Sarada Math president Pravrajika Bhaktiprana passes away

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana, fourth president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Dakshineswar, passed away on Sunday night. She was 102. 

Senior Math officials said Pravrajika Bhaktiprana was put on a ventilator at the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan earlier in the day after her pulse became feeble and blood pressure started to drop.

The “President  Mataji”, as she is lovingly called, was admitted to Seva Pratishthan on December 5 morning with complaints of abdominal distention and cough. On Saturday, her condition deteriorated and she had high fever. She was later shifted to the ICU of the hospital. 

According to Math officials, Pravrajika Bhaktiprana was born in October 1920. She saw many of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Her pre-monastic name was Kalyani Banerjee.

She joined Matribhavan as a dedicated worker in 1950.

Later, she was given charge of the institution by Ramakrishna Mission, said an official.

She was an initiated disciple of Swami Vijnanananda and received sannyas from Swami Shankarananda in January 1959 along with seven senior members (pioneers). She was among the first group of nuns who received sannyas from Swami Shankarananda. 

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana became a trustee and governing body member in 1959 and1960, respectively.

Ramakrishna Mission handed Matribhavan to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission on November 18, 1961. Pravrajika Bhaktiprana took over as secretary of Matribhavan hospital and led an exemplified life as a dedicated worker till 2009.

She was appointed vice-president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission on December 20, 1998. On April 2, 2009, she took over as fourth president of the order. 

Senior functionaries of Sri Sarada Math said her life, dedicated to higher cause and loving service to humanity, would continue to inspire generations to come.