Swami Vivekananda: A Detailed Biography

 Early Life and Education

Birth and Family
Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata (then Calcutta), British India. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court and his mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was a devout housewife with strong spiritual inclinations. The family was well-off and deeply respected in the community.

Education and Youth
Narendranath was a bright student with a keen intellect and an insatiable curiosity. He attended the Metropolitan Institution, where he excelled in his studies, particularly in philosophy and literature. Later, he enrolled at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta, where he studied Western logic, philosophy, history, and social sciences. His interest in spirituality and religion was nurtured during this time, influenced by a variety of philosophical texts, including the Vedas and Upanishads.

Spiritual Quest

Meeting Ramakrishna
Narendranath’s spiritual journey took a decisive turn when he met Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a revered mystic and saint, in 1881. Initially skeptical of Ramakrishna’s teachings, Narendranath was deeply influenced by his profound spirituality and intense devotion. Ramakrishna’s simple yet profound teachings on the unity of all religions and the direct experience of God greatly impacted Narendranath.

Becoming a Disciple
Under Ramakrishna’s guidance, Narendranath underwent a transformative spiritual journey, embracing the ideals of renunciation and service to humanity. He became one of Ramakrishna’s most dedicated disciples, adopting the name Vivekananda, meaning “the bliss of discernment.”

Monastic Life and Wanderings

Ramakrishna’s Death and Formation of the Ramakrishna Order
After Ramakrishna’s death in 1886, Vivekananda and other disciples took monastic vows, forming the Ramakrishna Order. Vivekananda embarked on a life of renunciation, traveling extensively across India to understand the plight of the common people and the diverse spiritual practices of the land.

Wandering Monk
From 1888 to 1893, Vivekananda traveled across India as a wandering monk. He visited historical and spiritual sites, engaged with scholars and laypeople, and observed the conditions of the masses. His travels deepened his understanding of India’s strengths and weaknesses, and he developed a vision of upliftment through spiritual awakening and social reform.

World Parliament of Religions

Journey to the West
In 1893, with the encouragement of his followers, Vivekananda traveled to the United States to represent Hinduism at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and cultural barriers, but his determination and faith sustained him.

Chicago Address
On September 11, 1893, Vivekananda delivered his historic address at the Parliament, beginning with the words, “Sisters and brothers of America.” His speech, which emphasized the universality of all religions and the need for mutual respect and understanding, received a standing ovation and established him as a prominent spiritual leader in the West.

Contribution to the West

Lectures and Establishment of Vedanta Societies
Following the Parliament, Vivekananda spent several years lecturing across the United States and Europe. He established Vedanta Societies in New York and London, where he introduced Western audiences to the principles of Vedanta and the practical aspects of spirituality.

Influence on Western Thought
Vivekananda’s teachings had a profound impact on Western thinkers and intellectuals. He emphasized the practical application of spiritual principles in everyday life and promoted the idea of religious harmony. His interactions with leading figures of the time, including Nikola Tesla and William James, influenced the development of Western spiritual and philosophical thought.

Return to India and Later Life

Return to India
Vivekananda returned to India in 1897, where he received a hero’s welcome. He embarked on a mission to revitalize Indian society through education, social service, and spiritual upliftment. He established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, dedicated to social service and the promotion of Vedanta.

Educational and Social Initiatives
Vivekananda emphasized the importance of education in empowering the masses. He founded schools and colleges, promoted scientific and technical education, and worked towards the upliftment of the poor and marginalized. His efforts in promoting women’s education and social equality were particularly noteworthy.

Final Years and Legacy
Vivekananda spent his final years focusing on the consolidation of the Ramakrishna Mission and its activities. He continued to inspire people through his teachings, writings, and personal example. Swami Vivekananda passed away on July 4, 1902, at the age of 39, leaving behind a legacy of spiritual and social transformation.

Philosophical and Spiritual Contributions

Vedanta and Universal Religion
Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the universal nature of spiritual truth and the essential unity of all religions. He advocated for the Vedantic philosophy, which holds that the soul is divine and the ultimate goal of life is to realize this divinity through self-discipline, service, and devotion.

Practical Vedanta
He introduced the concept of “Practical Vedanta,” which advocates applying spiritual principles to solve real-world problems. He encouraged individuals to see God in every person and to work for the welfare of humanity as a form of worship.

Empowerment and Social Reform
Vivekananda believed in the potential of every individual to achieve greatness. He championed the cause of social reform, advocating for the upliftment of the poor, the education of women, and the eradication of social evils like caste discrimination. His teachings inspired a generation of social and political leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose.

Legacy

Global Impact
Swami Vivekananda’s legacy extends far beyond India. His teachings continue to inspire individuals and organizations worldwide. The Ramakrishna Mission and Vedanta Societies established by him remain active in promoting education, healthcare, and spiritual growth.

Cultural Renaissance
In India, Vivekananda is revered as a key figure in the country’s cultural and spiritual renaissance. His message of self-confidence, national pride, and social responsibility resonates with people across generations. National Youth Day is celebrated in India on his birthday to honor his contributions and inspire the youth.

Philosophical Contributions
Vivekananda’s philosophical writings, including his works on Vedanta, Raja Yoga, and Karma Yoga, remain influential texts in the study of Indian philosophy and spirituality. His teachings continue to be a source of inspiration for seekers of truth and practitioners of various religious traditions.

Swami Vivekananda’s life and teachings continue to inspire millions across the globe, promoting a message of unity, peace, and selfless service. His vision of a spiritually awakened and socially responsible humanity remains as relevant today as it was during his lifetime.


Further Reading and Resources

  1. Books

    • “The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda” – A collection of his lectures, writings, and letters.
    • “Swami Vivekananda: A Biography” by Swami Nikhilananda.
  2. Online Resources

    • The Ramakrishna Mission official website: www.ramakrishna.org
    • The Vedanta Society websites in various countries provide information and resources on Vivekananda’s teachings.

Swami Vivekanand : Small Introduction to a big personality

Swami Vivekananda was a renowned and influential spiritual teacher of Vedanta. His real name was Narendra Nath Dutt. He represented Sanatan Dharma on behalf of India in the World Dharma Mahasabha held in 1893 in Chicago, USA. The Vedanta of India reached every country in America and Europe only because of the oratory of Swami Vivekananda. He had established the Ramakrishna Mission which is still doing its work. He was an able disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He is best known for opening his speech with “My American Brothers and Sisters”. This first sentence of his address won everyone’s heart.

Early Life:

Narendra’s primary education took place at home, after which he went to study at many places. Swami Vivekananda was fond of wrestling, boxing, running, horse racing, swimming, his health was very good, due to his beautiful and attractive personality, people would keep looking at him mesmerized, the house upper father would have a discussion with the wise men, Narendra participated in that discussion. Taking and surprising everyone with his thoughts, he got the education of B.A, by this time he had studied Indian culture after him.

With the study of philosophical thoughts, the desire to know the truth started awakening in his mind. After some time, Narendra realized that he could not get the right guidance without a qualified guru, because while on the one hand he had an innate tendency towards spirituality, he had an equally intelligent logical nature, in such a situation he was attracted towards the Brahmo Samaj. Narendra’s question was whether God exists, for the solution of this question, he met many people but could not get the solution.

The atmosphere of Swami Vivekananda’s house was very religious. In the afternoon, all the women of the house would sit and talk about the story, Narendra would listen to this story with great interest. In childhood, Narendra had memorized many episodes of Mahabharata, Ramayana and some hymns. walked .

Guru:

Once a foreign friend of Swami Vivekananda requested to meet his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and said that he wanted to meet the great man who created a great personality like you. When Swami Vivekananda introduced that friend to his guru, that friend was surprised to see the outfit of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa and said – “How can this person be your guru, he does not even have a way of dressing.” So Swami Vivekananda said with great humility – “Friend, a TAILOR builds CHARACTER in your country, but in our country CHARACTER is built by ETHICS.”

As a young man, he had to go through a deep conflict because of the atheistic materialism of the Western philosophers and the firm Indian belief in the existence of God. A jeweler like Paramhans ji tested the gem. The touch of that divine great man changed Narendra. It was around this time that he met his guru, Ramakrishna, who first convinced him that God really exists and that man can find God. Ramakrishna guided Narendra in attaining the supreme realization of God as the all-pervading Absolute Truth and taught him that service should never be a charity, but the conscious worship of the God inherent in all humanity.

This sermon became the main philosophy of Vivekananda’s life. It is said that because of that shaktipat, Narendra remained frantic for a few days. He was given self-realization by the Guru. At the age of twenty-five, Narendra Dutt wore Kashayavastra. Inspired by his guru, Narendranath took initiation to lead a sanyasi life and became known as Swami Vivekananda. He had to present the light of life to the creatures wandering in the darkness of the world. Swami Vivekananda traveled all over India on foot.

Love for the Country:


After Ramakrishna’s death, he tried to immerse himself in the ocean of contemplation in the Himalayas, but soon he left it and set out on a tour across India to interview India’s crippling poverty and rebuild the country. During this he also had to starve for several days. During these six years of travel, he was the guest of both the kings and the Dalits.

His great journey culminated in Kanyakumari, where the meditative Vivekananda came to know that only by awakening the dormant divinity of the new Indian recluse and all souls, especially the common man, who are inclined towards national reconstruction, life can be infused in this dying country. His passion for the reconstruction of India eventually led him to attend the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893, where he had gone uninvited, making it difficult for him to be allowed to enter the council. Every effort was made to ensure that they do not get time.

The work that Swami Vivekananda accomplished in his short life span of forty-nine years will continue to guide generations for many centuries to come. At the age of thirty, Swami Vivekananda represented Hinduism at the World Conference of Religions in Chicago, USA and brought it universal recognition. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore once said, “If you want to know India, read Vivekananda. In them you will find everything positive, nothing negative.

Romain Rolland said of him, “It is impossible to even imagine that he is second. Wherever he went, he was the first. Everyone would refer to their leader in them. He was the representative of God and it was his specialty to achieve sovereignty over all. Once in the Himalayan region, an unknown traveler stopped by seeing him and shouted in amazement, ‘Shiva!’ It was as if the deity of that person had given his name. written on his forehead.

Ideas:

1. Tell people what is true, boldly and boldly – ​​do not pay attention to whether it hurts anyone or not. Never give shelter to weakness. If the light of truth seems to the ‘intelligent’ man to be too bright, and drives them away, let them be carried away—the sooner they are carried away, the better.

2. Only God can achieve God. All are living Gods – look at all with this attitude. Study man, man is living poetry. All the Jesus or Buddhas in the world are astrologers with our light. If you leave this flame, all of them will not be able to live any more for us, they will die. You stay on your soul.

3. The human body is the supreme body, and man is the supreme being, because it is only in this human body and in this birth that we can be completely out of this relative world—certainly we can attain the state of liberation, and this Liberation is our ultimate goal.

4. One after the other appears in all these great men – in the end, the ultimate result of their power emerges such a powerful person who imparts education to the world.

5. Apart from the liberation-benefit, which higher state can be availed? Angels never do any bad deeds, so they never get punished, so they cannot be free. It is the worldly push that wakes us up, it helps in breaking this world-dream. It is such constant trauma that awakens our desire to get rid of this world, that is, to gain liberation.

Demise:

Vivekananda’s eloquent and succinct lectures are famous all over the world. On the last day of his life he explained the Shukla Yajurveda and said – “One more Vivekananda is needed, to understand what this Vivekananda has done so far.” According to his disciples, even on the last day of his life, on July 4, 1902, he did not change his meditation routine and meditated for two to three hours in the morning and took Mahasamadhi after breaking his Brahmarandhra in the meditative state itself.

He was cremated on a sandal pyre on the banks of the Ganges at Belur. On the other side of this Ganges, the last rites of his guru Ramakrishna Paramhansa were performed sixteen years ago. His disciples and followers built a temple there in his memory and established more than 130 centers to spread the messages of Vivekananda and his guru Ramakrishna all over the world.


How did National Youth Day Begin?

Before going into main topic, let me ask you some questions that How did National Youth Day start? Who started it? Who is the reason for that?


Don’t know the answer to all this? Don’t worry. This article answers all your questions. Start reading the article with me.



 Who is this Narendranath Datta?

Narendranath Datta is none other than Swami Vivekananda. As a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, his ideas aroused the youth. From time to time some saints appear and hide in this world so that unrighteousness does not raise its head and increase its attachment to righteousness. Swami Vivekananda was one of the great saints who raised the pride of India and Hinduism on the world stage. During his stay in India he was well aware that patriotism was more important than religion. 

Birth and Upbringing of Narendranath Datta

Narendranath Datta was born the son of Viswanath Datta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi. From an early age he was a man of great memory and a great athlete. He practiced meditation from an early age. He was also a rationalist. After completing his schooling, he studied philosophy at the State College, Calcutta, in 1879. There he chose to study foreign philosophies and the history of European countries. 

Reason for Swami Vivekananda’s Faith in God

During this time many questions and doubts arose about the divine truths. At the time, he was discussing faith in God with many adults. Became a member of the Brahmo Samaj. He heard about Ramakrishna and went to him to learn about the divine truths. Vivekananda, who rationally accepted anything, at first could not accept Ramakrishna’s views on God. Then little by little he understood both the religion of devotion and the religion of wisdom. He accepted Ramakrishna as his guru.

When did the Name Swami Vivekananda Appear?

In 1880, Swami Vivekananda made a long tour of the country. In 1880, Swami Vivekananda made a long tour of all parts of the country. Went to many places like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Agra, Brindavan, Alwar. During this journey, his real name Narendra disappeared and he got the name Swami Vivekananda. He felt that a national revival was needed if India was to be made a living nation.

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial

He went to Kanyakumari on December 24, 1892, at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. He swam a little distance in the sea and sat on a rock and began his meditation. He meditated there for three days. That rock is today known as the Vivekananda Rock.

Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Speech

In 1893, he attended the Chicago Conference in the United States, where he coined the famous word “Sisters and Brothers of America.” Swami toured the West and returned to India in 1897 after 4 years. He started spreading information about spiritual development in India.

Why was the Ramakrishna Mission Started?

He realized that social service is only possible through a joint effort. To this end, Swami Vivekananda started the Sri Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 and formalized his thoughts and goals. Then in the next two years he started Sri Ramakrishna Mission in Belur. He then toured the West. On his return to India, Swami Vivekananda passed away on July 4, 1902 at the Ramakrishna Mission he had established.

National Youth Day

In 1984, the Government of India declared January 12, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. Swami Vivekananda had more faith in the youth than anyone else. He believed that only in a vibrant youth can determine our future. He emphasized the importance of physical health, social responsibility and intellectual development beyond spirituality. It is not education that does not enrich the character of one who has not taught the common man to fight for life, nor teach him the lion-like courage that does not teach humanity. He said that true education is teaching to achieve self-sufficiency. 

Here are some Quotes Swami said…

  • Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.
  • Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.

  • Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.

  • You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita…. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger….You will understand the Upanishads better and the glory of the Atman when your body stands firm upon your feet, and you feel yourselves as man.
  • Strength is life, weakness is death

Finally we came to an end of the article about National youth Day. I hope you have read this article and know all the information and enjoyed it. If you like this article LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT



Swami Vivekananda: A Great Legendary Personality and Selfless Person

January is an auspicious and significant month for many people in the world. With the starting of 1 January, English New year starts. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January as they believe date works to the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar (when I was in Eritrea, Africa observed the Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January). Anyway, in India Makara Sankranti, Magh Bihu, Lohri, Thai Pongol etc., are celebrated in this month and on 26 January our country became Republic.  In addition, two great souls were born in January in our country – Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 in Kolkata then Calcutta.  His real name in school / college was Narendranath Dutta and pet name was “Biley”.  By this (“Biley”) name parents used to call him.  Although he is considered a key personality in introduction of Vedanta philosophy and Yoga to Western countries mainly in USA and Europe but humanity was his only consideration. Swami Vivekananda was intelligent since childhood. He was the only student to have received first division marks in Presidency College entrance examination. He was a positive and broad-minded person with the feeling for all human beings irrespective of caste, creed and religion. To get an in-depth idea about his philosophy few lines from his speeches are quoted here, “All power is within you, you can do anything and everything.  Believe in that; do not believe that you are weak.  You can do anything and everything, without even the guidance of any one.  Stand up and express the divinity within you. Arise, Awake, and Sleep no more.  Within each of you there is the power to remove all wants and all miseries.  Believe in this, and that power will be manifested”.

Love and affection towards others is reflected from his saying, “All expansion is life, and all contraction is death.  All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction.  Love is therefore the only law of life”.  His positive feeling towards different religious is realized by this discourse, “The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian.  But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth”.  He further told, “Feel like Christ, you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.” Thus one can easily understand Swami Vivekananda’s feeling towards human beings.

He was great believer of welfare of humanity and hard work without selfish attitude.  In his words, “It is a tremendous error to feel helpless.  Do not seek help from anyone.  We are our won help.  If we cannot help ourselves, there is none to help us.  The moment you fear, you are nobody.  It is fear that is the great cause of misery in the world”.   His patriotic fervour can be understood through this line, “The soil of India is my highest heaven, the good of India is my good and repeat and pray day and night…….O Thou Mother of Strength, take my weakness, take my unmanliness and make me a man!”

Swami Vivekananda was always in favour of development for all. In fact today’s Inclusive Growth concept may be termed as his vision. His beautiful message in this regard, “In India there are two great evils, trampling on the women and grinding the poor through caste restrictions.” “…..forget not – the ignorant, the poor, the illiterate, the cobbler, the sweeper, are thy flesh and blood, thy brothers.  Thou brave one, be bold, take courage, be proud that thou art an Indian and proudly proclaim – ‘I am an Indian – every Indian is my brother’, Say, The ignorant Indian, the poor and destitute Indian, the Brahmin Indian, the pariah Indian, is my brother. ……..Our only work is to arouse this knowledge in our fellow-beings.  We see that they too are the same pure self.  Only they do not know it; we must help them to rouse up their infinite nature”.

Our former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had high regards for him. This one line of Nehruji’s saying reflects fully about Swami Vivekananda, “I think that our younger generation will take advantage of his fountain of wisdom, spirit and fire that flows through Swami Vivekananda”.

Although, Vivekananda passed away on 4th July 1902 but no Indian can forget him as his thought-provoking lecture in Chicago in 1893 at the Parliament of the World’s Religions conquered heart of the millions of the people of the World. The people of the world could get an in-depth idea about Hindu philosophy which earlier many of them had no knowledge or superficial knowledge.                                  

Dr. Shankar Chatterjee

Former Professor& Head (CPME)

NIRD &PR (Govt. of India),

Hyderabad-500 030

Telangana, India

Email <shankarjagu@gmail.com>

 

 

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