Sri Vivekananda Ashrama
ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE
Swami Vivekananda Once Wrote To A Disciple Regarding How To Conduct Service Activities: “The Easiest Way Is To Take A Hut—Make It A Temple Of Guru Maharaj [Sri Ramakrishna]! Let The Poor Come Here To Be Helped, Also To Worship. . . . Maybe The Hut Temple Will Evolve Into A Great Institution In A Few Years. Let Those That Go To Do Relief-Work First Select A Central Spot In Each District And Start Such A Hut-Temple, From Which All Our Little Work Is To Proceed.”
Elaborating This Idea, Swami Ranganathanandaji, The 13th President Of The Ramakrishna Math And Mission, Said: “Behind Any Sri Ramakrishna Temple You Will Find Various Types Of Service—Schools, Colleges, Hostels, Tribal Work, Work During Natural Calamities, Etc. This Seva-Dharma (Service As A Way Of Life) Is A Part Of Ramakrishna-Temple Worship. Such A Temple Has A Great Role To Play In The Future India.”
This Is The Line On Which Sri Vivekananda Ashrama Functions. All Activities Of The Ashrama Centre Around Sri Ramakrishna, The Incarnation Of The Age. Through Every Activity He Alone Is Worshipped And All Is His Glory Alone.
1.Sri Ramakrishna Temple
Sri Ramakrishna Temple Is The Hub Of The Activities Of The Ashrama. Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, And Swami Vivekananda Are Worshipped Here Daily With Simple Rituals. A Monk Or A Brahmacharin Performs The Puja. The Temple Remains Open Between 4:30 And 11:00 A.M. As Also Between 4:00 And 8:00 P.M. Some Of The Main Services At The Temple Are:
4:45 A.M. — Singing Thiruppalliyezhuchi, Invocation In Tamil
5:00 A.M.—Mangala Arati
5:05 A.M.—Chanting And Reading From Scriptures
8:00 A.M.—Puja, Arati
10:30 A.M.—Chanting And Reading From Scriptures
6:30 P.M.—Evening Arati
2.Spiritual Retreat
Spiritual Retreats Or Antaryogams Are Conducted On The Last Saturday Of The English Months Between 10:00 A.M. And 12:30 P.M. A Retreat Includes Special Puja To Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Bhajan, Japa, Meditation, Discourse, And A Question-Answer Session. The Retreats Are Conducted By The Monks Of The Ashrama And Occasionally By Invitee Monks.
3.Celebration
- Annually Two Celebrations Are Held At The Ashrama On A Grand Scale. Hundreds Of Devotees Take Part In The Programmes (9:00 A.M. To 1:30 P.M.), Which Include Special Puja, Archana, Homa, Discourse, And Distribution Of Prasad:
- Ramakrishna-Sarada Devi-Vivekananda Day: Last Saturday Of December.
- Ambananda-Madhurananda Day: Last Saturday Of June. The Highlight Of This Celebration Is The Laksharchana, Worshipping Sri Ramakrishna With Flowers, Kumkum, And Akshata (Specially Prepared Rice Mixed With Turmeric Powder) While Chanting His Holy Mantra One Lakh Times.
- The Jayantis (Birthday According To The Indian Calendar) Of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ambanandaji, And Swami Madhuranandaji Are Observed With Special Puja And Homa.
The Foundation Day Of The Ashrama Is Observed On Thai Poosam (January/February) With Special Puja And Prasad Distribution.
- On Ekadasi Days (Eleventh Day Of The Lunar Fortnight) Singing Of Ramnam And Arati To Sri Rama Are Held In The Evening After The Evening Arati To Sri Ramakrishna.
- Guru Purnima, Sivaratri, Sri Rama Navami, And Sri Krishna Jayanti Are Observed With Special Puja And Bhajans.
4.Vidyarthi Homa
Vidyarthi Homa Is A Fire Ritual Performed For Success In Studies. Each Year This Homa Is Performed At The Ashrama Before The Academic Exams Commence. A Large Number Of Students Participate.
5.Sri Saradeswari Library
The Ashrama Has A Library With More Than 3,000 Books On Various Subjects Such As Religion, Philosophy, And Culture In Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, And English. Members Can Borrow Books.
6.Religious Book Sales
The Ashrama Has A Showroom Where Books Mainly Published By Hindu Dharma Vidya Peetam Are Sold. Religious Books From Other Major Religious Publishers Such As Chennai Sri Ramakrishna Math, Thirupparaithurai Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam, Kanyakumari Vivekananda Kendra, And Also From Popular Publishers Like Vanathi, Lifco, Pazhaniappa Brothers, Gita Press, And Narmada Are Also Available.
Photos, Pictures, Pendants, Rudraksha Mala, Sphatika Mala, Tulasi Mala, Chandan Mala, And Such Other Religious Articles Are Also For Sale.
This Showroom Is An Excellent Service To The Locality As Some Of The Best Tamil Religious Publications Are Available In A Single Location.
7.Religious Preaching
The Monks And Brahmacharins Of This Ashrama Give Talks Throughout The State. There Is Rarely A Religious Or Temple Function In The Kanyakumari District, Where A Monk Or Brahmacharin Of This Ashrama Is Not Invited To Take Part.