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 Shree
Ramakrishna Shanti Ashram (a registered society under the Societies Act)
is situated in the south-west end of the town of Hazaribagh,
on Barkagaon Road (now known as Vivekananda Path). The Ashram is a parent
body
to its sub-centres viz. Sarada Ramakrishna Shanti Ashram in Berhampore
and Ramakrishna Himanshu Shanti Ashram of Kharagpur, both in West Bengal.
The
affairs of the
organizantion are managed by a Governing Body with Swami Muktananda as
President.
Right from inception, the Ashram dedicated itself to the service of the poor
and needy and moulded its activities along the ideals of service as preached
by Swami Vivekananda. It was the vision of the founder Srimat Himanshu Maharaj,
under influence of the inspiration received from the Holy Mother, that the
Ashram shall emerge to be a large institution in future.
The temple of Shree Ramakrishna was begun in 1962. Shortly afterwards, want
of funds forced the construction work to remain pending for quite sometime.
Work once again started in full swing in 1967. Devotees stood by the Ashram
and with their support, the temple was opened in April 1968 with the statues
of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda installed.
A grand ceremony commemorating the event was held for three days during this
time. The birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna has been henceforth celebrated
till date in the same spirit. Every day, evening prayers are held at the
temple. Other discourses and religious occasions are held regularly.
A temple was dedicated to the memory of Himanshu Maharaj on the ocassion
of Sri Ramakrishna's birth anniversary in March, 1978. A religious festival
was
held on the ocassion. On the ocassion of the Ashram's Golden Jubilee, a statue
of Himanshu Maharaj was installed in the temple.
In the campus, stands the temple of Goddess Bhavani. Built in 1980, it houses a beautiful statuette of the Goddess and has a meditation room in the basement. The Shiva temple came up a couple of years later.
The room where Himnagshu Maharaj stayed can be seen too.
The Ashram brings out a quarterly publication Egiye Chalo (Stride
Forward). It contains articles contributed by the members and eminent persons as well as news of the organisation.
The calm and serene atmosphere of the Ashram attracts devotees who come
for a quiet stay and to spend time involved in the Ashram's activities.
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