Biography & Pre-Monastic Life

Indradayal Bhattacharya was born in Srihotto, now in Bangladesh in the year October, 1884 as the youngest son of the family. His father Sri Mrityunjay Bhattacharya was a renowned Bramhin Tantrik and Kulguru of Bijoni's royal Family. His mother was Srimati Shivapriya Devi. He had two elder brothers Gurudayal and Ramdayal and one sister.

From the childhood Indradayal had no affection for family life. In the 4th standard he started learning Sanskrit. At little high age he was admitted in Middle Vernacular School in Dulali, and later admitted to Murarichand Collegiate School in Srihotto for higher education. He had a very sweet and melodious voice by virtue of which he used to sing devotional songs of Rabindranath Thakur, Rajanikanta, Ramprasad, Kamalakanta etc. Even he wrote few devotional songs which are sing in the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.

In 1907 Indradayal passed Entrance Exam and came to Shrihotto for studying Law. During the time of freedom movement of India; Indradayal and few of his friends lead a branch of the ‘Suhriday Samiti’ in Dulali and engaged youths and motivate them towards patriotism and moral life. With in few days Indradayal won over the hearts of others by his polite behavior, strong character, firm discussion and hence became a leader of that samiti/ group. Later it became the Srihotto Ramakrishna Sevasamity.

After few days he left studying Law and joined as a head master in National School in Asto-gram. Later on Indradayal again came back to Murarichand Collegiate School in Shrihotto. Once he went to Dhaka and bought the 1st part of ‘Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita’ and this is how Indradayal came in to the contact of Thakur-Ma-Swamiji the trio.

Indradayal was given initiation in his childhood by their kulguru in accordance to Sakti mantra, but the aspiration for realizing god and absolute peace were incomplete.
Once he wrote a letter to Sri Sri Sarada devi in Jayrambati requested for her blessing and giving him the auspicious mantra of Sri Sri Ramakrishna in the form of initiation and allow him to submerge into the spiritual world of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

In the years 1913 he came to Jairambati and got initiated by the auspicious Sri Ramakrishna mantra by Srada devi. After this occasion he came back to Bishnupur, Bankura via Kamarpukur (birth place of Sri Ramakrishna) and Koalpara.

After initiation there was radical change in his life. The ideas of Swami Vivekananda fueled Indradayal’s patriotism and as conclusion the ‘Suhriday Samiti’ later became permanent ashram named ‘Ramakrishna Sevasamity’. During those years there were young devotees who came to Indradayal Bhattacharya after gave up their worldly life and accept spiritual life. Then he wrote the famous book “Atma Vikash” for the coming young boys to establish their moral and spiritual life.
There were others books written by Indradayal, those were Sankar Charit, Paramhansha, Sri Ramakrishna Charit, Vivekananda Charit, Ramanuj Charit etc.

The activities of that ashram were like daily worship/ puja of Thakur Sri Ramkrishna, ran a library, free dispensaries etc. That time for run the ashram Indradayal used to do teaching and others did the same, else begging donations or alms. The aim of those austerity were to spread the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna in the far east of India (pre independent) upto Silchar, Karimganj, Lauta, Panchkhand, Santgaunj, Sunamganj District etc. The goodwill of Ramakrishna Sevasamity was spreading, and in 1919 it was included in Ramakrishna Mission.

After few years in 1926 Indradayal came in Balur Math to represent
Shrihotto and presented a beautiful speech and every body present on that program became spellbound. Then authority of Belur Math decided to honor him Sannyasa. At the age of 45 in 1929, 2nd February the auspicious day of Swamiji’s Birthday Tithi puja Indradayal was honored in Sannyasa by Srimath Swami Shivananda (Mahapurush Maharaj) through Biroja home/ yajna and hence Indradayal Bhattacharya became Swami Premeshananda. [Premesh Maharaj did not pursue the 12 years Brahmacharya rituals which is a mandatory stage in Ramakrishna Mission to get sannyasa.] After being sannyashi he never returned to his purbashram (past home) Shrihotto.