Ramakrishna Math, Jharha-Matua, Village Gurua, Gaya Ji—a sub-centre of Ramakrishna Math, Headquarters, Belur Math—was formally started on 1 February 2026 with the inauguration of the Monks’ Quarters and a Coaching Centre. The sub-centre is situated on a sprawling campus of 15 acres.
A significant milestone in the development of the centre was reached on 24 August 2026 with the inauguration of a new Hostel Building and the laying of the foundation stone for a Pre-primary School. Fourteen monks, along with a number of devotees, attended the function. Several monks from nearby centres in Bihar and Jharkhand, as well as from Belur Math, graced the occasion.
The programme commenced with a special worship of Sri Ramakrishna, followed by the inauguration of the Hostel Building and the foundation-laying ceremony for the Pre-primary School. A Sadhu Bhandara was held at noon.
Jharha-Matua is situated about 30 km from the ancient Sri Vishnu Temple at Gaya Ji. The surrounding region is marked by severe poverty and socio-economic deprivation. As part of our ongoing welfare activities, dry rations and sarees were distributed to ten needy widows. We intend to continue this service every month. We are confident that, in due course, this centre will develop into an important centre of education, character-building, service, and spiritual values.
We are striving to develop a comprehensive educational and service complex at this sub-centre in the sacred pilgrimage region of Gaya Ji, Bihar. The area has a special association with the life of Sri Ramakrishna. Gaya Ji is also one of the Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog under its Aspirational Districts Programme, which seeks to accelerate socio-economic development and improve the quality of life of the people.
Gaya Ji is revered not only by Hindus but also by Buddhists and Jains, making the region a unique centre of pilgrimage and a living symbol of the harmony of religions which Sri Ramakrishna taught and practised throughout his life. The historic Nalanda University and the ancient city of Rajgir are also situated nearby, further enriching the region’s spiritual, cultural, and historical heritage.
The district has also witnessed Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in the past. We firmly believe that quality education, character-building, and value-based service can play a significant role in empowering the local community and in promoting lasting peace, harmony, and social progress. Through this project, we hope to provide quality education to underprivileged rural children, promote health and sanitation awareness, and bring hope, dignity, and opportunities for a better future to the people of this economically disadvantaged region. In the years to come, we envisage the centre growing into a vibrant institution dedicated to the ideal of Ātmano mokṣārtham jagad hitāya cha—for one’s own liberation and for the welfare of the world.
