Mahendranath Gupta, also known as Shri M or Master Mahashay, was a mystic and a direct disciple of the 19th-century saint Ramakrishna. Born in 1854 in Calcutta, Gupta received a solid education, earning a BA and later becoming a college teacher and headmaster. His life took a significant turn after meeting Ramakrishna, which profoundly influenced him. He became known for meticulously recording Ramakrishna's conversations and teachings in his diary, which eventually formed the basis of the seminal Bengali work, 'Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita', later translated into English as 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna'. This work is highly revered by followers of Ramakrishna.

Gupta also served as an early spiritual teacher to Paramahansa Yogananda, a prominent figure in 20th-century yoga and philosophy. Yogananda often visited Gupta and spoke of him with immense reverence, describing him as an "Incarnation of purity" and a man of profound humility. Gupta ran a small boys' high school in Calcutta, where he is said to have taught through a gentle, spiritually-infused method. He passed away in 1932, shortly after the publication of the final volume of his magnum opus.

Mahendranath Gupta's spiritual journey was deeply shaped by his encounter with Ramakrishna. Initially drawn to the Brahmo Samaj, a pivotal meeting with Ramakrishna at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in 1882 marked a turning point in his life. Gupta became a devoted disciple, meticulously documenting Ramakrishna's discourses and activities. This practice, begun in his personal diary, evolved into the monumental work 'Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita'. He dedicated himself to capturing the essence of Ramakrishna's teachings with remarkable fidelity, often working through the night to recall and record details. His dedication was such that even Ramakrishna's wife and Swami Vivekananda acknowledged the accuracy of his accounts. The 'Kathamrita', considered a Bengali classic, is revered by devotees as a sacred scripture, preserving the spiritual nectar of Ramakrishna's words.

Beyond his role as a chronicler, Mahendranath Gupta was a spiritual guide and educator. He served as an influential teacher to Paramahansa Yogananda, who later became a globally recognized yogi and philosopher. Yogananda held Gupta in the highest esteem, describing him with profound admiration for his humility and spiritual purity. Gupta managed a modest boys' high school in Calcutta, where he is said to have fostered a unique learning environment. Rather than relying on strict discipline, he imparted knowledge and wisdom through a gentle, spiritually resonant approach, influencing students through what Yogananda termed 'spiritual contagion'. His own devotion to the Divine Mother, particularly in the form of Kali, was a central aspect of his spiritual life.

“the day I had my first darshan of Thakur [Ramakrishna] in February 1882.”

“I wrote everything from memory after I returned home. Sometimes I had to keep awake the whole night...Sometimes I would keep on writing the events of one sitting for seven days, recollect the songs that were sung, and the order in which they were sung, and the samadhi and so on...Many a time I did not feel satisfied with my description of the events; I would then immediately plunge myself in deep meditation ...Then the correct image would arise...That is why in spite of the big gap in the physical sense, this story remains so fresh and lifelike in my mind as if it happened just now.”

“Incarnation of purity”

“the greatest man of humility I ever knew.”

“His role in the world was humble, as befitted the greatest man of humility I ever knew. In this Amherst Street house, Master Mahasaya conducted a small high school for boys. No words of chastisement passed his lips; no rule and ferule maintained his discipline. Higher mathematics indeed were taught in these modest classrooms, and a chemistry of love absent from the textbooks. He spread his wisdom by spiritual contagion rather than impermeable precept. Consumed by an unsophisticated passion for the Divine Mother, the saint no more demanded the outward forms of respect than a child.”