Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, religious teacher, social reformer, and author. He studied under the famous Indian Hindu mystic Ramakrishna and was considered his chief disciple.
Vivekananda was a driving force behind the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world on a larger scale than before and helped with both the raising of interfaith awareness and getting Hinduism recognized as a major world religion. In his native India, Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission together with other disciples of Ramakrishna, aiming for a combination of spiritual and practical help to improve people´s life.
Vivekananda was also a strong proponent of modern Indian nationalism. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have been inspired by Vivekananda´s works, and the Indian independence activist Subhas Chandra Bose named Vivekananda as his spiritual teacher.
Vivekananda (then named Datta) was born into an affluent and religious Bengali Kayasta family in Kolkata (Calcutta). He was interested in spirituality from a young age, and eventually joined the Hindu mystic Ramakrishna as his disciple. When Ramakrishna died in 1886, Vivekananda began touring the Indian subcontinent. This gave him more knowledge about how Indian people lived in what was then British India, and he resolved to improve the situation.
Vivekananda travelled to the United States and worked to introduce Hinduism there. In 1893, they participated in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, which garnered him a lot of attention. During the following years, Vivekananda travelled across the United States and Europe, delivering hundreds of lectures on Hindu philosophy. He also established the Vedanta Society of New York and the Vedanta Society of San Francisco, which came to serve as pillars for the spread of Hinduism in North America. (Vedanta is one of the six orthodox traditions of textual exegesis and Hindu philosophy.)
Swami Vivekananda remains a towering figure in the history of Indian spirituality and social reform, and his life and teachings continue to inspire millions around the world. In India, he is recognized as one of the most influential philosophers and social reformers of his time, and hailed for his commitment to nationalism in colonial India. His birthday is celebrated throughout India as National Youth Day.
Early life
Narendranath “Naren” Datta was born in Calcutta (now named Kolkata) on January 12, 1863, during the Makar Sankrati festival. His family was educated and in a good economic position, and Datta was one of nine sibblings. The father Vishwanath Datta was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court and the mother Bhubaneswari Devi was a deeply religious housewife. They lived on 3 Gourmohan Mukherjee Street in the capital of British India.
From a young age, Datta exhibited a keen interest in spirituality and used to meditate before images depicting deities such as Rama, Sita, Shiva, and Hanuman. He was also a restless child and his parents found him difficult to control.
Early education
In 1871, when he was eight years old, Datta began school at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution. He moved with his family to Raipur in 1877, and when they returned to Calcutta in 1879 Datta was the only student who received first-division marks in the Presidency College entrance examination.
Datta was an avid reader who devoured a wide range of subjects, from history and social sciences to relgion, philosophy and art – he had a exceptioally good memory and could read, comprehend and memorize texts really quickly. Datta was also trained in Indian classical music and regularly participated in physical exercises and sports.
At the General Assembly’s Institution (today known as the Scottish Church College), he studied Western philosophy, Western logic, and European history. He passed the Fine Arts examination in 1881 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884.
In addition to being fascinated with Hindu texts and philosophy, he was also well acquainted with a long row of influential European thinkers and writers, such as Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, David Hume, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, John Stuart Mil, Charles Darwin, and Herbert Spencer.
Spiritual Quest and Meeting Ramakrishna
Despite academic prowess, Narendranath grappled with existential questions and sought answers to the mysteries of life and the divine. His quest led him to meet Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a revered mystic and saint, in 1881. Ramakrishna’s teachings and profound spiritual experiences deeply influenced Narendranath, who later became his foremost disciple. After Ramakrishna’s death in 1886, Narendranath took the vows of sannyasa (monasticism) and assumed the name Swami Vivekananda.
Founding the Ramakrishna Mission
Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, a philanthropic and spiritual organization dedicated to the principles of Karma Yoga (selfless service) and Vedanta philosophy. The mission aimed to address social issues, provide education, and promote spiritual development. It established schools, hospitals, and rural development centers across India, emphasizing the practical application of spiritual ideals.
Teachings and philosophy
Vivekananda emphasized the unity of all religions and the importance of spiritual harmony and mutual respect. Swami Vivekananda’s teachings were rooted in the Vedanta philosophy, which posits that all living beings are divine and that the purpose of life is to realize this inherent divinity. He preached the ideals of selflessness, universal brotherhood, and the oneness of all religions. His message emphasized personal spiritual development and social responsibility, advocating for the upliftment of the poor and marginalized.
Death
Vivekananda died on January 4, 1902, aged 39, thus fulfilling his own prophecy that he would not live forty years.
During his final day, he awoke early and went to the monastery at Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. He meditated for three hours, before teaching pupils and discussing a planned Vedic college with his colleagues. At 7 p.m., he went to his room, asking to not be disturbed. He died at 9:20 p.m. while meditating. A ruptured blood vessel in his brain was reported as a possible cause of death.
Vivekananda was cremated on a sandalwood funeral pyre on the bank of the river Ganga (Ganges) in Belur, opposite from where Ramakrishna had been cremated 16 years before.
Influence and legacy
Swami Vivekananda’s influence extended beyond his lifetime, inspiring leaders and thinkers across the world. His call for the rejuvenation of India through education, self-reliance, and spiritual growth resonated with many. He is credited with laying the foundation for the modern Indian renaissance and contributing to the global spread of Indian spirituality.
Notable works
Swami Vivekananda authored several important works that encapsulate his teachings and philosophy, including “Raja Yoga,” “Karma Yoga,” and “Jnana Yoga,” which explore different paths to spiritual realization. His collected speeches and writings continue to inspire and guide individuals seeking spiritual growth and social change.
Despite his relatively short life, his contributions to spiritual thought and social reform have left an enduring legacy. In India, National Youth Day is celebrated on January 12th in honor of his birth anniversary, recognizing his impact on youth and his vision for a progressive and spiritually enriched society.