Consider the following statements:

1. The teachings of Ramkrishna Paramhansa are characterized by the real-life issues of a common man.

2. Swami Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission after the death of Ramkrishna Paramhansa.

3. Both Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Dayanand Saraswati believed in the Arya religion as a universal religion.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Solution

● Statement 1 is correct: Ramkrishna Paramhansa was a priest at the Kali Temple in Dakshineswar in Calcutta. He had attained the highest spiritual experience as per the Hindus and spoke about the issues of ordinary life and nature that could be understood by anyone and had universal relevance. ● Statement 2 is incorrect: Ramkrishna Math was established by Ramkrishna Paramhansa himself. It aimed at the creation of a group of monks who were ready to lead a life of renunciation and spirituality and spread the message of Vedanta. The Ramkrishna Mission was established by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 after the death of Ramkrishna Paramhansa to carry out philanthropic works headquartered in Belur. The two organizations are twin organizations, however, are legally and financially distinct from each other. ● Statement 3 is incorrect: While Dayananda Saraswati believed in the establishment of Arya religion as the universal religion of the entire human kind, Ramkrishna Paramhansa focused on the oneness of all the religions. He believed that different religions are the manifestations of the same God and just provide different paths to salvation.