Belur Math
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Belur Math is a religious abbey located in the neighbourhood of Belur in the city of Howrah, West Bengal, India. It is the location of the Ramakrishna Temple, as well as many other temples, and is the headquarters of the related organisations the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. Belur Math is located almost just across the Hooghly River near Dakshineswar.
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[edit] Monastic Order
After the passing away of their Master Sri Ramakrishna in 1886 the young disciples organized themselves into a new monastic order. The original monastery at Baranagar known as Baranagar Math was shifted in January 1899 to a newly acquired plot of land at Belur in Howrah district. This monastery, known as Belur Math, serves as the Mother House for all the monks of Ramakrishna Order who live in the various branch centres of Ramakrishna Math and/or Ramakrishna Mission in different parts of India and the world.
All members of the Order undergo training and ordination (Sannyasa) at Belur Math.
- A candidate for monastic life is treated as a pre-probationer during the first year of his stay at any centre, and as a probationer during the next four years.
- At the end of this period he is ordained into celibacy (Brahmacharya) and is given certain vows (Pratijna), the most important of which are chastity, renunciation and service.
- After a further period of four years, if found fit, he is ordained into monkhood (Sannyasa) and given the ochre (gerua) clothes to wear.
[edit] The Monastery
- Monks’ Quarters:
- Monks and novices stay permanently. These quarters are out of bounds for visitors and even to lay devotees.
- Math Office:
- Situated behind the main temple, it is the nerve centre of all activities concerning worship in different temples within the campus, annual celebration of Durga Puja and other festivals, maintenance of the premises and monks, taking care of devotees, distribution of Prasad etc. Offerings (Pranami) in cash and kind are received at the Math Office.
- Sacred Shrines:
- Sri Ramakrishna Temple
- Old Shrine in which Swami Vivekananda originally installed the relics of Sri Ramakrishna.
- Swami Vivekananda Room
- Swami Brahmananda Temple
- Sri Sarada Devi Temple
- Swami Vivekananda Temple
- Samadhi Temple
- Nilambar Mukherjee’s Garden House
- Probationers’ Training Centre:
- About 100 monastic probationers are trained here. The course is for two years.
- Math Library
- Celebrations
[edit] Math and Mission Headquarters’ Office
- The main Secretarial Office of the Headquarters of the worldwide Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is also situated on the grounds of Belur Math.
- The Headquarters Office carries on the work of coordinating and supervising the innumerable activities of more than 150 Branch Centres of the Math and Mission.
- The General Secretary, assisted by four Assistant Secretaries is the core body of the Secretariat.
- The Secretariat has various departments such as Central Office, Cash, Accounts, Investments, Audit, Law, Relief and Rehabilitation, Welfare, Construction and Maintenance etc.
For further details refer to the official site http://www.belurmath.org and www.rkmhq.org
[edit] The Headquarters directly conducts
- Charitable Dispensary started in 1913 with free Allopathic and Homoeopathic sections shifted to its own building in 1938. The allopathic section has several departments with diagnostic units.
- Pecuniary help: Several families and number of students receive one time help.
- Relief and Rehabilitation: In response to the cry for succour from thousands of distressed people affected by devastating floods, cyclones and other calamities in several parts of India, relief and rehabilitation works are undertaken every year.
- Pallimangal: Integrated Rural Development is a project started in 1980 in and around Kamarpukur and Jayrambati. Programmes relating to agriculture, cottage industry, mobile medical service are being implemented.
- Veda Vidyalaya: Started in August 1993 the Vivekananda Veda Vidyalaya imparts Vedic education to the young. The students reside and study in an atmosphere similar to the ancient Gurukula system. Competent teachers teach Vedic chanting and the rudiments of Vedangas. It has a good library.
- Ramakrishna Museum: Articles and artefacts closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other direct disciples of the Master are displayed.
[edit] Monastic Retreats
The Headquarters maintains four monastic retreats (Kutias)
- Ramakrishna Kutir, Mayakund, Rishikesh, Dist. Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand 249201
- Ramakrishna Kutir, Ganganagar P.O. & Dist. Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand 249193
- Ramakrishna Swargashrama, Lalgarh, Dist. Paschim Medinipore, West Bengal 721 516
- Sri Ramakrishna Kutir, P.O. Athanavur, Yelagiri Hills, Dist. Vellore, Tamil Nadu 635853
