Advaita Ashrama

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The Ramakrishna Order of monks, which came into existence in 1886 with the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna, started formally in an old dilapidated building at Baranagore. It was subsequently moved to two other places and was finally established at the present site at Belur (now known as Belur Math) by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886). The consecration of the Math was performed by the Swami on 9th December 1898 and the monastery was housed at this place from January 1899.

Activities of the Math and the Mission

The work of the Ramakrishna Math (registered in 1901) and the Ramakrishna Mission (registered in 1909), which was put on a firm foundation by Swami Vivekananda, has steadily grown over the years and the number of centres has multiplied. They now have 164 branches in different parts of India and abroad, devoted to the twin ideals of contemplative life and social service.

The Math and the Mission run 14 hospitals, 89 out-patient dispensaries, 29 mobile dispensaries, 11 colleges, 194 schools, 4 polytechnics, 97 hostels and students' homes, 5 orphanages, more than 180 libraries, 10 major publishing houses, 1 blind boys' academy, 2 institutes of agriculture, 4 rural development training institutes, and several other institutions dedicated to philanthropic, cultural, and spiritual service. The twin organizations are also consistently active in rendering relief to the victims of earthquakes, floods, famines, epidemics, cyclones, riots, and other such calamities.

All these activities are undertaken in the spirit of worship, which has been expressed by Swami Vivekananda as follows: 'This is the gist of all worship: to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva (God) in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased really worships Shiva.'

The Ramakrishna Mission is not a mere social service organization. It is essentially a spiritual organization with a clear-cut social philosophy and social commitment.

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