India: Swami vs Thakur - A Political Row Over Spiritual Terminology

A political exchange has erupted over the use of the prefix “Swami” for Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in a birth anniversary tribute posted by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi. Experience a more refined e-paper today The wording of the message triggered a sharp response from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who described the usage as improper and inconsistent with established convention within the Ramakrishna tradition. The exchange quickly escalated into a public back-and-forth between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP over religious terminology and cultural practice. In his message, the PM paid tribute to Ramakrishna’s role in shaping India’s spiritual thought and referred to him as “Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ji.” Banerjee objected specifically to the prefix “Swami,” stating that Ramakrishna has traditionally been addressed as “Thakur,” particularly in Bengal. She argued that within the institutional structure that evolved after his death, the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, the title “Swami” is used for monks who took monastic vows in the Ramakrishna Order. According to Banerjee, the accepted internal convention refers to the spiritual lineage as Thakur (Ramakrishna), Ma (Sarada Devi), and Swamiji (Vivekananda). She said introducing a new prefix reflects a lack of familiarity with the tradition and urged adherence to historically followed forms of address. Responding to the remarks, BJP leader Amit Malviya defended the Prime Minister’s wording. He said the use of “Swami” was intended as a mark of respect and not as a formal institutional designation within the Ramakrishna Order. Malviya stated that the term “Swami” in Sanskrit broadly denotes a spiritual teacher or master and is not exclusively restricted to monks of the Ramakrishna Math or Mission. Malviya added that Ramakrishna’s teachings form the foundation of the spiritual and philosophical work carried forward by the Ramakrishna institutions, including the interpretation of Advaita Vedanta. According to Malviya, the prefix acknowledged Ramakrishna’s position as a spiritual guide whose teachings are followed by the monastic order, rather than assigning him a posthumous monastic title. The dispute centres on whether “Swami” should be treated as a specific monastic designation within the Ramakrishna Order or as a general honorific. The issue has since taken on political overtones in West Bengal.