Sri Sarada Math

Sri Sarada Math is named after Sri Sarada Devi,[1] the consort of Sri Ramakrishna and founded on 2 December 1954. Built by a group of eight sadhavis, as per the instructions given by Swami Vivekananda, it serves as a monastic order for women.[2] Headquartered at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata, the organisation has branch centres all over India, in Sri Lanka and Australia.[3]

Overview

Sri Sarada Math is the monastic order for women established as an independent counterpart to Ramakrishna Order.The main aim of the organisation is to fulfill the mission of Swami Vivekananda, that is ‘Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva’ serving God in Man, irrespective of caste, creed and nationality as well as the upliftment and empowerment of women.[4][5]

The organisation mainly propagates the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta–Advaita Vedanta and four yogic ideals–jnana, bhakti, karma, and Raja Yoga.[6]

Apart from religious and spiritual teaching the organisation carries out extensive educational and philanthropic work in India. This aspect came to be a feature of many other Hindu movements. The mission bases its work on the principles of karma yoga, the principle of selfless work done with dedication to God. The Sri Sarada Math and its sister organisation, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission publishes many important Vedanta and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda texts. Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, its sister organisation also shares the same headquarters at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata.[7]

History

2 December 1954, the Sarada Math was inaugurated by the then President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Revered Swami Sankarananda.[8] During its formative days, the women who joined this order was from a family of Sri Ramakrishna devotees, such as: Brahmacharini Renu, Brahmacharini Asha, Brahmacharini Lakshmi, Brahmacharini Gauri, Brahmacharini Kalyani and others. They were inspired to lead a life of renunciation.

Brahmacharini Asha had in 1946 written an article entitled, ‘Hindu Women’s Right to Sannyasa’ published in Udbodhan magazine, in which she expressed her strong desire for the life of renunciation.[9] It created interest among intellectual circles, especially in the circles of Ramakrishna followers.[9]

From 1954 to 1958, Sri Sarada Math was a branch centre of the Ramakrishna Math at Belur.[10] The Trustees of Belur Math assumed the responsibility of its administration. However, only the inmates of the Sri Sarada Math conducted the day-to-day work of the Math. When necessity arose, they sought advice from the senior monks of Belur Math.After the inaugural of the Sri Sarada Math,Swami the Belur Math authorities instructed that monks would no longer visit it without proper reason or prior permission.[11]

In 1958, eight Brahmacharinis of the women's Math were tonsured and they performed the Shraddha ceremony. Then on 2 January 1959, in the Old Shrine of Belur Math, the President, Swami Shankarananda and other senior monks conducted the Viraja Homa, and the eight Brahmacharinis were ordained into formal Sannyasa. They were given the ochre robes and new names. Swami Madhavananda had compiled the names. They would be prefixed by ‘Pravrajika’ and ended with ‘prana’. So the names of the eight pioneer sannyasinis were Pravrajika Bharatiprana,[12] Pravrajika Mokshaprana, Pravrajika Muktiprana, Pravrajika Dayaprana, Pravrajika Vidyaprana, Pravrajika Shraddhaprana,[13] Pravrajika Bhaktiprana, and Pravrajika Medhaprana.

On 26 August 1959, the Sri Sarada Math were recognised as an independent organisation and the full administration were handed over to the sadhavis. Seven of its Sannyasinis were elected to be the Trustees. The Trust deed was registered on 9 September 1959. With this, the President of the Sri Sarada Math was also given the responsibilities to give spiritual initiation (Mantra Diksha), brahmacharya initiation and the conferring of Sannyasa to eligible women. Thus, an independent Order of Sannyasinis were created.[14]

Sri Sankaracharya did not sanction sannyasa for women.[6] But Swami Vivekananda laid the foundation to admit women into the Puri Sampradaya, one of the ten Orders of the Dasanami Sampradaya started by Sankaracharya.[15] Not only this, the sadhavis were also given the right to confer Sannyasa upon other aspiring women. This honour was an epoch-making incident in the history of the Hindu religion.

From the establishment of Sri Sarada Math in 1954 till it was legally independent in 1959, the total number of its members was 52. After that, many lay devotees of Ramakrishna came forward to help. In May 1960, the Trustees of the Sri Sarada Math established the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. The function of the Math gives emphasis on spiritual development (Atmano Mokshartham) while the Mission's main aim is service to society (Jagad Hitaya). Women devotees with faith in this ideal can become members of the Mission.

Following the legal establishment of Ramakrisna Sarada Mission, the two institutions run by the Ramakrishna Mission for women, the Matri Bhavan (maternity hospital) in south Kolkata and the Entally Ashrama, Women's Welfare Centre in central Kolkata were handed over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in 1961.[16]

With donation from a devotee, Sri Devendranath Bhattacharya, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vidyabhavan, a degree college was started in 1961. Later, some girls who received education at this college, have joined Sri Sarada Math and became sadhavis.

In 1963, the Ramakrishna Mission authorities handed over the Sister Nivedita Girls' School[17] to the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[16]

The Emblem and Motto

The emblem of the Ramakrishna Math designed by Swami Vivekananda was slightly modified to keep a separate identity. In Sri Sarada Math's emblem, the swan and snake are facing the opposite direction. Two small lotus buds were added to the blooming lotus. The sun has almost completely risen.

The motto of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, ‘Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Ca’ is also shared by Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[18]

The Presidents

Pravrajika Bharatiprana

The first president of the Math was Pravrajika Bharatiprana (1894-1973).[19][20] Formerly she was known as Sarala Devi, a disciple and personal attendant of Sri Sarada Devi. Following the guidance of her Guru and other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, Sarala Devi lived in Varanasi from 1927 to 1954, performing spiritual disciplines. She received the Kaula Sannyasa and the name Sri Bharati from Swami Saradananda.[21] Assuming the leadership of the Sri Sarada Math, Bharatiprana served from December 1954 to January 1973, till her Mahasamadhi.[22] Her pious life was written in Bengali as Bharatiprana Smriti Katha and later translated in English by Pravrajika Atmaprana as Pravrajika Bharatiprana.[23]

Pravrajika Mokshaprana

Pravrajika Mokshaprana (1915-1999) was the second President.[24] She also served as the headmistress of Sister Nivedita's Girls' School from 1946 to 1948.[25][26]

Pravrajika Muktiprana

Pravrajika Muktiprana (1915-1994) was the first General Secretary of the Math. Her parents were disciples of Swami Shivananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. She actively participated in the movement that led to the formation of Sri Sarada Math. An excellent administrator her biography on Sister Nivedita 'Bhagini Nivedita' is a masterpiece.[27]

Pravrajika Shraddhaprana

Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (1918-2009) was the third President. She too belonged to the first batch of Sannyasinis. She was a powerful speaker and writer. Her book 'Asamanya Patralekhikha Nivedita' contains selected translation of Sister Nivedita's letters.[28][29]

Current President

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana is the present President of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.[30][31] The President Mataji is assisted by vice president,[32][33] Pravrajika Anandaprana and general secretary Pravrajika Amalaprana.

The Idea

The idea to form a monastic institution for women was first envisioned by Swami Vivekananda, long before he established the well-known Ramakrishna Math. Swami Vivekananda realized the dire necessity of women's Math which he expressed through his letters from 1894 to 1901.

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved… Hence it is that my first endeavor is to start a Math for women.”[34]

"Mother (Sri Sarada Devi) has been born to revive...Shakti in India; and making her the nucleus, once more will Gargis and Maitreyis be born into the world... Hence it is her Math that I want first... Without the grace of Shakti nothing is to be accomplished.... Hence we must first build a Math for Mother.”[35]

“Brother, in this terrible winter I am lecturing from place to place and fighting against odds, so that funds may be collected for Mother’s Math.”[35]

“With the Holy Mother (Sri Sarada Devi) as the centre of inspiration, a Math is to be established on the eastern bank of the Ganga.”[36]

“In the Women's Math there shall be no connection with monks, and in the Math for Men no connection with sadhavis.”[37]

Swami Vivekananda wanted women to set right their own problems. He has witnessed some outstanding women of renunciation among the women disciples of Sri Ramakrishna such as Gauri Ma, Yogin Ma, and Golap Ma. He wanted them to spread the message of Sri Ramakrishna through an organisation.[38]

Incidentally, Sri Sarada Devi too, cherished the dream to start a monastery for women. This came to light from the letters of Swami Saradananda written to Sara Bull, 'Sister Nivedita and myself have found out by talking to Mother that she would like to see a convent started in the fashion of the Math, Belur, for women. Miss Glen who was here to visit the Holy Mother... also had a talk with Mother about it, and is very sanguine about the work.'[39]

Activities

6 November 1981, the stone temple was consecrated as per the Hindu tradition. Daily ritual worships are performed here by the sadhavis. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and other holy personalities are celebrated here, besides the Hindu festivals.[40][41] Religious discourse and lectures are also done regularly.[42][43]

The training of brahmacharinis and novices are an essential activity of the Sri Sarada Math.[44]

Sri Sarada Math also has some prominent speakers on Vedanta and Hinduism who have been travelling the various parts of the world to deliver lectures, talks, and discourses. To name a few, Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji, Pravrajika Divyanandaprana,[45][46] are some well-known sadhavis of Sri Sarada Math.

Branch Centres

Sri Sarada Math has since its inception spread to several parts of the world. The sadhavis, though small in numbers have been contributing significantly through their selfless activities.[47][48]

Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of New South Wales

A branch centre was opened in New South Wales, and Pravrajika Ajayaprana became its president from 1982 to 2011.[32] Currently, the centre is led by Pravrajika Gayatriprana.

Publications

Nibodhata, is the Bengali journal published every two months. It contains articles on various matters related to religion, science, art, culture, society, history.[49]

Samvit is the English journal published by Sri Sarada Math's New Delhi Center. Samvit was first published in 1980, through the efforts of Revered Pravrajika Muktiprana, the first General Secretary of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. The journal covers various religio-spiritual issues.[50][51]

Besides journals, the Sri Sarada Math and its branch centres also have published several biographies of holy personalities, and books on Ramakrishna-Vedanta.

References
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  2. Swami Vivekananda's Dream, Sri Sarada Math (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 2005), p.7
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  13. Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 2009),p.20
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  15. Udbodhan (Phalgun issue B.S.1379)
  16. A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Saradaa Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.138
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