Because of his prolonged ill-health, Swami Devatmananda was urged by the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Order to return to India for rest and treatment. Accordingly, he left Portland on Saturday December 11, 1954 for Belur Math, where he passed away on August 8, 1958.

Swami Devatmananda worked very hard for the development of the Portland Centre. He worked with great love and zeal. To all the members he was their friend, philosopher and guide. In the course of his stay in Portland he won the esteem and admiration of many.¹⁵ Even now the old devotees remember their days of holy association with him. A special mention may be made in this connection about the Centenary Celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936. There was a banquet at the Masonic Temple, 100 guests were present. A play "The Light from the Beyond," was staged in the auditorium of the Masonic Temple on four religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism, under the guidance of Swami Devatmananda. The audience and the devotees called it 'a classic.'¹⁶

Succeeding Swami Devatmananda at Portland came Swami Aseshananda. Swami Aseshananda was initiated by Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, in 1917. He joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1921 and was initiated into brahmacharya by Swami Brahmananda in 1922. Subsequently he took his final vow of sannyasa from Swami Saradananda in 1923. He had the good fortune of serving Swami Saradananda as his private secretary from 1921 to 1927 in Udbodhan, popularly known as 'Holy Mother's House' in Calcutta. Over and above, he came in contact with many other direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, including Swami Shivananda, Swami Turiyananda, and Swami Premananda. Swami Aseshananda arrived in Portland on February 5, 1955 from Hollywood where he had been assisting Swami Prabhavananda. Following a precept of Swami Brahmananda, the Spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna, that work and worship must go together, Swami Aseshananda introduced morning meditation, noon worship and evening vespers for the devotees as an essential complement to the daily work of the Centre. During the first years at Portland, two men-devotees lived with him.

An important addition to the Society was the finishing of the basement of the Temple at the Retreat, and turning it into a kitchen and social hall. The dedication ceremony was held on May 16, 1959 with a special worship and Homa-fire ceremony. The hall was named 'Swami Brahmananda Hall,' and a picture of Swami Brahmananda was installed.

Portland State University took over the Vedanta Society's property at 1877 S.W. Park Avenue on March 15, 1966 for their new library site. Then Swami Aseshananda and Mr. Stuart Bush (President of the Vedanta Society) moved to Apartment 4 at 1120 N.W. 25th Avenue. At that time Sunday morning services were held at the Retreat Temple. All other services were held at the Y.W.C.A. at 1111 S.W. 10th Avenue. Meetings were held in the Swami's apartment. Repeated searches for a new site for the Society were made, and finally the present property, approximately one acre, at 1157 S.E. 55th Avenue, was purchased on January 8, 1968. The existing building had to be remodelled to a great extent. The Swami moved to the new Temple near the end of July. On September 29, 1968 (Durga Puja), the new Temple was dedicated. Since then all the classes, Sunday services, and meetings have been held in the new Temple.

Swami Aseshananda was invited by a number of institutions to give lectures on Vedanta and allied subjects. He spoke at Lewis and Clark College, Reed College, St. Helen's Hall (Episcopal), Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Portland, Clackamas High School and Pacific University. As the senior-most Swami of the Vedanta Societies in America, he gained the respect of other religious leaders, even conservative Christians.