Man is the basic thing, and man-making is the fundamental work. Every kind of works from personal life to society depends on the quality of the concerned people, which is ruled by their character. Again, the character can also be built through practice. So we should not lose hope and try to do practice for the improvement of our life. An individual may, of course, attempt at man-making with himself or others. However, to make a serious attempt everywhere and not to leave it as casual endeavors of a few, an organized effort that will cover all parts of the country is essential. And that is the idea behind the Mahamandal.
The Mahamandal started its journey in 1967 to spread the man making and the character-building idea of Swami Vivekananda among the youths in the form of an organized youth movement for the superiority of society from the personal level to national level. To make the idea of character building more acceptable to the youth, the Mahamandal follows several techniques.
Mahamandal organizes several Training Camps for the Youth from the national level to regional level to explain the man-making and character-building ideas of Swami Vivekananda and to encourage to practice these ideas in their day to day life.
Read MoreUsually, camps are organized annually, and only a few people can join there. But to built character, one needs to get the good ideas regularly, and this is done by the weekly study circles organized by each center.
Read MoreThe ideas and methods of the Mahamandal are available in the form of about 100 books, booklets, and audio cassettes in English, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, and Telugu.
Read MoreVivek-Jivan, the bilingual bulletin (in English and Bengali) of the Mahamandal, is brought out every month since 1968. Vivek-Anjan is published in Hindi as a quarterly.
Read MoreTo worship the inner divinity of man, the centers often run various programme on Social Services such as charitable dispensaries, free coaching classes, adult education centers, schools for children, students' homes, feeding schemes, libraries, etc.
Read MoreThe adolescent is the most important stage of human life, and future life mainly depends on this stage. The Mahamandal considers a separate training methodology specially developed for the teenagers, which is developed by a collective support of several school teachers and senior leaders of Mahamandal.
Read MoreVivek Vahini is the children's wing of the Mahamandal, organized by many units of the organization, to inculcate life-giving ideas into the children. The Mahamandal believes that proper growth of the body, mind, and heart must start from a very tender age, but that requires a special programme particularly suitable for children. The scheme of Vivek Vahini is a comprehensive approach to materialize this idea.
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The work of Mahamandal is done in more than 300 centers from where one may get the life-giving ideas of Swami Vivekananda and join their hand with the noble movement.
Read MoreSarada Nari Sangathan, a sister organization of the Mahamandal, established in 1989, has been working independently on the lines of the Mahamandal. At present, Sarada Nari Sangathan has 75 centers. Weekly study circles are held at all its centers. It organizes All India, zonal, and local training camps for women, where practical methods of character building, mental concentration, physical exercise, etc. are taught.Hundreds of women attend these training camps round the year.
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The emblem of the Mahamandal, which appears at the upper right corner of the webpage, shows Swami Vivekananda as an itinerant monk standing at Kanyakumari at the southernmost part of India, which is represented through the line map on the earth. On the top is written : Charaiveti Charaiveti (Onward! Onward!) and at the bottom: BE AND MAKE. The rest of the circle representing the earth is encapsulated with a series of small Vajras.
The flag of the Mahamandal is rectangular in shape in 3:2 ratio; there is a Vajra symbol, printed or embroidered in the middle of a saffron cloth, symbolizing self-sacrifice and strength. The idea was borrowed from the first proposed Indian National Flag, which was envisaged by Sister Nivedita.
The anthem of the Mahamandal, Samgachchhadhvam, is taken from the oldest Indian literature: the Rigveda. It has been repeated in the Atharva-veda also. It is a song of UNITY, unity in thought, word, and deed, unity of heart. To read more please visit Study Circle.
Ans: The Mahamandal's aim is to build a good society, healthy society, of people who have hearts full of love, sympathy, compassion, and the urge to serve others. Our task is to make this sort of men in a large number...
Read MoreAns : The nation comprises of men. So, national integration means union of the minds of men. National integration can be achieved if all people love one another and put national interest above...
Read MoreAns : The first thing to know in this matter is that you cannot instil anything into the student from outside. You can only awaken from outside what is already within the student. Even then...
Read MoreFrom its inception the Mahamandal received the blessings of the senior monks of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, including Swami Vireswarananda (the 10th President of the Order), Swami Abhayananda (Bharat Maharaj), Swami Gambhirananda (the 11th President of the Order),
Swami Bhuteshananda (the 12th President of the Order), Swami Chidatmananda, Swami Ranganathananda (the 13th President of the Order), Swami Gahanananda (the 14th President of the Order), and Swami Atmasthananda (the 15th President of the Order).
Swami Vireswarananda wanted the Mahamandal to spread to every corner of the country. He had high expectations from this organization, of which he spoke at an All-India Youth Training Camp and a Youth Rally of the Mahamandal.
Swami Abhayananda said to a dedicated organizer of the Mahamandal, 'I read Vivek-Jivan. You are doing the right thing: you are placing Swami Vivekananda before the youths.
Of the senior monks of the Order, Swami Bhuteshananda graced various programmes of the Mahamandal the maximum number of times. One morning someone from the Mahamandal went to pay respect to him.He was the last person to enter the room and the door was closed behind him. The Sevak Maharaj said, There will be no more discussion now! And the devotees stood up to go out by the exit door. Seeing the last person Maharaj turned to the devotees, who again sat down, and he said, Swamiji said, with the advent of Sri Ramakrishna Satya Yuga has started. But where are its signs? What is going on all around? The last visitor said, The current of Satya Yuga is flowing underneath. On the surface everything is going down. With a kind smile Maharaj said, Yes, and looking to the devotees he added, This, the work of the Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal is it not a sign of Satya Yuga?
Swami Ranganathananda addressed the Youth Training Camps of the Mahamandal on several
occasions, and, later on, conveyed his blessings through letters. Very kindly he accepted the
Mahamandals invitation year after year to address public meetings in different towns and
villages in Orissa. On such occasions he addressed even seven or eight meetings every day,
at distances between 30 to 100 kilometer, where thousands were overwhelmed to meet and
honour him in the traditional way. The Orissa State Branch of the Mahamandal organized
these programmes. The public meeting organized by the Mahamandal at the foot of Shahid
Minar, kolkata Maidan till 2007 (now it is held at Hedua Park, Calcutta) in commemoration
of Swamijis birthday started at his suggestion: Bring Swamiji to the Maidan.
"A group of young people, inspired by Swami Vivekananda, not only belonging to our own
State in Bengal, but also in neighbouring States, are slowly gathering together and trying to
work his ideas in our society. That is purpose of Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal. Behind
this Mahamandal are men of sterling virtues, patriotism, dedication, keen intelligence, and
understanding. I have been very much attracted to their personalities, to their character; and
when they are there behind this organization, we can expect that this Yuva Mahamandal will
slowly gather strength, drawing more and more young people into it and slowly try to give
to the society what Swamiji has left as a great treasure to all of us. This Yuva Mahamandal
is meant to be the real force to bring this awareness gently to the people of Calcutta, to the
people of Bengal, and later on to the entire nation. It bears Swami Vivekanandas name, so
that it inspires us with the great ideas of Swami Vivekananda so progressive, so free. What
beautiful ideas are there in Swami Vivekananda ideas which can transform a human character,
make him big in a big way! ... This kind of mind can change India. India must have a group
of young people, inspired like this, full of energy, full of vitality. This is a great need all over
India. That is the genesis of this Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal. Work hard to create that
kind of strong, stable India, with character, with efficiency, with public spirit. This inspiration
is the most progressive inspiration you will get today, the whole nation will get today from this
Yuva Mahamandal."
