Swami Vivekanand is a spiritual genius with immense intellectual power of India. Vivekananda was born in Shimla Pally, Calcutta, on 12 January 1863 as Narendranath Dutta. Young Vivekananda clinched the nonbeliever attitude of the West along with the worship of science. Narendranath inherited his rational thinking from his father, Vishwanath Dutta and liberal and progressive outlook in social and religious matters from mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi.
Primary education of Vivekanand started at home and for higher education he joined Presidency College, Calcutta in 1879 completing his graduation in 1884. By that time he learned western logic, western philosophy and history of European nations. Simultaneously his passionate desire to discern the truth about God ignited. In search to find out answers he approached many spiritual people and asked them if someone had seen God.
In 1881 he meet with Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his life turned about since then. After many differences he accepted Sri Ramakrishna as his master who allayed his doubts, gave him a divine vision, and transformed him into learned and spiritualist entity with authority to teach. Narendra joined Brahmo samaj and revolted against idol worship and polytheism.
Though Ramakrishna was his guru, he was still against the worship of Kali of Ramakrishna.
Thus it is rightly said that Ramakrishna was the man behind Narendra who transformed him into a mature man who abandoned everything for God-realization.
After Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda gave up worldly affairs and traveled across India like monk. He represented Hinduism at Chicago's Parliament of Religions in 1893 and won iconic status in America instantly.
Deep in meditation he underwent Samadhi. One day while he was sleeping, he saw a beam of light that amplified the apparition of Buddha during meditation. Philosophy, history, social sciences, arts, Vedas, the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas were Narendranath’s favorite subjects. He was apt in classical music too. As a fact of rebellious nature he questioned the legitimacy of irrational customs and caste discrimination prevailing in the society. He believes in practicality of life so didn’t accepted anything which is sans rational proof.
The love for mankind inspired him to endeavor for peace and brotherhood based on the Vedic Oneness of existence. He spread the Vedanta philosophy and religion in America and England for almost three years and then returned back to India and found the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Vivekananda spent his last days at Belur Math propounding the work of Ramakrishna Mission and Math.
He took his last breath on July 4, 1902 at the age of 39. Much of his life time was devoted to public activities. He delivered countless lectures, wrote inspired letters in to his friends and disciples, composed numerous poems, and acted as spiritual guide to those who look upon him for lessons. Later on his lectures and writings have been compiled into nine volumes.
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