One of the builders of Kankhal Sevashrama. Pre-monastic name Suraj Rao, born in a poor, Kshatriya family of Maharashtra. Military service took him to various parts of India including pilgrimage centres. Strongly attracted to Swamiji, after hearing about him from Swami Niranjanananda at Raipur. Upon Swamiji’s return to India (1897), learning that the train carrying him to Madras would not stop at any preceding station, he, along with an enthusiastic crowd, all eager to see Vivekananda, lay down on the tracks forcing the train to halt. Walking the rest of the way to Madras met Swamiji the following afternoon. Effected his dismissal from the army by deliberate dereliction of duty and pretence of lunacy, joined the Order at Belur Math (1901) and ordained into sannyasa by Swamiji (1901). Known in the Order as “Raoji”, tenacity was his principal characteristic. During pilgrimage following Swamiji’s demise met Swami Kalyanananda, his spiritual brother at Kumbha Mela in Haridwar (1903) and dedicated his life to serving at the Kankhal Sevashrama founded by the former. Association with Swami Turiyananda for some time at Uttarkashi (1906). Trip to Varanasi for a last darshan of him (1922). Served the Sevashrama tirelessly for 31 years until his death on 22.10.1934 during meditation in “padmasana”.