Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta Math

Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta Math is a charitable, philanthropic and cultural organization based in Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal, India. According to its official website, it was established in 1939 by Swami Abhedananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva, and is now managed by a Board of Trustees composed of Sannyasins of the Ramakrishna Order. The Math, together with its branches at various places in West Bengal, is dedicated to charitable, philanthropic and cultural works for serving mankind, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion. The organization traces its origins to the missionary work of Swami Abhedananda. On the call of Swami Vivekananda, he went to England in 1896 and then to America in 1897 to propagate the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Deva and Vedanta, described by the Math as the universal religion and philosophy of India. He returned to Calcutta in 1921 and started the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society at Calcutta, which he later dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Deva and renamed "Ramakrishna Vedanta Math." The Math was formally established in 1939. After the founder-president Swami Abhedananda died, his disciples Swami Chitswarupananda, Swami Sadrupananda, Swami Sadatmananda and Swami Prajnanananda held the office of President one after another. Swami Prajnanananda was noted for his spiritual stature and scholarship, and was regarded as an authority on musicology in India. In 2015 the Trustees of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math and the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission elected Srimat Swami Buddhatmanandaji, a direct disciple of Srimat Swami Prajnananandaji Maharaj, as president of both bodies. The Math's public identity is closely tied to the legacy of Swami Abhedananda. Its website presents his writings and lectures, including Complete Works by Swami Abhedananda, Spiritual Lectures, a spiritual biography, and works such as Reincarnation, and it marked the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Abhedananda. The organization operates as a religious and cultural institution rather than a commercial enterprise, with no publicly listed status and no parent company beyond its affiliation with the Ramakrishna Order.

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Math traces its origins to the missionary career of Swami Abhedananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva. On the call of Swami Vivekananda, Abhedananda went to England in 1896 and then to America in 1897 to propagate the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Deva and Vedanta, which the Math describes as the universal religion and philosophy of India. He returned to Calcutta in 1921 and started the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society at Calcutta. He later dedicated the society to Sri Ramakrishna Deva and renamed it "Ramakrishna Vedanta Math." The Math was formally established in 1939 by Swami Abhedananda. According to the official website, the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, Calcutta, along with its branches at various places in West Bengal, is exclusively meant for charitable, philanthropic and cultural works for serving mankind, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion. It is managed by a Board of Trustees who are all Sannyasins of the Ramakrishna Order. After Swami Abhedananda, the Founder-President, died, his disciples Swami Chitswarupananda, Swami Sadrupananda, Swami Sadatmananda and Swami Prajnanananda held the office of President one after another. Swami Prajnanananda was described as a Sannyasi of very high spiritual stature, whose scholarship and contribution in the spiritual world would shine as a beacon-light to seekers of truth. He was also an authority on musicology in India, and wrote books on the subject. In 2015, the Trustees of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, in their meeting on 27 June 2015, and the Members of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission, in their meetings on the same date, elected Srimat Swami Buddhatmanandaji, one of the direct disciples of Srimat Swami Prajnananandaji Maharaj, simultaneously as the president of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math and the Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission. The Math has also marked the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Abhedananda. The organization's public activity centers on preserving and disseminating the legacy of its founder. Its website features works by Swami Abhedananda, including A Brief History, Spiritual Lectures, Spirituality, The Patriot Saint, Spiritual Biography of Swami Abhedananda, Complete Works by Swami Abhedananda, and Reincarnation. The Math thus functions as a religious, cultural and charitable institution within the broader Ramakrishna Order rather than as a commercial business.

• 2015

  Srimat Swami Buddhatmanandaji was elected president of both the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math and the Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission.

• 1939

  Ramakrishna Vedanta Math was established by Swami Abhedananda.

• 1921

  Swami Abhedananda returned to Calcutta and started the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society at Calcutta, later renamed Ramakrishna Vedanta Math.

• 1897

  Swami Abhedananda went to America to propagate the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Deva and Vedanta.

• 1896

  Swami Abhedananda went to England on the call of Swami Vivekananda to propagate the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Deva and Vedanta.

A charitable, philanthropic and cultural institution serving mankind irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion, rooted in the Ramakrishna Order and the Vedanta tradition.

• Complete Works by Swami Abhedananda

• Spiritual Lectures by Swami Abhedananda

• Spiritual Biography of Swami Abhedananda

• Reincarnation (book by Swami Abhedananda)

• A Brief History

• The Patriot Saint

1. 1Ramakrishna Vedanta Math: A charitable, philanthropic and cultural works for serving mankindramakrishnavedantamath.org
2. 2Ramakrishna Vedanta Math - Historyramakrishnavedantamath.org
3. 3Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta Math - Wikidatawikidata.org