Swami Vivekananda

“The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.” ~Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda has always been looks upon as one of the most respected spiritual leaders in India. He was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. Swami Vivekananda is considered to have played a key role in the introduction of Hindu philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and America. He is also credited with bringing forth and raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a world religion during the end of the 19th century.

Vivekananda was considered to be a major force, who played an important role in the revival of Hinduism in modern India. His famous speech beginning with “Sisters and brothers of America” is considered by many as one of the most inspiring speeches ever, through which he introduced Hinduism at the ‘Parliament of the World Religions’ in Chicago in 1893.

Born in an aristocratic Bengali family in Kolkata in 1863, Vivekananda’s parents played a huge role in influencing his thinking. He got a rational bent of mind from his father whereas a religious temperament from his mother. His father was an attorney of Kolkata High court and was considered a generous gentleman who had a liberal and progressive outlook towards social and religious matters.

Vivekananda was reportedly adept in meditation. During his childhood, he had a great fascination for wanderings monks and ascetics. He had varied interests and received scholarships in a variety of subjects like philosophy, history, social sciences, art, literature, to name a few. He also showed great interest in spiritual texts. Even as a young boy, he questioned the validity of superstitious rituals and discrimination based on caste. He refused to accept anything without proof and rational logic.

Vivekananda spent nearly two whole years lecturing in various parts of eastern and central United States, appearing chiefly in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and New York. He left quite an impression in America, Europe and other countries and had quite a few renowned followers.