Spiritual Activities

Special Puja on Utsavs: On festive days likes the Jayanthis of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swamiji, Guru Purnima, Gokulashtami, Durgashtami, Mahashivratri and Rama Navami, special Puja is conducted. Gokulashtami and Mahashivratri special Pujas are done in the evenings, after the vesper service of Sri Ramakrishna.

Regular Discourses & Lectures

Many eminent monks and spiritual personalities deliver talks on spiritual topics such as Japa, Meditation, scriptures etc. During the birthday celebrations of the direct disciples, after the vesper service, talks by volunteers on the life of the direct disciples takes place.

Special Lecture Series:

Swami Vivekananda Vichar Prabodhan Vyakhyanamala: Swami Vivekananda’s inspiring life and teachings are most well known to us. Acknowledging its importance and considering its relevance for the youth, the Government of India has declared his birthday, 12th January, to be the National Youth Day. On this occasion, the whole country celebrates Swamiji’s birthday with variety of programs especially for youths. Our Math too is not exception to it. We organize week long lecture series in Swamiji’s name for disseminating the ideas and ideals he represented. In this lecture series, we invite renowned scholars and eminent speakers to enlighten the audience with life and works of Swami Vivekananda and feel its relevance to individual as well as collective evolution.

Swami Bhaskareswarananda Memorial Lecture Series: Rev. Swami Bhaskareswaranandaji Maharaj started Nagpur Ashrama in 1928 through the instructions of Rev. Mahapurush Maharaj Swami Shivanandaji (the direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna) and nurtured it along the first fifty years of its growth making it a centre of scriptural learning and strict monastic discipline. It was through his initiative that the Maharashtrian people could read the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature in their mother-tongue Marathi. Even now, all our Marathi publications along with many other Hindi titles are brought out from Nagpur Ashrama. Dedicated to his holy memories, our Math has started this lecture series in his name which will help conduct spiritual discourses and encourage scriptural learning in the knowledge seeking citizenship of Pune. Swami Harshanandaji Maharaj of Bangaluru inaugurated this lecture series on the evening of 28th March 2010 when Most Rev. President Maharaj sent his benedictory message for the success of the series. As a part of this series, from 28th March to 3rd April, Dr. Swarnalata Bhishikar interpreted ‘Mundaka Upanishad’ for the sincere audience in her simple but profound exposition giving ample examples from the lives of various saints. The popular speaker of Varakari Sampraday Shri. Chaitanya Maharaj Deglurkar continued the series by elaborating the subtle meanings of the ‘Amrutanubhava’ of Sri Sant Jnaneshwar. As Shri. Chaitanya Maharaj is well known to Pune audience; they gathered in large numbers and almost packed the sitting space.

Shravan Maas Pravachanamala: Every year during the month of Shravana (that generally falls during July-August-September according to the English Calendar) we organize one month long lecture series by Shri. Sunilji Chincholkar, a noted devotee, scholar and kirtanist on Sri Jnaneshwari, a world famous commentary on the Bhagawad Gita by Sant Jnaneshwar. Large number of audience take the opportunity to listen to his soul-touching lectures interlaced with the examples and anecdotes from lives many well known saints and mystics.

Sant Jnaneshwar Memorial Lecture Series: Shri Jnaneshwar is the one among the many saints of Maharashtra who spent his life, at Alandi, on the bank of Holy River Indrayani, 20kms away from Pune. He, about 700 years ago, wrote a commentary on Bhagawad Gita – Bhawartha Dipika, to enlighten common people with Spiritual knowledge. Since 1985, we conduct Public Lectures for three days on the Life and teachings of Saint Jnaneshwar. The lecture series is named as  ‘Sant Jnaneshwar Smriti Vyakhyanamala’. The lectures in Marathi, are held in the month of November every year. Similarly a lecture seires on Haripath is conducted in the month of December during the period of Sant Jnaneshwar’s samadhi day.

Spiritual Retreats : A full 3 day Devotees’ Convention (Antaryog Shibir) is conducted once in a year. Also half day devotees’ convention is occasionally in connection with a festival celebration.

Spiritual Initiations: In the Ramakrishna Order, the unique tradition of direct spiritual initiation from the President or Vice-President Maharaj of the Order marks one’s informal entry to spiritual life. You are required to have read sufficient literature of the Holy Trio, such as their life, teachings etc. before making enquiries for being initiated. Spiritual initiation usually takes place once or twice a year. Enquiries for the same may be made at the Math office.