Activities of the Ashrama are conducted along the lines laid down by Swami Vivekananda — ‘Atmano Mokshartham Jagadhitaya cha’ or ‘for the liberation of self & welfare of the world.’
Spiritual
Temple, discourses, retreats & meditation
Bookstore & Sales
Spiritual literature & religious articles
Educational
Computer training, reading room & scholarships
Swamiji’s House
Haripada Mitra's house & monument
Welfare
Eye clinic, rations & community relief
Value Education / Personality Development
For Students, Teachers, Parents & General Public
Spiritual
Universal Temple
The heart of the Ashrama is the Universal Temple of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, where daily worship and spiritual programmes bring together devotees in a spirit of devotion and service.
Timings: 5 am – 12 pm & 4 pm – 8 pm
Festivals & Celebrations
Spirituality is the essence of Indian religious life. If the kernel of Spirituality is not encased in the protective layers in the form of Puja, Ceremonials, observances of festivals etc., probably preliminary levels of spirituality and moral culture could never be efficiently communicated and propagated. Moreover, these observances place us in touch with the Divine qualities of the Lord – the All-Pure and purifying, All-Powerful yet Merciful, All-Knowing yet infinitely Loving. These observances provide us an opportunity to mould our lives accordingly after meditating on the lives and deeds of Incarnations and saints as well as the fate of those who opposed them.
Discourses, Spiritual Retreats and Satsangs
Sundays
10.30 am – 12 pm
Adhyatmika Shibira (Spiritual Retreat) comprising Bhajans, Talk, Guided Meditation & Arati to Sri Ramakrishna
Sundays
6 – 6.30 pm
Weekly talk on religious scriptures like Vivekachudamani, Gita, Patanjali Yogasutras, etc.
Last Sunday
6 – 8 pm
Satsang at the Swami Vivekananda Memorial (sub-centre of the Ashrama)
Occasional
Talks by visiting monks are organized from time to time
Spiritual Retreats (Bhakta Sammelan) are organized a couple of times every year for devotees comprising bhajans, talks and interactive sessions with monks.
Japa Yajna
Japa Yajna is a five-day spiritual camp in the serene surroundings of the Ashrama. It is specifically meant for those devotees of Sri Ramakrishna who have taken initiation (Mantra Deeksha).
During their stay the participants are to complete telling their beads (Japa) one hundred thousand times.
It provides them an opportunity to practice spiritual disciplines in the holy atmosphere of the Ashrama sanctified by the visit and stay of Swami Vivekananda. This programme is interspersed with Bhajans & Sankeertana, readings from ‘the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, spiritual discourses, etc. The Ashrama makes arrangements for their food and stay without any charge.
The aim of the project
There are several devotees who receive Mantra Diksha from the Ramakrishna Mission. Many are unable to undertake regular spiritual practice due to pressures of work and worldly duties but are nevertheless eager to discipline their minds and direct it to God. Japa Yajna provides them an opportunity to mould their spiritual life through solitude, satsanga and singing, as exhorted by Sri Ramakrishna, and learn to ‘apply oil onto their fingers’ while dealing with this sticky world.
Bookstore and Sales
The Ashrama has a spacious and well laid out bookstore and sales counter. Authentic Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Vedanta literature is available through various books and publications of the centres of the Ramakrishna Order.
Books and literature on
Sri Ramakrishna & Disciples
Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other Disciples
Scriptures
Upanishads, Gita, and Indian Philosophies with commentaries and explanations
Spiritual Life & Practice
Books on religion, yoga, meditation & concentration for spiritual seekers
Self Help
Positive psychology: will-power, mind control, stress relief, personality development
Children’s Books
Stories and teachings adapted for young readers to build character and values
Pocket Books & Booklets
Easy reading and inspiration for everyday spiritual life
Books in English, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi languages are available.
Religious Articles like photo frames, Incense sticks, Asanas for meditation, Rudraksha mala, Small bags, etc. are also available.
Erstwhile Haripada Mitra’s House
Swamiji’s House
This house in which Swami Vivekananda stayed for 9 days in October 1892 was the residential quarters of Sri Haripada Mitra, a sub-divisional forest officer.
In June 2000 the house was gifted by the Karnataka State Government to the Ramakrishna Mission to start a new Ashrama. The house was renovated in 2001 and converted into a monument dedicated to the sacred memory of Swamiji. The main hall has been converted into a Dhyana Mandir with a captivating statue of the Swami inspiring visitors to spend time in meditation and quiet contemplation.
The adjoining rooms contain small galleries of paintings that vividly portray incidents from Swamiji’s time in Belgaum and trace his journey as a wandering monk.
Being one of the few existing structures in the south of India sanctified by the stay of Swami Vivekananda, this place is a must see for visitors.
Empowering through knowledge
Educational
Free Computer Training Centre
The Ashrama runs a Free Computer Training Center to make digital education accessible to underprivileged students unable to afford courses in regular computer institutes.
Courses cover basic computer literacy, data entry, MS Office, and internet usage along with specialized training in financial accounting. The syllabus helps students gain confidence and an ability to handle basic office jobs.
Short term courses (2 months) on Computer Fundamentals, MS Office and Tally software are offered here.
Registration: Interested students may visit the reception of the Computer Centre at the Ashrama between 8 am and 8 pm for more details and register their names.
Free Reading Room
A free reading room with a capacity of 80 is being run to help students studying for competitive exams. The quiet and elevating environs of the Ashrama provide an ideal ambience for serious study.
Registration: Interested students may visit the reception of the Reading Room at the Ashrama between 8 am and 8 pm for more details and register their names.
Scholarships
The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum provides financial assistance each year to deserving and needy students pursuing higher education.
Eligibility
- Demonstrated Academic excellence
- Financial need must be proven
Process
- Disbursed once a year; amount varies by course
- Applications invited at the beginning of the academic session (June/July)
- Verification through personal interview
- Final selection based on merit and need
Funds
Supported by generous donations and endowment funds in memory of loved ones. Donors are encouraged to contact the Ashrama office.
Welfare
Following the ideal of serving man as God — Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva
Free Eye Clinic
Shri Sharada Netralaya
A charitable eye clinic providing free ophthalmic consultations, medicines, and spectacles to patients from economically weaker sections. The clinic conducts regular eye camps in surrounding villages and urban slums, screening hundreds of patients and referring those requiring surgical intervention for free cataract and other eye surgeries. This initiative has restored the gift of sight to thousands of patients since its inception.
Ration Distribution
Dravya Yajna
Groceries are provided every month to about 60 poor families, including items like rice, wheat flour (atta), edible oil, lentils (dal). The list of beneficiaries is re-evaluated and verified each year to ensure that the programme benefits the needy.
Community Relief
Miscellaneous Welfare
Distribution of blankets and warm clothing during winter to homeless and destitute individuals, flood relief and disaster response for affected communities, distribution of educational materials to students, and other forms of direct aid. The Ashrama responds swiftly to local emergencies in the spirit of selfless service taught by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
Value Education / Personality Development
Moulding character and personality in the light of Swami Vivekananda’s man-making ideals
For Students
Vivekananda Balaka Sangha / Sharada Balika Sangha
Vivekananda Balaka Sangha and Sharada Balika Sangha are value orientation and personality development programmes for boys and girls respectively. The sessions are conducted every Sunday for students in the age group 10–15 (classes V to X).
This programme enables children to gradually imbibe some of the eternal values and virtues presented in our great spiritual tradition, particularly exemplified in the message of Swami Vivekananda.
The activities of the Balaka Sangha and Balika Sangha aim to introduce children to our cultural and spiritual heritage, encourage them to develop good habits, self-discipline, realize the importance of values like truth, unselfishness, equality and so on. The idea is all-round growth through physical, intellectual and moral development.
Activities include prayers, Vedic and Gita chanting, hymns and bhajans, yogasanas, storytelling, and interactive sessions on relevant topics for children of this age group.
Vasanta Vihara – the annual summer camp is held during school holidays for about two weeks daily.
Registration: Parents can contact the Ashrama office for more details to enroll their children for the Balaka Sangha and Balika Sangha.
Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha
For youths in the age group of 15–30 years.
The Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha — the Ashrama’s youth organisation — provides a structured platform for young people to engage with the Ashrama throughout the year. Members participate in study circles, devotional activities, community outreach and service activities in a spirit of fellowship and shared purpose.
Some of the members may also offer volunteer services assisting in the Ashrama’s activities. Approaching their service with sincerity, humility, and dedication, as Swami Vivekananda taught, every act of service is performed with the right spirit as an act of worship.
Bala Samskara Shibir
This is a programme run at the Swami Vivekananda Memorial (sub-centre of the Ashrama) on similar lines of the Balaka Sangha and Balika Sangha.
The Bala Samskara Shibir is for children in the age group of 6 to 9 years (classes 1 to 4).
The focus here is to harness and redirect the enthusiasm and energy of the young ones through learning and recreational activities. Children learn chanting shlokas and short hymns, devotional songs and prayers, yogasanas, craftwork, drawing, fun and fitness exercises and games, gardening, clay modeling, spoken Sanskrit, etc.
Registration: Parents can contact the office at Swami Vivekananda Memorial (sub-centre) for more details and to enroll their children.
Six-week Personality Development Workshops
These comprise of 6 classroom sessions held on consecutive Sundays (six weeks) from 12 noon to 1.30 pm.
Registration: Free Entry. Registration required.
Residential Retreats for Students
These 3-day retreats are conducted periodically for college students. They start from Thursday evening and continue till Sunday afternoons with the students compulsorily staying at the Ashrama.
Registration: Students can contact the Ashrama office for information and registration for these retreats.
Youth Conventions
Half-day conventions for college level students are held periodically at the Ashrama. Youth-oriented topics are addressed by monks and other eminent speakers during these conventions.
Registration: Students can contact the Ashrama office for information.
For Teachers
Teachers’ Conventions
Half-day conventions comprising talks by education experts for school teachers and also B.Ed. students are conducted occasionally every year.
Residential Retreats for Teachers
3-day residential retreats are conducted periodically for school teachers. They start from Thursday evening and end on Sunday afternoon. Teachers stay in the Ashrama and follow a routine comprising guided meditation, classroom sessions and discussions on topics relevant to their professional and personal well-being and development. Experts and trained education professionals conduct the sessions while monks of the Ashrama conduct guided meditation sessions and question-answer sessions.
Registration: Teachers may contact the Ashrama office for information and registration for these retreats.
For Parents & General Public
Parents’ Workshops
Half-day workshops for parents are conducted each year. Today’s parents face the difficult task of balancing professional responsibilities with family life while raising children. Many wish they had expert guidance to help them navigate this challenge.
The Ashrama conducts parents’ workshops every year involving child behaviour and psychology experts, monks and teachers to help equip parents to handle the delicate task of nurturing children and teenagers in their formative years.
Meditation Courses
Guided meditation courses are conducted by monks of the Ashrama periodically. These are usually held on 3 consecutive evenings (usually Friday to Sunday evenings).
Yogasana Classes
Yogasana classes are conducted every morning at the Swami Vivekananda Memorial (sub-centre of the Ashrama on Risaldar Galli). Separate batches are held for ladies and gents with experienced instructors for guidance.
Registration & Fees: Kindly contact the office at Swami Vivekananda Memorial for further details about the yogasana classes including fees and enrollment procedure.
Support Through Donations
Help Us Serve
Financial contributions are another meaningful way to support the Ashrama’s activities. Your donation helps fund numerous activities of the Ashrama such as scholarships for deserving students, free eye surgeries at Sri Sharada Netralaya, relief operations as and when taken up, upkeep and maintenance of the Ashrama, maintenance of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, etc.
All donations are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
Donate Now →For contributions by Indian Nationals only
