SWAMI
VIVEKANANDA: HISTORY / PERSONALITY
NEWS:
July 4 is the death anniversary
of Swami Vivekananda, recognised as one of the greatest spiritual leaders.
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
Swami Vivekananda
Birth and
Early Life:
- Born Narendranath Datta on
January 12, 1863, in Calcutta.
- Swamiji’s Jayanti (birth
anniversary) is celebrated as “National Youth Day.”
- He attained Mahasamadhi on
July 4, 1902.
- From a young age, he
nurtured an interest in Western philosophy, history, religion,
spirituality, and theology.
Guru and
Name Change:
- Met the religious leader Ramakrishna
Paramhansa, who later became his Guru, remaining devoted to him until
Ramakrishna's death in 1886.
- In 1893, he took the name
‘Vivekananda’ at the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri State,
changing from ‘Sachidananda’ that he used before.
Philosophical
Contributions and Teachings:
- Focused on the primacy of
spirituality through which human beings can succeed in every sphere of
their lives.
- Emphasized the importance of
reason, urging especially the youth to never let go of it.
- Proposed three instruments
of knowledge: instincts, reason, and inspiration.
- Preached ‘Neo-Vedanta,’
combining spirituality with material progress, and rejected Shankara’s
‘universal illusionism.’
Vedantic
Humanism:
- Believed in the unity of all
existence and that there is only one Self in the universe.
- Advocated religious
acceptance over tolerance, viewing tolerance as stemming from a
superiority complex.
- Emphasized self-realization
through selfless service of mankind, unconditional love, judicious
detachment, and service to fellow humans.
Literary
Works:
- Authored significant works
such as Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga.
Yoga and
Philosophy:
- Divinity Within: Believed each soul is
potentially divine and the goal should be to manifest this divinity.
- Karma Yoga: Stressed attaining God
through selfless work and emphasized working for work’s sake, unattached
to the results.
- Bhakti Yoga: Highlighted love as a vital
element, teaching to love without ulterior motives.
- Raja Yoga: Focused on concentration as
a method to acquire knowledge and achieve union with God.
- Faith in Oneself: Encouraged self-belief and
taking responsibility for one’s actions.
Tours and
Lectures:
- Best known for his speech at
the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he spoke
on universal acceptance, tolerance, and religion.
- Became popular as the
‘Messenger of Indian Wisdom to the Western World’ through his lectures in
the US and UK.
Establishments:
- Founded the Ramakrishna
Mission in 1897.
- Founded Belur Math in 1899.
Legacy:
- Called the ‘Maker of Modern
India’ by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
- His quote, ‘Arise, awake,
and stop not until the goal is reached,’ remains inspirational.
Swami
Vivekananda's life and teachings continue to inspire millions, emphasizing the
power of spirituality, self-belief, and the pursuit of knowledge through reason
and selfless service.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-swami-vivekananda-on-his-death-anniversary/article68365802.ece