The parliament of religions was held,in september 1893,in Chicago,the U S A,where representatives of the world' s religions assembled. At the inaugural meeting , a young indian monk of imposing appearance rose to speak about the hindu religion . with a sparkle in his dark, luminous eyes , grace and dignity in his bearing , and music in his voice, he began his address to the four thousand-odd audience with the words "Sisters and Brothers of America".A sense of surprise and thrill went through the august gathering.Time seemed to stop.History was created.At the end of his speech ,the listeners rose to their feet and ,for two whole minutes,gave him a standing ovation. Day after day ,till the closing of the Parliament of Religions,the young monk of great scholarship enthralled his listeners by giving enlightening interpretations of Hinduism and the vedanta.
This magnificent personality was vivekananda whose addresses in the parliament revealed to the world that india had spiritual wealth.Service to mankind ,universal brotherhood and that different religions are but different paths to reach god,the ultimate reality,were among the principal messages he conveyed philosophy at the parliament.This refreshingly new concept of religion swept the western audience off their feet.Over night ,he became the most sought after personality in America.
This magnificent personality was vivekananda whose addresses in the parliament revealed to the world that india had spiritual wealth.Service to mankind ,universal brotherhood and that different religions are but different paths to reach god,the ultimate reality,were among the principal messages he conveyed philosophy at the parliament.This refreshingly new concept of religion swept the western audience off their feet.Over night ,he became the most sought after personality in America.
EARLY PHASE
As a child,vivekananda was as playful and frolicsome as any young child. but seeds of a great personality were being sown by his well- bred, cultured family and other extraordinary influences as he grew up. vivekananda was born Narendranath dutta, on january 12, 1863, to vishwanth dutta and bhubaneshwari devi in simla, calcutta.
the dutta family was well known for its afflunce, generosity and scholarship. vishwanath dutta was an Attorney- at- law at the calcutta high court . he was well- versed in english and persian literature and had a penchant for reciting from the Bible and the poetry of Hafiz. hindu scriptures in sanskrit also used to captivate him . Owing to his profession, he came into contact with the educated Muslims and thus was familiar with Islamic culture. He earned a great deal from his legal practice and used to spend lavishly. Viswanath Dutta was charitable and sympathetic to the poor and needy. His Western culture made him retain a rationalistic and progressive outlook in religious and social matters. Vishwanath Dutta took great care of the education, culture and good breeding of his children.
Narendranath's mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was a deeply religious lady. Graceful and regal, she was the mistress of a large household. Apart from family duties, she spent her spare time sewing and singing from the two great Indian epics, the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA. Her calm surrender to God endowed her with inner tranquility and detachment. She had great sympathy for the poor and needy. Before Narendranath was born, she used to observe fasts and offer prayers and vows to God so that she should be blessed with a son who would do honour to the family.
Narendranath inherited the rational mind and independent spirit of his father and the devotional nature of his mother. From a very tender age he heard his mother reciting melodiously from the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA. These classics left a lasting impression on him.
Narendranath's childhood was remarkable for the numerous incidents that revealed his courage, presence of mind and intelligence.
Narendranath was a sweet but restless, mischievous boy. His nurses took pains to control his boyish exuberance. When he became very restless, his mother often poured cold water on his head, chanting 'Shiva'. This immediately quietened the restless child.
Narendranath loved birds and animals. Among his childhood pets were a cow, a monkey, a goat, a peacock and several pigeons and guinea-pigs. The coachman of the family with his turban, whip and bright livery caught his fancy, and he wanted to be like him when he grew up.
Young Narendranath loved sports and games. His favourite game was 'King and the Court'. He would play the role of the king, and his playmates would act as ministers and courtiers. The qualities of leadership, inherent in him, were evident from his very childhood.
He often worshipped and meditated on the images of Shiva, Rama and Sita. The wandering monks he saw attracted him greatly. One day a monk asking for alms appeared at the door. Narendranath gave him his only possession--a tiny piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. After that, Narendranath's mother used to lock him up in a room whenever a monk appeared. Despite this, he used to throw out from the window anything he had in his hand to the holy men. Narendranath heard that the holy men, absorbed in contemplation, grew their hair so long that it would enter the earth. While meditating, as part of a game, he would open his eyes now and then to see if his hair also touched the earth!
Often while pretending to meditate, he would become unconscious of the outer world. Once, it is said, a snake entered the area where Narendranath and his playmates sat meditating. The friends, seeing the snake, fled immediately raising a hue and cry. Narendranath, unaware of all this, remained absorbed in meditation. The snake left without doing any harm.
At the age of six, Narendranath started going to a primary school. With his keen memory, he easily learnt by heart long passages from the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA and all of Sanskrit grammar.
the dutta family was well known for its afflunce, generosity and scholarship. vishwanath dutta was an Attorney- at- law at the calcutta high court . he was well- versed in english and persian literature and had a penchant for reciting from the Bible and the poetry of Hafiz. hindu scriptures in sanskrit also used to captivate him . Owing to his profession, he came into contact with the educated Muslims and thus was familiar with Islamic culture. He earned a great deal from his legal practice and used to spend lavishly. Viswanath Dutta was charitable and sympathetic to the poor and needy. His Western culture made him retain a rationalistic and progressive outlook in religious and social matters. Vishwanath Dutta took great care of the education, culture and good breeding of his children.
Narendranath's mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was a deeply religious lady. Graceful and regal, she was the mistress of a large household. Apart from family duties, she spent her spare time sewing and singing from the two great Indian epics, the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA. Her calm surrender to God endowed her with inner tranquility and detachment. She had great sympathy for the poor and needy. Before Narendranath was born, she used to observe fasts and offer prayers and vows to God so that she should be blessed with a son who would do honour to the family.
Narendranath inherited the rational mind and independent spirit of his father and the devotional nature of his mother. From a very tender age he heard his mother reciting melodiously from the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA. These classics left a lasting impression on him.
Narendranath's childhood was remarkable for the numerous incidents that revealed his courage, presence of mind and intelligence.
Narendranath was a sweet but restless, mischievous boy. His nurses took pains to control his boyish exuberance. When he became very restless, his mother often poured cold water on his head, chanting 'Shiva'. This immediately quietened the restless child.
Narendranath loved birds and animals. Among his childhood pets were a cow, a monkey, a goat, a peacock and several pigeons and guinea-pigs. The coachman of the family with his turban, whip and bright livery caught his fancy, and he wanted to be like him when he grew up.
Young Narendranath loved sports and games. His favourite game was 'King and the Court'. He would play the role of the king, and his playmates would act as ministers and courtiers. The qualities of leadership, inherent in him, were evident from his very childhood.
He often worshipped and meditated on the images of Shiva, Rama and Sita. The wandering monks he saw attracted him greatly. One day a monk asking for alms appeared at the door. Narendranath gave him his only possession--a tiny piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. After that, Narendranath's mother used to lock him up in a room whenever a monk appeared. Despite this, he used to throw out from the window anything he had in his hand to the holy men. Narendranath heard that the holy men, absorbed in contemplation, grew their hair so long that it would enter the earth. While meditating, as part of a game, he would open his eyes now and then to see if his hair also touched the earth!
Often while pretending to meditate, he would become unconscious of the outer world. Once, it is said, a snake entered the area where Narendranath and his playmates sat meditating. The friends, seeing the snake, fled immediately raising a hue and cry. Narendranath, unaware of all this, remained absorbed in meditation. The snake left without doing any harm.
At the age of six, Narendranath started going to a primary school. With his keen memory, he easily learnt by heart long passages from the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA and all of Sanskrit grammar.
Narendranath's questioning spirit was another remarkable feature of his nature. In his father's office, separate tobacco pipes were provided for clients belonging to different communities or religious groups, in accordance with the then orthodox Hindu custom. Narendranath heard that by using pipes meant for people of other castes, one would degrade oneself. So he smoked from all the pipes. When caught and scolded for doing so, he said that he wanted to see whether it made any difference.
During his early years, his parents kept a watchful eye on his growth and development. Two more sons and four daughters were born to them. Two daughters died at an early age.
Narendranath began his formal education at seven, in a high school called Calcutta Metropolitan Institution founded by Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. He had exceptional intelligence, a keen memory and was skilful in various games. He organized an amateur theatrical group and a gymnasium and took lessons in fencing, wrestling, rowing and many other sports. He was restless by temperament. He would soon tire of one pastime and try another. He visited museums and zoological gardens with his friends. Everybody loved him for his simplicity, courage and straightforwardness.
From an early age, Narendranath was averse to superstition. One of his favourite games, as a boy, was to climb a tree belonging to a neighbour and pluck flowers. When threats failed to dissuade them, the owner told Narendranath and his friends that the tree was haunted by an evil spirit which, if disturbed, would wring the necks of the boys. The boys kept away, frightened. Narendranath continued to climb the tree every day. His frightened friends tried to discourage him. He replied that the ghost tale was anything but true and advised them not to believe everything people said unless proved right.
As Swami Vivekananda, he would say later to the world, "Do not believe in a thing because you have read it in a book. Do not believe in a thing because another man has said it is true. Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization."
Once Narendranath wanted to set up a heavy trapeze in the gymnasium. Among the people who helped him was an English sailor. The trapeze being set up hit the sailor who fell unconscious. The crowd, thinking him dead, ran away fearing the police. Narendranath tore a piece of cloth from his dhoti, wrapped the sailor's wound, and washed his face with water. He moved him to a neighbouring school and nursed him. When the sailor recovered, Narendranath sent him away with a little purse as a donation from his friends and himself.
In 1879, Narendranath left his school with a first division. By now, he began to take interest in intellectual matters. He read a great deal of books on literature and history, devoured newspapers and attened public meetings. For higher studies he joined the General Assembly's Institution, Calcutta, which was later known as the Scottish Church College.
Narendranath grew into a handsome youth, well built and tall. He had an olive complexion, a full face, broad forehead and strong jaw. His glowing eyes had irresistible charm, sparkling with wit, homour and kindness. Yet, what attracted people most was his kingliness. Romain Rolland was to write, 'Nobody would come near him without paying homage to his majesty.'
In college, during the first two years, he studied logic, specialized in Western philosophy and the ancient and modern history of the different European nations. His intellect and prodigious memory caught the attention of his teachers.
Professor Hastie, who was the Principal of his college and the Professor of English Literature, remarked that Narendranath was a real genius, a lad of his talent and potential being a rarity.
Narendranath was a music lover. He could play on many instruments and excelled in singing.
During his early years, his parents kept a watchful eye on his growth and development. Two more sons and four daughters were born to them. Two daughters died at an early age.
Narendranath began his formal education at seven, in a high school called Calcutta Metropolitan Institution founded by Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. He had exceptional intelligence, a keen memory and was skilful in various games. He organized an amateur theatrical group and a gymnasium and took lessons in fencing, wrestling, rowing and many other sports. He was restless by temperament. He would soon tire of one pastime and try another. He visited museums and zoological gardens with his friends. Everybody loved him for his simplicity, courage and straightforwardness.
From an early age, Narendranath was averse to superstition. One of his favourite games, as a boy, was to climb a tree belonging to a neighbour and pluck flowers. When threats failed to dissuade them, the owner told Narendranath and his friends that the tree was haunted by an evil spirit which, if disturbed, would wring the necks of the boys. The boys kept away, frightened. Narendranath continued to climb the tree every day. His frightened friends tried to discourage him. He replied that the ghost tale was anything but true and advised them not to believe everything people said unless proved right.
As Swami Vivekananda, he would say later to the world, "Do not believe in a thing because you have read it in a book. Do not believe in a thing because another man has said it is true. Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization."
Once Narendranath wanted to set up a heavy trapeze in the gymnasium. Among the people who helped him was an English sailor. The trapeze being set up hit the sailor who fell unconscious. The crowd, thinking him dead, ran away fearing the police. Narendranath tore a piece of cloth from his dhoti, wrapped the sailor's wound, and washed his face with water. He moved him to a neighbouring school and nursed him. When the sailor recovered, Narendranath sent him away with a little purse as a donation from his friends and himself.
In 1879, Narendranath left his school with a first division. By now, he began to take interest in intellectual matters. He read a great deal of books on literature and history, devoured newspapers and attened public meetings. For higher studies he joined the General Assembly's Institution, Calcutta, which was later known as the Scottish Church College.
Narendranath grew into a handsome youth, well built and tall. He had an olive complexion, a full face, broad forehead and strong jaw. His glowing eyes had irresistible charm, sparkling with wit, homour and kindness. Yet, what attracted people most was his kingliness. Romain Rolland was to write, 'Nobody would come near him without paying homage to his majesty.'
In college, during the first two years, he studied logic, specialized in Western philosophy and the ancient and modern history of the different European nations. His intellect and prodigious memory caught the attention of his teachers.
Professor Hastie, who was the Principal of his college and the Professor of English Literature, remarked that Narendranath was a real genius, a lad of his talent and potential being a rarity.
Narendranath was a music lover. He could play on many instruments and excelled in singing.
SRI RAMAKRISHNA
As narendra nath grew up ,his intellectual horizon widened.He acquired a vast knowledge on different subjects especially western philosophy and history and developed a spirit of critical inquiry.Doubts stromed his mind. From his childhood he nurtured faith in and devotion to God. Yet, as he grew older, he began to be sceptical about the very existence of God. He wanted reasons to support the notion of God's existence.
Like many educated youth of the day, he was attracted to the Brahmo Samaj movement. The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, an eminent scholar who denounced the rituals, image worship and priestcraft of orthodox Hindusium, and urged his followers 'to dedicate themselves to the worship and adoration of the Eternal'.
In those days, society had innumerable drawbacks. The masses were exploited by the landlords, religion was controlled by the priests, and the condition of women was pitiable. The Brahmo Samaj movement aimed at making social and religious life healthy, directing its energy to the emancipation of women, remarriage of Hindu widows, and spread of mass education. Influenced by Western culture, the Brahmo samaj upheld the supremacy of reason, denounced uncritical acceptance of scriptural authority and supported the slogans of the French revolution. These progressive ideas of the Brahmo Samaj influenced Narendranath and he became its member. At first, the devotional songs and prayers of the Brahmo samaj inspired Narendranath yet his indomitable urge to realize God remained unfulfilled. He was torn between his scepticism and his deep yearning for realizing God.
Narendranth's restless soul was soon disillusioned with the Brahmao Samaj. At this time he recalled a chance remark about a saint in Dakshineshwar near Calcutta who was said to have experienced the highest state of spriritual ecstasy. Such spiritual ecstasy, a rare phenomenon, is the result of purity of the spirit and concentration. Narendranath decided to meet the saint named Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
The meeting with Sri Ramakrishna was a turning point. Narendranath's insatiable spirit, in search of God, could not wait any longer. He shot a question at Sri Ramakrishna. "Sir, have you seen God?"
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa replied in a clear, confident, unfaltering voice that he had seen God. God could be realized. He could be seen as Sri Ramakrishne could see Narendranath, even more clearly. Narendranath was astounded. This was in 1881d.
Impressed despite his doubts, Narendranath promised to pay Sri Ramakrishna frequent visits. The meeting laid the foundation of Narendranath's future as Swami Vivekananda.
Sri Ramakrishna, the spiritual master of Narendranath was born Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya, on February 18, 1836, in the little village of Kamarpukur in Hooghly district of Bengal. His parents were very poor Brahmins, pious and devoted to the tradition of ancient religion. A fair child with a sweet, musical voice, Sri Ramakrishna grew up in a countryside teeming with rice fields, ponds, cows, mangoes and banyan trees. He professed no interest in studies and remained practically 'illiterate' all his life. From his infancy he showed innate spiritual tendencies, and extraordinary skill in singing devotional songs. He enjoyed the company of wandering monks passing through his village, and learnt many things from them.
As time passed by, Sri Ramakrishna felt a deep longing for the realization of God. After his father's death, he came to Calcutta and took up the duties of a priest in the Kali temple in Dakshineswar, where the deity was the Divine Mother. His passion for a vision of God intensified. He felt that behind the apparent lifeless image there must be the Real Spirit, the source of true knowledge, the bestower of everlasting peace. He passed days and nights praying, meditating and chanting devotional songs; food and sleep were completely forgotten as his determination to realize God grew stronger and stronger. Sometimes doubt and despair tormented his mind, yet he sustained hope.
After years of prayers, meditation and rigorous religious practices, Sri Ramakrishna felt the presence of God in the image he worshipped. The agony was over. He attained a state of calm and serene joyfulness, of constant bliss, as the vision of cosmic reality never more eluded him.
PREPARATION
For five years Narendranath was closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna. His tumultuous and rationalistic spirit never succumbed to blind faith. He always tested the words of Sri Ramakrishna in the light of reason. After a lot of conflict, Narendranath accepted him as his spiritual ideal. On his part, Sri Ramakrishna was happy to find in Narendranath a rational mind, a questioning spirit. He also knew that Narendranath would carry his message of universal religion to the world. For five years, Narendranath's spiritual life was moulded by the Master. Sri Ramakrishna was a patient and loving teacher. His superior understanding, deep insight and knowledge of the ultimate reality transformed Narendranath.
The Master kept a strict eye on his disciples who had to observe discipline in body and mind like self control, regular meditation, practice of discrimination and detachment --founding pillars for a strong religious life. Also, the Master's love for Narendranath was boundless. His mere presence would fill the Master with endless joy and create ecstatic moods, for he saw in him the embodiment of Narayana, the Divine spirit.
Days rolled by. With the Master's guidance, Narendranath's scepticism disappeared and his innate spirituality developed. The Master preached that the universe, the living beings and all that exist are a manifestation of God. God is One but known by different names. God can be realized through different paths of religion. Sri Ramakrishna also taught that service to mankind was more important than ones' own salvation.
In 1884, when Narendranath was preparing for the B.A. examination, his father passed away leaving the family in great distress. Poverty stared him in the face. Narendranath had to look for a job to make both ends meet. Finding a job was not easy. By then he had graduated, and had got admisson to the Law course. With a temporary job in a translation office and in a solicitor's office, Narendranath, along with his family, led a hand-to-mouth existence.
Narendranath requested the Master to pray for him. The Master, in reply, asked him to pray to the Divine Mother who would grant him his wish. Narendranath went three times a day to the shrine of Mother Kali. He could, by no means, ask for any worldly boons. Instead, he prayed for true knowledge, consciousness and renunciation. Sri Ramakrishna told Narendranath that he was born not to enjoy worldy life but to renounce it. However, he blessed Narendranath with the words that his family would be able to eke out a simple existence.
In the middle of 885, Sri Ramakrishna first showed symptoms of a throat ailment that was later to be diagnosed as cancer. The Master was taken to Cossipore Garden near Calcutta for treatment, where his young disciples, including Narendranath, stayed with him and looked after him.
Even in ill-health, the Master gave the young disciples advice that they could follow to lead a spiritual life. Narendranath acted as the leader among the young disciples.
Sri Ramakrishna passed away in 1886. After this the young disciples stayed together for some time in a deserted house in Baranagar near Cossipore. The spirit of brotherhood and renunciation was glowing within them. Like monks, they spent their time meditating, reading scriptures, singing devotional songs and praying. They felt an urge for embracing the life of wandering monks.
A 'PILGRIM'
Narendranath wanted to lead the life of a mendicant monk. In 1888, he left Calcutta and went to Varanasi, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra, Vrindavan, Mathura and the Himalayas. He wandered, free of any plan, with the thought of God always in his mind. Narendranath, now a Swami, wearing a saffron robe and renouncing worldly life, discovered the real India. Often without food and shelter, he travelled far and wide on foot. Sometimes he stayed under the same roof with the poorest of the poor, sometimes he became the honoured guest of kings and princes. Wherever he went, he was highly respected and loved by men of bearing and position as well as ordinary people for his scholarship, characteristic frankness, fearlessness and purity of heart.
Most of all, these long wanderings revealed to him the great "most of life".He saw how his contrymen were steeped in poverty and ignorence.A ruoned economy ,forign rule,and a crippling caste system made the life of the poor miserable.The muffled cries of the helpless people peirced his heart,and he saw "god struggling in humanity".He travelled from place to place ,forever learning till he became one with india,felt its heartbeat in his own heart,which throbbed sorrowfully at the unending misery of his people.
Narendranath recalled sri ramakrishna's words,"religion is not for empty bellies",and immortal words sprang forth from his lips,"may I be born and reborn again and suffer a thousand miseries if only I am able to worship the only god in whoom I believe,the sum total of all souls and,above all,my god the wicket,my god the afflicted,my god the poor of all races"
He went to kanyakumari,the southernmost tip of india.He swam across the ocean and mediated on a little rock for three days and nights.Mind at piece and tuned inwards,he pondered over his future mission.The idea came to him.He decided to attend the parliament of religions in chicago,where he would spell out the spiritual and cultural heritage of india.He hoped to bring back knowledge of western science and technology.He told his brother disciples,"It is now my firm conviction that it is futile to preach religion --without first trying to remove ...poverty and suffering.It is for this reason ,to find more means for the salvation of the poor of india,that I am now going to America."
VISION
Narendranath's journey to the parliament of Religions was beset with difficulties.He did not know the exact date of the opening of the parliament nor had any idea about the conditions of admission to it. He had little money and no credentials as he proceeded on his voyage to America.The maharaja of khetri,a devotee,provided him with the ticket for the voyage.he left bombay on may 31,1983, visiting,on his way,Ceylon,Penang,Singapore,Canton and nagasaki.From there he went by land to yokohama,seeing osaka,kyoto and tokyo.From yokohama he went to vancouver.He arrived in chicago by train in the middle of july.
Once in America , he has overwhelmed by the power,the riches,the inventive genius of the western world.When he tried to get information about the parliament,he was dismayed to learn that it would not open before the first week of september and that it was too late for registration of deligates.Moreover,no registration would be accepted without official references.He was unknown, and had a near -empty purse.Help from any quarter was a distant dream.
Narendranath,known as Swami vivekananda now,did not lose heart.He decided to visit Boston.On the train to boston,his apperance and conversation facinated a fellow traveller,a rich massachusetts lady,who invited him to her house and introduced him to professor from harvard,j.h.wright.
The genius of the young hindu monk impressed the professor so much that he insisted on vivekananda representing hinduism at the parliament of religions.J.H.wright wrote to the president of the committee,and offered vivekananda a railway ticket to chicago.He also gave vivekananda a letter of recommendation as well as a reqest to the committee to find lodgings for the indian.
On his arrival at chicago ,vivekananda found that he had lost the address of the committee.Being a coloured man ,he was shunned by everybody.Unable to find a lodging,he slept in a big ,empty box in a corner of the station.The next morning he tried to find the way to the venue of the parliament by knocking at the doors of big mansions.He was rudely dismissed from every door.
After having wandered for a long time ,he sat down,exhausted,in the street.One kind lady,who has watching him from a window,came down to enquire whether he were not a deligate to the parliament of religions.The lady refreshed him with food and rest and afterwards took him to the parliament where he was gladly accepted as a delegate.The lady ,whose name was Mrs.Hale,remained forever faithful and devoted to vivekananda and his cause.
PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS
The parliament of religions was of the world fair known as columbian exposition,organised to mark the four hundredth anniversary of columbus's discovery of America.The inauguration ceremony began at 10 a.m on september 11 ,1893. Among delegates of various faiths sat vivekananda.His noble stature and gorgeous apparel had already attracted the attention of many.He was tense and nervous as he would be speaking before such an assembly for the first time.At the end of the day vivekananda rose to speak.No sooner had he pronounced the words,"sisters and brothers of America",than the audience burst out in loud applause.
Vivekananda introduced hinduism as the "mother of all
religions", whoose key characteristics are acceptance and tolerance. He quoted two beatiful lines from the sacred BHAGAVAD GITA; "Whoever comes to me in whatsoever form,I reach him" and "all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me".
From that day on, vivekananda became known world wide. He addressed the parliament six times, the only delegate to speak so many times. His lectures dealt with universal principles which form the foundation of hinduism--such as divinity of the soul ,self-realization as the highest fulfilment,and the principle of peace and harmony among religions.
Vivekananda's addresses to the parliament won him the approval of millions of Americans.He emerged as a world teacher and spread the universal principals of the VEDANTA by travelling constantly and coducting reggular classes in America.He had a large following in the west as well as in the east.His stay in America from july 893 to decembar 1896 was full of activity.Besides innumerable lectures and classes in new york, he founded a vedanta society there . he instructed a band of chosen disciples in jnana yoga,making them aware of the subtle truths of the VEDANTA.Moreover ,he broadened their intellectual horizon by teaching the universality of vedantic philosophy.Learned and noble-hearted persons like Mrs.Ole Bull,Josephine Macleod,Sarah Ellen Waldo and sister Christine became his ardent followers.
The news of vivekananda 's success at the parliament of religions filed the indians with joy and pride.his brother monks recalled their late master's words,"Naren will shake the world to its foundations."
Vivekananda returned to india on january 15,1897. People stormed to seek his blessings,Processions were formed,hymns were chanted.flowers were thrown ,rose water and sacred water were sprinkled on his path. Incense was burnt in front of houses.Hundreds of visitors,rich and poor , brought him offerings.Kolkata ,his borth place,also prepared for magnificent reception.Triumphal arches were erected,devotional songs were sung.Amid huge processions he was seated in an unharnessed carriage pulled by enthusiastic students.
Vivekananda reacted to all these by saying that it was not himself but his cause that was being honoured. India and her poor masses were always in his mind.he worked out a gigantic plan to carry out the mission of service and social help.He made his brother monks recieve european disciples into their community,and together take up the mission of social service.He declared that he wanted to create a new order of sanyasis who would go down to "hell",if need be,to save others.They would never think of their own salvation.They would worship the living god embodied man.
RAMAKRISHNA MISSION
In 1898, vivekananda founded a new organization,the ramakrishna mission ,at Belur Mutt near kolkata,with the monetary help of his foreign disciples. They actively spread the message of sri ramakrishna and the vedanta as interpreted by vivekananda .several branches of the ramakrishna mission were opened in different parts in india.
Inspired by vivekananda ,his brother monks and disciples dedicated themselves to the cause of the suffering humanity by taking up multiple forms of human service. Monks and laymen work hand in hand, in various activities of social service for the poor. During the summer of 1897, hundreds o0f famine-strickenpeople in Murshidabad, Bengal were fed and nursed by the Monks. Abandoned children were looked after, and an orphanage was founded for their training and education.
In the same year, a famine centre at Dinajpur and other centres at Deoghar, dakshineswar and Kolkata were opened. In April-may 1898, the entire mission worked to fight the plague in Kolkata. Huge relief work was undertaken though money was scarce. despite ill health, Vivekananda came to live in a poor locality to inspire courage in the people and cheer up the workers.The management of the work was entrusted to Sister Nivedita and to other Monks. They supervised disinfection and the cleaning of the city. People were educated on hygiene.
Besides social work and service, education and vedantic teaching were on in full swing. For Vivekananda wanted India to have "An Islamic body and a Vedantic heart".
A LIVING MESSAGE
Ceaseless work, lectures put a tremendous strain on Vivekananda's health. A little respite from illness saw him touring northern India , from Punjab to Kashmir in december 1897, enlightening people where ever he went. he preached to the students of the Lahore colleges thet strength and belief in man is indeed a preparation for belief in God.He formed an association, purely non-sectarian , for the relief, hygiene and education of the people. Where ever he went, he tried to build individual character by making man aware of God within him.
On june 20, 1899 , Vivekananda set out on a second journey to the west. To visit the projects he had begun there. He broke journey in London for a few days. He sailed for America where Vedantic work was being carried out successfully by his disciples, Swami Abhedananda and others.Vivekananda went to California to Convalesce. He gave a number of lectures there. He established vedantic centres at Sanfransisco, Oakland and Alameda. He was gifted a large tract of forest land in Santaclara in which he founded an aasram.Work progressed in New york to, where Sister Nivedita joined him to spread the ideas of vedantas.
On july 20, 1900 Vivekananda set sail for Paris when invited to a congress on the history of religion in Paris, he spoke with his usual erudition. To him Paris was the "Home of Liberty". He left France in oct 1900 for the east via Vienna and constantinople. He passed through Hungary, Serbia,Rumania ,Bulgaria and halted at Athens too. In the beginning of december 1900 he returned to India.
Even with his failing health,he guided the monks in belure mutt and regulated the work there with a firm hand.He held vedantic classes ,taught the novices methods of meditation ,paid strict attention to discipline and cleanliness,and inspired the workers with confidence in themselves.His room in the monastery was on the banks of ganga.he worked in the garden and the stables and was surrounded by his favourite animals--a dog,a she goat and a kid,a stork,ducks,cows and sheep.His illness showed no signs of abatement.He had diabetes and swollen feet,and certain parts his body became very sensitive.
On july4,1902,vivekananda began the day,as usual,by rising early and taking classes.In the evening while meditating ,swamiji breathed his last.He was thirty-nine.
Vivekananda had said,"the history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves.The faith calls out the divinity within.You can do any thing.You fail only when you do not strive sufficiently to manifest infinite power.Believe first in yourself ,then in god.Be brave.Bravery is the highist virtue.Dare to speak the whole truth always...."
He also said "Only one idea was burning in my brain---to start the machine for elevating the indian masses and I have succeded in doing to a certain extent".His message was,"God is present in every being.These are all the manifold forms of him. There is no other god to seek for.He alone is worshipping god,who serves all beings." If one wants to serve god,he must serve man,espcially man in the humble,poor and degraded state.
Vivekananda was the first great religious leader in india to focuss attention on the plight of the masses,to formulate a definite philosophy of service,and to organize large-scale social service,emphasizing the role of religion in the man - making process.He advised the younger generation to play foot ball and build their bodies rather than sit at one place meditating or chanting the gita.
Around 1897,Vivekananda wrotr,"The movement is begun.It will never stop."Indeed the ramakrishna Mission has taken up the torch vivekananda ignited,by helping the poor and the outcast,and spreading the message of the VEDANTA throughout the world.
On june 20, 1899 , Vivekananda set out on a second journey to the west. To visit the projects he had begun there. He broke journey in London for a few days. He sailed for America where Vedantic work was being carried out successfully by his disciples, Swami Abhedananda and others.Vivekananda went to California to Convalesce. He gave a number of lectures there. He established vedantic centres at Sanfransisco, Oakland and Alameda. He was gifted a large tract of forest land in Santaclara in which he founded an aasram.Work progressed in New york to, where Sister Nivedita joined him to spread the ideas of vedantas.
On july 20, 1900 Vivekananda set sail for Paris when invited to a congress on the history of religion in Paris, he spoke with his usual erudition. To him Paris was the "Home of Liberty". He left France in oct 1900 for the east via Vienna and constantinople. He passed through Hungary, Serbia,Rumania ,Bulgaria and halted at Athens too. In the beginning of december 1900 he returned to India.
Even with his failing health,he guided the monks in belure mutt and regulated the work there with a firm hand.He held vedantic classes ,taught the novices methods of meditation ,paid strict attention to discipline and cleanliness,and inspired the workers with confidence in themselves.His room in the monastery was on the banks of ganga.he worked in the garden and the stables and was surrounded by his favourite animals--a dog,a she goat and a kid,a stork,ducks,cows and sheep.His illness showed no signs of abatement.He had diabetes and swollen feet,and certain parts his body became very sensitive.
On july4,1902,vivekananda began the day,as usual,by rising early and taking classes.In the evening while meditating ,swamiji breathed his last.He was thirty-nine.
Vivekananda had said,"the history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves.The faith calls out the divinity within.You can do any thing.You fail only when you do not strive sufficiently to manifest infinite power.Believe first in yourself ,then in god.Be brave.Bravery is the highist virtue.Dare to speak the whole truth always...."
He also said "Only one idea was burning in my brain---to start the machine for elevating the indian masses and I have succeded in doing to a certain extent".His message was,"God is present in every being.These are all the manifold forms of him. There is no other god to seek for.He alone is worshipping god,who serves all beings." If one wants to serve god,he must serve man,espcially man in the humble,poor and degraded state.
Vivekananda was the first great religious leader in india to focuss attention on the plight of the masses,to formulate a definite philosophy of service,and to organize large-scale social service,emphasizing the role of religion in the man - making process.He advised the younger generation to play foot ball and build their bodies rather than sit at one place meditating or chanting the gita.
Around 1897,Vivekananda wrotr,"The movement is begun.It will never stop."Indeed the ramakrishna Mission has taken up the torch vivekananda ignited,by helping the poor and the outcast,and spreading the message of the VEDANTA throughout the world.
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