Spiritual | Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Chandigarh

Worship and Celebrations

The Meditation Hall is the hub of all activities. All people, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, race, and nationality, are welcome here. They can either participate in the worship, bhajans, arati, etc or engage themselves in silent prayer or meditation.

Sri Ramakrishna is worshipped in the temple following the mantras and procedures systematized by Swami Ramakrishnananda. Daily Puja of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda is performed in the Meditation Hall from 8.30 am to 9.30 am. The shrine is open from morning 5.00 am to 12.00 noon and evening 3.30 pm (winter) / 4.00 pm (summer) to 8.30 pm (summer) / 9.00 pm(winter). Aratrikam or evening prayers start at 6.30 pm (winter) / 7.00 pm (summer). Immediately after Aratrikam there will be bhajans on all week days and special bhajans for one hour on Sundays.

Ram-Naam Sankirtan or chanting the name of Lord Rama is held on all Ekadasi days after evening Arati. Special Puja is performed on Ramanavami, Shivratri, Janmashtami, Navaratri, Kali Puja, Durga Puja and other auspicious days.

Guru Purnima and the Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda are celebrated in a grand manner every year. The celebrations are marked with special Puja, Homa, Bhajans, Musical programmes and Lectures. Prasad is distributed for hundreds of devotees who take part in the birthday celebrations. A special discount of upto 25 % discount on books is available on these occasions.

The birthdays of all other direct disciples of Shri Ramakrishna are celebrated every year. The Birthdays of other great Incarnations and world teachers like Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ, Shri Guru Nanak Dev, Shri Sankara, Shri Ramanuja and Shri Chaitanya are also celebrated every year on tithi days.

Bhajans and Chanting

Bhajans

‘All the sins of the body fly away if one chants the name of God and sings his glories’ says Sri Ramakrishna. Every day after the evening Arati, bhajans are sung; on Sundays and all special days, bhajans are sung from 7 to 8 pm.

Shri Ram-Naam Sankirtan

The traditional Ram-Naam Sankirtan is sung on Ekadasi days, after evening Arati.

Maa-Naam Sankirtan

Maa-Naam recitation is extremely propitious, it is chanted on Amavasya days after evening Arati.

Lectures and Interviews

Spiritual Discourses

Monks deliver spiritual discourses in the evening on Saturdays and Sundays. On Janma Jayantis and Festival days after Arati, special discourses are delivered by the monks.

On Saturdays and Sundays –

5.30 pm to 6.30 pm (Winter)

6.00 pm to 7.00 pm (Summer)

Discourses In And Around The City

Monks of the Mission give regular discourses/take classes in and around the city and also take part in various religious programs/events held in the city.

Personal Guidance

Public can receive personal guidance in matters related to spiritual life from the Secretary Maharaj, the head of this Mission as well as other senior swamis through personal interviews.

Spiritual Retreat

“Whatever may be a householder’s profession, it is necessary for him to live in the company of holy men now and then. … First of all, the company of holy men; then shraddha, faith in God. … it is necessary to seek the company of holy men, practise prayer, and listen to the instruction of the guru. These purify the mind.” – Sri Ramakrishna

Half-Day spiritual retreats are conducted once in a month. Such retreats give an opportunity to be in the holy company. The monks give talks on varied spiritual topics, sing the glory of God, meditate — in short, retreats help to lead a spiritual life.

Japa Yajna

Sri Ramakrishna used to advise devotees to go to a secluded and sacred place and perform such japa to derive lasting benefit. This purifies the mind, strengthens it, and prepares it to face the realities of life.

Japa Yajna is the ‘sacrifice of the silent repetition of the holy name.’ Participating in the Japa Yajna is an opportunity for devotees who have received initiation from the gurus of the Ramakrishna Order, to perform japa (repetition of God’s name) continually for half a day.

Japa Yajna is conducted every last Sunday.

Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti

Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti was celebrated at the Ashrama in November 2019. About 300 devotees participated in the function. Discourses on Life and Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji were given by eminent Persons and there were Bhajans and Kirtans.

Worship and Celebrations