Swami Vivekananda

Lore & Background

Vivekananda showed an early inclination towards religion and spirituality. At age 18, he met Ramakrishna and became his devoted disciple, later taking up the vows of a sannyasin. After Ramakrishna's death, he travelled extensively across the Indian subcontinent as a wandering monk, gaining first-hand knowledge of the harsh living conditions endured by the Indian masses under British India, and sought a way to alleviate their suffering by establishing social services but lacked capital. In 1893, he travelled to the United States to participate in the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, where he delivered a landmark speech beginning with 'Sisters and brothers of America...' His powerful message introduced Hindu spiritual thought and advocated for religious tolerance and universal acceptance. An American newspaper described him as 'an orator by divine right and undoubtedly the greatest figure at the Parliament.'

Following his success in Chicago, Vivekananda lectured widely across the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe, disseminating the essential principles of Hindu philosophy. He established the Vedanta Society of New York and the Vedanta Society of San Francisco (now the Vedanta Society of Northern California), which became foundations for later Vedanta Societies in the West. In India, he founded the Ramakrishna Math, a monastic order for spiritual training, and the Ramakrishna Mission, dedicated to social services, education, and humanitarian work.

Reader's Guide

Vivekananda is widely regarded as one of the greatest modern Indian thinkers. He was a prominent philosopher, social reformer, and the most successful proponent of Vedanta philosophy abroad. He played a crucial role in the Hindu revivalist movement and contributed significantly to the rise and development of Indian nationalism in colonial India. Celebrated as a patriotic saint, his birth anniversary is observed in India as National Youth Day. His early life included education at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Metropolitan Institution and Presidency College, where he was the only student to receive first-division marks in the entrance examination. He studied Western philosophy, logic, and history at the General Assembly's Institution (now Scottish Church College), and was known for his prodigious memory and speed reading ability. His initial spiritual forays included membership in Keshab Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan, a Freemasonry lodge, and the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. His meeting with Ramakrishna in 1881, and his father's death in 1884, turned him toward a life of renunciation and service.

Did You Know?

• Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta in an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family in Calcutta on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival.
• He was the only student to receive first-division marks in the Presidency College entrance examination in 1879.
• He translated Herbert Spencer's book Education (1861) into Bengali.
• His mother said of him: 'I prayed to Shiva for a son and he has sent me one of his demons.'

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902) was a teacher of Vedanta philosophy, and one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of Hinduism." — Swami Vivekananda "Vivekananda, The Future of India, Complete works vol 3." — Swami Vivekananda "Quoted from Will Durant, Our Oriental Heritage." — Swami Vivekananda "Swami Vivekananda Quoted in Talageri, S. (2000). The Rigveda: A historical analysis. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan." — Swami Vivekananda