About Us
Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission
Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission is an independent women’s monastic organization established 1954 in Dakshineswar, Kolkata as envisioned by Swami Vivekananda - “With the Holy Mother as the centre of inspiration, a Math is to be established on the eastern bank of the Ganga. As ‘Brahmacārī’s and ‘sādhu’s will be trained in this Math (Belur Math), so in the other Math also, ‘Brahmacāriṇī’s and ‘sādhvī’s will be trained.”
Founded on the ideal of ‘Ātmano mokṣārthaṃ jagaddhitāya ca’- ‘liberation of the Self and service to all’, the activities of Sri Sarada Math and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission uphold the object of serving women and children in all possible ways, irrespective of caste, creed and nationality. At present (May 2026), the organization runs 36 centres in India, 1 in Sri Lanka and 1 in Australia.
Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Pangot
Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, a women's monastic organization runs a spiritual retreat centre at Pangot, a serene hamlet located amidst hilly forests of oak and deodar with a panoramic view of the Himalayas, 15 Kms. from Nainital in the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand in India. The centre was established in 2002 upholding the philosophy of Advaita Vedānta and the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.
The centre primarily aims at providing both offline and online opportunities for in-depth study and practice of Vedānta to interested scholars and spiritual seekers familiar with the ideals of the Ramakrishna Order.
The Background
In 1989, Janet (Jenny) Cochius, Jeanne Bakker, and Sujata Leemans of Holland co-founded the Sarada Vedanta Stitching (SVS) Foundation, in Holland to assist women who wanted to walk the spiritual path. Their quest was to set up a retreat centre somewhere in Europe for the benefit of western women. Pravrajika Vivekaprana, who had been travelling to the west since then and sharing her views on Vedānta with many aspirants, was requested to help set up such a centre.
Jenny passed away in 1994, but her dream was fulfilled when the SVS Foundation became the impetus and financial base for the Retreat Centre at Pangot. In 1999 the SVS Trust funds were donated to Sri Sarada Math and for the purpose of developing such a centre that would assist women to develop their spiritual lives. Pravrajika Vivekaprana accepted the responsibility for the planning and construction of such a Centre.
The Uphill Task
A barren hilltop, shrouded in low-lying clouds, hidden away in the remote village of Pangot in the Kumaon hills, at the foothills of the Himalaya and 15 kilometres from Nanital, was purchased by the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. The construction work started in November 2001.
Inauguration
On October 19, 2003 Revered Bhaktiprana Mataji, the Vice President of Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission at that time, inaugurated the centre.
Purpose and Philosophy of the Centre
Pangot Centre was established to provide those in search of Vedānta, a place for self-directed, independent, in-depth study and spiritual practice. The Centre has been developed around the philosophy of Vedanta in all of its phases, keeping the lives and philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda in view.
In-depth study and practice of Vedanta
A well-furnished library with books in different languages is at the disposal of the students. Group retreats are organized at regular intervals for formal study of the scriptures. Devotees from all over India and abroad come regularly for retreats. Western women have taken the opportunity to come and live at this centre for varying lengths of time.
Activities
The centre also runs a Sunday Class for local village children and a knitting class for village women.
Our Activities
Residential Spiritual Retreats
A week long residential spiritual retreats are conducted on various topics related to Vedānta and the Upanishads by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana Mataji and other sannyasinis of Sri Sarada Math.
Study groups (max. 20 people) are provided with food, accommodation and opportunities for study and contemplation. No Retreat fee is charged but donations are accepted.
Ma Sarada Knitting Class for village women
Village women are empowered by imparting wool work and knitting training and facilitating sale of woollen handicrafts prepared by them.
Certified Online Courses on Vedānta and other knowledge systems of sanātana dharma by Himalaya Vedanta Academy
Himalaya Vedanta Academy offers certified online courses on Vedānta and other knowledge systems of sanātana dharma through Zoom meetings.
Class timings are conveniently set to accommodate participants across the globe.
Free Sunday Classes for children
A class for village children is conducted every Sunday to impart value education and encourage creative handiwork.
Financial Assistance and Scholarship
Financial assistance and scholarship are provided regularly to needy students and village women.