Belur Math

BELUR MATH , Belur? Kolkota, West Bengal, India is an epicenter of the worldwide movement of Shri Ramkrishna Mission in India and around the world. 

Whether you are a believer or a non-believer, the tranquil Belur Math Monastery near Kolkata is a must-visit whenever you are in the eastern part of India. Located in Kolkata’s adjacent district, Howrah, the Belur Math is a unique Hindu monastery that exudes secularism in serenity. The sprawling monastery covers about 40 acres of land on the western bank of the Hooghly River. It is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission that is at the core of the Vedanta or the Ramakrishna, the global spiritual movements. Swami Vivekananda, the great Hindu monk and one of the key architects of the Bengali Renaissance, envisioned this monastery to enshrine the relics of the great Hindu mystic and saint, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Swami Vijnanananda, one of his brother monks, gave life to his ideas and founded the Belur Math in 1938.

Things to do at Belur Math

The main shrine at the Belur Math is the Sri Ramakrishna Temple, where the relics of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa have been preserved. Swami Vivekananda’s journey as a Parivrajak (a wandering monk) across India and the world made him encounter a plethora of architectural styles from different times and communities. He wanted to incorporate all those diverse components into a shrine in a way that would best manifest the monotheistic, all-embracing, divine personality of Sri Ramakrishna. Accordingly, the temple boasts an impeccable blend of architectural elements belonging to all possible religions. Here, you must attend the evening aarti (prayer offering), which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The monks and the disciples offer their prayers to Sri Ramakrishna and his spiritual companion, Sarada Devi, through meditation and music every evening at 5:30 PM. If anything, the Belur Math aarti will make you feel content and at peace!