Our History & Founder
The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa was established in 1942 by Swami Nischalananda, a direct disciple of Swami Virajananda, the sixth President of the Ramakrishna Order. With deep spiritual conviction and a pioneering spirit, Swami Nischalananda responded to the needs of South African Hindus by laying the foundation for a Centre rooted in Vedanta and committed to selfless service. Swami Nischalananda travelled widely across the country, delivering spiritual discourses, conducting classes, organising prayer meetings, and initiating service activities. His vision included the establishment of shrines, educational initiatives, youth and women’s forums, and rural outreach programmes that provided food, clothing, healthcare, and education to underprivileged communities. Sub-centres and satsang groups were formed in various parts of the country, all guided by the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. These sub-centres continue to be active in their communities, promoting spiritual growth and social upliftment. . The legacy of Swami Nischalananda and his spiritual lineage continues to guide the Centre’s work and vision.
Swami Nischalananda
Our Affiliation
The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa is affiliated to the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, a global spiritual and service organisation founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda.
The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are worldwide, non-political, non-sectarian spiritual organizations which have been engaged in various forms of humanitarian, social service activities for more than a century. Inspired by the ideals of renunciation and service, the monks and lay devotees of the Math and Mission serve millions of men, women and children, without any distinction of caste, religion or race, because they see the living God in them.
The organizations were brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886), the great 19th-century saint from Bengal who is regarded as the Prophet of the Modern Age, and Sri Ramakrishna’s chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), one of the foremost thinkers and religious leaders of the present age, who is regarded as ‘one of the main moulders of the modern world’, in the words of an eminent Western scholar A.L. Basham.
As an affiliated branch, we share in the Mission’s universal message of the harmony of religions, the unity of existence, and the service of humanity as worship of God. The guiding principle, “Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha” – For one’s own liberation and for the welfare of the world – is central to all our activities.
