Activities

Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, being a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, is meant to serve society in all possible ways— physical, mental, cultural, and spiritual—what Swami Vivekananda termed as Annadana, Vidyadana, and Jnanadana. We invite one and all of our countrymen, in general, and the people of Andhra Pradesh, in particular, to come forward and benefit from the various activities of the Math. We also invite all to participate in the service activities and promote the noble motto of this Math, which, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, is 'Atmano Mokshartham Jagaddhitaya cha'— 'for one's self-realization and for the welfare of the world at large'.

Sri Ramakrishna Temple

Any one entering the Math complex is at once impressed by its ambience of serenity and sanctity. The chief attraction of this Math is the imposing Universal Sri Ramakrishna Temple, round which all its activities revolve. Irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, or sex, every one is allowed to enter the Prayer Hall and sit in quiet meditation, when the main door of the temple is kept open (5 a.m. to 12 noon and 4 to 8.30 p.m.). Every morning, worship is conducted from 9.30 a.m. In the evenings, arati and chorus bhajans are conducted at 6.45 p.m. On Ekadashi days arati is followed by the singing of   of Sri Ramanama-Sankirtanam in chorus.  On the left side of the temple, there is the beautiful Sarada Vanam and on the right side is the Vivekananda Tapovanam. The two lawns on either side of the paved road leading to the temple are soothing to the eye, as also the seasonal flower trees all round in the campus.

The Office and the Book Sales Section

The Office Section consists of the office of the President of the Math (Phone No.: 040-27633937), the cash and the accounts section of the Math handled by a monastic member (Phone No.: 040-27633937), and the Book Sales Section which displays the entire range of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta literature. This section also sells audio and video cassettes of the lectures of Swami Ranganathanandaji, as well as of devotional songs and bhajans in Hindi and Telugu. Photographs of the Holy Trio, their pictures, and framed photos are available for sale. Several of the Telugu books are being sold at heavily subsidized price. Subscriptions to the magazines published by the Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, The Vedanta Kesari (in English), Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam (in Tamil), Sri Ramakrishna Prabha (in Telugu); and by Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati Prabuddha Bharata (in English) are accepted at the counter. This unit works both in the morning (8.30 to 11.30 a.m.) and in the evening (4 to 8 p.m.) on all days.

Vivekananda Institute of Languages

Started in 1981, this Institute (Phone No. : 040-27635545) has grown in popularity as well as in the number of students taking advantage of this unit. The languages taught are Spoken English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, and Sanskrit, for both men and women. There are competent teachers, both men and women, who handle these classes. It functions from 7.30 to 10 a.m. and 10 to 12 a.m. in the morning and from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. in the evening. It is closed on Sundays and listed holidays. It is a sight to see the number of men and women waiting outside for the bell to ring to signify the beginning of the classes. Both in the morning and in the evening, the classes commence after a brief universal prayer and reading a passage or two from a small booklet containing Swami Vivekananda's inspiring words on character-building education. The booklet entitled Education for Character is given free to every student of the Institute. It is worth mentioning that about 21,000 students seek admission to the courses every year. In each language, there are four categories of students—Basic, Junior, Senior, and Diploma—each of three months duration, so that a student can complete the whole course in one year. The annual convocation is held on 12 January every year, which happens to be the birthday of Swami Vivekananda according to English calendar, when Diploma certificates are distributed to successful students. Details

Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence

It was in the year 2000 that the long cherished desire of the Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad for starting a centre to impart training in values to the youth, students, and others involved in public service, took a concrete shape with the inauguration of the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence (Phone: 040-27627961) in the holy campus of the Math on 10th September by Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj. The training programmes organised by the Institute aim at acquainting the people with the long cherished Indian heritage as well as values and providing them with true education which the patriot monk Swami Vivekananda declared as 'life-building and man-making education'. The Institute is considered as a beacon by all those who sincerely desired the need for such a re-orientation of the human personality to combat the gradual erosion of moral and spiritual values in a country, which is the birthplace and treasure house of spiritual and ethical culture.

The Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence conducts programmes geared towards enriching the inherent talents of individuals; they offer a value addition to their academic and professional abilities. Programmes include regular Value-Orientation Programmes conducted for the youth, students, teachers, government employees and corporate managers, the newly introduced 12—Sunday Personality Development Course, courses on Confidence Building, Yogasanas, Communication Skills, Leadership Qualities, Mind Management, Self-Improvement and Meditation. During the year the Institute organised several special conventions for homogenous professional groups. Besides the Boys' Convention and the Girls' Convention organised separately, the institute has organised Doctors' Convention, Nurses' Convention, National Convention on 'Corporate Challenges and Ancient Solutions' and National Seminar on 'Governing of Corporates and the Traditional Indian Approaches'. Details

Vivekananda Auditorium

This Auditorium with a capacity of 1000 is the venue of all the Math's cultural and spiritual activities. Every Saturday, a Telugu discourse in given here from 5.45 to 6.45.m. On Sundays, the discourse is in English from 5.45 to 6.45 p.m. Besides these weekly lectures, frequent 'Spiritual Retreats' are held here for devotees and friends, with whole-day programmes. Occasional serial lectures are also arranged in this Auditorium, like the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, etc. in Hindi and Telugu for the benefit of those who understand those languages.

The President of the Math and other monks go out, on invitation, to the interior of Andhra Pradesh to disseminate the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, as well as to spread the cultural and spiritual ideas and ideals of India that have come down to us through scores of centuries through the corridor of time.

Vivekananda Library and Reading Room

Opposite to the Auditorium in the same building is situated this unit of service to the public. There are two sections in this unit—one for adults and the other for children. The Children Section has little chairs and tables for children. Informative and instructive pictures and portraits are displayed for the benefit of children to gain knowledge about the world in which we live. The Adult Section has books on various subjects like any other public library, carefully selected by qualified persons. It is a free library and reading room. Any person desiring to make use of the library is required to deposit Rs. 100/- which is refundable, This deposit is applicable to both the Adult and Children Sections. The library has a section of cassettes which can be borrowed like books. These cassettes contain records of the lectures delivered by Swamis in the Auditorium every week. This unit functions on all days, except on Mondays and listed holidays. Details

Vivekananda Health Centre

Swami Vivekananda's clarion call was Daridra-devo-bhava, Murkha-devo-bhava, and Rogi-devo-bhava—the poor, the ignorant, and the afflicted—let these be your gods. To serve them in a spirit of worship animates this unit of the Math. It has both allopathic and homoeopathic sections. Experienced doctors come to the Health Centre twice or thrice a week to render honorary service in their respective specialized areas, such as general medicine, E.N.T., minor surgery cases, ophthalmology, dental care, gynecology, neurology, pediatrics, dermatology, and general dressing. An 'X' ray unit and a pathological laboratory aid in diagnosing the ailments of the patients. As part of its service to the poor in rural areas, the Health Centre conducts a weekly Mobile Unit going to villages, known as Gramashri, and distributes free medicines to the patients.

Inititation or Mantra-diksha

Devotees who are keen on taking initiation or Mantra-diksha, to pursue their spiritual sadhana, may contact the President of the Math in person. Only those that are interested in taking Sri Ramakrishna Mantra need contact the President.

Relief Activities

Ever since this affiliated branch centre was ushered into existence, the Math has collected large amounts of money for meeting the expenses of relief and rehabilitation of the victims of natural calamities, like cyclone in Divi Seema (1977-79), earthquake in Latur and surrounding areas 1993-96, and, again, cyclone havoc caused in 1997 in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, and the Tsunami relief works of the Ramakrishna Mission. Donations have been coming to the Math for this humanitarian-service from all over India and abroad. All these collections are routed through the Relief Department at the Belur Math, earmarked for respective relief and rehabilitation operations undertaken by the Ramakrishna Mission at the headquarters.

Being a non-government organization dedicated to the service of God in man, the Math is entirely dependent on the financial help extended to it by the generous public. All donations are thankfully accepted and acknowledged. It is necessary to bring to the notice of the donors that all donations given to the Math are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G of the I.T. Act of 1961.

How to join the Monastic Order and become monks?

The rare gift of Swami Vivekananda to young men and women the world over is the creation of a monastic Order, bearing the name of his master Sri Ramakrishna. Qualified young men and women, with good health, inspired by the ideals of 'Renunciation and Service', having firm faith in the twin motto of Atmano Mokshartham Jagaddhitaya Cha (For one’s own liveration and for the good of the world) can approach any centre of the Ramakrishna Order and obtain details as to how to proceed with the noble intention. For young men, there are the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. For young women, there is a parallel Order, known as Sri Sarada Math and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, whose headquarters is situated in Calcutta (Address: Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Calcutta - 700 076). Healthy young man or woman under twenty-five, if he/she is an under graduate or under thirty, if he/she is a graduate, is eligible for admission into the respective Orders. He/she should be well acquainted with the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature.