RAMAKRISHNA MATH - MODERN HISTORY
News: Ramakrishna
Math has played an important role in my life: PM Modi
What's in the news?
● Praising
the math for its philanthropic activities, the Prime Minister said he deeply
respects the institution. He added that it had played an important role in his
life.
Ramakrishna Mission:
● The
Ramakrishna Mission was established in 1897
by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
● The
first Math was established at Baranagar.
● In
1899, another ‘math’ was started at Belur,
which became the central ‘math’. It looks after the organization and working of
all ‘math’ spread all over India and even outside it. It is also the
educational center of the saints of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Ramakrishna Math:
● Ramakrishna
Math is the administrative legal
organization of the Ramakrishna Order, considered part of the Hindu reform
movements.
● It
was set up by sannyasin disciples of Ramakrishna Paramhansa headed by Swami
Vivekananda at various places in India.
● Ramakrishna
Math in various sectors such as education, libraries, health care, nursing,
rural development, and leprosy awareness and rehabilitation.
Principles and Ideals:
● The
Mission has drawn all into ideals and principles from the life and teachings of
Sri Ramakrishna.
● The
mission bases its work on the principles
of karma yoga, the principle of selfless work done with dedication to God.
Sri Ramakrishna:
● Sri
Ramakrishna is regarded as one of the greatest spiritual leaders of India.
● He
was an Indian Hindu mystic and spiritual leader who practised various religious
traditions, including Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, and proclaimed that all religions are different paths leading
to the same goal.
● His
followers regarded him as an avatar or
divine incarnation, and his teachings were later popularized by his
disciple Swami Vivekananda.
● Ramakrishna’s
legacy is continued through the Ramakrishna Order, which provides spiritual
training for monastics and householder devotees, and the Ramakrishna Mission,
which provides charity, social work, and education.
Vivekananda:
● Sri
Ramakrishna's disciple Vivekananda {born Narendranath Datta} represented the
very soul of Hinduism and spiritualism.
● His
message of spiritualism contributed
remarkably towards strengthening not only Hindu religion and society but also
Indian nationalism.
● He
regarded religion as the manifestation of the divinity that is already in man.
● He
once said, ‘Religion is neither in books, nor in intellectual consent, nor in
reason. Reason, theories, doctrines, books, religious ceremonies are all
helpful to religion, religion consists in realization.’ He believed in the fundamental unity of all religions.
Thoughts of Swami Vivekananda:
● The
mission worked to help the poor, improve the conditions of women, and fight
against untouchability and superstition and to overhaul the education system.
● He
stressed the supremacy of the Hindu
religion and culture.
● He
anticipated that Hinduism was based on spiritual values while the western
culture and civilization was materialistic.
● He
believed in the unity and equality of all religions.
● Economically,
he was in favour of agro based small-scale industries.
● Humanism was the soul of
his religious, spiritual and social ideas.
● He
gave social relevance to monasticism and spiritual relevance to the life of the
normal householder.
● He
was the first to ask the priests to make it their mission to alleviate the
sufferings of human beings.
● He
believed that Indian Nationalism can be based on four pillars viz.
○ Consciousness
and pride in the ancient glory of India.
○ Awakening
of the country men.
○ Development
of moral and physical strength.
○ Unity
based on common spiritual ideas.
● He
wanted the Indian youth to rise, awake and work to eradicate hunger and
ignorance among the masses.