Kalpataru Day: Embracing Harmony Through the Teachings of Ramakrishna

On the first day of the English New Year, while many celebrate the occasion in their own way, millions of devotees flock to Kashipur Udyanbati in Kolkata. This is due to the profound reverence for Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadev. On this day, not only Kashipur Udyanbati but also the Yogadan Math of Kankurgachi and Dakshineswar witness massive gatherings of devotees. Historically, January 1, 1886, is significant as the day Sri Ramakrishna manifested himself as the Kalpataru (wish-fulfilling tree). While residing in Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna would often say to his devotees, “Before leaving, I will break the pots in the market.”(Translated from Bengali) By this, he implied that he would reveal his divine nature to the world. On January 1, 1886, he fulfilled this promise, offering a living demonstration of his words.

Thakur Sri Ramakrishna often said that one cannot truly experience God through mere book reading. He emphasized that there is a vast difference between theoretical knowledge and direct realization. In his presence, books, scriptures, and even science seemed insignificant, like straw. He not only spoke about God but also showed the way to reach Him. For Sri Ramakrishna, God resided in all living beings. In this context, his disciple Swami Sivanandaji once said, “He was always like a Kalpataru (wish-fulfilling tree). His sole purpose was to shower mercy on all living beings. We witnessed with our own eyes how deeply compassionate he was to everyone.” (Translated from original Bengali writing)  Sri Ramakrishna’s path to God was rooted in selfless love for all humanity and living beings. To him, there was no distinction between God and an ordinary one; he saw the divine equally in everyone.

In this regard, a part of Thakur’s conversation with Keshav Chandra Sen in “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” is worth mentioning. Thakur told Keshav, “All men look alike, to be sure, but they have different natures. Some have an excess of sattva, others an excess of rajas, and still others an excess of tamas. You must have noticed that the cakes known as puli all look alike. But their contents are very different. Some contain condensed milk, some coconut kernel, and others mere boiled kalai pulse.”

Thakur Sri Ramakrishna sought to restore a sense of respect and awareness among the people. During that period, India was under the oppressive rule of the British, who exploited the nation extensively. While political movements were active across the country, none achieved ultimate success. In this challenging time, Thakur Sri Ramakrishna emerged as a guiding light for a society lacking consciousness and direction. His mission was to awaken this dormant consciousness in every individual. Thus, his blessing to all was, “Be illumined.”

Thakur Sri Ramakrishna accomplished an even greater task than taking up arms against the British. Through his teachings and influence, he helped dissolve the hatred and disrespect that Indians harbored towards one another. His impact was so profound that, when the Sedition Committee’s report was published in 1918 under the leadership of Justice Rowlatt, the second chapter, titled ‘The Beginnings of a Revolutionary Movement in Bengal’, prominently mentioned two individuals who had never wielded a weapon: Sri Ramakrishna and his disciple, Swami Vivekananda. The report acknowledged:

“In 1886 had died the Bengali ascetic Rama Krishna. He was undoubtedly a remarkable and purely religious man. He strongly defended Hinduism but taught that all religions were true, that all deities were manifestations of the impersonal Supreme, and that Brahmin disdain of low castes was wrong…. He taught social service as the service of humanity.”

This statement reflects how, even 32 years after Sri Ramakrishna’s passing away, the British government recognized his influence and the unity he fostered among Indians. Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings instilled mutual respect among people and a renewed sense of pride in their country. He fostered harmony among individuals of different religions and castes, encouraging them to rise above their divisions. This unity played a pivotal role in accelerating the revolutionary movement, which the British government clearly viewed with apprehension, as evidenced by the report’s tone.

 Sri Ramakrishna was a true scholar whose profound knowledge did not stem from book learning. Ruth Harris, a renowned Ramakrishna-Vivekananda scholar and professor at Oxford University, highlights this in her acclaimed book ‘Guru to the World’ :

“Vivekananda knew that in his inner nature he was a bhakta (a religious devotee). Ramakrishna was the opposite; he lived as a bhakta, but was a jnani inside, showing great intellectual acuity despite his lack of formal education. They both shared a yearning for ‘God intoxication’.”

If we examine the current international situation, it becomes evident that a lack of coordination has gradually led to unrest among the people in many countries. In neighboring Bangladesh, the minority Hindu community faces daily oppression. Similarly, global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine crisis, have driven people from war-torn regions and across the world to take to the streets, demanding a ceasefire. Socially, clashes based on race, caste, and religion persist even today. On a personal level, family strife has become more pronounced, with families growing smaller due to a lack of harmony. The close-knit families that were once a hallmark of rural Bengal are now nearly extinct.

Richard Schiffman, the biographer of Sri Ramakrishna, described him as a guiding light who led people from darkness to enlightenment. Kalpataru Diwas, observed on January 1st, is a day when Sri Ramakrishna is believed to have specially blessed everyone with the words, “Chaitanya Hok (Be illumined)” In light of today’s challenges, it is not enough to honor Sri Ramakrishna only on this day. On January 1st, we must resolve to address the pressing problems of the modern world, which stem from a lack of coordination. To do so, studying Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings and applying them in our daily lives must become a priority.

Why Sri Ramakrishna? Because he was the embodiment of the ancient Sanatan Dharma, which proclaimed the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family. Sri Ramakrishna exemplified this spirit of unity and harmony in his life and teachings. A closer study of his life reveals his unwavering commitment to fostering harmony from a young age. For instance, while he was willing to learn addition and multiplication in school, he refused to study subtraction. This seemingly small act symbolized his innate reluctance to exclude or separate anyone—a mindset that defined his life. Furthermore, Dakshineswar, the place of his spiritual practice, became a confluence of all beliefs.

Throughout his life, Sri Ramakrishna bridged divides among people of various sects and traditions, including Shaktas, Shaivites, and Vaishnavites. His ability to unite people across spiritual and cultural boundaries was so profound that Rabindranath Tagore once wrote about him, acknowledging his role in fostering harmony among humanity,

(Poem ‘poromhonsho Ramakrishna Dev’ by Rabindranath Tagore)