Karnataka’s first Ramakrishna Math from its humble beginnings in 1906 to a thriving spiritual center today, Ramakrishna Math in Halasuru continues to inspire through devotion, service, and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

By Dipankar Chakraborty

When Swami Vivekananda returned to India about 128 years ago after raising the banner of India’s ancient and eternal tradition in the West, the impact of his humanistic philosophy and thoughts on the people was unprecedented. The people influenced by him and his thoughts sought the establishment of a Vivekananda Ashram in Bangalore on the lines of the Ramakrishna Mission. Thereafter, with the efforts of Swami Ramakrishnananda Ji, initiated by Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Karnataka’s first Vivekananda Ashram was established in Bangalore in 1906, which later came to be famously known as today’s Ramakrishna Math, Halasuru. On July 19, Ramakrishna Math, Halasuru, celebrated the 125 years of its establishment.

Swami Vivekananda returned to India in 1897, after a successful  tour of the West. His speeches in the West, made the world realize the invaluable contribution of India to the world, namely Hindu Philosophy. When Swamiji landed in India, people thronged to see him and listen to him. Swamiji gave a series of talks electrifying the masses throughout India which has been brought out as a book, “Lectures from Colombo to Almora”.

“A group of Swamiji’s admirers in Bengaluru were so much inspired by Swamiji, that they wanted to start an organization on the lines of Ramakrishna Mission, in Bengaluru. In 1900, they wrote a letter to the Advaita Ashram in Mayavati (which is a branch of the Ramakrishna Mission), requesting them for the rules of Ramakrishna Mission and they promptly received the rules by a letter dt. 25.1.1900 from Swami Vimalanandaji, then Joint Editor of Prabuddha Bharata from Mayavati in the Himalayas. This was the genesis of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement in Halasuru, Bengaluru in January 1900,” said head of the Ramakrishna Math in Halasuru, Swami Bodhaswarupananda.

In 1901, this group started the Vedanta Society in Bengaluru, with the direct permission and blessings of monks, to be run under the guidance of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Invited by these devotees, Swami Ramakrishnanandaji, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who was then in-charge of the Madras (now Chennai) center, visited Bangalore in July 1903. He was accorded a grand welcome and was brought in a grand procession from Cantonment to Halasuru and ended at Clarendon Hall.  Four thousand people and 53 Bhajan parties accompanied him.  He gave a series of talks in Bengaluru, the math Adhayaksha further added. 

This group of devotees who came under the spell of Swami Vivekananda wanted a quiet retreat away from the city where they could repair for an hour or two every day, in prayer, meditation and such other activities. So, they rented a small cottage near Halasuru. Swami Atmananda used to guide these devotees once a week.

On May 5, 1906, pictures of Sri Ramakrishna, The Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda were consecrated and installed in this cottage by Swami Vimalananda. This place was called Vivekananda Ashrama (which later became Ramakrishna Math, Halasuru).

During his visit to the Vivekananda Ashrama in Halasuru in 1908, Swami Ramakrishnananda said, “This Ashrama is an ideal place for highly cultivated sanyasis to live in”.

On the earnest request by these devotees, Swami Ramakrishnanandaji opened a branch center of Ramakrishna Mission in Bengaluru in a rented house in Fort area in 1904 and placed Swami Atmananda as in-charge. This branch later shifted to its own premises in Basavanagudi on Jan 10, 1909, foundation of which was done on August 20th, 1906 by Swami Abhedanandaji Maharaj. This city centre became main Centre of activity of Ramakrishna Math.

In 1926, the leased land where the Vivekananda Ashrama, Halasuru, stood, was acquired by Dr. P. Venkata Rangam and registered it in the name of Ramakrishna Math, Belur (HQ). Thus, it formally became part of Ramakrishna Math. It then started functioning as a sub-center of the Basavanagudi Ashram.

A spacious ‘Sadhu Nivas’ for retired and old monks of the Ramakrishna Order was constructed in Vivekananda Ashrama premises and was dedicated in 1987. Since then, many senior monks are residing here.

Four direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna – Swami Brahmananda, Swami Ramakrishnananda, Swami Abhedananda and Swami Shivananda – and several holy sanyasis of the Ramakrishna Order, have sanctified Vivekananda Ashrama, by their visits. Their holy vibrations are bound to touch and transform any devotee coming here.

In order to accommodate increasing number of devotees, a new temple of Sri Ramakrishna was consecrated in Vivekananda Ashrama on June 8, 1990 by Revered Swami BhuteshanandajiMaharaj, the then President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

As Bengaluru was expanding rapidly, it was felt that the Ashrama would better serve the society if it became an independent center. Thus, on Jan 1, 1999, it became an independent center. And on Dec 16, 2003, it was renamed as ‘Ramakrishna Math’, Halasuru, to reflect its roots.

The Ramakrishna Math, Halasuru, has been involved in several activities – religious, spiritual, social and cultural.

Religious activities include daily worship in the temple, celebrations of birthdays of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, celebrations of Ramanavami, Janmashtami, Durga Puja, Christmas, etc. 

Spiritual activities include weekly discourses on Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, periodic spiritual retreats, etc.

Social service activities include tuitions for the under-privileged school children, rural coaching centers, yoga classes, medical services, eye camps, material and financial help to the needy, moral and spiritual education for children and youth (Balaka Sangha, Balika Sangha&Yuvaka Sangha respectively), Sarada Satsanga Kendra for lady devotees etc.

Cultural activities include devotional music, bhajans, Harikatha, Summer camp for Children, National Youth Day celebration, competitions in Bhagavad Gita recitation, elocution, patriotic songs, etc.

The Halasuru Math operates a dispensary, library and a book stall. The Ramakrishna Math is dedicated to the service of society and to help individuals to realize God.