LIFE SKETCH OF VIVEKANAND

LIFE SKETCH OF VIVEKANAND

Vivekananda was born on 12th January, 1863 in the house of Vishvanath Datt in North Calcutta in Bengal child was named Narendra Nath. Bhuvaneshwari Devi mother of Narendra Nath was a very intelligent and religious lady. Like M.K. Gandhi, Vivekananda owed some of hie religiosity to the influence of his mother. 

       The early education of Narendra Nath was given through Bengali and English. At the age of 6, he started going to school. He memorized most of the portions of Mahabharata and Ramayan. In Entrance class Narendra Nath had sufficient knowledge of English and Bangla literature and Indian history. He passed Entrance examination in first division. After it he entered Presidency College. At the college stage he had achieved an intimate knowledge of English literature, European history, philosophy, science, art, music and medicine. During this period, Brahmo Samaj was very popular in Bengal. The leaders of Brahmo Samaj had wide influence over the Bengali youth.Narendra Nath was also influenced by Brahmo Samaj and became a member of it.

        In 1881, at the age of eighteen, he came in contact with the "Ramkrishna Paramahansa. This contact was the tfirmmg point of his life. He was immensely impressed with the teachings and Catholic outlook of Sri Ramkrishna and accepted sage him as his Guru Sri Ramkrishna has been in search of such a disciple who would continue his work of alleviating the miseries of the people. He prophetically stated, "The day when (Vivekananda's family name) comes in contact/with suffering and misery, the pride of his character will melt into mode of infinite compassion. His strong faith in himself will n instrument to re-establish in discouraged souls the confidence and faith they have lost". 

        In 1884, the father of Narendra Nath passed away due to heart-attack. At this time Narendra Nath was only a graduate and studying law. But now the entire financial responsibility of the family came upon his head. He did not get any job. He could not repay the debts. Under these hard circumstances Narendra Nath had crisis of faith. However, the adversities, sufferings and troubles subdued his ego and evoked his faith. This led him to the resolve to remove sufferings of his countrymen. This also increased his faith in Ramkrishna. After the death of Sri Ramkrishna in 1886, Vivekananda, along with "some of his fellow disciples adopted a full- fledged monastic life. He made an extensive tour of India and came in contact with her tragic face-the cry of humanity suffering from proverty, ignorance, and evil social and religious practices. In 1888, Vivekananda left Calcutta alone. He went to Varanasi, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra, Vrindavan and Hathras and toured Himalayas with his disciple Sadanand. In Himalayas, he had a Vision of the soul of India. In February 1891, he went to Rajasthan, Bombay and Rameshwaram. From here went to Kanyakumari. Sitting on the rock of Cape Comorin in 1883, he had his great realisation of the great unity of India. At present there is on this rock the world famous Vivekananda Memorial. 

       In 1893 Vivekananda left for America to attend Parliament of Religions to be held at Chicago. Before going to USA he went to Khetri; the king of this state was his disciple. It was the princely disciple who suggested the name Swami Vivekananda which was adopted by Narendra Nath. During his lectures Swami Vivekananda repeatedly drew the attention of the West to the problems of India. On the invitation of Bureau he visited several places in U.S.A. and delivered lectures which had wide influence over American intelligensia. He was offered the headship of department of Eastern philosophy at Harvard University and Sanskrit language at Columbia University which he declined saying that he was a Sanyasin. 

       On 7th August, 1895, Swami Vivekananda left U.S.A. for England. On 6th December, 1895 Swami Vivekananda reached New York from England. Here he delivered lectures on Karmayoga and Bhaktiyoga. In February, 1896 he laid foundation of the famous Vendata Society of New York H. also delivered lectures on Vedanta philosophy in the philosophy department of Harward University. Thereafter Swami Vivekananda visited various places and delivered lectures. 

         Vivekananda reached India and established Ramkrishna Mission on May 5, 1897 with the express mission of serving humanity through the service of followers of various religions. It aimed at trainee missionaries who could propagate Vendata everywhere. Vivekananda was elected President of the Mission. As president of Ramkrishna Mission Vivekananda toured the whole of the country. Everywhere he propagated the preachings of the Mission and clarified the problems of the country asking for remedies. His ideas were a combination of Vendanta and science, East and West, ancient and modern, idealism and realism. In order to provide a centre in the Himalayas for practising Vedanta philosophy by his disciples from East and West, Vivekananda established Advaita Ashram at Mayavati, 50 miles away from Almora on 19th March, 1899. He toured various parts of the country. This herculean labour for the propagation of his preachings gradually adversely affected his physical health. He suffered from diabetes and lung diseases. Gradually his condition worsened. On 4th July, 1902, Swami Vivekananda left for his heavenly abode at the early age of 39 years.

His Books 

1. Practice vedanta;
2. Raja Yoga;
3. Gyan Yoga;
4. India and Her Problems; 
5. Lectures from Colombo to Almora; 
6. The East and the West; 
7. Modern India; and 
8. Our duties to the Mass; The Cycle of Caste.

         Vivekananda's ideas are available to us mostly what he said at the Congress of Religions at Chicago and also in his lecturers from Almora to Colombo. It was through these lecturers that he tried to expound his philosophy. The works of Swami Vivekananda have been brought out in eight volumes by Ramkrishna mission under the title, The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.'