Sri Sarada Math

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Sri Sarada Math is named after

Sri Ramakrishna, and founded on 2 December 1954. Built by a group of eight sadhavis, as per the instructions given by Swami Vivekananda, it serves as a monastic order for women.[3] Headquartered at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata, the organisation has branch centres all over India, in Sri Lanka and Australia.[4] The nuns of this order use the title "Pravrajika" before their ordained name, and are usually addressed as "Mataji" meaning 'revered mother'.[5][6][7]

Overview

Sri Sarada Math is the monastic order for women established as an independent counterpart to Ramakrishna Order. The main aim of the organisation is to fulfill the mission of Swami Vivekananda, that is ‘Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva’ serving God in Man, irrespective of caste, creed, and nationality as well as the upliftment and empowerment of women.[8][9]

The organisation mainly propagates the Hindu philosophy of

Raja Yoga.[10]

Apart from religious and spiritual teaching, the organisation carries out educational and philanthropic work in India. The mission bases its work on the principles of karma yoga, the principle of selfless work done with a dedication to God. The Sri Sarada Math and its sister organisation, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, publish many important Vedanta and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda texts. Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, its sister organisation[11] also shares the same headquarters at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata.[12]

History

2 December 1954, the Sarada Math was inaugurated by the then President of

Sri Ramakrishna
devotees, such as Brahmacharini Renu, Brahmacharini Asha, Brahmacharini Lakshmi, Brahmacharini Gauri, Brahmacharini Kalyani, and others.

Brahmacharini Asha had in 1946 written an article entitled, ‘Hindu Women’s Right to Sannyasa’ published in Udbodhan magazine, in which she expressed her strong desire for the life of renunciation.[14] It created interest among intellectual circles, especially in the circles of Ramakrishna followers.[14]

From 1954 to 1958, Sri Sarada Math was a branch centre of the Ramakrishna Math at Belur.[15] The Trustees of Belur Math assumed the responsibility of its administration. However, only the inmates of the Sri Sarada Math conducted the day-to-day work of the Math. When the necessity arose, they sought advice from the senior monks of Belur Math. After the inaugural of the Sri Sarada Math, Swami the Belur Math authorities instructed that monks would no longer visit it without proper reason or prior permission.[16]

In 1958, eight Brahmacharinis of the women's Math were tonsured, and they performed the Shraddha ceremony. Then on 2 January 1959, in the Old Shrine of Belur Math, the President, Swami Shankarananda and other senior monks conducted the Viraja Homa, and the eight Brahmacharinis were ordained into formal Sannyasa. They were given the ochre robes and new names. Swami Madhavananda had compiled the names. They would be prefixed by ‘Pravrajika’ and ended with ‘prana’. So the names of the eight pioneer sannyasinis were Pravrajika Bharatiprana,[17] Pravrajika Mokshaprana, Pravrajika Muktiprana, Pravrajika Dayaprana, Pravrajika Vidyaprana, Pravrajika Shraddhaprana,[18] Pravrajika Bhaktiprana, and Pravrajika Medhaprana.

On 26 August 1959, the Sri Sarada Math was recognised as an independent organisation and the full administration was handed over to the nuns. Seven of its nuns were elected to be the Trustees. The Trust deed was registered on 9 September 1959 and it was officially registered as a non-government trust on 11 September 1959.[19] With this, the President of the Sri Sarada Math was also given the responsibility to give spiritual initiation (Mantra Diksha), brahmacharya initiation and the conferring of Sannyasa to eligible women. Thus, an independent Order of Sannyasinis was created.[20]

Sri

Sankaracharya.[21]
Not only this but the nuns were also given the right to confer Sannyasa upon other women. This was an epoch-making incident in the history of the Hindu religion.

From the establishment of Sri Sarada Math in 1954 till it was legally independent in 1959, the total number of its members was 52. After that, many followers of Ramakrishna came forward to help. In May 1960, the Trustees of the Sri Sarada Math established the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. The function of the Math gives emphasis on spiritual development (Atmano Mokshartham) while the Mission's main aim is service to society (Jagad Hitaya). Women with faith in this ideal can become members of the Mission.

Following the legal establishment of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, the two institutions run by the Ramakrishna Mission for women, the Matri Bhavan (maternity hospital) in south Kolkata and the Entally Ashrama, Women's Welfare Centre in central Kolkata were handed over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in 1961.[22]

With donations from Sri Devendranath Bhattacharya, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vidyabhavan, a degree college was started in 1961. Later, some girls who received education at this college, have joined Sri Sarada Math and became nuns.

In 1963, the

Sister Nivedita Girls' School[23] to the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[22]

The Emblem and Motto

The emblem of the Ramakrishna Math designed by Swami Vivekananda was slightly modified to keep a separate identity. In Sri Sarada Math's emblem, the swan and snake are facing the opposite direction. Two small lotus buds were added to the blooming lotus. The sun has almost completely risen.

The motto of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, ‘Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Ca’ is also shared by Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[24]

The Presidents

Pravrajika Bharatiprana

The first president of the Math was

Mahasamadhi.[28]
Her life was written in Bengali as Bharatiprana Smriti Katha and later translated in English by Pravrajika Atmaprana as Pravrajika Bharatiprana.[29]

Pravrajika Mokshaprana

Pravrajika Mokshaprana (1915-1999) was the second President.[30] She also served as the headmistress of Sister Nivedita's Girls' School from 1946 to 1948.[31][32]

Pravrajika Muktiprana

Pravrajika Muktiprana (1915-1994) was the first General Secretary of the Math. Her parents were disciples of

Swami Shivananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. She actively participated in the movement that led to the formation of Sri Sarada Math. An excellent administrator, her biography on Sister Nivedita 'Bhagini Nivedita' is a masterpiece.[33]

Pravrajika Shraddhaprana

Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (1918-2009) was the third President. She, too, belonged to the first batch of Sannyasinis. She was a powerful speaker and writer. Her book 'Asamanya Patralekhikha Nivedita' contains selected translations of Sister Nivedita's letters.[34][35]

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana (1920-2022) was the fourth President of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[36][37] The President Mataji was assisted by vice president,[38][39] Pravrajika Anandaprana and general secretary Pravrajika Amalaprana.

Pravrajika Anandaprana

Pravrajika Anandaprana (1927-present) is the fifth president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.

She was born in 1927 in Kolkata. She received spiritual initiation from Swami Shankarananda,7th President of Belur Math. She joined the order in 1957 at Baghbazar Nivedita Girls' High School. She was elected a Trustee of the Math in 2017. In 2018 she became a Vice President of the Order.

On 14 January 2023, she was elected the 5th President of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.

She is assisted by Vice President,Pravrajika Sadhanprana, General Secretary,Pravrajika Atandraprana and Asst. Secretary Pravrajika Anilaprana, Treasurer Pravrajika Jnanadaprana.

The Idea

The idea to form a monastic institution for women was first envisioned by Swami Vivekananda, long before he established the well-known Ramakrishna Math. Swami Vivekananda realized the dire necessity of women's Math, which he expressed through his letters from 1894 to 1901.

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved… Hence it is that my first endeavor is to start a Math for women.”[40]

"Mother (Sri Sarada Devi) has been born to revive...

Gargis and Maitreyis be born into the world... Hence it is her Math that I want first... Without the grace of Shakti, nothing is to be accomplished.... Hence we must first build a Math for Mother.”[41]

“Brother, in this terrible winter I am lecturing from place to place and fighting against odds, so that funds may be collected for Mother’s Math.”[41]

“With the Holy Mother (Sri Sarada Devi) as the centre of inspiration, a Math is to be established on the eastern bank of the

Ganga.”[42]

“In the Women's Math there shall be no connection with monks, and in the Math for Men no connection with sadhavis.”[43]

Sri Ramakrishna such as Gauri Ma, Yogin Ma, and Golap Ma. He wanted them to spread the message of Sri Ramakrishna through an organisation.[44]

Sara Bull, 'Sister Nivedita and myself have found out by talking to Mother that she would like to see a convent started in the fashion of the Math, Belur, for women. Miss Glen who was here to visit the Holy Mother also had a talk with Mother about it and is very sanguine about the work.'[45]

Activities

6 November 1981, the stone temple was consecrated as per the

Hindu tradition. Daily ritual worships are performed here by the nuns. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and other personalities are celebrated here, besides the Hindu festivals.[46][47] Religious discourse and lectures are also done regularly.[48][49]

The training of brahmacharinis and novices are an essential activity of the Sri Sarada Math.[50]

Sri Sarada Math also has some speakers on Vedanta and Hinduism who have been travelling the various parts of the world to deliver lectures, talks, and discourses. To name a few, Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji, Pravrajika Divyanandaprana,[51][52] are some well-known nuns of Sri Sarada Math.

In the fields of education, health, women's development, the nuns of the Sri Sarada Math are also are providing services for example, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vivekananda Vidyabhavan and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Girls' School.

Branch Centres

Sri Sarada Math has since its inception spread to several parts of the world. The sadhavis, though small in numbers, have been contributing significantly through their selfless activities.[53][54]

Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of New South Wales

A branch centre was opened in New South Wales, and Pravrajika Ajayaprana became its president from 1982 to 2011.[38] Currently, the centre is led by Pravrajika Gayatriprana.

Publications

Nibodhata,[55] is the Bengali journal,[56] published every two months. It contains articles on various matters related to religion, science, art, culture, society, history.[57]

Samvit is the English journal published by Sri Sarada Math's New Delhi Center. Samvit was first published in 1980, through the efforts of Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana, the first General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. The journal covers various religious and spiritual issues.[58][59]

Besides journals, the Sri Sarada Math and its branch centres also have published several biographies of religious and spiritual personalities, and books on Ramakrishna-Vedanta.

References

  1. ^ Udbodhan (Phalgun issue B.S.1379)
  2. ^ "Sri Sarada Devi: The Universal Mother". 16 June 2021.
  3. ^ Swami Vivekananda's Dream, Sri Sarada Math (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 2005), p.7
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  5. ^ "Addressing Religious Leaders".
  6. ^ Clémentin-Ojha, Catherine. 1998. “Outside the Norms: Women Ascetics in Hindu Society.” Economic and Political Weekly 18: April 30
  7. ^ Pechilis, Karen. 2004. The Graceful Gurus: Hindu Female Gurus in India and the United States. New York: Oxford University Press.
  8. ^ "Our Origin | Rasik Bhita". Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Echoes of Vedanta in the far East (Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of New South Wales: Australia, 1994), p.i)
  10. ^ a b Pravrajika Atmaprana, Monasticism for Indian Women, Monasticism Ideal and Traditions (Sri Ramakrishna Math Chennai: Chennai1991), p.303
  11. ^ "Sri Sarada Math | Indian religious society".
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  13. ^ A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.133
  14. ^ a b A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.124
  15. ^ A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.135
  16. ^ A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.134
  17. ^ Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 1992), p.48
  18. ^ Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 2009),p.20
  19. ^ "SRI SARADA MATH NGO in KOLKATA WEST BENGAL Address Contact details".
  20. ^ Pravrajika Atmaprana, Monasticism for Indian Women, Monasticism Ideal and Traditions (Sri Ramakrishna Math Chennai: Chennai1991), p.303
  21. ^ Udbodhan (Phalgun issue B.S.1379)
  22. ^ a b A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.138
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  26. ^ Bengali newspaper, Ananda Bazar Patrika on 31 January 1973
  27. ^ A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.98-101
  28. ^ A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.232
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  32. ^ Mokshaprana, Pravrajika. "Guiding lights – Presidents and First General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math & Ramakrishna Sarada Mission".
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  34. ^ Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar), p.20
  35. ^ "Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Mataji passes away". Hindustan Times. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  36. ^ "Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata". www.srisaradamath.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  37. ^ "Healer at the helm". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  38. ^ a b "You are being redirected..." saradavedanta.org. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  39. ^ "Happy birthday sister". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  40. ^ Letters of Swami Vivekananda (Advaita Ashrama: Mayavati, 1993), p.201
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  42. ^ Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (Advaita Ashrama: Mayavati, 1989), vol.7, p.214
  43. ^ Rules and Regulations of the Ramakrishna Math, Belur, (1967), p.2
  44. ^ Letters of Swami Vivekananda (Advaita Ashrama: Mayavati, 1993), p.112
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  46. ^ "Mahishasurmardini Stotra - Sri Sarada Math, Pune". YouTube. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
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  48. ^ "Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata". www.srisaradamath.org. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
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  52. ^ "Vimarsh on 'Swami Vivekananda and National Regeneration' by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana on 13 Jan 2020". www.vifindia.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  53. ^ "Sarada Math branch to be set up in Silchar". The Sentinel. 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  54. ^ Academy, Himalayan. "Hinduism Today Magazine". www.hinduismtoday.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  55. ^ https://nibodhatapatrika.com/
  56. ^ "Sarada Math nun breathes her last".
  57. ^ "Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata". www.srisaradamath.org. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  58. ^ "Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata". www.srisaradamath.org. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  59. ^ "Samvit". www.maasamiti.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

External links

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