A few admirers of Swami Vivekananda, inspired by the messages of Sri Ramakrishna, desirous of having a religious institution under the guidance of the Ramakrishna Mission, formed Vedanta Society in Bangalore in March 1901 with Swamiji’s direct permission and blessings. This humble and simple initiative has snowballed into a huge movement inspiring a large section of Bangaloreans, particularly the youth in moulding the rich cultural, and spiritual scenario of the city.
In 1903, when Swami Ramakrishnananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, came to Bangalore, it was decided to open a centre of the Ramakrishna Mission. When he came again in 1904, with the help of the members of Vedanta Society and others, Ramakrishna Mission Institute was started. In the beginning it was located in a rented house of Veeraswami Mudaliar in the Fort area. A little later, The Mysore Government gave a big piece of land on Bull Temple Road for the building to be constructed.
On July 20, 1906, another direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Abhedananda, came to Bangalore from America. He stayed till August 21 as State guest at Maharaja’s palace in Bangalore and took part in various programmes, both at Bangalore and Mysore. On August 20, he laid foundation for the building of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute. One more disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the first president of the Ramakrishna Math, Swami Bramhananda, came to Bangalore and inaugurated the building on January 20, 1909, by establishing the picture of Sri Ramamkrishna. The name was also changed from Ramakrishna Mission Institute to Sri Ramamkrishna Ashrama. This centre, thus established by the blessings of senior monks of the Ramakrishna Mission has been a pilgrim centre for innumerable number of devotees. The Holy Mother, Sri Sharada Devi during her South India visit, came to Bangalore from Chennai on March 24,1911 and remained here for three days. One evening, she sat on a rock near the main shrine and sanctified it. In the room where she stayed, her portrait is kept and now it is a Holy Shrine of the Mother. Footprints of Sri Sharada Devi, is kept in her shrine and is a major attraction to devotees.
The greatest contribution of this Math to society has been the efficient running of Vivekananda Balaka Sangha and Yuvak Sangha for the last several decades. Vivekananda Ashram at Halasur, Sharada Math at Nandidurga road, in Cantonment are other important centres showing the path of righteousness to the men and women of Bangalore. Some of them after getting training in monastic life have founded their own centres to carry out both spiritual and social service ventures. Some householders also have established such service centres. To bring all of them under one proper guidance, Ramakrishna Mission started Ramamkrishna Vivekananda Bhava Prachara Parishath. In Karnataka alone, nearly thirty five private centres, majority of them from Bangalore are affiliated to Bhava Prachara Parishath.
Many senior monks of Ramakrishna mission are of the opinion that in India, next to Belur Math, Bull Temple Road centre has the largest number of devotees. Many monks who have gained experience here have been serving efficiently in many Ramakrishna Mission centres in our country and abroad. This is a significant contribution of Bangalore to the monastic order of Ramakrishna mission.
The immense effect of Swamiji’s life and teachings on literary and cultural fields is evident in the works of well known Kannada literary luminaries like K.V. Puttappa( Kuvempu), Da. Ra. Bendre, Dr. D.V.Gundappa, Masti Venkasha Iyengar and many others. My own book Karnatakadalli ‘Swami Vivekanandaru Mattu avara Prabhaava’, an illustrated literary work, is also well received. ‘A Spiritual Centre Blossoms’ by M.S. Nanjundiah gives vivid picture of 100 years of Bull Temple Road Math. A commemorative postal stamp of IISc, Bangalore, cCarries the picture of Swamiji.
Many young educated women, equally inspired by the Holi Trio have embraced the life of celibacy to serve the society in spiritual, educational, and cultural fields. A small lane called Ratan Singh road in Frazer Town had a nice house called Veereshwara Nilaya (now it does not exist). The owner, Dr. Venkata Rangam who was instrumental in starting the Vedanta Society in Bangalore had in 1911 dedicated all his five daughters to Sharada Devi. Two of his daughters Sunanda Devi and Suvrata Devi were directly initiated by Sharada Matha. After training, they came back to Bangalore and in 1926 and started Shri Ramkrishna Vivekananda School mainly to educate the downtrodden. It was shifted to a new building in 1931 to Narayana Pillai Street in Cantonment area. How the people of Cantonment responded, with vigour and commitment to this movement is meticulously documented in dairy of about three decades starting from 1901 by Dr. P Venkatarangam.
Sharada Mutt on Nandi Durga Road in Jayamahal Extension was a piece of karab land given to a group young sanyasinis. With their dedicated efforts, they have converted it to a highly sought after serene, spiritual-educational and health care region.
. This is the 125th year of Swami Vivekananada’s Chicago address and projects concerning the youth have been planned during the year 2018 and 2019.
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