Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission
Sri Ramakrishna's direct disciples were inspired by this great prophet of religious
harmony and universalism and the teacher of man's innate divine nature. Headed by Swami
Vivekananda (1863-1902), they organized the Ramakrishna Order with a two-fold
objective:
1.Creation of a
band of monks dedicated to Self-Realization and the spreading of the universal principles
of Vedanta among all people.
2.Carrying on,
in co-operation with lay disciples and workers, service-programs in various fields
of human-need, medical, educational, cultural, moral and spiritual-reverently
looking upon all men, women and children as veritable manifestations of the Divine.
For implementing these objectives, Swami Vivekananda
founded in 1897 the Ramakrishna Mission Association, which was
subsequently registered as the present Ramakrishna Mission in1909. He also started the
Ramakrishna Math in 1897.
The Headquarters of these twin institutions are located at
Belur, near Calcutta, on the banks of the holy Ganga (P.O.Belur Math, District Howrah,
West Bengal).
Though the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, with their respective branches, are
distinct institutions, they are closely related. The Governing Body of the Mission is made
up of Trustees of the Math, the principal workers of the Mission are members of the
Ramakrishna Math, and both have their headquarters at Belur Math.
CENTERS
The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, are endeavoring to realize their
aims through some 136 Centers spread over different parts of India and abroad. At present,
besides the Headquarters, there are 33 centers in West Bengal, 12 in Tamil Nadu, 11 in
Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Bihar, 7 in Kerala, 5 in Karnataka, 3 each in Andra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra & Orissa, 2 each in Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat
& Rajasthan, and 1each in Chandigarh, New Delhi, Andaman & Tripura. There are 12
Centres in the United States of America, 10 in Bangladesh and 1 each in Argentina, United
Kingdom, Fiji, Canada, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Japan,
Netherlands and Russia.
Moreover, attached to some of their branches, there are 26 Sub-Centers where monastic
workers reside more or less permanently.
IDEAL
Eternal religion as embodied in the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami
Vivekananda.
AIM
God-realisation and the good of the world
MOTTO
Renunciation and Service, Harmony of Faiths
METHOD
Worship and Work
ACTIVITIES
Worship of God; imparting general and technical education with religious background;
training of monastic workers; religious preaching; medical service; famine and distress
relief.
