Kamarpukur- Birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Kamarpukur, the small village in the Hoogly district of West Bengal was quite famous in early 20th century as many local landlords had lived there for many generations. Surrounded by rice fields and little hamlets on all sides, the serene settings were perfect for the birth of a great soul, for it was at Kamarpukur, adorned with the beauty of nature and ever-greens, that Sri Ramakrishna was born on 18th February, 1836. With his advent and on account of the frequent visits of his disciples, this place has now become a place of pilgrimage to many. Devotees from all over the world visit this place of nativity of Sri Ramakrishna and derive immense satisfaction after seeing the various places associated with Sri Ramakrishna, especially during his childhood.
There are many signs of ancient prosperity all over Kamarpukur. Dilipated temples, many ponds, tanks, old buildings etc. dot the corners of this old village and stand mute testimony to more glorios past days. During the times of Sri Ramakrishna's childhood, when malaria had not yet made its virulent head shown, Kamarpukur, and all the surrounding areas, was an intense place of activity.
Noted for its agriculture as well as for its cottage industries, Kamarpukur boasted of many exports to Kolkata (Calcutta) and nearby markets.
Sweet meats like Jilapi and Nabat, hookah pipes of ebony, yarns, towels, cloth, etc. were mostly the merchandise from here. To this day, in the month of Chaitra (March-April), Kamarpukur reverberates with songs during the worship of Goddess Manasa and festival of Shiva, and in the following month, devotional choral songs of Hari are sung for three days at a stretch.Even now people belonging to the different strata of society live in peace in the tranquil atmosphere of the village.
Through the help of the devotees and the management, and of the monks of the Ramakrishna Order, the beautiful temple of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna, with his marble statue installed in it on 11th May, 195, was built at Kamarpukur. With the construction of guest houses, a library, a dispensary and schools and the re-excabation of the tank called Haldar-pukur, as also with the development of the surroundings, the place has really become one of the beauty-spots in the whole locality.
Places of interest within and around Kamarpukur:
- The ancestral home of Sri Ramakrishna - This was the place where Sri Ramakrishna spent his childhood.
- Sri Ramakrishna's living-room - This is the western hut, which is now used as a part of the shrine of Sri Ramakrishna. It was also here that the Holy Mother stayed after the passing away of the Master, in spite of dire financial and other difficulties.
- The temple of Sri Raghuvira - The present temple is a newly built one which resembles the earlier one. Here, the dieties worshipped by the ancestors of Sri Ramakrishna, and later himself, are still being offered worshi. One gets to meet people who are direct descendants of Sri Ramakrishna's brothers.
- The mango tree planted by Sri Ramakrishna
- The spot of his birth - The altar of the present temple of Sri Ramakrishna is built on the exact spot where he was born. A husking machine, a fireplace and a lamp, which are associated with his birth, are engraved on the altar.
- Yogi's Shiva Temple - Sri Ramakrishna's mother had an experience of a divine light entering her here and later found out that she had conceived.
- Haldar-pukur - This pond has so many memories of young Sri Ramakrishna swimming with his friends. Even his father Khudiram, and later the Holy Mother bathed in it.
- The Primary School of the Lahas - Here young Sri Ramakrishna learnt his Bengali alphabet. However he soon lost interest in schooling.
- Dhani Kamarini's birth-place and temple.
- Budhui Moral and Bhutir-khal cremation grounds
- Manik Raja's mango grove
- Mukundapur Shiva temple
- The surrounding villages of Anur, Jayrambati, Koalpara, Sihar and Vishnupur.
Contact Information :
Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission,
P.O. Kamarpukur Dt.Hooghly 712 612,
Phone: 03211 - 244221 & 03244 - 244763
E-mail: rkmkpukur@gmail.com , rkmkpukur@yahoo.com
Website: www.rkmkamarpukur.org
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Kamarpukur :
The Math and Mission centres were both founded in 1947. The Math centre preserves the sacred place where Sri Ramakrishna was born, as also his ancestral home. It conducted daily worship and religious classes, and observed certain festivals and birthdays of religious celebrities. The Mission branch has the following wings:1. A boys' high school.
2. A junior basic school.
3. A free pre-vocational training centre.
4. A boys' hostel.
5. An area library with books,periodicals and newspapers.
6. A charitable homoeopathic dispensary.
7. A mobile audio-visual unit.
The Math and Mission centres together conduct rural development works, such as running mobile medical dispensary, non-formal schools, soil testing laboratory, and so on under the guidance of the Headquarters. They also run a mini jute mill for training unemployed rural youth.