Swami Vivekananda (1863 –1902)

January 12 is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the famous Hindu spiritual leader and intellectual from the late 19th century. 

About Swami Vivekananda

• Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata as Narendranath Datta into a Bengali Kayastha family.
• From an early age, he was drawn to spirituality and philosophy. He was particularly interested in Western philosophy, history, and theology.
• Swami Vivekananda passed away on July 4, 1902, at the age of 39.
• Before his death, he wrote to a Western follower: “I shall inspire men everywhere until the whole world shall know that it is one with God.”
• Vivekananda is remembered as a patriotic saint, a key figure in the revival of Hinduism and Indian nationalism.
• His birthday, January 12, is celebrated as National Youth Day in India, to inspire the youth with his ideals and teachings.
• He was regarded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as the “maker of modern India”.

Key Transformation

• He met Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a mystic and spiritual leader, who became his guru. Vivekananda remained devoted to Ramakrishna until his guru’s death in 1886. After the death of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda traveled across India, spreading spiritual teachings and working to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the masses.
• In 1893, he took the name Vivekananda (after a request by Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri), changing it from his earlier name,

Chicago Address (1893)

• Vivekananda is globally recognized for his speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893.
• His address began with the famous words: "Sisters and brothers of America", and earned him a standing ovation.
• He spoke about universal acceptance, religious tolerance, and the unity of all religions, which he believed were different paths to the same spiritual truth.
• Key quotes from his speech:
  • "I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance."
  • "We accept all religions as true."
  • "Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth."
• His speech presented Indian spiritual traditions as being superior in terms of tolerance and universal acceptance.

Return to India

• After his time in the West, Vivekananda returned to India and, in 1897, founded the Ramakrishna Mission to bring noble ideas to the poorest and most downtrodden people of India.
• He also established Belur Math in 1899 in Howrah, West Bengal, which became his permanent abode and the center of his mission.

Legacy and Teachings

• Vivekananda propagated the concept of 'Neo-Vedanta', an interpretation of Hinduism that was suited to the modern world, combining spiritual wisdom with material progress.
• He emphasized the practice of Yoga as a means of personal transformation and connection with the divine.
• Some of his most popular books include:
  • Raja Yoga
  • Jnana Yoga
  • Karma Yoga
• He worked to spread awareness about Indian spiritual practices, particularly Yoga, in the West.
• He inspired millions through his writings and speeches, emphasizing that every soul is divine and that the goal of life is to realize and manifest this divinity.