Misplaced Pages

Advaita Ashrama

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
#760239

29-475: Advaita Ashrama , Mayavati, is a branch of the Ramakrishna Math , founded on 19 March 1899 at the behest of Vivekananda , by his disciples James Henry Sevier, and Charlotte Sevier . Today it publishes the original writings of Vivekananda. As an ashram dedicated to the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta , no images or idols are worshipped there, not even of Ramakrishna ; and no images were kept in

58-627: A charitable hospital at Mayavati. Among its important publications are The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda in English and as well as a Hindi translation, The Life of Swami Vivekananda , and English translations of important Hindu scriptures. Some of the old manuscripts of the ashram have now been microfilmed and preserved at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts ( IGNCA ) in Delhi. The Advaita Ashrama has its origins in 1896, when Vivekananda

87-582: A library. Charlotte Sevier continued to stay at the Ashram for several years. Advaita Ashrama publishes many important books in English and Hindi, as well as the English Journal Prabuddha Bharata which is being published since July 1896, making it the oldest running Journal by Ramakrishna Mission . A list of its most well-known other publications is as follows. The first three adhyakshas of Advaita Ashrama were also editors of

116-611: Is a medium-sized river in Alluri Sitharama Raju and Anakapalli districts of Andhra Pradesh , India . The catchment area of the basin is 2,665 square kilometers. It rises at an elevation of 1,000 meters in the Eastern Ghats . It runs eastwards for a distance 122 kilometers and joins the Bay of Bengal . The basin is surrounded by River Nagavali in the north, River Gosthani , Gambiramgedda, Meghadri Gedda in

145-536: Is obtained." The basic philosophy of life put before the Ramakrishna Order by Vivekananda automatically led to a bifurcation of its activities into two important, but parallel, areas. The atmamoksha aspect resulted in the establishment of the Ramakrishna Math, an organisation catering predominantly to the spiritual needs of the monks of the order as also its votaries. The jagaddhita aspect, on

174-704: Is the administrative head of the organisation. However, his power is limited to implementing the decisions taken by the Trustees/Members of the Governing Body, though he has the freedom to act in matters of day-to-day administration. The Assistant Secretaries work under his guidance. The individual centres of the Math are managed by the Adhyaksha and of the Mission, by the secretaries, duly appointed by

203-833: Is the administrative legal organization of the Ramakrishna Order , of Daśanāmi Sampradaya . It was set up by sanyasin disciples of Ramakrishna Paramhansa headed by Swami Vivekananda at Baranagar Math in Baranagar , a place near Calcutta (now Kolkata), in 1886. India. The headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and its twin organisation, Ramakrishna Mission is at Belur Math (in West Bengal , India ). Although Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are legally and financially separate, they are closely inter-related in several other ways and are to be regarded as twin organizations. All branch centres of Ramakrishna Math come under

232-650: The Prabuddha Bharata . Thereafter, the post of Adhyaksha and Editor were held by different persons. From 1959, the Ashrama Adhyaksha was also called the Editor of Prabuddha Bharata , and the actual editor called the "joint editor". From September 1993, the Ashrama Adhyaksha is known as the Managing Editor, and the Editor is known as the Editor. Ramakrishna Math Ramakrishna Math

261-477: The Doctrine of Unity, pure and simple; and though in entire sympathy with all other systems, this Ashrama is dedicated to Advaita and Advaita alone." James Sevier died on 28 October 1900, and was cremated by the nearby Sarada River , according to Hindu traditions as he had wished. Vivekananda visited the Ashram from 3 to 18 January 1901, primarily to console her, and his place of residence has now been turned into

290-566: The Movement lays great stress on selfless service as a means of God-realization also attracts many people. The service it gives is open to all, irrespective of caste or creed or language. Swami Vivekananda with an uncanny vision of the future forbade his organization strictly from taking part in any political movement or activity. Why? Because the monk is a world-citizen, nay, a man of God! (And, world-citizens do not dabble in politics, whereas Godmen have no politics at all.) In consultation with

319-628: The Netherlands , Singapore , Sri Lanka , Switzerland , the United Kingdom , and Zambia . In addition, there are 45 sub-centres (22 within India, 23 outside India) under different centres. During his lifetime, Ramakrishna gathered and trained his young disciples, with Narendranath (future Vivekananda ) as their anointed leader. It is these disciples - some of whom were also blessed with monastic robes by Ramakrishna himself, that formed

SECTION 10

#1732772293761

348-415: The Trustees/Members of the Governing Body. These again, are expected to carry on their work with the assistance of the monastic members allotted to their centres as also volunteers and paid-workers. As of 31 March 2014, there were 409 monastic members, 254 lay members, and 181 lay associates. [REDACTED] Media related to Ramakrishna Mission at Wikimedia Commons Sarada River River Sarada

377-602: The administrative control of the Board of Trustees, whereas all branch centres of Ramakrishna Mission come under the administrative control of the Governing Body of Ramakrishna Mission. The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission have 221 centers all over the world: and one each in Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Fiji , France , Germany , Ireland , Japan , Malaysia , Mauritius , Nepal ,

406-487: The backdrop of the rising sun, surrounded by wavy waters from which has arisen a beautiful lotus flower along with a couple of leaves. This whole picture is encircled by a hooded serpent. Whereas the motto adds a social dimension to the hitherto, purely personal, aspect of a self-centred sadhana, the emblem – which graphically describes a balanced combination or harmony of all the four yogas – enriches that sadhana by making it more comprehensive. Swami Vivekananda explained

435-404: The core of a new monastic order that bears his name now. Swami Vivekananda and fifteen others were the founders of this order. After taking formal monastic vows through appropriate rituals (12 at first and the rest at different times later) they assumed new names as follows (based on seniority in age): Generalissimo, El Yogador, manager, and drone. Any organisation, especially the one that bears

464-582: The couple left for Almora, where they rented a bungalow and this became the residence of Vivekananda and the Seviers for the next two years. Later when he left for Kashmir, the Sevier couple along with Swami Swarupananda, a monastic disciple of Vivekananda, started travelling to the interior area looking for a suitable place, which was eventually found in July 1898, set amidst dense deodar , pine and oak forests;

493-516: The east Bay of Bengal in the South and Machhkund sub-basin of the River Godavari in the west. Visakhapatnam is the major city in the basin. Yelamanchili and Anakapalli are important towns in the basin. The famous Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda Buddhist cave monastery remains near Anakapalli and The Kotturu Dhanadibbalu near Gokivada forest entrance are located on the left bank of

522-408: The imagery in the following terms: "The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma; the lotus, of Bhakti; and the rising-sun, of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of Yoga and the awakened Kundalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for Paramatman (Supreme Self). Therefore, the idea of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga, the vision of Paramatman

551-527: The land which was until then a tea estate was promptly purchased, and decided upon for the new Ashram. Finally, with the help of Swami Swarupananda , the Ashram was set up, along with a small dwelling for the monks, ashramites and the couple themselves, around the same time as the Belur Math was being established near Kolkata , when they moved in on 19 March 1899. After the sudden death of its first editor, 24-year-old B. R. Rajam Iyer at Madras ( Chennai ),

580-492: The name of an epoch-making person, needs a motto to guide it and an emblem that constantly reminds and inspires. Realising this, Vivekananda placed before it the motto: आत्मनो मोक्षार्थम् जगद्धिताय च – Atmano Mokshartham jagaddhitaya cha ( lit. 'For the liberation of the Self and service to the society'). He also designed a charming but distinctive emblem that effectively reflected this motto. It consists of an elegant swan against

609-472: The other hand, gave rise to another, a sister organisation, concentrating solely on public service activities. Unlike the old monastic traditions prevalent at the time, the Ramakrishna movement has certain unique features. They may be listed as follows: Since its cradle years, the Ramakrishna monks have chosen to live in a group. Though from time to time, the monks went into solitude or wandering alone,

SECTION 20

#1732772293761

638-672: The position until his death in 1906. Upon its foundation, Vivekananda sent the following letter, in March 1899, entailing the prospectus of the Ashram: "...To give this One Truth a freer and fuller scope in elevating the lives of individuals and leavening the mass of mankind, we start this Advaita Ashrama on the Himalayan heights, the land of its first expiration. Here it is hoped to keep Advaita free from all superstitions and weakening contaminations. Here will be taught and practised nothing but

667-592: The premises according to the Ashram ideals set by Vivekananda. Also referred as the Mayawati Ashram, it is located at an altitude of 1940 meters, 22 km from Champawat in Champawat district , Uttarakhand , and 9 km from the town of Lohaghat . The ashram is a major publication centre of the Ramakrishna Order for books in English and Hindi, mainly through its branch in Kolkata . It also maintains

696-503: The publication of the English Journal Prabuddha Bharata was discontinued for a few months in May 1898. Meanwhile, in Almora , Vivekananda asked the Sevier couple to revive the magazine, and the editorship was given to Swami Swarupananda , who not only became the first head of the Ashram upon its opening on 19 March 1899, but also remained its editor, at its new base hence forth; and they held

725-667: The river. The River Sarada is a major base for irrigation in Visakha district. Pedderu medium irrigation project is constructed on Pedderu a tributary of the Sarada river near Ravipalem village. The project is aimed to irrigate 13,334 acres (53.96 km ) in the Madugula and Ravikamatham mandals in Anakapalli district . The catchment area of the reservoir site is extended over 160 square kilometers. An Anacatta with two big gates,

754-667: The senior monks of the Order, the Trustees elect from among themselves a President, one of three Vice Presidents, a General Secretary and four Assistant Secretaries. The President, also called the 'Sanghaguru' is the supreme Head of the whole organisation and the sole authority to confer Samnyasa or administering the monastic vow. The Presidents, Vice Presidents (or the Head of a foreign centre) are also empowered to give initiation or Mantra Diksha to devotees aspiring for it. The General Secretary

783-419: The sense of brotherhood among them was too strong to keep anyone away from the monastery for too long. Since Sri Ramakrishna himself insisted on Sadhu Sangha (holy company) it is but natural for his disciples to seek the company of the each other The greatest advantage of a Sangha (organisation of monks) is strengthening of one another's spiritual vibrations and the rounding off one's angularities. The fact that

812-576: Was in the Alps that Vivekananda, while travelling with the couple, that he expressed his desire to have a similar retreat for the monks in the Himalayas. In December 1896, the couple moved to India, with Vivekananda on board a steamer from Naples , Italy, with an objective to find a place near Almora, and set up an Ashram, and arriving at Madras in February 1897. Soon just as Vivekananda left for Calcutta,

841-550: Was travelling through the Alps recuperating, and expressed the desire to have a similar place in India, for retreat and study of Vedas . Earlier, in 1895, James Henry Sevier who had served as a captain in the British Indian Army for 5 years, and his wife Charlotte Elizabeth Sevier, met Vivekananda in England. Later in 1896, for nearly nine months, they travelled with him through Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. It

#760239