Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai: Difference between revisions
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Biligiri Iyengar , the owner of the Ice House, passed away in 1902. Owing to financial problems the proprietors of the Ice House building decided to auction it in 1906. After the Ice House was sold out, Swami Ramakrishnananda shifted to a outhouse in the rear portion of the Ice House. He spent almost an year in that small room, until the new Math building was built at Mylapore, on a piece of land donated by a devotee. |
Biligiri Iyengar , the owner of the Ice House, passed away in 1902. Owing to financial problems the proprietors of the Ice House building decided to auction it in 1906. After the Ice House was sold out, Swami Ramakrishnananda shifted to a outhouse in the rear portion of the Ice House. He spent almost an year in that small room, until the new Math building was built at Mylapore, on a piece of land donated by a devotee. |
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The Swami moved into the new building on 17 November 1907. |
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| ⚫ | This Math building constructed by Swami Ramakrishnananda no longer exists. It was unfortunate that within 2 years after its construction, extensive cracks developed in the roof of the building. One of the cracks was above the Shrine Room, and when there was sudden rainfall one night, Swami Ramakrishnananda held an umbrella over the Master's photo in the Shrine for the whole night. Soon after Swami Ramakrishnananda left Madras and Swami Sharvananda took charge in 1912, this building was demolished and the present two-storeyed building with a spacious front hall was constructed by 1917.<ref>Swami Tapasyananda, Swami Ramakrishnananda The Apostle of Sri Ramakrishna To the South, 2008, p.57,58</ref> |
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Revision as of 08:59, 30 January 2011
Template:New unreviewed article
Ramakrishna Math is a monastic organization for men brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886), the great 19th century saint of Bengal. The motto of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is: "For one's own salvation, and for the welfare of the world". [1] Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai is the first branch center of Ramakrishna Order in South India. It was started in the year 1897 by Swami Ramakrishnananda, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.
Origin
In February 1897, Swami Vivekananda returned to Calcutta from the West. At Madras, when devotees requested Swamiji to start a permanent center, Swamiji had said, 'I shall send you one who is more orthodox than the most orthodox Brahmins of the South and who is at the same time incomparable in performing worship, scriptural knowledge and meditation on God.'[2] He meant Swami Ramakrishnananda, who was sent in March 1897.
Ice House
The Ice House (now Vivekanandar Illam), otherwise known as Castle Kernan and situated in the Triplicane sea-beach, is a three storeyed structure owned then by a prosperous advocate, Sri Biligiri Iyengar. It was there that Swami Vivekananda had stayed on his return from the West when he was given a historic reception by the citizens of Madras. Sri Iyengar who was a good devotee, now placed the ground floor at the Swami's disposal. Swami Ramakrishnananda moved to Ice House and started his activities. He set up a shrine for Sri Ramakrishna and would do regular worship there. While at the Ice House, Swami Ramakrishnananda started an orphanage for the destitute children which has now grown into a large institution called Ramakrishna Mission Students Home, Mylapore.[3] The Ice House served as the first monastery of the Ramakrishna Movement in South India for 9 years [4]
Sri Ramakrishna Math moves to Mylapore
Biligiri Iyengar , the owner of the Ice House, passed away in 1902. Owing to financial problems the proprietors of the Ice House building decided to auction it in 1906. After the Ice House was sold out, Swami Ramakrishnananda shifted to a outhouse in the rear portion of the Ice House. He spent almost an year in that small room, until the new Math building was built at Mylapore, on a piece of land donated by a devotee. The Swami moved into the new building on 17 November 1907.
This Math building constructed by Swami Ramakrishnananda no longer exists. It was unfortunate that within 2 years after its construction, extensive cracks developed in the roof of the building. One of the cracks was above the Shrine Room, and when there was sudden rainfall one night, Swami Ramakrishnananda held an umbrella over the Master's photo in the Shrine for the whole night. Soon after Swami Ramakrishnananda left Madras and Swami Sharvananda took charge in 1912, this building was demolished and the present two-storeyed building with a spacious front hall was constructed by 1917.[5]
The Universal Temple
Sri Ramakrishna Math completed 100 years of its service in 1997. The shrine of Sri Ramakrishna set up in 1917 was too small to accommodate the growing number of devotees. The idea of universal temple was conceived and Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj, the 12th president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, laid the foundation stone for the Universal Temple on December 01 1994. On February 07 2000 the temple was dedicated by Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj, the 13th president of the Ramakrishna Order. [6]
Celebrations
The Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Ramakrishnananda are celebrated in a grand manner every year. The Birthdays of Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ, Sri Sankara, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Chaitanya are also celebrated every year. The birthday celebrations are marked with special Puja, Homa, Bhajans, Musical programmes and Lectures. Special puja is also performed on Ramanavami, Shivratri, Janmashtami, Navaratri, Kali Puja, Durga Puja and other auspicious days. [7]
Educational Work
- Sri Ramakrishna Math Vivekananda Centenary Girls Higher Secondary School with 670 students [8]
- Sri Ramakrishna Math National School Chennai – 79 with 520 students [9]
- A public library with 32,000 books and 300 periodicals [10]
- A Book bank providing academic books for 300 engineering students
Medical Service
- A charitable allopathic-cum-homeopathic dispensary with general, dental, eye, ENT, surgical, X-ray, ultrasound scanning, pediatrics, ECG, gynecology, physiotherapy and laboratory sections, and clinics for TB and diabetes. About 2,20,000 cases are treated annually. [11]
- A weekly mobile medical unit, which treats 10,000 cases annually [12]
- Prevention of Disability (POD) and rehabilitation camps for 300 Leprosy Affected Persons (LAPS)
- Regular eye camps in nearby villages
Relief and Rehabilitation
In December 2010, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai undertook flood relief camps in:
- Thiruvarur District: Cooked food was distributed to 9550 persons for 5 days. Relief materials consisting of rice, utensils, dress, mat, etc. were provided to 3000 persons.
- Kanyakumari District: Relief materials consisting of groceries, utensils, dress, etc. were provided to 1500 persons.
References
- ^ http://www.belurmath.org/home.htm
- ^ Swami Ramakrishnananda A Portrait In Pictures, 2006, p.25
- ^ Vivekanandar Illam The Storyline 60 facts about Vivekanandar Illam, p.14,15
- ^ Vivekanandar Illam The Storyline 60 facts about Vivekanandar Illam, p.18
- ^ Swami Tapasyananda, Swami Ramakrishnananda The Apostle of Sri Ramakrishna To the South, 2008, p.57,58
- ^ Universal Temple, Its Need, Significance and Unique Features, 2001, p.1,2
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/activities/spiritual/celebrations
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/activities/education/higher-secondary-school
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/activities/education/primary-school
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/math-campus/library
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/math-campus/dispensary
- ^ http://www.chennaimath.org/activities/medical/mobile-dispensary
External links
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