Swami Vivekananda
The progressive, rational attitude of his father and, religious and spiritual nature of his mother shaped his thinking and personality. He was an avid reader of a wide range of subjects: philosophy, religion, history, social science, art and literature.
He read Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. He was trained in Indian classical music and regularly participated in physical exercise and sports. He displayed an amazing capacity for memory.
He learnt Western logic, Western philosophy & European history at General Assembly's Institution (now Scottish Church College). In 1884, he completed Bachelor of Arts degree.
He studied works of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, John Stuart Mill and Charles Darwin. He became fascinated with evolutionism of Herbert Spencer and corresponded with him, translating his book 'Education' into Bengali.
At university, he was connected to Western philosophy, Christianity and science. Social reform became focus of his thought. He joined Brahmo Samaj, dedicated to eliminating child marriage and to spread education among women and lower castes. He became disciple of Ramakrishna.
He initially saw Ramakrishna's ecstasies and visions as 'hallucinations'. As member of Brahmo Samaj, he opposed idol worship, polytheism and Ramakrishna's worship of Kali. He tested Ramakrishna, who faced his arguments asking him to 'Try to see the truth from all angles'.
His father's death in 1884 left the family bankrupt; creditors began demanding repayment of loans and relatives threatened to evict the family from their ancestral home. He unsuccessfully tried to find work and questioned God's existence, but found solace in Ramakrishna.
In 1885, Ramakrishna developed throat cancer. He and other disciples took care of him during his last days. Ramakrishna asked him to care of other disciples and told them to see Narendra as their leader. Ramakrishna died on 16 August 1886.
In December 1886, he and eight other monks went to Antpur and took formal monastic vows. He then took the name Swami Vivekananda. In 1888, he left the monastery as a Parivrajaka - a wandering monk. His possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff and two favourite books: Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ.
He travelled extensively in India for 5 years, visiting centres of learning and acquainting himself with diverse religious traditions and social patterns. Living on bhiksha (alms), he travelled on foot and by railway (with tickets bought by admirers)
During his travels he met and stayed with Indians from all religions and walks of life: scholars, dewans, rajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, low-caste workers and government officials.
Stressing on universal and humanistic side of Vedas and belief in service rather than dogma, he attempted to infuse vigour into Hindu thought, placing less emphasis on prevailing pacifism and presenting Hindu spirituality to the West. He was an activating force in movement to promote Vedanta philosophy (one of six schools of Indian philosophy) in US and England.
In 1893 he appeared in Chicago as spokesman for Hinduism at World’s Parliament of Religions and captivated audience by calling them 'Sisters & brothers of America'. Later he lectured throughout US and England.
On return to India with a small group of Western disciples in 1897, he founded Ramakrishna Mission at monastery of Belur Math on Ganges River near Kolkata. Self-perfection and service were his ideals. He adapted and made relevant to 20th century, highest ideals of Vedantic religion and although he lived only two years into that century, he left a mark after his early exit before turning 40 years.
A powerful orator and writer in English and Bengali, his published works were compiled from lectures. His main work, Raja Yoga is of talks delivered in New York. He was singer, painter & poet. He blended humour with his teachings & his language was lucid.
Bartaman Bharat (Present Day India) is a Bengali essay published in March 1899, reprinted as book in 1905 and compiled into 4th volume of 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'. In this essay he urged readers to honour and treat every Indian as a brother irrespective of poverty, religion or caste.
National Youth Day in India is observed on his birth anniversary. 11 September (day of speech at Parliament of Religions) is celebrated as World Brotherhood Day.
