Uniqueness of Baranagar Math
in the Spiritual History of the World
(Baranagar Math — 1886-1892)
Baranagar Math is the First Monastery of Ramakrishna Order!
In the spiritual history of the world Baranagar Math is the only example where apostles of the Incarnation of God practised unprecedented Spiritual Discipline, Meditation and Austerities in such a congregation at one place.
Baranagar Math is that very place from where Swami Vivekananda set out for His historical Bharat Parikrama in 1889.
The way Swamiji and his brother-disciples lived in the Baranagar Monastery, their days of unparalleled austerity, their spiritual practices, renunciation and dispassion will remain written in letters of gold in the history of Ramakrishna Order. All these formed the cornerstone of the Order and the Baranagar Math was built on this solid foundation.
The love with which Sri Ramakrishna initially united these young speakers of God together, strengthened into fraternity here. Under the leadership of Swamiji, as the monks came by steps to appreciate the catholicity of Sri Ramakrishana’s ideas, they gradually prepared themselves for the liberation of their own and welfare of the world around. This readiness in the face of much strong opposition and their evergreen alertness resulted in their all-round growth– spiritual, mental and intellectual.
All these intense austere life at Baranagar Math was accompanied by concern for the entire world at large. The realization and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, the avatar of this age, are as deep as the ocean and infinite as the sky. The inmates of the Math had, by then, realized that the advent of Sri Ramakrishna was not for the sake of India alone, but for entire humanity.
“As many faiths, so many paths” – the fundamental realisation of Sri Ramakrishna, the Guru of Swami Vivekananda, which was practised by the apostles at Baranagar Math through observing the teachings of Buddha, Mohammad, Jesus Christ and other Religious great personalities. Swami Vivekananda preached the Universal Religion and propagated the great message of harmony and equal validity of all the religious faiths. Sri Ramakrishna realised the ultimate truth from varied religions through His spiritual practices in His life time.