Mountains of Holy Girnar, the ancient seat for austerity & meditation near Junagadh being chosen for Tapasya by Swami Vivekananda & his brother disciples, have the unique importance for the monastic members of Ramakrishna Order and are being visited by them very often with guidance and help of the inmates of Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot. This continuous communication resulted in the proposal for a centre at Junagadh, and in the course of the time Swami Dhruveshananda, then manager of Shri Ramakrishna Ashram, Rajkot, came forward with the name ‘Swami Vivekananda Seva-Kendra’ for the proposed centre at Junagadh. As per his advice, this centre has been registered as Trust. The foundation stone of this centre was laid on 5.6.1994 by Swami Jitatmanandaji, then President of Shri Ramakrishna Ashram, Rajkot, in the presence of MLA of this area late Bhavnaben Chikhalia, MP and few monks of Ramakrishna Order. Thus this centre started its activities in the year 1994 with a Book sales section, a Reading room, a Library, and drinking water facilities for the visitors.
The first venture of this centre was to clean the plot reserved by Municipality for making the garden; which was later developed as an attractive garden with active participation of the devotees of Swami Vivekananda. Afterword, the statue of Swami Vivekananda was installed in this new garden, and it was unveiled on 11.9.1995 by Revered Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, then Vice-President of Ramakrishna Order, in the presence of several dignitaries, monks & devotees. Later, the centre had successfully convinced the Junagadh authorities to name one of the road as ‘Swami Vivekanand Marg’ and one circle as ‘Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa circle’.
Then this centre took up the construction of Prarthana Mandir and Sadhu Nivas. The foundation stone was laid by Swami Adibhavanandaji on 14.12.1998 in the presence of devotees. After successful completion of work, it was dedicated for social service in the opening ceremony on 3.12.2000 by Revered Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, then Vice-President of Ramakrishna Order. Then came addition of the new temple by constructing first floor above existing building of the centre, which was completed successfully and opening ceremony was performed on 27.06.2006 by Swami Dhruveshanandaji Maharaj, then President of Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot.
The required instruments for physiotherapy unit have been purchased, and it was opened by Swami Vishwatmananda, President, Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Varanasi, on 8.7.2018, in the presence of Swami Atmadipananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Memorial, Porbandar, Addl. Collector, Shri V. V. Antani, Dy. Collector, Shri Rekhaba Sarvaiya, and Trustees along with several well-wishers of ‘Swami Vivekananda Seva-Kendra’. The programme was a grand success.
Our present activities
The centre’s regular activities are Pooja, Evening Arati, Ramnam Sankirtan and other public service activities as listed.
From 22.01.2012, on first Sunday of every month, a free Eye camp is organised. Initially started by Hatkesh Hospital, it is now taken care by Ranchhodadasji Trust Hospital, the diagnostic and medical service at camp is supported for operations at eye care unit of Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot. Patients to be operated are provided with to & fro free bus service. In a year, around 500 to 600 patients are benefited by this facility. Every month a Medical Camp is organised in which Orthopaedic, Physician, BDS, BMDHB, Neuropathy and other specialist doctors are giving their services to patients.
The Spiritual lecture on last Sunday of every month was started on 25.8.2002 by Swami Nikhileswaranandaji, then Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Memorial, Porbandar, and it is continued by Swami Atmadipanandaji, present Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Memorial, Porbandar, on 4th Saturday of every month as of today.
The other social activities like Bal Sanskar Kendra, stitching classes, music classes, coaching classes, and ration distribution are going on regularly. Spiritual activities like Ramanam Sankirtan, Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ma Saradadevi, Swami Vivekananda, and Guru Purnima are celebrated annually by the devotees.
This centre has successfully organised two meetings of all member centres of Gujarat Bhava Prachar Parishad during 2011 and 2017.
A big function & procession for Rathyatra celebrating 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was organised at Junagadh. Many schools from Junagadh participated in this event.
During this function, a book stall and lecture by Swami Prabhusevanandaji of Shri Ramakrishna Ashram, Rajkot were also organised.
With the help of devotees, functions and processions for Rathyatra was organised in different villages nearby and it was welcomed by the villagers.
Again to celebrate the completion of 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s successful lectures in the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893, a procession was arranged in Junagadh city on 20.6.2018, and on the occasion, Lectures by Swami Atmadipanandaji, present Secretary Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Memorial, Porbandar, and Swami Mantreshanandaji Maharaj of Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot were arranged at Domadia Wadi in Junagadh, which were attended by the prominent citizens of Junagadh.
Contact details :
Swami Vivekananda Seva-kendra
Talav gate railway crossing,
Vivekananda garden,
Junagadh-362001,
Contact no. 9726618501
Your Content Goes Here
