The name Swami Vivekananda needs no introduction. Everyone in India recalls him as a remarkable man with profound spiritual thoughts. In fact, every year on his birthday, we observe the National Youth Day. Furthermore, Swami Vivekananda was instrumental in shaping the concept of nationalism in colonial India. He is credited with teaching the western world about Hinduism and elevating Hinduism to the rank of a significant international religion in the late nineteenth century.
In the sections below, we will look into his early life, religious awakening, and some magnificent endeavours.
Birth and Early Life
Swami Vivekananda, full name Narendranath Datta, was born on January 12, 1863, in Calcutta. As he belonged to an upper-middle-class family of the Kayastha (scribes) caste in Bengal, he studied at a Western-style university where he discovered Christianity, Western philosophy, and science.
His father’s progressive, intellectual attitude and his mother’s pious disposition played a major role in shaping Narendra’s views and demeanour. In fact, even at a young age, social reform became an integral part of Swami Vivekananda’s thinking, and he joined the Brahmo Samaj (ब्राह्म समाज) (Society of Brahma), which worked to make child marriage and illiteracy a thing of the past.
Education
Narendranath entered Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution in 1871, when he was eight years old, and stayed there until his family relocated to Raipur in 1877. In 1879, following his family’s return to Calcutta, he achieved first-division scores in the Presidency College admission exams and was the sole student to do so. Throughout his education, Narendra was a voracious reader of philosophy, history, social science, theology, literature, and art. He was also greatly interested in Hindu literature such as the Upanishads (उपनिषद), Vedas (वेद), Bhagavad Gita (श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता), Ramayana (रामायण), Mahabharata (महाभारत), and Puranas (पुराण).
In addition, Narendra studied Indian classical music and routinely engaged in physical sports and other organised events. He also attended the General Assembly’s Institution and studied Western philosophy, Western logic, and European history. In 1881, he passed the Fine Arts test and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884.
Swami Vivekananda’s foray into Religion and Apprenticeship under Shri Ramakrishna
Narendranath grew up in a devout home, but his studies of religious texts and information led him to question God’s existence and, at times, to believe in Agnosticism. In 1880, he joined Keshab Chandra Sen’s Nava Vidhan and Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, both of which were led by Keshab Chandra Sen and Debendranath Tagore. Unlike idol worship, the Brahmo Samaj recognised only one God. Several doubts ran through Swami Vivekananda’s mind, and it was during his spiritual crisis that he first heard about Shri Ramakrishna from William Hastie, the Principal of the Scottish Church College.
When he eventually saw Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa at the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Narendranath asked him if he had seen God. Shri Ramakrishna replied, “Yes, I have. I see God just as clearly as I see you, but in a far deeper way”. Following this, Narendranath began visiting Dakshineshwar and received various answers to his inquiries. When his father died, the entire family was in financial distress. He asked Shri Ramakrishna to pray for his family, but Shri Ramakrishna refused, telling Narendra to pray in front of Goddess Kali (काली मां) himself. He couldn’t ask for wealth, so he prayed for seclusion and conscience instead. That day, he had spiritual enlightenment and embarked on an austere path. This was the turning point in his life and Narendra accepted Shri Ramakrishna as his Guru.
Establishment of Ramakrishna Math
In 1885, Shri Ramakrishna was diagnosed with throat cancer and was transported to Calcutta for treatment. Narendranath and other disciples of Shri Ramakrishna looked after him until he left his mortal body on August 16, 1886. Swami Vivekananda learnt that serving others was the most effective way to worship God. Therefore, following Shri Ramakrishna’s death, fifteen of his students, including Narendranath, established the Ramakrishna Math at Baranagar, North Calcutta. In 1887, all of the followers took monastic vows, and Narendranath became Swami Vivekananda, which means “the delight of perceiving wisdom”. Thereafter, Swami Vivekananda resolved to walk throughout India, a journey that was later known as ‘Parivrajak (परिव्राजक)’. Throughout his journey, he witnessed numerous social, cultural, and religious elements of the people, as well as what ordinary people experienced in their everyday lives, their hardships, and so on.
Swami Vivekananda’s participation in the World Parliament
When Swami Vivekananda learned about the World Parliament, which was going to be held in Chicago, America, he was excited to promote India and his Guru’s views at the convention. Thus, he went to the religious gathering and on September 11, 1893, he appeared on stage and astonished everyone by stating, “My brothers and sisters of America.” He earned a standing ovation from the audience as a result of this. In his speech, he explained Vedanta ideas, their spiritual importance, and so forth. Furthermore, he created the Vedanta Society of New York as well as promoted Vedanta’s theories, spiritualism, and values in the United Kingdom.
Death
Swami Vivekananda predicted that he would die before the age of 40 and he did. He passed away while meditating on July 4, 1902. He was reported to have reached ‘Mahasamadhi (महासमाधि)’, and was cremated on the Ganga’s banks.
3 Essential Teachings of Swami Vivekananda
Be Bold in the Face of Adversity.
“If you ever feel afraid of anything, always turn around and face it. Never think of running away.”
Accepting that life contains both the good and the terrible is one of Swami Vivekananda’s most important lessons. One must be strong enough to sail through the difficult days in order to enjoy the good ones. A person who embraces this, will not only be filled with the strength to confront the world but will also be more optimistic in the face of adversity.
Be the best version of yourself possible.
“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.”
Swami Vivekananda popularised the concept of individuality. He felt that there are some moral rules to which everyone should conform, but that this does not imply that people should follow these things mindlessly. Instead, he promoted the concept that we are all unique and, as a result, have a distinctive way of looking at things.
The Importance of Empathy for Other Beings.
“So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.”
Swami Vivekananda felt that the people who inhabit the world determine its nature. So, if all of mankind is empathic to one another and believes in working for the good of others, the world will be friendlier to us.
For Swami Vivekananda quotes in Hindi, refer to the document linked below.
Final Thoughts
Even to this day, Swami Vivekananda is recognised all over the globe for his contributions and teachings. This is primarily because the values imbibed in these teachings have not faded with time. In fact, the hustle and bustle of the modern world, make it more important for humans to adopt his values and life lessons.
