The campus of Bailur Math, on the banks Holy River Swarna Ganga has come up by The Divine Will, as The Divine guided Most Revered Swami Vinayakanandaji Maharaj. The Engineer and Architect all being The Holy Trio. Any person visiting the ashrama will remain immersed in the thought of Divine and a walk through the ashrama constantly reminds the visitor of The God and one’s eternal relationship with The God, hence called very correctly “The Abode of Spirituality and Service”. Come let’s have a virtual tour of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama (Bailur Math).
Shrine of The HOLY TRIO and Prayer Hall
“The sublime spirit of the messages and prayers of those Sages, of their faith and love, of their dedication and efforts to have constant Communion with that Supreme Divinity can be experienced collectively in one of the India’s priceless traditions – ‘the Temple’.”
– Swami Vinayakananda
A shrine that radiates Divinity and imparts holiness and awakens the innate Spiritual tendencies stand as an elegant edifice with Sri Ramakrishna Deva, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda as the presiding Deities. It contains a spacious art-strewn prayer hall and is surrounded by garden. The absolute silence and sublimity imparts transcendental joy. All the activities of Ashrama are performed with the Shrine of Holy Trio being the polestar of it.
The living presence of the Holy Trio can palpably be felt even by a lay casual visitor. The worship and all other timely services to the Deities is being carried on daily with absolute precision in accordance to the Ramakrishna Tradition. All festivals and special occasions like Rama-naam on Ekadashi, birthday observances of all 16 Direct Disciples, and other celebrations too are carried on. The whole setup is lighted up by the special manifestation of the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi as Her Holy Relics too are enshrined in the Sanctum Sanctorum. This makes the Temple a Shakti Peeta. The Shrine and Prayer was consecrated on 12th October 2014. Watch few photos of the memorable event below.
Shrine and Prayer Hall Consecration Photos
Holy Mother's Rock
In 1911 (March), Holy mother Sri Sharada Devi visited Bangalore and stayed in the Ramakrishna Math, Basavanagudi. One evening Mother climbed over a nearby hillock in the precincts of the temple and sitting there entered into Spiritual Ecstasy. To commemorate the incident, in the very spot where Holy Mother sat, a stone Mantap was erected.
To have the living presence of Holy Mother eternally in the Bailur Ashrama and make the Ashrama a universal centre radiating Love, Light and Peace to all corners of the world, a piece of the holy stone from the place where Holy Mother had sat at Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore hillock was brought and enshrined in the top most point. For this purpose an identical rock was created by bringing huge rock blocks from neighbouring quarry. On it was erected a grand stone Mantap surrounding which stands a beautiful garden.
This is the first stone monument in the Ashrama. Holy Mother Sarada Devi is overseeing all Her children visiting the Ashrama with Her eyes gazing at the entrance of the Ashrama. The rising sun at dawn seen from here is exceptionally beautiful and an event worth witnessing.
Few Snaps of Holy Mother’s Rock Construction and Consecration
Vivekananda Tyaga Mantap
To uphold the ideal of Tyaga and Seva (renunciation /sacrifice and service); in order to meet the challenges of modernity; to infuse the higher ideals of Universal Love, Harmony and Peace in human heart as a social emergency; to dissolve all differences and destroy discord and to unite the entire human race by pointing to underlying Divinity and Spiritual Oneness – a remarkable stone Mantap with black stone image of Swami Vivekananda has been erected. Thus it has been named as ‘Vivekananda Tyaga Mantap’. Both the Mantapa and the image are of South Indian traditional stone temple pattern.
To uphold the ideal of Tyaga and Seva (renunciation /sacrifice and service); in order to meet the challenges of modernity; to infuse the higher ideals of Universal Love, Harmony and Peace in human heart as a social emergency; to dissolve all differences and destroy discord and to unite the entire human race by pointing to underlying Divinity and Spiritual Oneness – a remarkable stone Mantap with black stone image of Swami Vivekananda has been erected. Thus it has been named as ‘Vivekananda Tyaga Mantap’. Both the Mantapa and the image are of South Indian traditional stone temple pattern.
Few Snaps of Vivekananda Tyaga Mantap Construction and Consecration
The Dakṣiṇeśwar, The Shrine of Shiva at Bailur Math
The setting here at Bailur Math and naming ‘Dakṣiṇeśwar’ has a historical backstory of limitless horizon pertaining to The Divine Incarnation that is associated with the The Holy Name Dakṣiṇeśwar. It was Leelā Kshetra (place of Divine Play) of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Deva on the Bank of Ganga very close to Kolkatta. The designed setting here at Bailur is to bring down that original Dakṣiṇeśwar along with Divine Presence of all the Deities, the glory, the greatness of that place and The Supreme Ideal for which it stands. So that The Divine play, of the Lord as well as the Presence, Love and grace of The Divine Mother is palpably felt at all times here in our Ashrama.
It was from that sacred Locale, the Dakṣiṇeśwar that the waves of Spirituality arose afresh and started flowing in all direction to conquer all human hearts and to raise the human consciousness to the highest level of recognizing and realizing the Divinity lying within oneself and within all beings. These very waves of Spirituality are silently transforming the mankind in an unseen way, dissolving all differences, conflicts, and contradictions and there by creating a new world of love, peace and harmony. It shall flow forever sanctifying the human race on earth. Bhagavān Sri Ramakrishna Deva, who has been accepted and worshipped as the Incarnation of God for the modern times (the Yugāvatāra) by millions of people today, is the One who raised those waves of Spirituality and Divinity. After He left Kamarpukur as a growing boy in his teens, the rest of His life, almost till the end of His earthly Leelā was spent here at Dakṣiṇeśwar. Since then, it has been the hub of spirituality.
To bring that pure spiritual atmosphere and spirituality that accommodates all religions and all paths, the triple institutions under the banner of Bailur Math has installed the Śiva Linga in the Ashrama premises on the banks of River Svarṇa Gangā on 04th March 2019, The Maha Śivarātri day.
The Lord Śiva who has been invoked in that Divine Emblem on that day and has been named as ‘Dakṣiṇeśwar’ which is one of the epithets of Lord Śiva. The place Dakṣiṇeśwar in Kolkata sanctified by Sri Ramakrishna was named after this epithet of Lord Śiva; an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord by that name exists even today in that village. Rāṇi Rāsamaṇi established the world famous Kāli Temple in that place – Dakṣiṇeśwar – on the banks of River Gangā; and, it is nice to note that we have installed the Lord ‘Dakṣiṇeśwar’ on the banks of River Svarṇa Gangā.
Subsequent to the installation of the main Śiva Linga, on the following Maha Śivarātri day 22nd February 2020, twelve Jyotir-Lingas have been installed on either side of the main Śiva Linga. To have the same Divine Manifestation, same effect, same power working as of the twelve Svayambhū Jyotir-Lingas, the stones which were within and around the temple premises of the twelve Svayambhū Jyotir-Lingas since unknown past, were procured. They were roughly cut to size then and there and were offered to the main Deities in Their shrines, worshipped and brought here to Bailur Ashrama and given final touch of carving and polishing, and then formally installed. They remind and represent the twelve Śiva Temples of Dakṣiṇeśwar.
To bring that pure spiritual atmosphere and spirituality that accommodates all religions and all paths, the triple institutions under the banner of Bailur Math has installed the Śiva Linga in the Ashrama premises on the banks of River Svarṇa Gangā on 04th March 2019, The Maha Śivarātri day.
The Lord Śiva who has been invoked in that Divine Emblem on that day and has been named as ‘Dakṣiṇeśwar’ which is one of the epithets of Lord Śiva. The place Dakṣiṇeśwar in Kolkata sanctified by Sri Ramakrishna was named after this epithet of Lord Śiva; an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord by that name exists even today in that village. Rāṇi Rāsamaṇi established the world famous Kāli Temple in that place – Dakṣiṇeśwar – on the banks of River Gangā; and, it is nice to note that we have installed the Lord ‘Dakṣiṇeśwar’ on the banks of River Svarṇa Gangā.
Subsequent to the installation of the main Śiva Linga, on the following Maha Śivarātri day 22nd February 2020, twelve Jyotir-Lingas have been installed on either side of the main Śiva Linga. To have the same Divine Manifestation, same effect, same power working as of the twelve Svayambhū Jyotir-Lingas, the stones which were within and around the temple premises of the twelve Svayambhū Jyotir-Lingas since unknown past, were procured. They were roughly cut to size then and there and were offered to the main Deities in Their shrines, worshipped and brought here to Bailur Ashrama and given final touch of carving and polishing, and then formally installed. They remind and represent the twelve Śiva Temples of Dakṣiṇeśwar.
And to crown all, there stands behind the Dakṣiṇeśwar Śiva Linga a stone image (Vigraha) of Dakṣiṇāmurthy sitting under a Banyan-Tree (Vaṭa-Vŗkśa) representing Sri Ramakrishna as the Viṣva Guru imparting the Supreme Knowledge — The Ātmajñāna or the Brahmavidya. The whole unit shall represent the entire Dakṣiṇeśwar with the Lord, and Lord Śiva as Dakṣiṇeśwar; and, keep revealing the entire gamut of Hinduism.
Few Snaps of Consecration Ceremony of The Dakshineshwar Prarthana Sthala
Old Shrine and Library
The Old Shrine right on the river bank was built by inmates of Ashrama itself under the guidance of Revered Swami Vinayakanandaji with very little or no help from external labour. It enshrines the beautiful small white marble images of the Holy Trio and also a Ganesh Idol made by Revered Swami Vinayakanandaji Maharaj himself. It’s a calm place where one can spend time in meditation and Japa. It also houses a small library in which the literature of Ramakrishna Tradition, and many other scriptures are there.
Ganesha Guha
Sri Ganesha, the Vignaharta – The Lord of the Vighna’s is an important part of all the Sadhaka’s, the spiritual aspirant warding off the obstacles in the spiritual life at every stage. Most Revered Swami Vinayakanandaji has installed the stature of Lord Ganesha in ashrama to help the spiritual aspirants to ward off the obstacles in their spiritual pursuits and help them to march forward towards the Goal of Self-Realization.
Ganesh Guha is a hexagonal shaped single solitary room with glass windows on all sides. It stands opposite to Mother’s Rock. An idol of Lord Ganesha has been placed in that room. It is surrounded by trees which provide a cool atmosphere even in summer days. It can be used for meditation or studies or spiritual discussions or tiny Satsangha gatherings.
Buddha Mantap
Buddha Mantap is another attraction for the spiritual seekers in the Ashrama. The beautiful statue of Buddha in a Meditative posture situated in calm atmosphere with evergreen forest as its background kindles the soul for meditation. Meditation precedes Enlightenment.
Buddha’s image stands as the Ideal. Swami Vivekananda says, ‘Do not spend your energy in talking but meditate in silence and become a dynamo of spirituality’. One part is to make spiritual progress, the other part is to get rid of strain and stress of working in the buzzles of the world and to replace tension, depression, frustrations by peaceful living in the society with family and friends and be the instruments of spreading love and peace to all around. This is the purpose of meditation. Buddha’s image always inspires the soul and kindles the desire to get immersed in meditation.
Satsangha Bhavan
As the name itself suggests Satsangha Bhavan is the discourse hall where the ashramites, devotees and spiritual seekers get to meet Most Revered Swami Vinayakanandaji Maharaj and hear to his soul wrenching spiritual words.
This hall also serves as a place for music practices, video recordings of discourses and place for evening discourses by Most Revered Swamiji. This building has been designed in the tradition coastal Karnataka architecture.”
This hall also serves as a place for music practices, video recordings of discourses and place for evening discourses by Most Revered Swamiji. This building has been designed in the tradition coastal Karnataka architecture.
Swarna Ganga
The Ashrama is located on the bank of a graceful perennial river, the Swarna Ganga, which never dries even in summer. It adds beauty, serenity and Divinity to the Ashrama’s atmosphere.
