Building Extension Video of Ground-Breaking Ceremony on Oct. 15, 2010

Inauguration Ceremony of New Extension: April 20-22, 2012 (Fri. - Sun.) - Details coming soon.

Vedanta is the philosophical basis of Hinduism that deals with eternal truths. The Vedanta Societies spread the universal message of intrinsic divinity of every being and harmony of religions illustrated by the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda arrived in Chicago in 1893 to represent Hinduism at the World’s Parliament of Religions and was hailed as the most popular and influential speaker at The Parliament. He inspired many ardent devotees and through their efforts, Vedanta Centers were established in America at various places.

Vedanta Society of Providence (a branch of Ramakrishna Math & Mission, India) was founded by Swami Akhilananda on September 09, 1928. He, and later Swami Sarvagatananda (who recently passed away in May ’09), nurtured it, attracting sincere aspirants belonging to various faiths and communities from all walks of life. Providence is a special place to devotees of Sri Ramakrishna because Swami Saradananda, one of his direct disciples, spoke here at Brown University in 1896.

For seventy years the Society was at 224 Angell Street. In 1995, the property at 221 Angell St was acquired for use as a women’s guest house. In 2000, the Society moved to its present location at 227 Angell St. Over the past eighty years, Vedanta Society has conducted worships, meditation sessions, religious study classes, spiritual retreats, interfaith gatherings, interactive group-studies for various schools and universities and music concerts. As these activities have outgrown the available building space, a project was undertaken for a new extension adjoining the existing chapel building. This new annex will have a spacious chapel with about 120 seats, guest-rooms, a larger book-sale room, a children's room and facilities to begin new programs like Hatha-Yoga, language, music & art classes.

It took two years to complete the architectural drawings and to get them approved from the local bodies concerned. The construction work began after the ground-breaking ceremony on 15 October, 2010 and progressing according to the plans, it is almost complete now. We have started partial use of the facility. We will be fully using the new chapel, retreat area and living rooms, hopefully by mid Feb. 2012.