Jan 30, 2016

Mother's Rock and Swami's Bench, Ramakrishna Ashram

September 10, 2015
Ramakrishna Ashram was the last item on our Saturday morning sight-seeing tour of Basavangudi. It was around 9 AM when we came here. The Ashram was peaceful as always. We sat in the meditation hall for a while and then strolled towards the Mother's rock and lo there was a surprise. A mantap with a beautiful idol of Swami Vivekananda's seated on a granite slab. During my last visit I remember holy men of this ashram performing a pooja on this very spot.. so it was for this mantapa. The idol is recent but the slab has a history.. its a monument in its own right.

About this monument
When Swami Vivekananda arrived in Bengaluru during 1892 from Belgaum, he stayed at the Kalappa Choultry in the Majestic area for a few days. During that period he sat and rested quite a few times on a stone bench attached to the front wall of the house of Sri Sugappa, a jeweller by profession. After discovering later that the sannyasin was none other than Swami Vivekananda, Sri Sugappa and his descendants preserved it carefully with all respect, as a valuable monument. This stone-bench-slab, which was sanctified by Swami Vivekananda, was officially handed over to Ramakrishna Math in January 1997. 

Swami Vivekananda had stayed in Ramakrishna Ashram at Belgaum fort in 1892.

 Just besides this mantapa is the spot which is known as The Mother's Rock.

About The Holy Mother's Rock
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi stayed in this Math for four days from 24th to 27th March 1911. During this period, one day she sanctified this rock by sitting here in meditation, enjoying the sunset. Therefore all the visitors are requested to maintain the sanctity of this rock and its surroundings. 

This is one of the most peaceful spots here.. its like a being in a jungle.


the meditation hall of Ramakrishna Matha
Ramakrishna Ashram has an amazing collection of flora. Here's one lovely flower, the NagaLingaPushpa. The flower's core resembles a snake's hood sheltering a Shiva Linga. The flower's mild but sweet aroma has a nice effect on the mind, especially early mornings. NagaLingaPushpa tree's English name is canon ball :( wish it's renamed with something pleasant.

Here's another amazing flower whose name I'm not aware of.

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2 comments:

siddeshwar said...

A friend said that the flower in the last picture must be tiger lily.

Anilprasad said...

it is similar to Tiger Lily , but ....