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Ramakrishna Math, Belur, Howrah - Math and Mission Headquarters Office

The Secretarial Office of the Headquarters of the worldwide Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is also situated on the grounds of Belur Math. The work of coordinatingand supervising the innumerable activities of the nearly 160 branch centers of the Math and Mission is carried on in this office by the General Secretary, assisted by four Assistant Secretaries. The Secretariat has various departments such as Central Office, Cash, Accounts, Investments, Audit, Law, Relief and Rehabilitation, Welfare, Construction and Maintenance, etc.

Marble Image of Sri Ramakrishna at Belur Math

The Headquarters office also directly conducts a charitable dispensary, help to the poor (as monetary help as well as provision of clothing, tricycles, sewing machines to needy women etc.), relief and rehabilitation in various parts of the country (there are a few mission centers in Bangladesh also), Pallimangal - the Integrated Rural Development project with a focus on self-employment for rural areas, Veda Vidyalaya - for students who study and are guided in the ancient gurukula system, Ramakrishna Musuem - housing the various articles and artefacts associated with the Holy Trio and the other direct disciples of the Master, monastic retreats etc.

The Main Monastery

The young disciples of Sri Ramakrishna organized themselves into a new monastic order after the passing away of their Master, Sri Ramakrishna in 1886. The original monastery at Baranagar was moved in January 1899 to a newly acquired plot of land at Belur, in the Howrah distirct. This monastery, known as Belur Math, serves as the Headquarters for the world wide centers of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission and as the main pilgrimage spot for the many devotees of Sri Ramakrishna.

All members of the Ramakrishna Order undergo training and ordination at Belur Math. An aspirant, if found fit is ordained into Sannyasa and given ochre clothes to wear, after a few years. The following places belong to the main monastery:

• the Monks' quarters

• Math Office

• Sacred Shrines of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda

• Old Shrine

• the room where Swami Vivekananda stayed

• Probationer's Training Center

• Math Library etc.

(compiled from The General Report of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission - April 2005)