History

Swami Ramakrishnananda was invited to attend the Sri Ramakrishna Jayanthi sammelan for 1911. Swami Ramakrishnananda ji’s condition of health became worse. So he advised the organizers of Haripad Bhakta Sangh to invite Swami Nirmalananda (Thulasi Maharaj) to attend the function. The Haripad devotees went to Bangalore and invited Swami Nirmalananda. He readily accepted the request.

Swami Nirmalananda reached Ernakulam south railway station on the 15th February 1911.

From Ernakulam he went to Alapuzha in a steam boat. Swamiji was welcomed at Alapuzha by a huge gathering consisting of all section of people including students of Sanathana Dharma Vidyalaya. The next morning he started to Haripad in a boat. Swamiji was received at Haripad by a huge crowd. The next day was Jayanthy celebration. There was Bhajan and Procession. About two thousand five hundred people were given feast. In the Sammelan Swamiji spoke about Power (Shakti) inherent in the Hindu religion.

The next day he interacted with the students of Shanmugha Vilasam School. After the function Sri Subbaraya Iyer donated Rs1000/-to Swamiji. He told Mr. Iyer to keep the money with him for establishing an Ashram at Haripad. From Haripad Swami Nirmalananda went to Kollam.

The Bhakta Sangh carried out the work according to the action plan. Regular satsangs, bhajans and other activities were conducted. Schemes were initiated to establish an Ashram. Meanwhile Sri Venkita Krishna Iyer a young devotee donated his land at Pilapuzha by the side of the beautiful paddy field and canals to build the Ashram.

Swami Nirmalananda was invited to lay the foundation stone of the Ashram building. Swamiji reached Haripad and laid the foundation stone on Krishnashtami day the 4th September 1912. Construction of the Ashram went on very fast utilizing the first donation of Rs1000/- given by Sri Subbaraya Iyer and donation from all section of people.

Swami Nirmalananda came to Haripad again on 27th April 1913. This time he was accompanied by Swami Vishudhananda. They discussed with the organizers and Swamiji himself supervised the remaining work for the inauguration. On 4th May 1913 (Malayalam Era 22nd Medam 1088) at six in the morning the function started with reading Sree Rudram, Chandi and Gita,then Vedic Pooja and Homa followed by Inauguration ,Bhajans and Procession.

Thus, the Sri Ramakrishna Ashram Haripad, the first one in the state of Kerala came in to existence.

Foundation Stone laid on 4-9-1912

Chronology of events

In 1904, Sri Kalipada Babu, a household devotee of Sri Ramakrishna invited Swami Ramakrishnananda toTrivandrum. Swami Ramakrishnananda gave many lectures and held satsangs.

The visit of Swami Ramakrishnananda paved the way for the formation of Bhakta Sangha inTrivandrum, Haripad and other places Haripad Bhakta Sangha was headed by Sri Padmanabhan Thampi. (Later Swami Parananda)

In 1911, Haripad Bhakta Sangha invited Swami Ramakrishnanda to attend the Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti at Haripad. As he was not well he sent Swami Nirmalananda.

After the function Sri Subbaraya Iyer donated Rs.1, 000/- to Swami Nirmalananda, who told him to keep the money for utilizing it to establish Ashrama at Haripad. In the meanwhile, a young devotee Sri Venkita Subramanya Iyer (later Swami Chitsukhananda) donated his land at Pilapuzha.

In 1912, on 4th September, on Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Swami Nirmalananda was again invited to Haripad , when the foundation for the Ramakrishna Ashrama, Pilapuzha, Haripad was laid.

And on 4th May, 1913 Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama of Haripad was duly inaugurated.

On 26th November, 1916, Swami Brahmananda reached Haripad and stayed for three days.By 1930, the affairs of the Ramakrishna Ashrama, Pilapuzha, Haripad slowly went out of the administration of the Belur Math.

But by the will of the Lord, on 15th December, 2007, the affairs of the Haripad Ramakrishna Ashrama again came under the administration of Belur Math.

In the mean while due to human frailities and weakness, everything like windows, doors, furnitures, vessels etc., disappeared except the land.

It is in this land that the new centre is to be developed.