Swami Vivekananda Biography: Life, Teachings and Legacy
Posted On December 11,
Born Narendranath Datta, on January 12, in Calcutta (today&#;s Kolkata in West Bengal), Swami Vivekananda was an Indian monk, religious teacher, philosopher, author and speaker. He introduced Vedanta and Yoga to people of the West and played an important role in giving Hinduism the status of a major world religion. Student of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna and founder of the Ramkrishna Mission and Ramkrishna Math, two very popular organizations actively working in social service and education, Swami Vivekananda was a highly influential philosopher, social reformer and patriotic saint. Let&#;s take a peek into his life and work in this biography.
Early Life and Background
Vivekananda came from a traditional Bengali Kayastha family and was one of the 9 children born to Vishwanath Datta (father), an attorney at the Calcutta High Court and Bhubaneswari Devi (mother), who was a housewife. Vivekananda&#;s birthname Narendranath was shortened to Naren or Narendra. His father was a progressive thinker while his mother was religious. They shaped Narendra&#;s personality.
Education and Early Interests
Raja Yoga Swami Vivekananda Odia
Swami Vivekananda birthday 12th January is celebrated as ‘National Youth Day’ by Government of India. In , Government of India has declared the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day as he is one of the inspiring personality for youths. The purpose is to build the character of Indian youth in the footstep of Swami Vivekananda. To quote from the Government of India's communication, "It was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth."
Honorable Supreme Court of India considers these books “Complete work of Swami Vivekananda, 10 Volumes” as legal documents to give verdict related to Indian culture and religion. For example - Honorable Supreme Court of India quotes this book while giving the historical verdict on foreign travel. Regarding the prohibition of the government on a person’s going abroad (specially IITian Brain drain) the court discussed the importance of travel across the world as said by Swami Vivekananda. Court iterated in Verdict - "Swami Vivekananda, that saintly revolutionary who spanned East and West, exhorted, dwell
Swami Vivekananda&#;s Chronological Biography
Chronology of Main Events – Swami Vivekananda’s Life
Year & Event
January 12 – Birth in Kolkata
Enters Presidency College
Transfers to General Assembly Institution
November – First meeting with Sri Ramakrishna
To – Association with Sri Ramakrishna
Passes B. A. Examination
Father passes away
Sri Ramakrishna’s last illness
August 16 – Sri Ramakrishna passes away
Fall – Establishes Baranagar Math
December 24 – Informal vow of sannyasa at Antpur
January – Formal vows of sannyasa at Baranagar Monastery
To – Travels all over India as itinerant monk
December 24 – At Kanyakumari, South India
February 13 – First public lecture, Secunderabad, South India
May 31 – Sails for America from Mumbai
July 25 – Lands at Vancouver, Canada
July 30 – Arrives in Chicago
August – Meets Professor John Ft. Wright of Harvard University
September 11 – First address at Parliament of Religions, Chicago
September 27 – Final address at Parliament of Religions
November 20 – Begins mid To western lecture tour
April 14 – Begins lectures and classe
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