3 Lessons from my visit to Belur Math

The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission is at Belur Math. A place everyone should visit sometime to understand & see what the mission has created. Am surprised no one talks about this space. Set amidst nature, it is beautifully maintained & is a treat to the eyes. Phones are to be switched off as the connection here is with the self which makes a visit worth it. I spent my time there recently and walked away with simple lessons that go a long way in making life meaningful.

Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission on?1 May 1897?a unique type of organization known as Ramakrishna Mission, where monks & lay people would jointly undertake to propagate Practical Vedanta, indulge in various forms of social services, such as running hospitals, schools, colleges, hostels, rural development centers, and conducting massive relief and rehabilitation work for victims of natural calamities like earthquakes & cyclones in India and around. There is a lot of thought that has gone into everything about the mission including the emblem.

The emblem is Designed and explained by Swami Vivekananda in his own words: (Wikipedia)

The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma; the lotus, of Bhakti; and the rising-sun, of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of [Raja] Yoga and the awakened Kundalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for? Paramatman(Supreme Self). Therefore, the idea of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, and Yoga, the vision of Paramatman is obtained.

I felt so good & calm as I stepped into Belur Math Museum. The entry ticket to the museum is priced at Rs.5/-. Affordable for anyone, it is a must-see on your visit to Kolkata. it houses some beautiful memorabilia from the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, The Holy Mother & Swami Vivekananda. Cameras are requested to be switched off & It is a sight only your eyes soak up. Sharing a couple of pictures from a booklet I picked up:

The museum is so well maintained & a treat to the eyes. As I was going through the entire campus, where photography is prohibited, there were a lot of peaceful moments I enjoyed with 3 primary takeaways.

Connect to the self: When the mobile is off-access, there are so many moments that stay with you as part of the experience. The eyes soak up so much more & that feeling is something that you enjoy far more. There is so much to live than the cell phone with which we are truly connected outside, but are we within? The silence & stillness was beautiful. The time with the self as I leisurely walked on the campus on the banks of the Ganga made it very special. So much truth in a quote I read somewhere that says," Life is what happens when your cell phone is charging."

Soak up with attention: Self-reflection happens a big deal when there are no devices on you. I found it to be a true statement especially when you are walking all alone into the meditation hall, or the different temples in the venue. The mango tree and the Bilva tree which were so special to Swami Vivekananda are so well maintained. The entire campus is so neat & tidy with everyone coming there maintaining the sanctity. you truly experience every moment when you walk here. Every element of the being is focused on getting the most out of this walk in Nature & conversation with the self. It is truly special.

Secular construction: To pay tribute to the multifaceted, all-embracing divine personality of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda envisioned a great edifice combining various architectural features of monuments in various parts of the world. It was Swami Vivekananda’s desire that the new temple should embody the salient features of major temple architecture of different religious beliefs so that everyone who comes to the Ramakrishna Temple would feel at home and realize the underlying principle of the universal brotherhood and religion propounded by the Great Master. It is such a beautiful place with divine energy. The details of each pillar & aspects covered in the temple are so much in detail. Click on the link below to read the details and the inspirations of the designs, from temples, churches & mosques.

(https://belurmath.org/ramakrishna-temple-a-symphony-in-architecture/)

So the next time you plan a visit to Kolkata make time to spend with yourself in Belur Math. It is a visit well worth your time.

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