God-realization is the supreme goal of life
Sri Ramakrishna emphasized God-realization as the supreme goal of life. Sri Ramakrishna says, "Bhakti, the love of God, is the essence of all spiritual discipline. Through love. one acquires renunciation and discrimination naturally". In this regard, Ramakrishna Math, Chengam conducts various worship programmes at regular intervals for the devotees of the ashram.
How to fix our minds on God?
Repeat God's name and sing His glories, and keep holy company; and now and then visit God's devotees and holy men. The mind cannot dwell on God if it is immersed day and night in worldliness, in worldly duties and responsibilities; it is most necessary to go into solitude now and then and think of God. To fix the mind on God is very difficult, in the beginning, unless one practises meditation in solitude. When a tree is young it should be fenced all around; otherwise it may be destroyed by cattle.
Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna
Spiritual Disciplines to become Divine
One must practise spiritual disciplines such as worship, Japa, and meditation. As one gets the fragrance of a flower by handling it or the scent of the sandalwood by rubbing it against a stone, similarly one becomes spiritually awakened by continuously contemplating on the Divine. But you can become illumined right now, if you become desireless
Holy Mother Si Sarada Devi
You are Divine
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all of these - and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.
Swami Vivekananda
DAILY WORSHIP, MEDITATION AND PRAYER
DAILY WORSHIP, MEDITATION AND PRAYER
Worship of Sri Ramakrishna, evening prayers and meditation, at the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna. Earnest seekers of truth are welcome to pray and meditate. They can also meet the monks and get guidelines on spiritual practices.
The Ashrama is located in a village atmosphere pervaded fully with spiritual holiness. A feeling of calmness and soothing serenity rule the place both inside the temple and in the outside spacious campus. With its greenflies surrounding the area, the Math is a suitable place for practice of contemplation and meditation in a holy atmosphere especially for those who love peace and tranquility.
- The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda are celebrated with peace, holiness and solemnity. Good number of devotees, Teachers and students participate in these celebrations to get the blessings of Holy Trio.
- Sri Ramakrishna is considered as ‘Sarva deva devi swaroopam’. Hence equal importance is given to worship of other Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Ganesha, Siva, Sakthi, Rama and Krishna.
- Other prominent Hindu Festivals like Durga Puja, Krishna Janmashtami, Shivaratri, Vishu, Onam and Sri Sankara Jayanti etc. are also celebrated with equal fervour.
- Spiritual retreats are held now and then to enable the devotees to get themselves recharged with spiritual guidance. On this occasion monks deliver speeches, bhajans are held. It is a sort of ‘Sath Sangh” where the devotees have an opportunity to spend some time in the holy atmosphere away from their daily routine.
Temple Daily Rituals:
Temple Daily Rituals:
Evening:
3:00pm to 03:30pm – Offering
3:30 pm - Temple Reopening
6:00 pm – Sandhya Arati
8.00 pm – Temple closes
