upon her husband as her GURU, or spiritual
teacher. He did not found a movement or establish
an organization, although he was the inspiration
of a generation of Indian Hindus. His influ-
ence spread throughout the world through the
VEDANTA SOCIETIES/RAMAKRISHNA MAT H AND MIS-
SION, founded by Swami Vivekananda.
He remained devoted to the goddess Kali
throughout his life, and he was also initiated into
tantric practice (see TANTRISM). His teacher Tota
Puri taught him ADVAITA VEDANTA and the practice
of absorption in the formless, which he quickly
achieved. His whole life was an uninterrupted
contemplation and union with God. His life and
teaching appeal to seekers in all religions, as he
taught that the revelation of God can take place
at all times and that God-realization is not the
monopoly of any one religion or faith. He took up
various disciplines associated with other religions,
specifically Christianity and Islam, and taught
that all paths lead to the same God-realization. His
message of the harmony of religions was based
on unity in diversity and a fellowship of religions
based on their common goal of God-conscious-
ness. Sri Ramakrishna died on August 16, 1886.
His famous disciple Swami Vivekananda
founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission at
Belur Math, near Calcutta (Kolkata) to propa-
gate the teachings of his guru. Sarada Devi, his
widow, also began to assert the leadership role
that Ramakrishna had specified for her, and she
became known as the mother of the movement
that Ramakrishna inspired. These missions offer
spiritual, medical, and educational services to the
people of India. Outside India, in 18 countries on
five continents, the same organization is known
as the Vedanta Society and is headed by swamis
initiated and trained at Belur Math.
Further reading: Swami Ghanananda, Sri Ramakrishna
and His Unique Message (London: Ramakrishna Vedanta
Centre, 1937); Christopher Isherwood, Ramakrishna
and His Disciples (Calcutta: advaita Ashrama, 1965); Sri
Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Translated
by Swami Nikhilananda (New York: Vedanta Society,
1907); Romain Rolland, The Life of Sri Ramakrishna
(Calcutta: advaita Ashrama, 1944).Ramakrishna Math and Mission See
VEDANTA SOCIETIES/RAMAKRISHNA MAT H AND MISSION.Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) advaita
Vedanta teacher and mystic
Ramana Maharshi was a GURU of international
renown from southern India who taught the non-
dual philosophy of ADVAITA VEDANTA.
Ramana was born on December 30, 1879, as
Venkataraman Ayyar at Tiruchuli near MaduraiRamana Maharshi (1879–1950), widely recognized
teacher, mystic, and foremost exemplar of advaita (non-
dual) consciousness (Courtesy Sri Ramanashramam, Tiruvan-
namalai, Tamil Nadu)K 350 Ramakrishna Math and Mission