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| Ramakrishna Math | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ramakrishna Math |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Founder | Swami Vivekananda |
| Type | Monastic order |
| Headquarters | Belur Math |
| Location | India |
| Area served | Worldwide |
Ramakrishna Math is a monastic organization founded in the late 19th century by disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa under the leadership of Swami Vivekananda. It developed from the spiritual circle centered at Dakshineswar Kali Temple and the philanthropic institutions of early modern Calcutta and became closely associated with the Ramakrishna Order and the public activities at Belur. The Math has been influential in the revival of Hinduism and engagement with global figures such as Albert Einstein, Annie Besant, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and institutions like Indian National Congress, Theosophical Society, and Oxford University.
The Math traces origins to the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the monastic vows taken by disciples at Cossipore and Alambazar. Key events include the formation of the monastic brotherhood after Ramakrishna's death, the role of Swami Brahmananda as first president, the legal establishment in 1897, and the construction of Belur Math on the Hooghly River. The organization's history intersects with figures such as Keshab Chandra Sen, Pramatha Chaudhuri, Nivedita, Suresh Chandra Dutta, and later presidents like Swami Shivananda and Swami Saradananda. Encounters with colonial institutions such as British Raj courts and cultural dialogues with Vedanta Society groups in San Francisco and London shaped international expansion. The Math’s archives include correspondence with contemporaries like Subhas Chandra Bose, B. R. Ambedkar, Sri Aurobindo, and engagements during events like the Partition of India and relief efforts after the Bengal Famine of 1943.
Teachings derive from the mystical experiences of Ramakrishna and interpretative exposition by Vivekananda, emphasizing harmony among paths such as Advaita Vedanta, Bhakti movement, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga. Textual foundations include commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and devotional texts associated with Kali worship. Doctrinal development involved dialogues with scholars like Max Müller, Friedrich von Humboldt, Paul Deussen, and contemporary exchanges with Swami Chinmayananda and Sri Ramana Maharshi. Ethical imperatives are linked to social reform movements championed by figures such as Ramakrishna's disciples and activists like E. S. R. Murthy. The Math allies spiritual practice with service, reflecting Vivekananda’s addresses at the Parliament of the World's Religions and subsequent talks in Chicago and Madras.
Governance follows a monastic constitution ratified by early trustees, with a governing body at Belur Math and autonomous centers globally. Leadership succession has included presidents such as Swami Atmasthananda, Swami Ranganathananda, and administrative figures linked to legal proceedings in Calcutta High Court and trusteeships under Indian civil law. The organizational structure parallels other monastic institutions like Hindu Monastery of the Ramakrishna Order and maintains relations with academic bodies including University of Calcutta and international branches such as the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in New York and San Francisco. Financial and property matters have involved interactions with legacy laws from the Company Raj era and contemporary nonprofit regulations.
The Math operates relief operations during disasters such as cyclones affecting West Bengal and tsunami responses in Indian Ocean coastal areas. It runs hospitals, dispensaries, and medical camps in partnership with local authorities and organizations like Red Cross in humanitarian campaigns. Social services include rural development projects in Bengal Presidency regions, vocational training in collaboration with state programs, and cultural preservation through festivals at Belur and Kolkata temples. The Math engages in interfaith dialogue with delegations from Vatican, World Council of Churches, Buddhist Sangha representatives from Sri Lanka, and academic symposia involving scholars from Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Chicago.
Publishing efforts include translations and editions of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, the collected works of Vivekananda, and journals circulated among centers worldwide. The Math established schools and colleges affiliated with institutions such as Calcutta University and technical institutes modeled after pioneering efforts by personalities like Swami Vivekananda and Sister Nivedita. Libraries and research centers house manuscripts connected to the Bengali Renaissance and correspondence with figures like Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray. Educational initiatives encompass teacher training, science outreach programs inspired by Jagadish Chandra Bose, and curricula that reference classical sources including the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
Prominent centers include Belur Math, the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, the Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Baranagar Math, and international hubs in New York City, London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Perth. Distinguished monastics have included Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, Swami Turiyananda, Swami Akhandananda, Swami Abhedananda, Swami Saradananda, and recent leaders like Swami Smaranananda and Swami Vireswarananda. The Math’s network features collaborations with scholars and cultural figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, D. H. Lawrence, Romain Rolland, Christopher Isherwood, and scientists like C. V. Raman.
Category:Religious organizations established in 1897 Category:Hindu monastic orders Category:Organizations based in West Bengal