History of the Ramakrishna Centre
of South Africa

"South Africa has a great future. The life and message of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda will help her to face many challenges before her and bring out national integration, harmony and peace."

~ His Holiness Swami Ranganathananda ~
(13th President of the Ramakrishna Order)

Swami Shivapadananda

(1938 - 1994)

The saintly Swami Shivapadananda (1938 - 1994), the only monastic disciple of Swami Nischalananda, led the organization from 1965 onwards. Under his inspiration and direction, Sri Ramakrishna Shrines were built in Newcastle, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg, Lenasia and Asherville.

In 1985, he established a monastic centre for women at the then Asherville Branch of the Centre, now called the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram. This Ashram has since been granted full autonomy, and entrusted with working mainly among women and children. It is managed entirely by Pravrajikas (nuns), brahmacharinis (female novitiates) and lay women devotees.

In 1959, the Centre had acquired the Headquarter's site at Glen Anil in Durban. This housed the Sri Ramakrishna Shrine, living quarters, administration facilities, press, clinic, etc. Under Swami Shivapadananda's leadership, the present Headquarter's campus was completed in 1995. The present Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna was consecrated on 22 July 1995.

Though deriving inspiration from the parent body at Belur, Kolkata, India, The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa developed totally independently of it because of the circumstances of history. In particular, the restrictive apartheid government of the country ensured that there was no meaningful contact with India. Through the initiative of Swami Shivapadananda, links were forged with the international Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Movement at Belur Math; and other branch centres of the Order in India and abroad. As a result, senior monks of the Order came out on invitation to South Africa : Swami Vandanananda (Belur Math, India), Swami Nishreyasananda (Zimbabwe), Swami Balaramananda (Mauritius), Swami Bhavyananda (United Kingdom).

Swami Shivapadananda was succeeded by his sannyasin disciple, Swami Saradananda who was the President from 1994 - 2007.

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