History of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Chapra
Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Chapra, Bihar is a branch Centre of the Ramakrishna Mission with Headquarters at Belur Math (Dist. Howrah, West Bengal, India) The Ashrama became affiliated as a branch centre of the world wide Ramakrishna Mission in 2003. The Ashrama in chapra commemorates the birthplace in Chapra of Latu Maharaj, Swami Adbhutananda, the wonderful sannyasi disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
Latu Maharaj was born into a very poor family of shepherds in Bihar's Chapra District. Latu was named by his mother 'Rakhturam' as she was convinced Lord Rama had saved him from smallpox and almost died. Misfortune was no stranger to the poor family and hardly they could survive for want of two nourishing meals a day. Due to the hard life in the countryside the boy lost both his mother and father when he was only five. Rakthuram was brought up by his uncle who earned a small income as a shopkeeper. For a few years the boy enjoyed a happy carefree life with other children of his uncle's family. But when the family business began to fail, the compassionate uncle took the boy to Calcutta where he sought to earn a better living. The boy, Latu, also had eventually to support himself in the city and he was at last fortunate to become a servant in the house of Sri Ramchandra Dutta, a wealthy doctor and officer in a pharmaceutical firm.
Dr. Ramachandra was a prominent householder disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the great spiritual master of Dakshineswar. Due to the goodness of the father-like Ramachandra, Latu himself came into contact with Sri Ramakrishna and also soon became his devotee. By the Guru's holy touch his life was transformed and when The young man came in contact with Narendranath Dutta (later the world renowned Swami Vivekananda) and along with others of Sri Ramakrishna's disciples he became a sannyasi with the name Swami Adbhutananda. Thereafter, Latu Maharaj's (Swami Adbhutananda’s) life was a great inspiration to all who came to him. He was not forgotten even after his death. Many people of Chapra were inspired by his spiritual effulgence long after his passing away in 1920. In this way, in 1993 a few professional men of Chapra and their families became the founders of an Ashrama in Chapra in Latu Maharaj's name. The private organization became affiliated as a branch centre of the world-wide Ramakrishna Mission Organization in 2003.
The activities of Chapra Ashrama aim at improving the material, spiritual, and cultural well-being of society. Spiritual and cultural wellbeing of the common people are impossible unless some amount material wealth is generated and they attain good nutrition, health and education. So the Ashrama runs a free Educational Centre for classes kindergarten up to class IX, also a charitable medical dispensary and mobile medical unit, with A team of volunteer doctors.
The Ashrama has taken up the challenge to provide health, & hygiene, medical service and primary Education to below poverty-line people and villagers living in substandard conditions Pure drinking water is supplied by drilling tube wells, and food, clothing and building materials are supplied in times of natural disaster or calamity, like severe cold, flood and devastating fires.
All the activities are conducted charitably (i.e. free) or on nominal/subsidized rates) to the public without discrimination of class, community or religious preference. Everything runs due to the generous donations given by the public, business organizations and trusts. We always appeal to the public and individuals for regular donations to support our work for the poor and needy people.
Prayer, worship, meditation and discourses on spiritual subjects are conducted in the Ashrama temple, dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Deva, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. and Swami Adbhutananda. During the year the main religious festivals are observed, such as the Birth Anniversaries of the Holy Trio and Swami Adbhutananda, Shri Krishna Janmasthami, Shri Ram Navami, Christmas Eve, etc. Worship to Shri Ram is offered to shri Rama on every Ekadashi and 'Ramanam Samkirtana' is sung.
Sri Ramakrishna, regarded by rising numbers of people around the globe as an Avatar, or Incarnation of God of our modern time, was born in Bengal, India in 1836, and around him gathered a small number of world-renouncing monks (sannyasis), among them the patriot saint, Swami Vivekananda, who represented Hinduism at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. One of the first of these young men to come to Sri Ramakrishna as a disciple was Latu Maharaj, later known as Swami Adbhutananda, who was himself born (circa 1865) in the district of Saran (now Chapra) in Bihar.
After a hundred years since the birth of Ramakrishna, and approximately a hundred years after the birth of Latu Maharaj, the message of the Great Master and the influence of the sixteen or so monk disciples of the Master spread across the world and now also is exerting a profound influence over the lives of millions of people the world over in thought and way of life.
This Power of the World Teacher early touched the vast interior parts of northern India and Bihar. As before, to the call of Sri Rama, people awakened again to the infinite potentialities of the human heart and the age-old religion of the Vedas and Vedanta and were re-invigorated. Free India arose and modern Hindu dharma (Vedanta) experienced a rebirth and a broadening of spirit with new emphasis being on the practical application of the ancient ideal— Oneness of Existence expressed in non-dualistic Vedanta (Advaita), and preached and put into practice by Swami Vivekananda and the other monk spreaders of Sri Ramakrishna’s name and teachings.
In the latter part of the 20th century, some lay devotees of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda were inspired to start holding meetings in the name of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Adbhutananda (Latu Maharaj) in Chapra, to meditate and study the Lord's divine play and, if possible, to put its values into practice in their humble lives. The devotees came in touch with the Headquarters and leading monks of the Ramakrishna Mission and got help and encouragement to start an Ashrama in Chapra. The new Ashrama was comemmorating the birth of Latu Maharaj in the place.
The year was 1993 when the courageous beginning was made by local devotees. In 2003 the private ashrama, then known as Ramakrishna-Adbhutananda Ashrama, became affiliated in status with other centres of branch the world-wide Ramakrishna Mission Organization, Headquarters at Belur Math near Kolkata. The local devotees rejoiced. The whole society looked ahead to a hopeful future when society, afflicted by lacuna of ethical and moral values, would again be purified and set on the bright path to spiritual and material regeneration. The Chapra Ashrama became thence known as the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Chapra.
