Eire Vedanta Society

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre began in early 2005, when a small group of people interested in the principles and practices of Vedanta and Yoga came together in Dublin. In 2006 Swami Purnananda united them and officially founded the Institute of United Cultures. Under his guidance the group met weekly in private homes.

The Institute then passed a resolution asking the Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math to affiliate it with its worldwide network. In June 2018 it became an affiliated branch of the Ramakrishna Math, and the Institute evolved into the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre. The site describes it as the first branch centre of the Ramakrishna Order in Ireland, and says the affiliation introduced the previously unknown term Vedanta to Irish society. Swami Vimokshananda, a monk of the Order from Belur Math, served as first Minister-in-Charge from June 2018 until November 2021. Swami Shantivratananda succeeded him and is the present Minister-in-Charge and Spiritual Director.

The centre is based at Nivedita House on Dromheath Gardens, opposite Ladyswell National School in Mulhuddart. It keeps a shrine, a monastery, a library and a book sale. Its name for the house reflects one of its stated aims: to create national awareness of the Irish-born Sister Nivedita (Margaret Elizabeth Noble) and to promote her life and teachings.

The week is built around the shrine. On Sundays the Swamis and devotees gather at sunset for Aarati, an evening vesper of hymns and devotional songs, followed by guided meditation. Lectures on Vedanta, Yoga and related subjects are given on Thursday and Saturday evenings. The Minister-in-Charge also meets sincere aspirants by appointment for spiritual guidance.

Through the year the centre marks six celebrations, with ritual worship, discourses, devotional music, floral offerings and prasad. Periodic workshops, retreats with outdoor yoga, pranayama and silence, interfaith dialogue as a member of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, and food hampers for families in need complete the programme. Study circles in Belfast and Cork work under the same guidance.