Advaita Ashrama

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To keep Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, in its pristine and quiet condition, and yet meet the growing worldwide demand for its publications and journal Prabuddha Bharata, it was decided to shift printing and despatch work to Kolkata. This would also ensure better quality of books and a much wider reach. A Branch Centre was, therefore, started on 1 May, 1920, in a rented shop at 28 College Street in central Kolkata. Later, this was shifted to a larger place in the same area. 1925 saw the dedicated souls who were the inmates of the Ashrama at 180B Muktaram Babu street in north Kolkata. As this place also became small for their lion hearts they shifted in 1931 to a building at 4 Wellington Lane.

The euphoria of pre-independence struggle was making constant demands for Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Vedanta literature and the monks bravely met it. As the number of monastics grew along with the work, inversely did the Ashrama seem to shrink. But with minds fixed on the great mission of spreading the leaven of Advaita, all troubles were borne with equanimity. With meager funds scraped over the years they could finally think of having a spacious Ashrama building. Providentially Sri U. N. Deb, a former classmate of Swamiji, donated land to Belur Math and Advaita Ashrama erected a building at 5 Dehi Entally Road. This was in 1960.

The feeling of finally having a spacious Ashrama lasted only a couple of years. The warehouse soon began bursting with bound and unbound books, paper, materials, etc. The despatch section began working overtime to clear orders from India and aborad. The Ashrama resorted to the latest technology to speed up work. Today, humming computers tackle the large volume of orders gushing in. But this electronic hum is not the only sound heard in the Ashrama. It also resounds with Vedic chanting. In addition to being busy with diligent research, proofreading, composing, etc., the monastics also engage themselves in meditation and study of scriptures. Charitable activities, religious discourses for devotees and a spacious library complete the picture.

Following the Advaita Ashrama principles, no ritualistic worship is performed, individually or collectively. In every activity the monastic tries to make practical the philosophy of Advaita. The monks in the Ashrama can feel its growth and are also aware of its great potential. A piece of land, contiguous to the Ashrama was purchased at a whopping price in April 2000.

Now, preparations are going on for the construction of a new building for the Publication Department. The estimated cost is around US $1,000,000 (see 'An Appeal'). The Ashrama is, in a way, girding its loins for deluging the world with spirituality.

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