S wami Shiveshananda (1894 -1975), was well-known as Dwaraka Maharaj. He joined the order at Belur Math in 1925 and received his mantra-diksha from Swami Shivanandaji and later also his sannya-diksha from him in 1931. He lived most of his monastic life at Belur Math. He attained mahasamadhi on 11 Oct 1975.
Shabari’s waiting
Swami Shivanandaji lived upstairs in the Old Math building where Swami Vivekananda spent
his last days. In the courtyard below stands the mango tree which was there during Swami
Vivekananda’s time as well. There is also a jackfruit tree and some other plants. Dwaraka Maharaj
had been told by his guru to see that the courtyard was kept clean and that leaves from the tree did
not litter the place. Dwaraka Maharaj knew about Shabari, who lived an ascetic life in the forest.
Shabari had heard that Sri Rama would pass by her hermitage, and she waited and waited for
months and years to have the darshan of Sri Rama. She was waiting earnestly to hear his footsteps.
At last he came and Shabari’s dream was fulfilled.
Similarly, Dwaraka Maharaj was always watchful to see that leaves did not litter the courtyard.
As soon as a leaf fell, he would rush forward to remove it! Thus his whole mind was given to his
guru, Mahapurush Maharaj.
I have seen him reciting those verses that deal with the episode of Shabari from the Ramayana
in Bengali poetry, tears pouring down from his eyes. In his room was a picture of old Shabari, which
someone had got for him. His was a great example of how an ordinary act can also become a
practical spiritual action.
— Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, President Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission