In the year 1892, Swami Vivekananda arrived in Kolhapur. During his stay in Kolhapur, his luminous personality deeply touched the people of Kolhapur. This was the moment of the emergence of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Bhavadhara, which further gave rise a spiritual ideology in the form of service to the society in many forms by the monks and devotees. The increasing participation of the devotees of Kolhapur changed the rivulet of the Bhavadhara into a river which then ultimately merged into the ocean of Ramakrishna Order. The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Adhyatmik Kendra was affiliated to Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math on 2 June 2024.

Inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, a devotee of Swamiji founded ‘Swami Vivekananda Sangha’ in the Sathmari area in 1984. In the said premises, where a school was also running so, it was not possible to arrange lectures, evening Arati or daily worship. Luckily another devotee came forward and arranged a place for the Sangha in the Gomata Mandir of Panjarapol area of Kolhapur. After a year, the Sangha was officially registered as ‘Ramakrishna Vivekananda Adhyatmik Kendra, Kolhapur’ in 1985. The board of trustees was formed and registered in 1986. The Kendra began the spiritual activities like spiritual discourses, reading of scriptures, bhajans etc as well social work such as medical camps, helping the needy students, and the sale of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. The activities picked up the momentum soon. Srimat Swami Bhaumanandaji Maharaj, the then President of Ramakrishna Math, Pune was the mentor of this center and encouraged the devotees of Kolhapur to spread the Ramakrishna Bhavadhara in and around Kolhapur, i.e. in the districts of Kolhapur and Sangli. For this purpose, one nyasi of Pune Math would visit Kolhapur once in a month to give talks on spiritual topics. Some of the local devotees also held classes to spread the teachings of Shri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda stayed in Khasbag area of Kolhapur for a few days. To mark H is stay, the road in front of the place he stayed in, Mirajkar Tikti to Sathmari was renamed as ‘Swami Vivekananda Marg’ on 15 August 1947. With the passage of the time people forgot the renamed road. But with the initiatives and efforts of the local devotees a resolution for renaming was passed in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. The road from Mirajkar Tikti to Kalamba, a village near Kolhapur city, was renamed as ‘Swami Vivekananda Marg’ to permanently cherish his visit to Kolhapur.

Inspired by the words of Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj to establish a centre, a search was undertaken in Kolhapur to purchase a piece of the land. A suitable plot, measuring 12 acres was found in the gram Kalamba very near to Kolhapur. The negotiations were started with the owner, the late Anandrao Gaikwad. Somehow the negotiations were not making any progress. It so happened one day, that Shrimati Sushilabai Gaikwad, the mother of Anand Rao Gaikwad who was least aware or had read about Holy Mother, had a vision of Holy Mother in the dream. She reported this divine vision to her son and interpreted it as a wish of Holy Mother to have the land for Math. Shri Anandrao Gaikwad took it to the heart and completed the deal in the year 2000.

The new place was located at the centre of the city and it became convenient for the devotees to arrange for spiritual and other service activities. Activities such as lectures, spiritual retreats, medical services, tuitions for the students of weaker sections, sale of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature were initiated and conducted regularly. Later Srimat Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj gave initiation to sixty devotees in April 2017 in the city centre. Karvir Nagari (Kolhapur) is well known as a shaktipeeth of the goddess Ambabai. Needless to mention that this building of the city centre is sanctified by the stay of good number of Sanyasins of Ramakrishna Order who visits Kolhapur. Some prominent names are - Srimat Swami Smarananandaji, the then General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order, Srimat Swami Swami Vagishanandaji Maharaj,Trustee of the Ramakrishna Order, Srimat Swami Swami Suviranandaji Maharaj, present General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order, Srimat Swami Swami Muktidanandaji Maharaj, Trustee of the Ramakrishna Order and Srimat Swami Swami Tattvavidanandaji, Asst General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order. Moreover, many Snyasis from all over India, Maharashtra, and from abroad centers ts this city-centre.

A residence for the monks - Sadhu Nivas- was constructed on the land at main centre at village Kalamba. It was inaugurated by Srimat Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, the then Vice President, Ramakrishna Order in 2016. He also gave initiation to 60 devotees in this building. The devotees of Kolhapur have cherished a long-standing dream to have a grand universal temple of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna, which requires teak wood in abundance.  For this purpose, 300/400 teak trees were planted to meet the future requirement of teak wood for the construction of the temple.

This sacred milestone is the result of the selfless dedication, devotion, and prayers of generations of devotees — many of whom are no longer physically present but whose service and love continue to inspire the centre.