During the shift from the 20th century to the 21st century, Bangalore had undergone through a major transition with the change in our work, our lifestyle and our culture. Due to the immense use and development of technology, the life of a Bangalorean became a very fast moving one with people thinking about their work half of the time and almost decimating their time for relaxation. So to keep this fast moving life of ours in check, it is essential to visit spiritual places because in the end, spirituality is a medium of maintaining one’s calmness. A perfect example of such a place in Bangalore would be the Ramakrishna Mission or also known as the Ramakrishna Mutt.
Located in Bull Temple Road, Anekal Taluk and Ulsoor, all three of these mutt have a single motto: “Atmano Mokshartham, Jagad Hitaya Cha” (For the Liberation of the Self & for the Good of the World). Started in West Bengal in 1897, the Mission was established in Bangalore in 1904 by the Vedanta Society, a group of a few ardent followers of Swami Vivekananda who started this society at his call. The mission conducts extensive work in health care, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, elementary and higher education and culture. It uses the combined efforts of hundreds of ordered monks and thousands of householder disciples. The mission bases its work on the principles of karma yoga.
The meditation centre of the Ramakrishna Mission is a highlight as bhajans and kirtans sung over here makes one’s busy head go into bliss and leads to complete relaxation. A visit to the Holy Mother’s Rock over there is a highlight as it signifies all the beauty in one place. he mission has its own hospitals, charitable dispensaries, maternity clinics, tuberculosis clinics, and mobile dispensaries. It also maintains training centres for nurses. Orphanages and homes for the elderly are included in the mission’s field of activities, along with rural and tribal welfare work.
The mission has established many renowned educational institutions in India, having its own university, colleges, vocational training centres, high schools and primary schools, teacher-training institutes, as well as schools for the visually handicapped. It has also been involved in disaster relief operations during famine, epidemic, fire, flood, earthquake, cyclone and communal disturbances. Ramakrishna ashramas observes major Hindu festivals, including Maha Shivarathri, Rama Navami, Krishna Asthami and Durga Puja. They also give special place to the birthdays of Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other monastic disciples of Ramakrishna.
All in all, I’d say Ramakrishna Mission is such an institute which consists all the required moral principles which has the capacity to bring a busy and aspirational person back on the track.