Vivekananda Kendra is a spiritually-oriented service mission founded in 1972, based near the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu, India).
It claims to focus on "man making and nation building" through various activities, including education, women's empowerment, rural development, promoting Indian culture, as well as youth empowerment, and free yoga classes to promote healthy mind and body.
Established in 1972
Founded by Eknath Ranade as a "living memorial" to Swami Vivekananda's vision, following the construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.
Recognition
Vivekananda Kendra received the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015 for its contribution to rural development, education, and development of natural resources.
Educational initiatives
Runs Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV) is a network of 84 schools across India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman Islands, claiming to focus on holistic education inspired by Swami Vivekananda's teachings.
Gallery
<gallery widths="160" heights="160">
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Doing Meditation.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students doing meditation during learning Yoga Class
File:Vivekananda Kendra Community Hospital - Health Check Up Camps.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Community Hospital
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Doing Yoga Exercises.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Doing Yoga Exercises
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Practicing Yoga Exercises - To Improve physical & Mental Stability.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Practicing Yoga Exercise – To Improve Physical and Mental Stability
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Playing Games.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Playing Games
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Worshiping Parents.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Worshiping Parents – Parents Worship Hindu Practice
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Playing Mind Games.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Playing Mind Games – Sanskar Varg Classes
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Praying For World Peace and Prosperity.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Praying for World Peace and Prosperity
File:Vivekananda Kendra Students Performing Bharat Mata Pooja.jpg|Vivekananda Kendra Students Performing Bharat Mata Pooja
</gallery>
See also
- Eknath Ranade