Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)- Birth
Anniversary
Divine Life
Society Publication: Swami Vivekananda
This illustrious patriot-saint
of modern India was born in Calcutta on 12 January, 1863. He was named
Narendra. His father, Viswanath Datta, was a brilliant lawyer. He was highly
respected for his intelligence and culture. His mother, Devi Bhuvaneshwari, was
a devout woman with a great ability for training her children. As a boy,
Narendra was very naughty and self-willed, and often had to be placed under a
water tap to curb his mischief. Nevertheless, he was very generous, loving and
devoted, with a strange attraction for wandering Sadhus. He enjoyed doing
worship of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna with his mother.
After his matriculation,
Narendra went to college. He was rarely absent from social parties. He was the
"soul of social circles" and no gathering was deemed complete without
his presence.
One day, his neighbor received
a surprise visit from the saint of Dakshineshwar, Sri Ramakrishna. Narendra was
also invited to sing devotional songs. As he sang, he sent thrill after thrill
through Sri Ramakrishna until the saint fell into a state of ecstasy. When he
became normal again, he made Narendra sit beside him and enquired lovingly of
the boy. With time their friendship grew.
The death of his father forced
Narendra to find work and support the family. During these years of great
struggle, his sheet anchor was his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna. Narendra yearned
intensely for God and began to plague the Master for realization.
Narendra, now known as Swami
Vivekananda, founded an Ashram near Calcutta, in order to organise better the
Master's mission. This was the beginning of the Ramakrishna Mission.
From 1888 to 1890 Swami
Vivekananda travelled widely. He went on a pilgrimage all over the country,
studying the conditions of the people. Wherever he went, his magnetic
personality created a great impression.
In 1893, Swami Vivekananda
went to America to attend the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. His
powerful speech at the opening session of the Parliament brought him instant
fame and acclaimed him as a great orator and the most ideal interpreter of
India's wisdom. He instantly became very popular in America.
Swami Vivekananda's powerful
personality and his passionate call of service of the poor, is still
influencing people all over India and the world.
Swami Vivekananda arrived in
America penniless and depending only on God's Grace. After the Parliament he
began to receive the homage and hospitality of all America. He lectured at all
the important centers. As a true Sannyasin he refused to sell religion for the
sake of amassing money. He preached the gospel of unity of faiths and scattered
the seeds of purity, knowledge and faith. After his stay of two years in
America he toured England and Europe for three months.
The tremendous ovation he
received on his return to India in no way took his mind away from his mission
of bringing religion to the doors of the poorest. His aim was to awaken the
masses by reviving Vedic religion, and to clean it of the dross and impurity
that had clung to it for so many centuries.
In 1902 Swami Vivekananda
entered Mahasamadhi. Six years of discipleship under Sri Ramakrishna had taken
him to the realms of God-vision. Seven years of travelling in India had broadened
his outlook on life. Nine years of a national and international career were all
that were left for him; yet, how filled with glorious work those nine years
were!
Swami Vivekananda's gospel was
one of hope, faith and strength. He never succumbed to despair, for he knew
that India was capable of expansion and growth. His clarion call to the nation
was: "Awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached."
Excerpts from:
Swami Vivekananda
(1863-1902) - Birth Anniversary
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