Ramakrishna Mission - Definition and Overview

Ramakrishna Mission was started by Swami Vivekananda on May 1 1897. The aim of the mission is to preach the truths which Sri Ramakrishna has left for the humanity. Sri Ramakrishna has preached and demonstrated these by practically applying it in his life. His main objective was to make people achieve mental and spiritual advancement.

Swami Vivekananda started Ramakrishna Mission Association. This later on became Shri Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Atmano Mokshartham Jagad-hitaya Cha

is the slogan of the organisation. This in sanskrit means,

"For one's own salvation, and for the good fo the world."

The following is the traditionally accepted list of Presidents(spiritual heads) of the monastic order.

1. Swami Brahmananda (1901 to 1922)
2. Swami Shivananda (1922 to 1934)
3. Swami Akhandananda(1934 to 1937)
4. Swami Vijnanananda(1937 to 1938)
5. Swami Shuddhananda(1938 to 1939)
6. Swami Virajananda(1939 to 1952)
7. Swami Shankarananda(1939 to 1959)
8. Swami Vishuddhananda(1959 to 1960)
9. Swami Madhavananda(1960 to 1965)
10. Swami Vireshwarananda(1966 to 1985)
11. Swami Gambhirananda(1985 to 1988)
12. Swami Bhuteshananda(1988 to 1998)
13. Swami Ranganathananda (1998 onwards - present Pontiff of the Order)

Apart from Direct disciples of Shri Ramakrishna, some of the other great monks of the order are

1. Swami Ashokananda
2. Swami Yatishwarananda
3. Swami Prabhavananda
4. Swami Nikhilananda
5. Swami Ghanananda
6. Swami Siddheshwarananda
7. Swami Tapasyananda
8. Swami Nityaswarupananda
9. Swami Shambhavananda

Related Links

• Ramakrishna Math and Mission headquarters (http://www.ramakrishna.org/rmk_ordr.htm)