The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission

The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, together known as the Ramakrishna movement, attribute the source of their inspiration to Sri Ramakrishna (b. c.1836–d. 1886; see the separate Oxford Bibliographies article “Rāmakŗşŋa”). They were effectively created, however, after Ramakrishna’s death by Swami Vivekananda (b. 1863–d. 1902), Ramakrishna’s most prominent disciple (see the separate Oxford Bibliographies article “Vivekananda”). Together with Sri Sarada Devi, Ramakrishna’s wife and spiritual consort, who is held to be the movement’s Holy Mother, they comprise the movement’s “Spiritual Trinity.” The Ramakrishna Math (or Order) traces its origins to a cluster of young, largely unmarried, male devotees. Under Vivekananda’s leadership, they cared for Ramakrishna during his terminal illness and after Ramakrishna’s death ritually inducted themselves into saṃnyāsa (a life of renunciation). The Ramakrishna Mission was created in 1897 on Vivekananda’s return to Calcutta after a four-year absence in the United States and Europe, following his attendance at the World’s Parliament of Religions. The Mission is dedicated to offering sevā, service to the recipient held to be a manifestation of the divine. By the time Vivekananda returned to India in 1897, he had already established in New York the first Vedanta Society, the name commonly given to branches of the Ramakrishna movement beyond India, also referred to as Vedanta Centers. Vedanta Societies/Centers are branches of the Ramakrishna Math. Vivekananda had also gathered a circle of followers in London. Several of these first American and British supporters played significant roles in the subsequent development of the Math and Mission. Legally separate, the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission function as one under the direction of the president of the Ramakrishna Math and a board of trustees. The principles that govern the Math (including Vedanta Societies/Centers) and Mission, which were formulated under Vivekananda’s influence and continue to direct these organizations, envisage them having overlapping but also distinct roles. All branches are committed to promoting the teaching of Ramakrishna and, among other things, celebrating festivals. Branches of the Math and Mission in India and other historically less affluent countries are expected to assist in advancing material and social uplift, healthcare, and education through sevā. Vedanta Centers located in the more affluent settings of United States and Europe are expected to confine themselves to spiritual service.