Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) was a renowned Indian monk, philosopher, and spiritual leader who played a key role in introducing the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. Vivekananda was a disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and was the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the universality of religion, the harmony of all faiths, and the potential for individuals to realize their divine nature. Read this article to learn about Swami Vivekananda Biography, Teachings, Ideologies and Philosophies.
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Early Life and Education of Swami Vivekananda
- Swami Vivekananda was born Narendranath Datta on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata, India during the Makar Sankranti festival to a Bengali family
- He showed an early interest in spirituality and philosophical questions.
- At the Calcutta High Court, his father, Vishwanath Datta, practiced law. His mother was a hardworking housewife named Bhubaneswari Devi. Narendranath was interested in spirituality from an early age and used to meditate before the images of idols such as Shiva, Rama, Sita, and Mahavir Hanuman.
- At the age of Eight years, Narendranath started school at the Metropolitan Institution of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884 after passing the Fine Arts test in 1881.
- Narendra was known for his prodigious memory and the ability to speed reading. Several incidents. William Hastie (principal of Christian College, Calcutta; from where Narendra graduated) wrote, “Narendra is a genius.
- I have travelled far and wide but I have never come across a lad of his talents and possibilities, even in German universities, among philosophical students. He is bound to make his mark in life”.
Philosophies and ideologies of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the idea of the divinity within each individual. He advocated for the synthesis of science and religion, the importance of education, and the upliftment of the masses. His famous saying, “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached,” reflects his call to individuals to realize their spiritual potential and work for the welfare of humanity.
- Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda His ideology and teachings combine Western esotericism and universality with several schools of Hindu thinking, most notably classical yoga and (Advaita) Vedanta.
- He redefined religion and nationalism and applied it to education, faith, character development, and Indian societal issues.
- When Vivekananda returned to India in 1897, both the common people and the royal family welcomed him back. Following a tour of speeches around the nation, he arrived in Calcutta, where on May 1, 1897, he established the Ramakrishna Mission in Belur Math, which is close to Calcutta.
- The goals of the Ramakrishna Mission were built on the ideas of Karma Yoga and its principal mission was to aid those in need and disadvantaged inhabitants of the country.
- The Ramakrishna Mission carried out several social service projects, including starting and maintaining hospitals, schools, and colleges; disseminating the practical principles of Vedanta through conferences, seminars, and workshops; and starting relief and rehabilitation efforts all over the nation.
According to Vivekananda, education is the way that mankind already shows excellence. He felt it was terrible that the current educational system did not educate students on how to stand on their own two feet, nor did it instil in them a sense of self-worth and dignity. For Vivekananda, education was about more than just acquiring knowledge; it was about creating men, providing them with a better life, and developing their character. He saw education as the integration of moral principles.
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Swami Vivekananda Work
- Even though Vivekananda was an excellent writer and orator in Bengali and English, he was not a serious scholar, and the majority of his published writings originated from lectures he gave all over the world.
- An intelligent article in Bengali, “Bartaman Bharat” (meaning “Present Day India”) was written by him and first appeared in the March 1899 issue of Udbodhan, the exclusive Bengali language magazine issued by Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.
- The article was included in the fourth edition of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda after its publication as a book in 1905.
Publications of Swami Vivekananda
- Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897)
- Bartaman Bharat (in Bengali) (March 1899), Udbodhan
- My Master (1901), The Baker and Taylor Company, New York
- Vedânta philosophy: lectures on Jnâna Yoga (1902) Vedânta Society,
- The East and the West (1909)
- Inspired Talks (1909)
- Narada Bhakti Sutras – translation
- Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion
- Practical Vedanta
- Speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda; a comprehensive
- Karma Yoga (1896)
- Raja Yoga (1896 [1899 edition])
Influence and Legacy of Swami Vivekananda
He is currently regarded as one of the most important figures in Hinduism and modern India. Mahatma Gandhi claimed that his passion for his country increased tenfold after reading Vivekananda’s writings. To learn more about India, Rabindranath Tagore advised reading Vivekananda’s writings. Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian freedom activist, considered Vivekananda to be his spiritual mentor.
The world was made aware of the actual roots of India’s national unity by Swami Vivekananda. He demonstrated how a sense of humanity and brotherhood can bind a country with such extreme diversity. Vivekananda highlighted the shortcomings of Western civilization and India’s role in overcoming them.
“Swamiji balanced the East and the West, religion and science, past and present,” Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose reportedly remarked. And for that reason, he’s amazing. His lessons have given our nation a level of self-respect, independence, and self-assurance never before seen.”
Vivekananda was able to successfully build a cultural virtual bridge between the East and the West. He gave Westerners an interpretation of the Hindu scriptures, philosophy, and way of life.
As a Monk’s Life of Swami Vivekananda
Ramakrishna, who had been afflicted with throat cancer, became very ill in the middle of 1885. After Sri Ramakrishna was relocated to Shyampukur in Calcutta in September 1885, Narendranath moved into a rented home in Cossipore a few months later. Here, he brought together a group of young, enthusiastic followers of Sri Ramakrishna, and they collectively gave their Guru loving care. Sri Ramakrishna left his mortal body on August 16, 1886.
Swami Vivekananda Death Anniversary
It was predicted by Swami Vivekananda that he would not live to be forty years old. He went about his daily duties at Belur Math on July 4, 1902, instructing the students in Sanskrit grammar. At around nine o’clock in the evening, he went to his room and passed away while meditating. The renowned saint passed away on the banks of the Ganga River after it was reported that he achieved “Mahasamadhi.”
FAQ’s
A. Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) is best known in the United States for his groundbreaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in which he introduced Hinduism to America and called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism.
A. He remained devoted to Ramakrishna until the latter died in 1886. In 1893, he took the name ‘Vivekananda’ after Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State requested him to do so, changing from ‘Sachidananda’ that he used before.
A. Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902, at the age of. 39.
A. While his disciples say he attained Mahasamadhi, medically, it was the rupture of a blood vessel that is reported to have killed him. Vivekananda suffered from asthma and diabetes but was reportedly in good health on the day of his death.
A. 50 years