The life of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 'enables us to see God face to face', Gandhiji wrote. Similarly, when someone in his circle was distraught, the Mahatma sent him to spend time at the Ashram of Ramana Maharshi. The Paramahamsa and the Maharshi have been among the greatest spiritual figures of our country. They have transformed the lives of and have been a solace to millions. Their peak, mystic experience is what we yearn to have. But what if several of the experiences they had occur in other circumstances also?With the rigour and painstaking research that mark all his work, Shourie probes the lives of two of India's greatest spiritual masters in the light of the breath-taking advances in neuroscience as well as psychology and sociology. The result is a book of remarkable vigour: an examination - and ultimately reconciliation - of science and faith as also of seemingly antagonistic, irreconcilable worldviews.

"This book provides deep insights into the life and personality of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Describing his family background and early life, it discusses at length his marriage with Sarada devi, his life-long celibacy, his devotion to Goddess Kali and his philosophy of Advaita. Taking a lose look at his teachings and methods of imparting them, it tries to interpret the spiritual experiences of Sri Ramakrishna of assimilating different religions and sects, indicating the great path of religions synthesis—acceptance of all religions and rejection of none. "

While Ramakrishna Paramhamsa has been the subject of innumerable volumes devoted to his life and teachings over the past century and a half, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa: The Sadhaka of Dakshineswar illuminates this enigmatic religious figure and stands out amidst the multitude of voices that crowd his story. It traces the several contradictions of nineteenth-century Bengal that the man embodied: between his Vaishnav roots and Sakti worship; between bhakti and gyan; and between a guru and sadhaka (spiritual practitioner). Amiya P. Sen situates Sri Ramakrishna within the emerging social and cultural anxieties of the time as also the larger Hindu-Brahminical world that he was born into. This book also carries a brief but critical introduction to the moral and philosophical underpinnings of Ramakrishna’s vibrant theology that will be of interest to lay readers as well as those especially interested in the cultural and religious history of modern Bengal. See also Amiya Sen’s His Words: The Preaching and Parables of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Scholar Jeffrey J. Kripal explores the life and teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th-century Bengali saint who played a major role in the creation of modern Hinduism. The work is now marked by both critical acclaim and cross-cultural controversy. In a substantial new Preface to this second edition, Kripal answers his critics and addresses the controversy.

Ramakrishna Paramhansa, a famous saint of nineteenth century India was the guru of Swami Vivekananda. He was born in a poor Brahmin family in 1836, in a small town near Calcutta, West Bengal. His life was devoted to mysticism and religious pursuit. A great believer in goddess Kali, he often lost consciousness while praying to her. Many disciples were attracted to him. His main disciple was Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna started a mission – Ramakrishna Mission which was very influential during the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries and even now. The objective was to spread the idea of potential divinity of every being and to manifest it through every action and thoughts. The mission that was founded by Ramakrishna was universally spread by Swami Vivekananda. His promotion of Hinduism started with his keynote address at the world Parliament of Religious meeting in Chicago. He also advocated the idea of harmony of religions based on his experience that all religions lead to the realisation of the same reality. It won accolades and people were mesmerised by the speaker and his message. In his last days he gave Vivekananda the responsibility of looking after the disciples and running the mission. He left for his heavenly abode on August 16, 1886 and till the last moment the name of his Goddess was on his lips.