Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk, religious leader, and social reformer, who was credited with bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion. He is venerated as a great spiritual leader in India and abroad. He dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of society. He was known for his charismatic personality but remained humble, grounded, and dedicated to serving others.

About Swami Vivekananda

Vivekananda gave a new vision and direction to modern Hinduism. He not only played a role in reviving Hinduism in India but also introduced tenets of Hinduism to the western world. He promoted Hindu philosophy, yoga, and spirituality to the west. He addressed the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he represented Hinduism and spoke about the importance of religious tolerance and unity.

Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He founded Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, which propagates Hindu philosophy and provides educational and philanthropic service to the less privileged sections of society. It is a non-profit organization and is mainly funded through donations. It is involved in a wide range of activities, like spiritual teaching, education, health care, social justice, disaster relief, and rural development.

Vivekananda was a natural leader and was known for his strong will and determination. He used his leadership skills to inspire and motivate others. He was not afraid to challenge conventional beliefs and norms and was not deterred by obstacles and challenges. Instead, he used these challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. These qualities continue to inspire people, especially youth.

Vivekananda’s spiritual journey and self-discovery was not without challenges. The death of his father and subsequent financial difficulties shattered his confidence. However, under the guidance of Sri Ramakrishna, he overcame these challenges through his unwavering commitment to his spiritual path which helped him overcome feelings of doubt and uncertainty.

Early Life of Swami Vivekananda

On January 12, 1863, Swami Vivekananda was born in Kolkata, India as Narendranath Durtta (or Narendra) during the Makar Sankranti festival. His father, Vishwanath Dutta, was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court, and his mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi was a housewife. He grew up in a well-to-do and culturally rich family. He received a good education influenced by western philosophy and culture. He was a multi-talented student who not only excelled in subjects such as philosophy and mathematics but was also good in sports, music, and debates. He was also known for his sharp memory and his ability to speed read. He was also interested in Hindu scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Bhagavad Geeta, etc.

Spiritual Journey of Swami Vivekananda

Narendra had a deep interest and curiosity in religion and spirituality from a young age itself. There was a spiritual atmosphere in his house. His grandfather, Durgacharan Dutta, a Sanskrit scholar, became a monk at the age of twenty-five. His father was also a rational thinker. He used to meditate before the images of Hindu deities. He was captivated by wandering ascetics and monks.

However, despite all the initial success, there was a sense of spiritual vacuum inside. He was interested in finding deeper meaning and purpose in life. There was a struggle and initial challenges in the path of spirituality and self-discovery. Initially, he joined Brahmo Samaj and other similar spiritual organizations. It was during that time that western culture and philosophy influenced large-scale transformations in spiritual thinking in the Bengal region. These philosophers denounced polytheism and even questioned central Hindu beliefs like reincarnation and karma. These ideologies initially influenced Vivekananda. However, no one answered his deep spiritual questions satisfactorily. At this time, he met Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Meeting his Guru

Narendra first met Ramakrishna in 1881 when the latter was giving a lecture. And later, he used to go to Dakshineshwar to meet Ramakrishna frequently. He initially did not accept Ramakrishna as his teacher and rebelled against his ideas, but somehow he was attracted by his personality. As a follower of Brahmo Samaj, he even opposed Ramakrishna’s Kali worship and rejected his ‘Kali vision’ as mere hallucinations.

His father’s death in 1884, changed Narendra’s life completely. Suddenly their family went through financial distress and all the responsibilities fell on his head. He was just twenty years old at that time and this event had a profound impact on him. As he was already struggling with feelings of uncertainty about his life’s purpose, his father’s death further detached him from materialistic life. In Ramakrishna, he found solace and visited frequently.

One day he asked Ramakrishna to pray to the Goddess Kali for the financial welfare of his family. He was advised by Ramakrishna to go and pray himself. On Ramakrishna’s suggestion, he went to the temple to pray for material things. But once faced with the Goddess, he used to forget everything about material possessions and just ask for knowledge and devotion. This event created a spiritual awakening in Vivekananda and devoted himself completely to spiritual life and accepted Ramakrishna as his Guru.

Under the guidance of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda was able to discover the true purpose of his life. In many ways, his father’s death and resulting financial distress served as a catalyst for his spiritual journey. He was able to dedicate his life to spiritual enlightenment and self-discovery.

Travels In India

After the death of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in 185, Vivekananda took on the role of a teacher and guided the disciples and other people. He traveled across India as a wandering monk and spread the message of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta. He delivered lectures across the country that inspired people from all walks of life. During his travel, he met people from all religions, scholars, kings, and the general public to find real problems in society. He encouraged people to work toward equality and social justice. He emphasized the importance of spiritual values and moral character.

Parliament of Religions

After traveling extensively in India for five years, he got an opportunity to represent India and Hinduism in the ‘World Parliament of Religions’ held in Chicago in 1893. It was an international conference represented by different religions and spiritual traditions from around the world. The speech given by Vivekananda at that conference was a landmark speech and helped raise awareness of Indian spiritual heritage on a world stage. He spoke about the unity of all religions and the importance of religious tolerance. He also spoke about Vedantic and Hindu religious principles.

Vivekananda in the Parliament of Religions address first bowed to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning, and started the speech with the opening line “my sisters and brothers of America”.He received a standing ovation of two minutes from the crowd of seven thousand. The powerful speech he gave on that day inspired people to come together with the goal of interfaith dialogue.

For the next three years, Vivekananda traveled across US and Europe and introduced Indian philosophy and spirituality to a wider audience.

Teachings of Vivekananda

Vivekananda’s teachings were his personal experiences influenced by Ramakrishna’s spiritual teachings. Through his lectures and speeches, he popularized the concepts of Vedanta and Bhagavad Geeta and also the ancient spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation.

The main teachings of Vivekananda are -

• Divinity of the soul

  He believed that every individual carries divinity within. Everyone is equal in front of God and should not discriminate in any way. Everyone is capable of awakening this inner divinity.

• Selfless Service

  He believed that selfless acts of kindness will bring real happiness. Serving others is an essential part of spiritual life and it is equal to serving the divine.

• Importance of Education

  He was of the view that education is the way to build one’s character. Right education is important for the development of individuals and a progressive society.

• Universal tolerance and unity of all religions

  Ultimate goal of all religions is the same and one should tolerate the diversified views of all religions.

• Belief in Oneself

  Having faith in oneself is very important before changing the surroundings.

• Importance of Integrity

  Moral values and integrity are essential components of spiritual life. Our actions and behaviors reflect on these characters.

Books By Swami Vivekananda

Apart from lectures and speeches, Swami Vivekananda wrote several books in his lifetime, including

• Raja Yoga

  A book on the practice of Yoga and Meditation, based on the teachings of Patanjali yoga sutras. It describes methods of concentration, principles of meditation, and liberation of the soul.

• Karma Yoga

  A book related to selfless action and service. Describes the way of performing duties in an unattached spirit.

• Jnana Yoga

  A book on the essence of Vedanta - Explanation of Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Geeta in modern scientific terms.

• Bhakti Yoga

  This book covers the path of devotion and love fo7r God. It describes various aspects of Bhakti Yoga and the nature of the divine.

• Complete works of Swami Vivekananda

  This book is a nine-volume set that covers all speeches, letters, writings, interviews, and poems in great detail.

• Inspired Talks

  This book is a collection of Vevekanands’s lectures, speeches, and some of the conversations with other disciples on a variety of subjects, including religion, spirituality, and other social issues.