Swami Vivekananda: A spiritual luminary, a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, preached harmony among religions, founded Ramakrishna Math and Mission for humanitarian service, and inspired millions globally. Today, on his death anniversary we remember this great son of India----by Amrita Ghosh
Swami Vivekananda, born on the auspicious day of January 12, 1863, in Calcutta, found himself intertwined with the spiritual luminary, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who profoundly influenced and guided him along his spiritual journey. He was born Narendranath Dutta to the well-known lawyer Vishwanath Dutta and Bhubaneswari Devi
Young Narendra exhibited a profound proclivity towards spirituality and the enigmatic world of religion, his fertile mind ardently absorbing the multifarious teachings of varied religious traditions, spanning the expansive gamut of Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. It was this experiential odyssey that engendered within him a broad, encompassing outlook, a tapestry of understanding that enfolded and embraced the diverse hues of faith.
Encounter with Ramakrishna Paramahansa
The fateful rendezvous with Ramakrishna occurred in the year of 1881. This fateful encounter proved transformative, an ethereal crucible where Ramakrishna's discerning gaze glimpsed the nascent spark of spiritual potential within young Vivekananda, prompting the venerable sage to assume mentorship and benevolent guidance.
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Under the tutelage of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Vivekananda embarked on an esoteric voyage, delving deep into the abstruse realm of spiritual practices and philosophical musings, an expedition marked by the insatiable quest for profound wisdom. Tragically, the earthly departure of Ramakrishna in 1886 happened, leaving behind a world bereft of his physical presence. Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of Vivekananda to spread his guru’s teaching became a cause he lived and died with.
The celestial waves of recognition soon graced Vivekananda's luminous aura, transcending the geographic confines to embrace the tapestry of the global stage. His orations and illuminating treatises reverberated across the expanse of continents, where the cosmopolitan audience was enchanted by the eloquent verses of his compelling rhetoric, an opus that reverberated with the harmonious cadence of interfaith unity and brotherhood. In his indomitable conviction, Vivekananda avowed the profound verity that all religious streams inexorably cascade into the same tranquil ocean of ultimate truth, thus vehemently championing the cause of universal religious tolerance and acceptance.
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Chicago Speech
In the year 1893, Chicago bore witness to the epochal confluence of religions at the Parliament of the World's Religions. Embodying the spiritual essence of Hinduism, Vivekananda ascended the rostrum, his soul-stirring address soaring to celestial heights, adorning him with the laurels of a preeminent spiritual luminary. This historic discourse, which resonates in perpetuity as the "Chicago Speech," inscribed his name indelibly in the annals of spiritual history, heralding his eminence as a formidable spiritual torchbearer. His address to the parliament beginning with “Brothers and Sisters of America” for forever etched in the memory of every proud Indian.
Thereafter, Vivekananda crisscrossed the continental expanse, traveling in Europe, America, and the sacred soil of India itself, his charismatic presence casting an ethereal spell on diverse audiences.
Establishment of Ramakrishna Math and Mission
The auspicious year of 1897 witnessed the crystallization of Vivekananda's visionary dream, the sacred inception of the Ramakrishna Math, and the Ramakrishna Mission. This spiritual institution still today adheres to the ideals laid by Vivekananda, epitomizing the embodiment of selfless service and spiritual awakening. Committed to the noble cause of alleviating the plight of the underprivileged, they extended their compassionate arms to offer the educational sector, healthcare sustenance, and humanitarian sector to those mired in the depths of destitution, simultaneously fostering the growth of spiritual enlightenment and self-realization.
Swami Vivekananda, a luminary of unparalleled stature, occupies an illustrious pedestal as one of India's foremost spiritual luminaries, an architect of the resurgence of Hinduism. He left for the eternal abode on the 4th of July 1902. It’s been 121 years since his death, but Ramakrishna Math and Mission stands tall to bear the testimony of the work he did and the ideals he embedded in the institution.
