On 12 January 1938 Vijnanananda came to Belur Math from Allahabad for the consecration of the Ramakrishna Temple. On Friday, 14 January 1938, the swami got up early in the morning and put on a new ochre cloth. He sat quietly in his chair, waiting for the auspicious moment. He said to his attendant: “When I install the Master in the new temple, I shall say to Swamiji: ‘Your consecrated deity has now been installed in the temple you planned. You said that you would watch from on high. Please see now that the Master is seated in the new temple.’”
Vijnanananda’s health was not good, so it was arranged for a car to take him from the Math building to the new temple. A monk brought the relics of the Master from the old shrine and handed them to Vijnanananda who waited in the car. Then the procession moved to the accompaniment of conches, bells, and the burning of incense. A group of singers led the procession, singing the famous Bengali song in praise of Sri Ramakrishna that begins with “Eshechhe nutan manush dekhbi yadi ay chole” (A new man has appeared; come, if you want to see him). The procession reached the new temple at 6:30 a.m. Vijnanananda entered the inner sanctum, placed the relics of Sri Ramakrishna on the altar, and offered the flowers. When the worship was over, he returned to his room.
After breakfast, his attendant asked him whether he had said anything to Swamiji. Vijnanananda replied: “Yes. I said to Swamiji, ‘You told me that you would watch from on high. Please see now that the Master is seated in the new temple.’ Then I vividly saw Swamiji, Rakhal Maharaj, Mahapurush Maharaj, Sharat Maharaj, Hari Maharaj, Gangadhar Maharaj, and others standing in the southwest corner watching the consecration ceremony.” After a while the swami said: “Now my work is over. Today I am relieved of the responsibility that Swamiji entrusted to me.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
Some people in this world are selected by God to carry out His mission; it is God who decides what He will do through them and for how long. Sri Ramakrishna told Vijnanananda, “You belong to the Divine Mother and you will have to do a lot of work for Her.” The swami obeyed his guru’s order. He taught and inspired many people, less through lecturing than through his exemplary life, which was full of purity and renunciation. After the dedication of the temple, Vijnanananda began to prepare for his departure from this world.