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Activities of Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath: -
Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath is dedicated to serving the needy and alleviating human suffering both in its immediate area and throughout the state of West Bengal. Current activities include as follows.

Daily Worship (Puja):
Daily pujas are performed in the traditional manner. The images are lovingly bathed and dressed, then offered flowers, sandal paste, incense, and food. The types and quantities of food offerings were dictated to Annada Thakur by Sri Ramakrishna in dreams, and these instructions are still strictly followed today. Because the temple itself is rather small inside, the food offerings are made in the nearby Bhog Ghar, a separate building in full view of the temple altar. The food thus blessed by having been offered is then distributed as prasad to all visitors.

Nara Narayan Seva (Feeding of the Poor):
Feeding the poor in the name of God is one of the principal activities of the Sangha. Food is distributed to approximately 300 to 500 people daily, irrespective of caste, colour, and creed.

Sadhak Ashram and Sadkika Ashram:
Two separate ashrams, one for men and one for women. Together they house about 220 adults who wish to dedicate their lives to spirituality and service.

Adyapeath Balak Ashram (boys' orphanage) and Dakshineswar Balika Ashram (girls' orphanage):
Houses, feeds, and educates approximately 700 destitute and orphaned children from throughout West Bengal.

Banaprastha Ashram (Retirement Home):
Two separate ashrams for retiring elderly men and women along with modern medical facilities with resident doctor. Currently there are more than 150 in each ashram.

Adyapeath Matri Ashram (Widows' Home):
Houses approximately 85 widows without family to support them who wish to lead a religious life.

Charitable Dispensary:
An outpatient clinic has been set up with ultra-modern diagnostic pathological facilities, dental and eye treatment, and medicines, all free of cost to the patients. A mobile air conditioned dispensary and two ambulance services are also provided round the clock for the poor.

Monikuntala Balika Vidyalaya:
Dedicated to the memory of Monikuntala Devi, wife of Sri Sri Annada Thakur and mother of the Sangha, this school offers free education to approximately 650 girls up to class X (Standard tenth grade).

Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya:
It is one of the largest sanskrit schools in West Bengal, offering free basic Sanskrit teaching to more than 300 students.

Distribution of Clothing:
Poor people, irrespective of caste, colour, or creed, are given clothes free of charge on various occasions throughout the year.

Aid in Natural Calamities:
The Sangha comes to the aid of needy people in natural disasters such as famine, flod, and earthquake.

Atithi Seva (Feeding of Guests):
Sri Annada Thakur said, "A hungry guest should never be refused." Accordingly, every Atithi (guest) is served with food (Prasadam). Each day, 1000 to 2500 such devotees are served.

Hospital Project:
A project has begun to build a well-equipped 100-bed hospital for patients with contagious and infectious diseases. The estimated cost is over five crore rupees ($1.4 million US). The foundation was laid by the Chief Minister of West Bengal. They are collecting donations at home and abroad to full fill this commitment.

Bangladesh Project:
The temple and hospital were inaugurated in March, 1998, in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh. The temple serves the spiritual needs of Hindus in this mainly Muslim area, but its charitable outreach, including the hospital, are for the poor of all faiths.

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An appeal of Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sahgha Adyapeath: -
Donations are the Sangha's only source of income to accomplish all of these charitable activities. Daily expenses total more than 35,000 rupees ($1,000 US). All donations qualify for exemption under section 80G of the Income Tax Act of India, 1961. Donations may be made by international money order or personal check payable to Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sahgha Adyapeath, in either rupees or U.S. dollars. Contact the Sangha for information on donating in other currencies. Send to the Head Office:

Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath
Dolpiri, Ariadaha
Calcutta 700 007
West Bengal
INDIA
Phone: 91-33-2553-5553 or 91-33-2553-1999
Fax : 91-33-2553-1999

Brahmachari Riten Bhai, President
Brahmachari Mural Bhai, General Secretary

"KOLLOLINI" Kolkata - Tourist spot

Adyapith Temple, Dolpiri, Dakshineswar

Location: -
Just approximate 2 km from Dakshineswar Kali Temple Complex.

The Temple: -
Dream visitations from Sri Ramakrishna also continued. He offered Annadamoksha, but Annada, confronted by a vision of thousands of his suffering fellow humans, responded, "I do not care for liberation. I would rather go through a hundred thousand hells doing well to others: This is my religion." In 1919, Sri Ramakrishna revealed what Annada's life's work was to be: the establishment of a temple to the Divine Mother Adya Ma. The temple was to be in reality three temples enveloping one another: the first to Sri Ramakrishna, the second to Adya Ma, and the third to Krishna and Radha. The altar was to be three altars built like large stair steps: Ramakrishna on the bottom, Adya Ma in the middle, and Radha-Krishna on the top, encircled by the sacred syllable “OM”. In conjunction with the temple, there were to be separate ashrams for men and women, boys' and girls' orphanages and schools, a free clinic to prevent the spread of contagious disease, and distribution of food and clothing to the poor. At Sri Ramakrishna's behest, Annada Thakur spent a year with his parents in Raujan, in what is now Bangladesh, and then returned to Calcutta and carried out spiritual practices for a year on the bank of the Ganges. Then, on January 14, 1921, a celebration was held, which is still celebrated at the temple asSiddhotsab. The same year a committee was formed for the establishment of the Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha. In early 1927, the organisation acquired a piece of land with some adjoining old Shiva temples, and on January 31, 1928, Annada Thakur broke ground for the temple on a compound of nearly 14 acres.

Architecture and Symbolism: -
The main temple of Adyapeath is unique in both its architecture and its symbolism. Made of immaculate white marble, it is really three temples nestled inside one another.
The temple's symbolism denotes not only the unity of all aspects of the Hindu faith, but the unity of all religions toward a common goal: humanity's realization of God. Its spire combines Shiva's Trident, the Moon and Star, the Cross, and the Hand Fan--the symbols of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism respectively.

The Main Altar: -
Like the temple itself, the main altar also takes a very unusual configuration: three altars, one atop the other, like stair steps. On the bottom altar is an image of Sri Ramakrishna, with the word "Guru" inscribed nearby. On the middle altar is a replica of the image of Adya Ma found by Annada Thakur in the Eden Garden. This image is made of eight metals. Nearby is inscribed "Knowledge and Work."
The topmost altar is adorned by the images of Radha and Krishna, known all over world as the divine couple. They are encircled by the sacred syllable “OM”, and at their feet is inscribed the word "Love." Thus love is the foremost virtue and the clearest path to God.