Ramakrishna Research Articles

Devotional Theory in Comics

Vedic and non-Vedic religions spread their ideas directly, through songs and sermons. A sense of devotion was sown by making a connection between God and Human. In particular, devotional literature is designed to convey the flexibility of the structural definitions of religions. This can be seen by examining the background of all the devotional literatures and religious epics. The reading method, which was in the state of “Telling – Listening” have been changed into the state of “Seeing – Reading”. Thus, there was a significant place for paintings and pictures in journalism. Paintings and pictures were considered as tools to impress the readers. So, the magazines had the custom of drawing up a chart for the stories. Religious institutions changed the forms of expression as time went on. All the myths and Epics of poems were made into prose stories after the advent of journalism. Stories created as a series of illustrations (Sequential Art) throughout were put forward to explain the doctrine of Devotion. “Amarchitra Katha” is a globally recognized magazine that symbolizes the Indian comic book tradition. Similarly, the magazine ‘Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam’ made a significant contribution in Tamil. All the stories published in this way have been published as pamphlets under the name of “Kathaimalar”. Thus, this Article explores the notion that 'such magazines, which are based on devotion, treat religious virtues especially from evidences of the Epics”. Further, this article goes on to point out the way in which these stories have carried the doctrine of Devotion of religious institutions to the contemporary generation.

The Contribution of Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) towards World Culture

In Indian tradition, the religious development of a person is completed when he experiences the world within himself. Sri Ramakrishna, a Bengali temple-priest propagated a new interpretation of the Hindu scriptures. Without formal education, he interpreted the essence of the scriptures with unprecedented simplicity. With deep insight into the rapidly changing social scenario, he realized the necessity of a humanist religious practice. Therefore, adopting a modern perspective, this paper attempts to highlight the contribution of Sri Ramakrishna in India towards the world culture. Qualitative methods through a systematic sociohistorical analysis that summarized the literature based on documents, books and journals are used in this paper. The results show that the Ramakrishna Mission movement has contributed significantly to Indian civilization in education, humanity, literature and spirituality. Although they are not politically involved, their contribution remains significant in shaping a free-thinking, self-respecting and fearless citizen towards British colonial in India.

Investigation of rip current processes along Visakhapatnam beaches, east coast of India: A study based on GNSS drifters and dye experiments

Rip currents are known as one of the most dangerous hazards on sandy beaches worldwide. Indian beaches are least explored to study the variability of rip currents in space and time. The present study is the first attempt made to understand its dynamics by utilizing indigenously developed GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) drifters and Rhodamine-B dye experiments. The Rama Krishna (RK) and Rushikonda Beaches of Visakhapatnam are chosen for this study, due to a recorded number of rip current-related drowning cases observed during the past decade. Few experiments were conducted during pre- and post-monsoon seasons of 2018. Drifters work on the Lagrangian principle, where they measure the current velocities along their paths driven by the surface currents. Error analysis of drifter measurements showed that they are capable of resolving surf zone motions very accurately. Strong rip currents were observed in few locations in the study area, where at times current velocities reached ~1 ms−1. Also, Rhodamine-B dye was released into the rip current prone zones along with the drifters and observed that the dye patches also followed the drifters. From these experiments, it has been observed that the rip currents are relatively strong during the post-monsoon season, which could be due to the change in the beach morphology. Similar experiments with more number of drifters would help in understanding rip current dynamics and would help in reducing rip current drowning in the beaches.

A Natural Dialogue Partner: Sri Ramakrishna’s Anekānta–VijñānaVedānta and Claim to Avatārhood as a Resource for Hindu-Christian Studies

A Natural Dialogue Partner: Sri Ramakrishna’s Anekānta–VijñānaVedānta and Claim to Avatārhood as a Resource for Hindu-Christian Studies

Inferior Venacaval Ultrasonography to Detect Pre-Operative Hypovolemia as a Predictor of Postinduction Hypotension

Background: Hypotension is a common side effect of general anaesthesia, and when severe, it may lead to adverse outcomes. Ultrasonography of Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) is an effective, non-invasive method of assessment of intravascular volume status and hence the risk of hypotension at induction of anaesthesia. This study investigated whether preoperative ultrasound guided IVC measurements could predict hypotension after induction of anaesthesia. Methods: After ethical committee approval, this study was conducted at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore. Written and informed consent was obtained. Forty six (46) adult patients, conforming to American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I to II, scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were recruited. Maximum IVC Diameter (dIVCmax) and Collapsibility Index (CI) were measured preoperatively. Before induction, Mean Blood Pressure (MBP) was recorded. After induction, MBP was recorded for 10 consecutive minutes. Hypotension was defined as greater than 30% decrease in MBP from baseline or MBP less than 60 mmHg. Results: IVC could not be visualized in 6 patients. Data from remaining 40 patients were analysed, of whom 26 patients (65%) developed hypotension. The incidence of hypotension in patients with CI>40% was 100% and when CI<40% it was 4%. The mean value of IVC maximum diameter was 1.60 cm and the mean value of IVC minimum diameter was 1.02 cm. The optimal cut-off value was 40% for CI among the patients who developed hypotension. CI was positively associated with a percentage decrease in MBP. Conclusion: Preoperative ultrasound IVC-CI measurement is a reliable predictor of hypotension after induction of general anaesthesia, and CI greater than 40% was highly significant in causing post induction hypotension.

A Complex Ultimate Reality: The Metaphysics of the Four Yogas

This essay will pose and seek to answer the following question: If, as Swami Vivekananda claims, the four yogas are independent and equally effective paths to God-realization and liberation from the cycle of rebirth, then what must reality be like? What ontology is implied by the claim that the four yogas are all equally effective paths to the supreme goal of religious life? What metaphysical conditions would enable this pluralistic assertion to be true? Swami Vivekananda’s worldview is frequently identified with Advaita Vedānta. We shall see that Vivekananda’s teaching is certainly Advaitic in what could be called a broad sense. As Anantanand Rambachan and others, however, have pointed out, it would be incorrect to identify Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in any rigid or dogmatic sense with the classical Advaita Vedānta of Śaṅkara; this is because Vivekananda’s teaching departs from that of Śaṅkara in some significant ways, not least in his assertion of the independent salvific efficacy of the four yogas. This essay will argue that Swami Vivekananda’s pluralism, based on the concept of the four yogas, is far more akin to the deep religious pluralism that is advocated by contemporary philosophers of religion in the Whiteheadian tradition of process thought like David Ray Griffin and John Cobb, the classical Jain doctrines of relativity (anekāntavāda, nayavāda, and syādvāda), and, most especially, the Vijñāna Vedānta of Vivekananda’s guru, Sri Ramakrishna, than any of these approaches is to the Advaita Vedānta of Śaṅkara. Advaita Vedānta, in Vivekananda’s pluralistic worldview, becomes one valid conceptual matrix among many that bear the ability to support an efficacious path to liberation. This essay is intended not as an historical reconstruction of Vivekananda’s thought, so much as a constructive philosophical contribution to the ongoing scholarly conversations about both religious (and, more broadly, worldview) pluralism and the religious and philosophical legacies of both Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. The former conversation has arrived at something of an impasse (as recounted by Kenneth Rose), while the latter conversation has recently been revived, thanks to the work of Swami Medhananda (formerly Ayon Maharaj) and Arpita Mitra.

Spirit of Vedanta Ushering Hinduism to The Idea of Universalism (Discourse on Swami Vivekananda’s Thought)

In itsdevelopment, Hinduism experienced many changes to its modern era. Apart from all its traditions, Hinduism tries to introduce its existence on the world stage. Reformers of modern Hinduism such as Sri Ramakrishna, Rammohun Roy, and Swami Vivekananda themselves contributed greatly to this new idea with their respective models of practice. Departing from Swami Vivekananda attending the World Religious Parliament in Chicago in 1893, he brought the vision of his spiritual teacher Sri Ramakrishna about the Harmony of Religions are true. In the Parliament, he upheld his Vedanta teachings, which have been reinterpreted according to his Ideal concept, that Vedanta is the teaching of the future. Based on its Universal concept, Vedanta is able to take the World’s attention to its teaching in the West. In an effort to realize this idea, 1897, Swami Vivekananda disseminated the religious message of his teacher by establishing the Ramakrishna Mission, an organization to strengthen and expand the Vedanta idea. Since its inception, the Ramakrishna Mission has been dedicated to improving spiritually and social service, as well as developing religious teachings.

Preface

Preface/Introduction International Conference on Thermal Sciences and Fluid Flow (ICTSFF) 2020 is co-organised by MN Smart Solution, Malaysia and Akademia Baru Publishing, Malaysia in collaboration with Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India and Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thailand.This conference provides lots of networking opportunities to scholars, professors and practitioners for corporate and development sectors. The scope of this conference is broad and covers many aspects of international technology perspectives. This conference aims to provide scholarly platform to participants to share their valuable knowledge and current information with others.The conference is expected to attract the participation of academics, researchers and professional practitioners of ‘sciences’ and ‘engineering’ in Malaysia and also abroad. Knowledge sharing of ideas among academics and professionals has the potential to bridge the gaps and build an understanding on the various aspects of ‘sciences’ and ‘engineering’ nationally or internationally.As concerns increased over the pandemic of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), the organising committee had changed the meeting of ICTSFF 2020 from a physical to virtual format. The meeting had moved to virtual instead of being postponed due to the fact that we do not know when the pandemic situation will be over, subsequently concerned about the safety of our participants.The dates of the virtual conference remained unchanged to the initial proposed dates, which are on 17-18 April 2020, held in Penang, Malaysia. The talks of each presenter are limited to not more than 10 minutes per presentation (including Q&A sessions). The participants are located in their own location, since the Restriction of Movement Order (RMO) had been imposed not only in Malaysia (starting from 18 March 2020), but also other parts of the world as a measure to curb the outbreak. Thus, we had used Google Meet as our main platform/technology to deliver the conference.

Abstract

International Conference on Technology, Engineering and Sciences (ICTES) 2020 is co-organised by MN Smart Solution, Malaysia and Akademia Baru Publishing, Malaysia in collaboration with Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India and Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thailand.This conference provides lots of networking opportunities to scholars, professors and practitioners for corporate and development sectors. The scope of this conference is broad and covers many aspects of international technology perspectives. This conference aims to provide scholarly platform to participants to share their valuable knowledge and current information with others.The conference is expected to attract the participation of academics, researchers and professional practitioners of ‘sciences’ and ‘engineering’ in Malaysia and also abroad. Knowledge sharing of ideas among academics and professionals has the potential to bridge the gaps and build an understanding on the various aspects of ‘sciences’ and ‘engineering’ nationally or internationally.As concerns increased over the pandemic of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), the organising committee had changed the meeting of ICTES 2020 from a physical to virtual format. The meeting had moved to virtual instead of being postponed due to the fact that we do not know when the pandemic situation will be over, subsequently concerned about the safety of our participants.The dates of the virtual conference remained unchanged to the initial proposed dates, which are on 17-18 April 2020, held in Penang, Malaysia. The talks of each presenter are limited to not more than 10 minutes per presentation (including Q&A sessions). The participants are located in their own location, since the Restriction of Movement Order (RMO) had been imposed not only in Malaysia (starting from 18 March 2020), but also other parts of the world as a measure to curb the outbreak. Thus, we had used Google Meet as our main platform/technology to deliver the conference.

Was Swami Vivekananda a Hindu Supremacist? Revisiting a Long-Standing Debate

In the past several decades, numerous scholars have contended that Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu supremacist in the guise of a liberal preacher of the harmony of all religions. Jyotirmaya Sharma follows their lead in his provocative book, A Restatement of Religion: Swami Vivekananda and the Making of Hindu Nationalism (2013). According to Sharma, Vivekananda was “the father and preceptor of Hindutva,” a Hindu chauvinist who favored the existing caste system, denigrated non-Hindu religions, and deviated from his guru Sri Ramakrishna’s more liberal and egalitarian teachings. This article has two main aims. First, I critically examine the central arguments of Sharma’s book and identify serious weaknesses in his methodology and his specific interpretations of Vivekananda’s work. Second, I try to shed new light on Vivekananda’s views on Hinduism, religious diversity, the caste system, and Ramakrishna by building on the existing scholarship, taking into account various facets of his complex thought, and examining the ways that his views evolved in certain respects. I argue that Vivekananda was not a Hindu supremacist but a cosmopolitan patriot who strove to prepare the spiritual foundations for the Indian freedom movement, scathingly criticized the hereditary caste system, and followed Ramakrishna in championing the pluralist doctrine that various religions are equally capable of leading to salvation.

Octenidine dihydrochloride dressing versus saline dressing in diabetic foot ulcers: a prospective comparative study

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are commonly encountered during clinical practice and are often difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of octenidine dihydrochloride dressing and saline dressing in healing diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: A total of 50 patients (25 patients in each group of octenidine dihydrochloride and saline dressing group) with complaints of chronic diabetic foot ulcer attending surgery outpatient department of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital were included in this prospective comparative study from September 2018 to November 2019. Dressings were done on daily basis for a period of 6 weeks, and the results were compared on 2nd, 4th and 6th week, using reduction in surface area of the wound as parameter of healing process. Other parameters such as age, gender, associated co morbidities were assessed. Results: The mean surface area of wound in saline group was: baseline- 10.2 sq.cm, 2nd week- 9.8 sq.cm, 4th week- 8.6 sq.cm, 6th week- 7.5 sq.cm; While in octenidine dihydrochloride group was: baseline- 11.8 sq.cm, 2nd week- 9.6 sq.cm, 4th week- 6.8 sq.cm, 6th week- 5.2 sq.cm. After 6 weeks, the mean reduction in surface area of wound is more in the octenidine dihydrochloride dressing group compared with the slaine dressing group and the results are statistically significant at a p

IOT BASED SMART FARMING STICK - A SURVEY

15Jan 2020 IOT BASED SMART FARMING STICK - A SURVEY Rajesh S. and Saranya K Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology.

Infinte Paths to Infinite Reality: Sri Ramakrishna and Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion by Ayon Maharaj

Infinte Paths to Infinite Reality: Sri Ramakrishna and Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion by Ayon Maharaj

Effect of plyometric training on selected physical fitness and skill variables of intercollegiate football players

Plyometric training is a very popular form of physical conditioning of healthy individuals that has been extensively studied over the last decades. In this article, we critically review the available literature related to Plyometric training and its effects on physical fitness in team sport athletes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of plyometric training on selected physical fitness and skill variables of intercollegiate level male football players. Thirty out of players were randomly selected from Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore the selected players were divided into two groups consisting of 15 players. No attempt was made equate the groups. The age of the subjects ranged between 18 to 25 years. The influence of the plyometric exercise was assessed on physical variables. The training load was increased from the maximum working capacity of the subject doing pilot study. The duration of the training period was restricted to six weeks and the number of sessions per week was confined to three. The data obtained from all the groups before and after the experimental period were statistically analyzed by dependent‘t’ test to find out the significant improvement if any, 0.05 level of confidence was fixed to the level of significance between pre and post test means of all groups

Effect of topical application of honey on oral mucosa among patients with head and neck cancer undergoing Radiation therapy at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore.

An interventional study was conducted to evaluate the effect of topical application of honey on oral mucosa. Post test with control group design was adopted. Convenient sample of 20 patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy were selected. The honey application was done for 5 days and ongoing assessment was done using WHO oral Toxicity Assessment Scale (Cancer, 1979). The data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Hence the study concluded that honey application found to be an effective measures in managing and preventing radiation induced mucositis.

Intra rater reliability and validity of simplified stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement (s-stream) scale on voluntary movement of the limbs and basic mobility in patients with stroke – An observational study

Introduction: A stroke is a clinical syndrome characterised by rapidly developing clinical symptoms and / or signs of focal, and at times global, loss of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin. Globally, cerebrovascular disease (stroke) is a second leading cause of death. For providing a better management we must evaluate the patient with a good valid and reliable tool. In physiotherapy for evaluating the stroke subjects mobility and functional activity there are many assessment tools are available for assessing Balance, Functional activity, mobility and gait through Berg Balance Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Barthal Index and observational Gait Analysis. Other than these scales, Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Scale (STREAM) is one of the good reliable and valuable scale for the assessing of mobility and functional activity in stroke patients . Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Intra rater reliability and validity of Simplified- STREAM (S-STREAM) Scale on mobility and functional activity in patients with Stroke. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out for the period of one year. 100 stroke patients were selected from Neurology ward of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Intra rater reliability of S-STREAM was assessed for 1st and 2nd day of consequent 3 weeks. Validity of S-STREAM scale was evaluated by comparing the components of S-STREAM scale’s upper and lower limb voluntary movement with Fugl-meyer motor assessment scale components; Mobility component of S-STREAM was compared with Rivermead mobility index scale on first day of assessment. Data analysis of Intra-rater reliability and validity done with an help of Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. Conclusion: The results of this study shows that the S-STREAM has high Intra rater reliabilit

BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS IN VEDANTIC MYSTICISM: THE EXAMPLE OF RAMAKRISHNA

This study is a process analysis of probably the longest reported mystical experience: the six-month nirvikalpa samadhi of the Indian saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886). Throughout this period he participated in Brahman, which is understood in the Vedantic tradition of India as the blissful, intrinsically conscious substance of being. Ramakrishna cycled between the states aligned with Brahman’s saguna (manifest) and nirguna (unmanifest) aspects. He was insensate and cataleptic during the nirguna phase of mystical cycles. Liminal consciousness, ecstatic emotion, and visions of God characterized the saguna phase. The respective states are likened to the onset and the resolution of the Minimally Conscious State, the least severe form of coma. The temporal pattern of individual cycles is attributed to the Basic RestActivity Cycle, a fundamental biological rhythm. Yoga practices that may have contributed to the onset and continuation of samadhi are reviewed. Ramakrishna’s nirvikalpa samadhi incorporated two basic forms of mystical experience: union with the personal God, and transient probing of the undifferentiated ground of being. Other mystical experiences may have a cyclical structure and conform with a biological rhythm.

Śivajñāne jīver sevā: Reexamining Swami Vivekananda’s Practical Vedānta in the Light of Sri Ramakrishna

According to the influential German Indologist Paul Hacker, Swami Vivekananda was a “Neo-Hindu” who mistakenly clothed what were essentially Western values in superficially Indian garb in order to promote Indian nationalism. I argue that Vivekananda’s philosophy of “practical Vedānta”—which upholds the ethical ideal of serving all human beings as manifestations of God—has its roots not in Western values but in the teachings of his beloved guru Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna often spoke of his own spiritual experience of “vijnāna,” which revealed to him that everything in the universe was a manifestation of God. Sri Ramakrishna derived from this vijnāna-based worldview a spiritual ethics of service—“śivajnāne jīver sevā” (“serving human beings knowing that they are manifestations of God”)—that directly shaped Vivekananda’s later formulation of practical Vedānta. I conclude the paper by arguing that we should reject the “Neo-Vedāntic” paradigm in favor of a more nuanced and dialectical “cosmopolitan” approach to modern Vedānta.

Drowned in Sea of Consciousness Sri Ramakrishna had his Kali Darshan

Drowned in Sea of Consciousness Sri Ramakrishna had his Kali Darshan

Photography, Contemplation, and the Worship of Sri Ramakrishna

Examining the worship of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph provides insight into how a photograph becomes a sacrament—its status transformed from mundane to metaphysical. Sri Ramakrishna's image generates highly contemplative and interior experiences for his devotees. During the aarati worship service, the photograph is phenomenal. It is encountered on levels of bodily sensation that are the very substance of devotional activity—touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing. In particular, it is the act of devotional singing that finally renders the living presence of the photograph into something that can be experienced. The aarati hymns not only contain expressions of worship and faith. The very act of singing and making sound brings an immediacy to the experience of the living presence of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph.