BARANAGAR MATH (Baranagar Monastery): Swami Vivekananda, the Prophet and Patriotic saint of modern India, prior to founding Ramakrishna Math and Mission ( Headquarters) at Belur, West Bengal, initiated the Ramakrishna Order, the First Monastery, in the year 1886 in a most dilapidated rented garden house at Baranagar in Kolkata (North), W.B. He was immersed in unprecedented Tapasya (spiritual practices) with his 14 other brother-disciples of Shri Ramakrishna Deva during the years 1886-1892 in that garden house, a small portion of which has come to the possession of the Headquaters in the year 2011. It is the place of sacred “Tapobhumi” of the great saints of India who passed their younger days in this holy place, practising severe austerity and penance, diving deep in meditation to attain divinity. Their holy “Taposya” and self-sacrifice have progressively generated the huge wave in the Ramakrishna Movement and flooded the whole world with the unique and high spiritual thought. Naturally, this blessed soil of Baranagar Math has earned the honour and prestige of pilgrimage for its spiritual heritage and historical importance and became a source of inspiration to the devotees, thousands of visitors and spiritual aspirants to satiate their thirst for knowledge of the great spiritual leaders who shook and shaped the world. Ramakrishna Math and Mission have its 195 branches all over the world at present. As a symbol of service to the poor, distressed and depressed to uphold their feelings of love, independence, self-respect and dignity irrespective of clime, colour, caste and creed. Ramakrishna Math, Baranagar, as a very small and younger centre of the organization has undertaken the duty to restore this important historical area of the First Monastery and to rebuild the memorial Replica Building and Shrine. Unfortunately, this holy site being left uncared for a long period went into oblivion. Buildings, shops, slums etc. have covered the major area for change of ownership. Before reclamation of this site proper rehabilitation programmes of the inhabitants are to be made through negotiations. At present with the limited capacity, the Ashrama authorities have been conducting Community Development activities for slum people and the local poor inhabitants offering them free rehabilitations, educational and medical service and conducting discourses in religious and value education on a regular basis. But the quantum of all these services are being felt meagre day by day..... (Source: Press release of Ramakrishna Mission) _______________
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 09:29:47 +0000