''The Vedanta Kesari'' (The Lion of Vedanta), formerly known as ''Brahmavadin,'' is an

English-language English is a West Germanic language that developed in early medieval England and has since become a English as a lingua franca, global lingua franca. The namesake of the language is the Angles (tribe), Angles, one of the Germanic peoples th ...

monthly magazine covering spiritual and

cultural Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

issues. Published by the

Ramakrishna Math Ramakrishna Math is the administrative legal organization of the Ramakrishna Order, of Daśanāmi Sampradaya. It was set up by sanyasin disciples of Ramakrishna Paramhansa headed by Swami Vivekananda at Baranagar Math in Baranagar, a place ne ...

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

, India, it has been in circulation since 1895.

History

Under the inspiration of

Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda () (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindus, Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Vivekananda was a major figu ...

, a group of his disciples in

Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

, which included G. Venkataranga Rao, M.C. Nanjunda Rao, and Alasinga Perumal, started a monthly journal titled ''Brahmavadin'' on 14 September 1895. One of Swamiji's letters to Alasinga read: "I learnt from your letters the bad financial state that ''Brahmavadin'' is in." Swamiji repeatedly said, "The ''Brahmavadin'' is a jewel-it must not perish!". It continued to be brought out regularly for 14 years, until Alasinga's demise in 1909. From 1909 to 1914, the publication of ''Brahmavadin'' became quite irregular. The last issue was brought out in 1914 (March–April). Soon after, the legacy of ''Brahmavadin'' was continued by a new journal, ''The Vedanta Kesari'', which was started by

Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai is a Monastry, monastic organisation. The motto of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is "For one's own salvation and for the welfare of the world". The math in Chennai is the first branch center of th ...

, and has been in circulation ever since.

Circulation

''The Vedanta Kesari'' is one of India's oldest English-language religious magazines, having been published for 106 years as of 2019. It has a monthly circulation of over 12,000 copies, with more than 2,000 sent to public and institutional libraries across India. The magazine also has subscribers in 27 countries.

''The Vedanta Kesari'' contains articles on Indian spiritual traditions and scriptures, focusing on the philosophy of

Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...

as expounded by Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of

Ramakrishna Ramakrishna (18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886——— —), also called Ramakrishna Paramahansa (; ; ), born Ramakrishna Chattopadhay,M's original Bengali diary page 661, Saturday, 13 February 1886''More About Ramakrishna'' by Swami Prab ...

, a nineteenth century Indian mystic. There are articles based on the teachings of Ramakrishna, as well as a section on book reviews of books on similar topics. The stated aim of the magazine is to promote a spiritual and matured outlook towards life. It advocates renunciation of selfish desires, along with the service to others in a spirit of worship-fulness. Most articles published in the ''Vedanta Kesari'' are originally written for the magazine, though a few transcriptions of the lectures and speeches are also published. Many scholars have contributed to ''Vedanta Kesari'' over time. Its contributors include

John Woodroffe Sir John George Woodroffe (15 December 1865 – 16 January 1936), also known by his pseudonym Arthur Avalon, was a British Orientalist whose extensive and complex published works on the Tantras, and other Hindu traditions, stimulated a wide-r ...

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...

Sarojini Naidu Sarojini Naidu (Birth name, née Chattopadhyay) (; 13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949) was an Indian political activist and poet who served as the first Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Governor of United Provinces, after Independence Day (India), Indi ...

C. Rajagopalachari Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., also known as Mootharignar Rajaji (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and Indian independence ...

, T.L. Vaswani, K.M. Munshi,

Karan Singh Karan Singh (born 9 March 1931) is an Indian politician and philosopher. He is the titular Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. From 1952 to 1965 he was the '' Sadr-i-Riyasat'' (President) of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. ...

Dalai Lama The Dalai Lama (, ; ) is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term is part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" (圣识一切瓦齐尔达喇达赖喇嘛) given by Altan Khan, the first Shu ...

and A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam ( ; 15 October 193127 July 2015) was an Indian Aerospace engineering, aerospace scientist and statesman who served as the president of India from 2002 to 2007. Born and raised in a Muslim family in Ramesw ...

. Many monks of the

Ramakrishna Order The Ramakrishna Order ( Bengali: রামকৃষ্ণ সংঘ) is the monastic lineage that was founded by Ramakrishna Paramhansa, when he gave the ochre cloth of renunciation to twelve of his close disciples, in January 1886 at the Cossip ...

also contribute to the magazine. Since 1978, the magazine has been regularly bringing out an annual issue centred on a particular theme. Some of its popular theme-based issues published so far are: Yoga and its Aspects, Values for the Present Age, Globalization, Religion Today, Culture and Civilization, Channeling Youth Power, Nurturing Inter - personal Relationship,

Upanishads The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...

in Daily Life, among others. Many of these numbers have later been made into books and published by the Ramakrishna Math. Some of the well-known books published from the Math were originally serialized in the ''Vedanta Kesari''. Among such are included such popular volumes such as Upanishad Series (Sanskrit, with English translation by Swami Sharvananda), Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master (by

Swami Saradananda Saradananda (23 December 1865 – 19 August 1927), also known as Swami Saradananda, was born as Sarat Chandra Chakravarty in 1865, and was one of the direct monastic disciples of Ramakrishna. He was the first Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math ...

Bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

Schools of Vedanta (by Swami

Tapasyananda Swami Tapasyananda (1904-1991) was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was born in the Palat family of Ottapalam in Kerala, in 1904. His pre-monastic name was K. P. Balakrishnan Menon. In 1921, when he was just 17 years old, he met ...

), and so on.

Editors

From May 1914 to April 1928, the magazine had no official editor. The April 1926 issue stated: "Swami Sharvananda who has been the President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in

since 1911 and has been editing the ''Vedanta Kesari'' from its very start is retiring from work after nineteen years of strenuous labour. He means to lead at present a life of perfect solitude and retirement. " Swami Yatiswarananda who has been in charge of the Ramakrishna Ashrama in

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

for nearly the last two years has come over to take charge of the Math and Mission in

. He has spent eight years of his monastic life in South India and has an intimate knowledge of several of its parts. He is the late editor of the

Prabuddha Bharata ''Prabuddha Bharata Or Awakened India'' is an English-language monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order, in publication since July 1896. It carries articles and translations by monks, scholars, and other writers on humanities and social science ...

and is well known for his scholarship and literary abilities. He was also intimately connected with the editorial work and the publication of the ''Vedanta Kesari'' for a long period. Our Journal will appear under his editorship from May next. All official correspondence must hereafter be addressed to him. We pray to the Lord to crown his work with complete success.' 1928 May onwards, The Vedanta Kesari started printing the names of the editors. It would mention both the names (president of Madras Math and the actual editor) as 'Editors'. September 1993 onwards, nomenclature was changed over to 'Managing Editor & Editor' {, class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" , +Editors of ''Vedanta Kesari'' , - ! × !! Period !! Editor , - ! 1 , May 1928 to April 1931 , , Br. Jnana chaitanya (Swami Tejasananda) , - ! 2 , May 1931 to April 1939 , ,

Swami Tapasyananda Swami Tapasyananda (1904-1991) was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was born in the Palat family of Ottapalam in Kerala, in 1904. His pre-monastic name was K. P. Balakrishnan Menon. In 1921, when he was just 17 years old, he met S ...

, - ! 3 , May 1939 to April 1941 , , Swami Vimalananda , - ! 4 , May 1941 to April 1942 , , Prof. PN Srinivasachar , - ! 5 , May 1942 to November 1948 , , Swami Nityabodhananda , - ! 6 , December 1948 to September 1951 , , Swami Kailasananda , - ! 7 , October 1951 to July 1956 , , Swami Budhananda , - ! 8 , August 1956 to April 1962 , ,

Swami Swahananda Swami Swahananda (29 June 1921 – 19 October 2012) was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order, and the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California from 1976 to 2012. He also led the Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, ...

, - ! 9 , May 1962 to April 1967 , , Swami Paratparananda , - ! 10 , May 1967 to July 1971 , , Swami Kailasananda , - ! 11 , August 1971 to September 1979 , , Shri R. Ramakrishnan , - ! 12 , October 1979 to December 1986 , , Shri CS Ramakrishnan , - ! 13 , January 1987 to December 1997 , , Swami Tyagananda , - ! 14 , January 1998 to December 2000 , , Swami Brahmeshananda , - ! 15 , January 2001 to March 2004 , , Swami Baneshananda , - ! 16 , April 2004 to July 2016 , , Swami Atmashraddhananda , - ! 17 , August 2016 to December 2022 , , Swami Mahamedhananda , - ! 18 , January 2023 to June 2024 , , Swami Divyakripananda , - !19 , Since July 2024 , Swami Lakshmidharananda

External links

Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai Website

The Vedanta Kesari magazine subscription page

View and Download Vedanta Kesari issues

96 Years of Vedanta Kesari Issues on DVD

Ramakrishna Mission Magazines established in 1895 Hindu magazines published in India 1895 establishments in India Swami Vivekananda Monthly magazines published in India Mass media in Chennai English-language magazines published in India

History

Circulation

Contents

Editors

See also

External links