“When religion declines and irreligion prevails, I incarnate myself in every age to re-establish religion” – Bhagawat Gita
All the avatars or Divine incarnations have fulfilled the need of the particular age and restored Dharma thereby paving way for peace. The Divine advent of Sri Ramakrishna was a grand reestablishment of the Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.
Down the millennia, the entire Indian society has been nourished by a set of selfless souls – realized, or striving to realize the ultimate Truth. Such renunciates have only sustained our society. Sanyasa Ashrama, as this may be broadly referred to, needed a radical change due to western influences on our society. With the change in attitude of the people and increasing emphasis on economics and materialism, the need for preserving ‘Sanyasa Ashrama’ became paramount. Sanyasis, who would live alongside householders, actively participate in the society and strive for all round spiritual advancement through service to mankind became an absolute necessity. ‘For the first time ever, in the history of India, an order of monks found themselves banded together’ – and this is the Ramakrishna Order, a gift of Swami Vivekananda with the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna. Prior to his passing away in his 51^st year in 1886, he had left a group of Sanyasis and innumerable householder devotees who later contributed to the formation of Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

The Math

Truly the Math had its genesis on Tuesday, 12^th January 1886, Makara Sankaranthi day – when elder Gopal (later Swami Advaitananda) gave rosaries and ochre clothes to Sri Ramakrishna who sanctified them with a Mantram. Sri Ramakrishna himself distributed them among his young disciples who in turn wore the ochre clothes and saluted him. Pleased immensely by their monastic attire, Sri Ramakrishna blessed them. The Order thus founded by him, however came into official existence after His Mahasamadhi.
The Math (Monastery) strives
to bring into existence a band of monks devoted to leading a life of purity, renunciation and practical spirituality under inspiration of the life of Sri Ramakrishna, from among whom, teachers and workers could be trained and sent out to serve the world in all possible ways (Belur Math Trust, 1889)
To anyone desiring to embrace monastic life represented by ‘The Royal Saffron’, Ramakrishna Math offers excellent avenues suiting the modern age, keeping at the same time the ancient values intact. Again, like the seekers of the past, the monks of the Order radiate peace and spread Divine Knowledge, thereby sustaining the society.