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{{Short description|Hindu nunnery}}

'''Sri Sarada Math''' is a convent named after [[Sri Sarada Devi]],<ref>Udbodhan (Phalgun issue B.S.1379)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/sri-sarada-devi|title = Sri Sarada Devi: The Universal Mother|date = 16 June 2021}}</ref> the consort of [[Sri Ramakrishna]], founded on 2 December 1954.<ref>'' Swami Vivekananda's Dream, Sri Sarada Math'' (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineshwar, 2005), p.7</ref> Headquartered at [[Dakshineswar|Dakshineshwar]], Kolkata, the organisation has 35 branch centres in other parts of India, and in Sri Lanka and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srisaradamath.org/centers.php|title=Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata|website=www.srisaradamath.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002071530/http://www.srisaradamath.org/centers.php|archive-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The nuns use the title "Pravrajika" before their ordained name, and are usually addressed as "Mataji" meaning 'revered mother'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tanenbaum.org/about-us/tanenbaum-resources/addressing-religious-leaders/#Hinduism|title = Addressing Religious Leaders}}</ref><ref>Clémentin-Ojha, Catherine. 1998. "Outside the Norms: Women Ascetics in Hindu Society." Economic
and Political Weekly 18: April 30</ref><ref>Pechilis, Karen. 2004. The Graceful Gurus: Hindu Female Gurus in India and the United States. New York: Oxford University Press.</ref>

Sri Sarada Math also stands as the first monastic institution for Hindu women fully governed by women and without any interference from men. It was born as envisioned by [[Swami Vivekananda]] to revive the status of Hindu women in spiritual realm in the footsteps of [[Gārgī Vāchaknavī|Gargi]] and [[Maitreyi]].<ref>Anjana Gangopadhyay, ''The Way to Women's Freedom According to Vivekananda'', Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata (2013). p.51</ref>

== Overview ==
Sri Sarada Math is the monastic order for women established as an independent counterpart to [[Ramakrishna Order]]. The main aim of the organisation is to fulfill the mission of Swami Vivekananda, that is 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva' serving God in Man, irrespective of caste, creed, and nationality as well as the upliftment and empowerment of women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://srisaradamathrb.org/our-origin/|title=Our Origin | Rasik Bhita|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318222112/http://srisaradamathrb.org/our-origin/|archive-date=March 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>'' Echoes of Vedanta in the far East'' (Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of New South Wales: Australia, 1994), p.i)</ref>

The organisation mainly propagates the Hindu philosophy of [[Vedanta]]–[[Advaita Vedanta]] and four yogic ideals–[[Jnana yoga|Jnana]], [[Bhakti yoga|Bhakti]], [[Karma yoga|Karma]], and [[Raja Yoga]].<ref name="auto2">Pravrajika Atmaprana, ''Monasticism for Indian Women, Monasticism Ideal and Traditions'' (Sri Ramakrishna Math Chennai: Chennai1991), p.303</ref>

Apart from religious and spiritual teaching, the organisation carries out educational and philanthropic work in India. The Sri Sarada Math and its sister organisation, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, publish many Vedanta and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda texts. Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, its sister organisation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sri-Sarada-Math|title=Sri Sarada Math | Indian religious society}}</ref> also shares the same headquarters at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sri-Sarada-Math|title=Sri Sarada Math | Indian religious society|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910133413/http://www.britannica.com/topic/Sri-Sarada-Math|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
2 December 1954, the Sarada Math was inaugurated.<ref>A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.133</ref> [[File:Sarada Math Bengaluru.jpg|thumb|Sri Sarada Math at Nandi Durg Road, Bengaluru]]

From 1954 to 1958 Sri Sarada Math was a branch centre of the Ramakrishna Math at Belur.<ref>A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.135</ref> The Trustees of [[Belur Math]] assumed the responsibility of its administration.<ref>A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.134</ref>

On 1 January 1959, the birth anniversary of Sri Sarada Devi, eight Brahmacharinis of the women's Math were ordained into formal Sannyasa and given new names prefixed by 'Pravrajika' and ending with 'prana'. Sri Bharati, the President of the Sarada Math was given the name, Pravrajika Bharatiprana. The others seven brahmacharinis were named as Pravrajikas Muktiprana, Dayaprana, Vidyaprana, Shraddhaprana, Bhaktiprana and Medhaprana.<ref>ibid p.134</ref>

On 26 August 1959, the Sri Sarada Math was recognised as an independent organisation and the full administration was handed over to the nuns. Seven of its nuns were elected to be the Trustees. The Trust deed was registered on 9 September 1959 and it was officially registered as a non-government trust on 11 September 1959.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiangoslist.com/ngo-address/sri-sarada-math-in-kolkata-west-bengal_WB-2018-0187434 | title=SRI SARADA MATH NGO in KOLKATA WEST BENGAL Address Contact details }}</ref> With this an independent Order of Sannyasinis was created.<ref>Pravrajika Atmaprana, Monasticism for Indian Women, Monasticism Ideal and Traditions (Sri Ramakrishna Math Chennai: Chennai1991), p.303</ref>

[[Sankaracharya]] did not sanction [[sannyasa]] for women.<ref name="auto2" />

== Motto ==

The motto of [[Ramakrishna Math]] and Mission, 'Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Ca' is also shared by Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.<ref>A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.130</ref>

== Work for Women ==
Since its inception, Sri Sarada Math has taken over the major responsibility of uplifting the Indian women which was till then handled by Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.<ref>''The Ramakrishna Movement'', The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Calcutta (2005) pg.35</ref> This is especially in the areas of health care and education of women. Following the legal establishment of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, the two institutions run by the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] for women, the Matri Bhavan (maternity hospital) in south Kolkata and the Entally Ashrama, Women's Welfare Centre in central [[Kolkata]] were handed over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in 1961.<ref name="auto4">A Blessed Life, Biography of Pravrajika Bharatiprana (Pravrajika Jnanadaprana, Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar, 2012), p.138</ref>

In 1963, the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] authorities handed over the [[Sister Nivedita Girls' School]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sisterniveditagirlsschool.org/grandhistory.html|title=Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Girls School, Kolkata, West Bengal, India|website=www.sisterniveditagirlsschool.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829021903/http://sisterniveditagirlsschool.org/grandhistory.html|archive-date=August 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> to the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission.<ref name="auto4" />

== Presidents ==

# [[Pravrajika Bharatiprana]]<ref>''Pravrajika Bharatiprana'' (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar), p.43</ref><ref>Bengali newspaper, ''Ananda Bazar Patrika'' on 31 January 1973</ref>
# [[Pravrajika Mokshaprana]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srisaradamath.org/mokshaprana.php|title=Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata|website=www.srisaradamath.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909210222/http://www.srisaradamath.org/mokshaprana.php|archive-date=September 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
# [[Pravrajika Shraddhaprana]]<ref>Pravrajika Shraddhaprana (Sri Sarada Math: Dakshineswar), p.20</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/pravrajika-shraddhaprana-mataji-passes-away/story-4Jg6Nxhgj0v6rXpDFjkPTK.html|title=Pravrajika Shraddhaprana Mataji passes away|date=2009-02-04|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>
# [[Pravrajika Bhaktiprana]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srisaradamath.org/administration.php|title=Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata|website=www.srisaradamath.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002064429/http://srisaradamath.org/administration.php|archive-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/healer-at-the-helm/cid/1264963|title=Healer at the helm|website=www.telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>
# Pravrajika Anandaprana<ref>{{cite news |title=President Of Sarada Math & Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Passes Away At 97 |url=https://ommcomnews.com/india-news/president-of-sarada-math-ramakrishna-sarada-mission-passes-away-at-97 |access-date=30 April 2024 |publisher=Ommcom News |date=30 April 2024}}</ref>
# Pravrajika Premaprana<ref>Sudipta Das, "[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/sarada-math-sixth-president-pravrajika-premaprana/articleshow/111793311.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com Sarada Math Gets Sixth President]"</ref>

== Branches ==
=== Sri Lanka ===
Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Samity was started in Colombo in 1970 and in 2006, it became a branch centre of the Sarada Math with a new name as Ramakrishna Sarada Mission (Lanka Branch).<ref>[https://www.srilankalaw.lk/r/989-ramakrishna-sarada-mission-lanka-branch-incorporation-act.html Ramakrishna Sarada Mission (Lanka Branch) (Incorporation) Act]
</ref> Along with spiritual education, this branch also conducts various humanitarian and social welfare activities in Sri Lanka. Its current president is Pravrajika Sushantaprana.<ref>https://srisaradamath.org/colombo.php</ref>

=== Australia===
The branch centre in Australia, known as (Ramakrishna Sarada) Vedanta Society of New South Wales was formed in 1974. This branch conducts classes, retreats, discussions on meditation, Yoga, Vedanta, and observe some Hindu festival celebration. Its current president is Pravrajika Gayatriprana.<ref>[https://saradavedanta.org/ Vedanta Society of NSW]</ref>

== Publications ==
''Nibodhata'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nibodhatapatrika.com/ |title=Nibodhata Patrika |access-date=2021-08-09 |archive-date=2021-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809035354/https://nibodhatapatrika.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> is its [[Bengali language|Bengali]] journal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/sarada-math-nun-pravrajika-vedantaprana-breathes-her-last/cid/1798098|title = Sarada Math nun breathes her last}}</ref> published every two months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srisaradamath.org/nibodhata.php|title=Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata|website=www.srisaradamath.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922001431/http://srisaradamath.org/nibodhata.php|archive-date=September 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Samvit'' is its English journal, first published in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srisaradamath.org/samvit.php|title=Official Website of Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata|website=www.srisaradamath.org|accessdate=Apr 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925042013/http://www.srisaradamath.org/samvit.php|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maasamiti.org/samiti/media/samvit/samvit14_3.php|title=Samvit|website=www.maasamiti.org|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.srisaradamath.org/}}
* [http://srisaradamathrb.org, Rasik Bhita]
* [http://www.sisterniveditagirlsschool.org, Sister Nivedita Girls School]

[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Ramakrishna Mission]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Hindu monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Hindu religious orders]]

Sri Sarada Math - Revision history

LorenaGallant5 at 20:50, 18 September 2025