It was the aim of Swami Vivekananda to found an institution where thousands of young men would be provided with the means of attaining their own liberation and of dedicating themselves to the service of humanity. The Math centre started for this purpose was shifted in January 1899 to Belur, on the western bank of the river Ganga, six kilometers north of Howrah railway station. Associated with the holy lives of Swami Vivekananda and his brother-disciples, Ramakrishna Math, Belur, or the Belur Math as it is popularly called, with its spacious grounds and serene atmosphere, is a place of pilgrimage for sincere seekers of Truth.
The course of spiritual life in the Math is going on uninterrupted and a number of selected young men, both Indian and foreign, are initiated into brahmacharya and sannyasa. In the Training centre for the brahmacharins of the Order, regular classes on philosophy and religion are held by competent teachers.
An attractive feature of the Math is the magnificent stone temple of Sri Ramakrishna with its spacious natmandir (prayer hall), beautiful domes, etc built in 1938. It is the most remarkable temple of its kind in eastern India. There are also small temples and shrines in memory of Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, Brahmananda and Shivananda. The room where Swami Vivekananda lived and attained Mahasamadhi is also preserved.
In the year 1984, Nilambar Mukherjee's garden House of sacred memories, adjacent to the Belur Math premises, was acquired. The Math, prior to its shifting to the present site, was run from this place for about a year. The building was sanctified by Sri Sarada Devi, who stayed there on several occasions and also performed intense austerities. The room where the Holy Mother lived is being maintained as a shrine. These premises have been named old Math.
The Headquarters of the Math as also of the Mission, located at the Belur Math, regulate the activities of all the Math and Mission branches. in addition to this work of administration. They conducted the following activities:
Ramakrishna Math & Mission, P.O. Belur Math, Dist. Howrah, West Bengal, PIN - 711202, India
033-654-1144/1180/ 5391/5700/5701/5702/5703/8494/9581/9681
91-033-654-4346
Headquarters: rkmhq@vsnl.com
President Maharaj: rkmpm@cal2.vsnl.net.in
Math Office: belurmath@vsnl.com