Ramakrishna Math is a religious monastic order set up by Swami Vivekananda to follow the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. The Ramakrishna Math is headquartered at Belur Math (in West Bengal, India), and shares the location with the related organisation, the Ramakrishna Mission.

Monastic order for men

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Ramakrishna Math consists of monks (Sannyasins and Brahmacharins) belonging to a monastic order for men. After the passing away of their Master Sri Ramakrishna in 1886 the young disciples organized themselves into a new monastic order. The original monastery at Baranagar was shifted in January 1899 to a newly acquired plot of land at Belur in the district of Howrah.

Belur Math

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See main article Belur Math

This monastery, known as Belur Math, serves as the Mother House for all the monks of Ramakrishna Order who live in the various branch centres of Ramakrishna Math and/or the related Ramakrishna Mission in different parts of India and the world.

Twin ideals

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Here the Math started the task of training vigorously a band of monks and novices. They were inspired with the twin ideals of Self-realisation and Service to the world.

Management

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The Ramakrishna Math was registered as a Trust in 1901. The management of the Math is vested in a Board of Trustees who are only monks. The Math with its branches is a distinct legal entity. It has well defined rules of procedure. It lays emphasis on religious practices and preaching of Dharma. The Math has its own separate funds and keep detailed accounts which are annually audited by qualified chartered accountants. It has 57 Branch centres in India and abroad. The Math and the Mission both have their Headquarters at Belur Math.

See also

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• Belur Math
• Ramakrishna Mission

Howrah