The all-renouncing direct disciples

After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna in the year 1886, the all-renouncing disciples of the Master, of whom the illustrious Swami Vivekananda was the chief, founded themselves into a brotherhood which was destined to realise the twofold ideals of renunciation and service. This was the beginning of the monastery which came later to be established as the Ramakrishna Math at Belur, near Kolkata.

The activities of the Members of the Math became manifold and a number of branches – Math and Ashramas on the one hand, and Sevashramas or Homes of Service (Hospitals) and educational institutions on the other, were established in different parts of India, and also in some parts of America.

The twin institutions – The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission – both embody the twin ideals of Renunciation and Service, the former laying greater stress on renunciation, and latter on service. The Ramakrishna Mission consists of both monastic and lay members guided by the Governing Body composed of the Trustees of the Ramakrishna Math at Belur.

Therefore, the formal name of Ramakrishna Mission was first given to an Association started by Swami Vivekananda in 1897. With the growth of its scope and public responsibilities, the need of the legal incorporation of the institution was strongly felt by the workers and authorities of the Mission, and consequently the body was formally registered in the year 1909.

Extract from the History of the Ramakrishna Math &
Ramakrishna Mission Mumbai, Platinum Jubilee brochure

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