This Forum is for men between the ages of 15 and 22 who are interested in spiritual life and service to humanity. Youth marks the stage in life when self-consciousness dawns in man. It is the period when the three powers of creativity, self-esteem and instincts reach their highest development. Success comes to him who channelizes these powers properly and develops his self-consciousness to the maximum. Vivekananda Youth Forum attempts to help the youth to achieve this through ‘self-conscious activity’ which, according to Swami Vivekananda, can bring one power, glory, goodness and purity.

   Those who are interested in joining the Vivekananda Youth Forum may enroll their names in the Math office. There is no membership fee for joining the Forum, but regular attendance is mandatory. The members of the Youth Forum meet on every Sunday from 4.00 PM to 6.30 PM at

     The Bala Mandir was designed to give practical expression to some of the eternal values and manly virtues presented by the great spiritual tradition of India as exemplified and taught by Swami Vivekananda. The directive principles of the Bala Mandir are:

1. Development of a harmonious character based on all-round growth—physical, mental, moral, and spiritual.
2. Recognition of the dignity of the individual and the spiritual unity and equality of all human beings.
3. Realization of the fact that one’s true welfare and progress is inseparably linked to that of others, and that sharing and loving service must become an integral part of one’s life.
4. Stress on the truth that we are the makers of our own destiny, and
5. Individual and social well-being can be achieved only through steady and sustained effort. 

The Bala Mandir classes at the Chennai Math are held on the same lines and with the same objectives as mentioned above. The children are admitted into three groups, Shuka, Vyasa and Parashara according to their ages. Shuka group has students studying in stds 3, and 4; Vyasa, from standards 5, 6 and 7; and Parashara from Stds 8, 9 and 10. The classes are held on Sundays from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. Vedic chanting, Vishnu Sahasranama chanting, bhajans, yogasanas, drawing of divine pictures, narration of stories from the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and great saints, spoken Sanskrit are some of the popular items taught by a number of volunteer teachers. 350 Students take part in these programmes. Summer camps, held every year from 1st to 30th May, draw a huge number of students. At the end of the camp, a cultural programme is put up by the children before a vast audience of parents and well-wishers.