Today, on 9th December 2024 , in Gujarat the 7th center of Ramakrishna Math and Mission is coming up at Lekhamba near Ahmedabad city . The new temple of Sri Ramakrishna, Maa Sarada and Swami Vivekananda will be inaugurated by Revered Swami Gautamananda ji, President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission worldwide in the presence of more than hundred Sadhus.
Swami Vivekananda came to Gujrat first time in September 1891 and stayed for eight months in the state . This is Swami ji’s longest stay in any state during his wandering monk’s days. Swami Vivekananda travelled to many places in Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Limbdi, Junagadh, Jamnagar ,Dwarka, Somnath, Bhuj, Narayan Sarovar , Bhavnagar, Palitana and Nadiad.
During his life as wandering monk Swami Vivekananda spended mojor portion of his time in Gujarat. Gujarat is crucial in Swami Vivekananda ‘s life because here only first time he came to know about the Parliament of World ‘s Religion .
Swami Vivekananda arrived in Vadodara in April 1892 and stayed at Dilaram Bungalow as guest of Sri Manibhai Jasbhai , the Diwan of Vadodara at that time. During his stay Swami ji discussed the education system of State with Diwan, visited the library, and saw painting of Ravi Verma in the Laxami Vilas Palace.
After Swami Vivekananda ‘s visit to Gujrat many of his monk brothers came to Gujrat to spread the messages of Sri Ramakrishna of universal brotherhood.
In 1927 , the first center of Ramakrishna Mission came into existence at Rajkot. From Rajkot ashrama many welfare activities for people during natural calamities took place either it’s of flood relief activities or Bhuj earthquake relief activities. Many more rehabilitation activities took place from Rajkot ashrama of Ramakrishna Mission. Currently, human excellence and man making training on the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda is going on from this historical center at various school, colleges , educational and other Institutions. In health care also , the noticeable contribution by this Rajkot ashrama is been done in eye care , for mentally challenged children and other area of medical services. The noticeable contribution is cerebral health care system under one roof for children and counseling for their parents .
Second center of Ramakrishna Mission and Math in Gujarat came in limdi in 1994 and in 1997 ,third center of Ramakrishna Math and Mission came in Porbandar.
In 2005 , new Ramakrishna Mission center came at famous Dilaram Banglow in Vadodara .In 2018 at Ahmedabad new center of Ramakrishna Mission came up.
2022 saw new center of Ramakrishna Math at Bhuj .
On 9th December 2024, the 7th center of Ramakrishna Math and Mission is coming up at Lekhamba near Ahmedabad city. On this occasion, PM Narendra Modi sent his best wishes to Ramakrishna Math and Mission in Gujrati language. PM Modi expressed his deep gratitude to Mission for their manmakjng services and service to Humanity.
Bhupendra bhai Patel , CM of Gujarat announced the VIVEKANANDA CIRCUIT for tourism worth 1,500 crores at the consecration ceremony of newly built Ramakrishna temple , sadhu niwas at Lekhamba, Ahmedabad. This is the 6th Centre of Ramakrishna Mission in Gujrat .
CM Gujarat offered his pranam and welcomed President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission worldwide & all Sadhus of Mission from across the world on this occasion.
Madhavi Shree
(The author is a journalist based in Delhi, now a days she passionately cover activities of Ramakrishna Math and Mission all over India).
