July 4 marks the 122nd death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of India’s most revered spiritual leaders and reformers. Born as Narendra Dutt on January 12, 1863, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Vivekananda’s life and teachings continue to inspire millions worldwide.
From an early age, Vivekananda demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities. Known for his curiosity, he reportedly could recall entire books after reading them once. This keen intellect and a deep curiosity about spiritual matters led him to seek answers from Maha Rishi Devendra Nath. Upon questioning whether he had seen God, Maha Rishi directed Vivekananda to Ramakrishna Paramhansa, who became his spiritual guru.
At 25, Vivekananda embraced the Sanyasi way of life, renouncing worldly attachments. He sought to integrate Indian spirituality with Western material progress, emphasising that both could complement and enhance each other. For Vivekananda, the highest spiritual endeavour was to labour for the benefit of humanity.
Born into an upper-middle-class family of the Kayastha caste, Vivekananda received a Western-style education, exposing him to various philosophies, Christianity, and science. His involvement with the Brahmo Samaj highlighted his commitment to social reform, advocating for the elimination of child marriage and illiteracy and the spread of education among women and lower castes.
Vivekananda became the most notable disciple of Ramakrishna, who demonstrated the essential unity of all religions. Emphasising the universal and humanistic aspects of the Vedas, Vivekananda sought to invigorate Hindu thought, presenting Hindu spirituality to the Western world. He was pivotal in promoting the Vedanta philosophy in the United States and England.
In 1893, Vivekananda captivated audiences at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where he represented Hinduism. His powerful oratory and profound insights earned him widespread acclaim, and he was described by a newspaper as “an orator by divine right and undoubtedly the greatest figure at the Parliament.”
Upon returning to India in 1897, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math near Kolkata. The mission embodied his ideals of self-perfection and service to humanity, promoting Vedantic teachings and spiritual growth. Vivekananda’s work significantly influenced Eastern and Western thought, leaving a lasting legacy.
Vivekananda’s lectures and writings reflect his interpretation of Hinduism as an allegiance to specific doctrines and values. He viewed Hinduism as an inclusive term encompassing various traditions such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita, and Advaita. For Vivekananda, being a Hindu meant subscribing to the authority of the Vedas, the cyclical order of creation, the immortality and purity of the atman, reincarnation, and the realisation of religious truths.
Vision for Hindu Identity
Vivekananda articulated a unified Hindu identity in his famous address, “The Common Basis of Hinduism,” delivered in Lahore after his return from the Parliament of Religions. He emphasised that a true Hindu is one whose heart resonates with the collective strength and suffering of all who bear the name, transcending linguistic and geographical barriers.
Contributions to Global Understanding
Swami Vivekananda declared the precious revelations contained in Vedanta philosophy, namely, universalism and religious harmony. He forever changed the Western imagination of India and its religions. During his two visits to the West—the first between May 1893 and January 1897 and the second between June 1899 and November/December 1900—Vivekananda reshaped the image of India from a land of snake charmers to a nation rich in knowledge, wisdom, and spirituality.
Swami Vivekananda took the ancient Indian messages of universal brotherhood, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” and “Advaita,” to the globe. He traveled to eleven of the twenty G20 members, including various parts of India, and impacted almost all of them with the message of Vedanta and universal brotherhood.
Apart from India, the other G20 member countries Swamiji travelled to include Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and the European Union (EU). During his first tour to the West, Swamiji stopped in China, Japan, and Canada on his way to the US. During the same tour, he also visited the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.
As we commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s death anniversary, his message of strength, unity, and service to humanity resonates more than ever.
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