RKM survey
Ramakrishna Math and Mission
Founder
Swami Vivekananda in the name of his Guru Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Year & place of founding
Started as Ramakrishna Mission Association on 1 May, 1897 in Kolkata
Aims & ideals
"Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya cha"- for one's own liberation and for the welfare of the world
Monastic / Non-monastic
Consists of both monastic members and house-holders
General philosophical outlook
Non sectarian body
Spiritual disciplines GeneRally advocated
A combination of Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga
Administrative set-up
Headquarters at Belur in West Bengal. The President is the spiritual head. The General Secretaries are the administrative heads. A Trust manages the activities. Branch centres are headed by the local Presidents, who are assisted by other monks.
Provision for joining
People aspiring to become monastic members, should be graduates and of below 30 years. During the probation period of 5 years, training is imparted at the headquarters. They work in different centres before they are finally given the vows of Monasticism. Non monastic members are any followers of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, sometimes initiated with mantra-deeksha.
Present chief of the movement
Swami Gahanananda is the present president of the Order. He has held this position since May 2005.
Activities
Religion & spirituality
Publication of magazines, books, multimedia etc. Discourses and retreats are also arranged.
Social field
Active in the field of education, rural development, orphanages etc
Cultural field
Relief activities
Takes up relief activities during famines, earth-quakes, floods etc. For details visit http://belurmath.org/relief.htm
Province of its influence
Chiefly Bengal, but has over 100 centres spread all over India. Western centres are known as Vedanta Societies. Has over 1000 monastic members.
Major publications
- Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
- The Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna
- Cultural Heritage of India
- Udbodhan, Bengali monthly
- Vedanta Kesari, English monthly
- Prabuddha Bharat, English monthly
- Viveka Prabha, Kannada monthly
- Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam, Tamil monthly
- Sri Ramakrishna Prabha, Telugu monthly
- Jeevan-Vikas Marathi monthly
- See also: Survey of Hindu organisations