskha on Maha Asthami day on 7th October 1962. Graduating in B.Com and M.A (History), teaching in a school at Raipur, learning Music, -- all went parallelly with his practice of sadhana. May it be fine arts, singing, studies, intelligence, or religious perseverance Swamiji had proven his mettle in all aspects of physical and spiritual spheres.

They left home in 1964 to visit holy places like Rishikesh, Varanasi and Vrindavan etc. Finally, on the 9th of March 1967, on the auspicious day of Shiva Ratri, both the brothers were initiated into Sannyas by Swami Asimananda.

After Gurudev’s demise on 13th August 1967, they continued their spiritual practice at different places in India. In 1975, “Shree Shree Bijoykrishna Bhakta Sangha” was established in Raghunathpur, Purulia, West Bengal under the advice of Gurumata Shri Shri Sailabala Devi. This would later become hub for the propagation of "Naama-sankirtana" (naam prachar) at different places in India.

Since then, he, along with Swami Amalanandaji, started spreading “Naama-sankirtana”, not only in West Bengal but to different places all over India. Swami Alokanandaji has sung various bhajans and the “Naama” – “Bhaja Guru Gauranga, Radha Govinda, Brahma Narayana Hare Krishna Ram” in more than 100 different ‘ragas’ and people, once they have listened to his songs, could never forget the golden voice of Swamiji.

People not only got mesmerized listening to his voice but also, they could not avoid the love and affection that he showered on everybody. People thought themselves to be lucky to come in contact with him and get his advice. His advice was not only limited to spirituality but also to overcome the earthly problems of the common people. Though he never gave formal “deeksha” to anybody; Those coming in contact with him found an inexplicable bondage of love, devotion and were thus attached to Swamiji.

His demise has created such a void in the hearts of the bereft people, which is difficult to fulfil.

We pray to him to shower his blessing on all of us.

Jai Gosaiji.