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 Pre-monastic name :
Subodh Chandra Ghosh endearingly called ‘Khoka
Maharaj’
Date of Birth : 8 November 1867.
Place of Birth : Kolkata
Born in an affluent family, Subodh was spiritually inclined from boyhood. While studying in class
eight he heard about Sri Ramakrishna
from his father who was a follower of Brahmo Samaj. One day in 1884
Subodh walked all the way to Dakshineswar in the company of a friend.
Sri Ramakrishna received them with great love. After that Subodh went
to the Master several times. Owing to the opposition of his parents,
he could not stay with Sri Ramakrishna or serve him during his last
illness. But the Master understood his difficulty and made him his own
through his boundless love.
He joined the Baranagar Math and was ordained a sannyasin bearing the
name Subodhananda. Since he was only nineteen and the youngest of the
group, he was endearingly called ‘Khoka’ (which means ‘child’) by
Swamiji and other monastic brothers. He spent several years travelling
in different parts of India performing tapasya. After Swami
Vivekananda’s return from the West when Belur Math monastery was
established, he felt himself quite at home there. He visited East
Bengal (now Bangladesh) twice and inspired many people with his talks
and loving conduct. All through his life he combined in himself the
simplicity of a child and the wisdom of an illumined soul. He passed
away in Belur Math on 2 December 1932.
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