Meaning of the Emblem:
The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma, the lotus of Bhakti, and the rising-sun of Jnana. The encircling serpant is indicative of Yoga, while the swan in the picture stands for the Paramatman. Therefore the idea of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Bhakti, Jnana and Yoga, the vision of the Paramatman is obtained.
-Swami Vivekananda
The life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) constitute one of the few unifying forces in the welter of present day conflicts and clashes. The imperative words which fell from his lips are reaching human hearts even in remote corners of earth, for his message transcends time and space and has universal appeal, attracting all types of people, no matter what their background is.
Sri Ramakrishna left behind him a band of spirited disciples who would carry on his work for the well-being of humanity. After his passing away in August 1886, a Monastic Order, bearing his name, was organized by his Sanyasin disciples headed by Swami Vivekananda. It has twofold ideal before it: to create a band of Sanyasin teachers of Vedanta as propounded by Sri Ramakrishna and practically illustrated by his own life; and in conjunction with the lay disciples to carry on missionary and philanthropic work, looking upon all, irrespective of caste, creed or colour, as veritable manifestations of the Divine.
The twin organizations, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, are closely related and both have their Headquarters at
Belur Math - 711 202
Dist: Howrah, West Bengal, India.
The work in the Order ranges from the running of small monastic centres to the management of big publishing houses, of colleges and other educational institutions, of workshops and engineering institutions, of big hospitals and invalids' homes, of huge relief operations in famine and flood stricken areas, and so on. Side by side there is considerable preaching work, involving the production of books and periodicals, lecturing to audiences of learned and cultured persons as well as common people, and organizing and leading Vedanta Centres all over the world.
Besides the Headquarters and 26 subcentres the Order's Centres are distributed as follows--
India 103, USA-13, Bangladesh-10,
1 each in Argentina, Canada, Fiji Islands,
France, Japan, Mauritius, Netherlands, Russia,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.