Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda
Religion	Hindu
Date of birth	12 January 1863(1863-01-12)
Place of birth	Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Birth name	Narendranath Datta
Date of death	4 July 1902(1902-07-04) (aged 39)
Place of death	Belur Math near Kolkata (Calcutta)
Guru/teacher	Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Philosophy	Vedanta Yoga
Known for	Speech at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago
Quotation	Come up, O lions, and shake off the delusion that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits free, blest and eternal; ye are not matter, ye are not bodies; matter is your servant, not you the servant of matter.

Swami Vivekananda (Sanskrit: स्वामी विवेकानन्द; Bengali: স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ, Shami Bibekānondo) (January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902) was the chief disciple of the Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. At birth, he was called Narendranath Datta (Bengali: নরেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত). He was the founder of Ramakrishna Mission. He introduced Hindu philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and America. He brought Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century. Vivekananda is considered to be a major force in the revival of Hinduism in modern India. He is perhaps best known for his inspiring speech beginning with "Sisters and Brothers of America". Through this he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions at Chicago in 1893.

Childhood

Swami Vivekananda was born in Shimla Pally in Calcutta on 12 January 1863. He was named Narendranath Datta. His father Vishwanath Datta was an attorney of Calcutta High Court. His mother was Bhuvaneshwari Devi. Narendranath's thinking and personality were influenced by his parents—the father by his rational mind and the mother by her religious temperament. From his mother he learnt the power of self-control. Young Naren was an expert in meditation and could enter the state of samadhi very easily. He saw a light while falling asleep. Once he had a vision of Buddha during his meditation. During his childhood, he had a great fascination for wandering ascetics and monks. He was also an expert in games and naughty things. Even in his young age he showed remarkable leadership qualities.

Youth

In his youth he visited the Brahmo Samaj and later he came in contact with Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna initiated him, and after his death Naren left his house. He took the monk-name of Swami Vivekananda and stayed at the Boranagar Monastfery with his monk-brothers. Later he set out for touring India. He wandered from place to place until he reached Trivandum and decided to attend the Parliament of Religions at Chicago. He delivered the great speech at Chicago and brought Hinduism to the status of a major religion.

Foundation of Ramakrishna Mission

Vivekananda became very popular after delivering lectures at many places of America and England. He came back to India and founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1897. He also founded the Advaita Ashrama in Mayavati, near Almora on March 19, 1899. The Ashrama was a branch of the Ramakrishna Math. He composed the famous arati song, Khandana Bhava Bandhana during the event of consecration of Ramakrishna's temple at a devotees' house at Calcutta.

Last Days

In June 1899 he went to the West for the second time. After delivering many lectures in USA, he returned to Belur Math in December 1900. He spent the last two years of his life in Belur Math. His health deteriorated due to excessive work and delivering lectures. He entered Mahasamadhi at ten minutes past nine P.M. on July 4, 1902 while he was meditating he died.

Famous Quotes

• Each soul is potentially divine.
• The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal.
• Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all of these—and be free.
• This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.
• So long as even a single dog in my country is without food my whole religion is to feed it and serve it, anything excluding that is unreligious.
• Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
• Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man.
• Religion is the manifestation of divinity already in man.
• Serving man is serving God.
• Awake,arise,work

Works

Vivekananda's books on the four Yogas (Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga) are still seen as fundamental texts for anyone interested in the Hindu practice of Yoga. His letters are of great literary and spiritual value. He was also considered a very good singer and a poet. By the time of his death, He had composed many songs including his favorite song "Kali-The Mother". He used humor for his teachings and was also an excellent cook. His language is very free flowing. These all works were compiled to form a 10 volume set "The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda".

References

• Swami Vivekananda - Belur Math

Other websites

• The Complete works of Vivekananda
• Swami Vivekanada Speech at Chicago
• The Master As I Saw Him by Sister Nivedita
• Note of some wanderings with Swami Vivekananda by Sister Nivedita