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SWAMI VIVEKANAND: BIOGRAPHY
Swami Vivekanand was born in the renowned Datta family of Calcutta (KOLKATA) on January 12, 1863. His childhood name was Narendra Nath, and his father’s name was Vishwanath Datta, who was a very famous lawyer in Bengal. His mother, Shrimati Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was a devout, religious, virtuous, intelligent, and courageous woman. His father, Shri Durgacharan Datta, was a very cultured, virtuous, and good man, who was highly knowledgeable in Persian, Sanskrit, and law. Swami ji was greatly influenced by his parents and grandparents. It is said that signs of greatness start appearing in great souls from the very beginning. The way Swami Vivekananda worshipped and meditated was like diving deep into his soul. His concentration was so powerful that he completely forgot the physical world around him. It seems that in his worship, he experienced a unique connection that lifted him above worldly matters.
His father was very eager for him to become a lawyer and continue their tradition. His father was a compassionate householder and a social being who wanted to see his son develop into the same. However, perhaps it was not destined by the divine.
Narendra was very sharp and had a brilliant intellect; he could quickly memorize anything. Regular attendance at school began to have an impact on him as well. Therefore, his education was conducted at home, managed by his father. At such a young age, he studied grammar and memorized many long passages from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. This indicates that his educational system was highly effective and influential in curriculum assessment. At the age of seven, he enrolled in college. Along with his studies, he developed an interest in sports, exercise, music, drama, etc., and his exceptional skills were evident in all of them from time to time. At the age of sixteen, he passed the matriculation examination and enrolled in Presidency College. Later, he went to study at Assembly’s Institution. His talent always remained supreme in his studies. Seeing his talent, William Hastie once said, “I have travelled far and wide but I have never come across a lad of his talent and possibilities. He is bound to make his mark in life.”
Inspired by Principal William Hastie, in 1881, he met Ramakrishna Paramhansa at Dakshineswar Temple in Kolkata, which played a crucial role in changing his life’s course. Ramakrishna Paramhansa recognized him at once and said, “I know who you are. You are the embodiment of Narayana Himself who has taken birth on this earth to uplift humanity, and thus the guru-disciple relationship developed between them.” Narendra asked the first question, “Have you seen God?” Ramakrishna replied simply, “God can be realized. One can see and talk to Him as I am doing with you. But who cares to do so?”
Some time later, Narendra’s father passed away, and the full responsibility of managing the household fell on him, but he did not falter. Narendra’s faith in God continued to grow. One day, he realized that God also exists because it is only through God’s grace that one can face difficulties with courage. In the continuous presence of Ramakrishna, he gradually transformed from a householder to a monk. After Ramakrishna’s death in 1886, Narendra made the propagation of his teachings the main mantra of his life. Narendra was curious from the beginning; he started researching truth in everything. Due to this thinking process of life, he resolved that we can attain the purpose of life only when we dedicate ourselves to a goal with complete dedication, faith, and devotion. He decided that liberation in life is in renunciation, so he once said, “I believe that renunciation should be the highest ideal of human life. It is far greater to strive with every nerve to reach the unchangeable ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ than to run after the changing pleasures of this world.” (Vivekananda Sahitya Khand -7, page – 234)
Seeing Narendra’s nature, Ramakrishna had once said, “The day Narendra’s life becomes close to sorrows, thorns, and adversities, his character will be transformed from pride to humility, and he will be converted into endless compassion.
His profound faith will become a means to awaken that faith and confidence in all disappointed souls, which they had lost for some time. Based on powerful self-control, his behavior, which is grounded in spontaneity, will shine as the true freedom of the soul in the eyes of others.
In 1886, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa passed away. Before his passing, he touched Narendra and transferred all his possessions to him, saying, “Son, today by giving you all my possessions, I have become a beggar.” With this touch, Narendra experienced the bliss of samadhi. Now, Narendra ceased to be Narendra and became Swami Vivekananda, and in his life, we began to see an unprecedented harmony of knowledge, devotion, action, and renunciation.
During 1888, Swami Vivekananda took his kamandal (water pot) in hand and traveled to the main places of India in the attire of a monk. Through this journey, Vivekananda experienced many awakenings in the world. He gained insight into the customs, traditions, and thoughts of various regions of India. Through this acquaintance, Swami Vivekananda realized that the knowledge he gained about India was extraordinary; he learned about the poverty, ignorance, and wrong beliefs of the Indian people.
During his journey from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, Swami ji observed that the land of India was afflicted with famine, epidemic, sorrow, disease, and suffering. While the wealthy were indulging in luxury, hungry and thirsty people were yearning for food on the earth. Due to the lack of education, the priestly class was instilling fear in the name of religion. Due to ignorance about religion, there was neither hope nor strength in the hearts of the Indians. Seeing all this, Swami’s heart melted, and near Kanyakumari, he resolved to eliminate the aforementioned evils.
Another aspect of Swami Vivekananda’s greatness was that he assimilated the culture of ages onto his shoulders. This heritage created by him helps us understand the value of our heritage. On May 31, 1893, fulfilling the wish of his guru, he embarked on a journey from India to America. He touched Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canton, and Nagasaki during his journey and reached Chicago by mid-July. Through this daring change, he presented his ideals to the world and made the American people aware of the Indian religious and cultural heritage.
In this journey, Swami ji presented a unique glimpse of the cultural unity of Asia and the unparalleled contribution of India to it. In China, he found invaluable Sanskrit manuscripts, which he studied. In Japan, he received verses from sacred scriptures. Seeing all these objects, he became fully convinced of how great a contribution India had made to the spiritual unity of Asia. Upon reaching America and seeing its power, wealth, creative talent, and prosperity, he was amazed. The purpose for which he went to America was not being fulfilled at that assembly; at that time, Professor J.A. Wright helped him gain entry into the Parliament of Religions. On September 11, Monday, 1893, the Parliament of Religions began at the Hall of Columbus. Representatives from India included Pratap Chandra Mazumdar and Nagarikar Gandhi of the Brahmo Samaj, Veer Chand from the Jain community, Annie Besant and Chakravarti from Theosophical Society, and Swami Vivekananda representing Hinduism.
During his inaugural speech, Swami Vivekananda addressed the Americans as ‘dear brothers and sisters.’ Upon hearing his speech, the assembly echoed with applause for two minutes. Swami ji began his speech with Hinduism. He proclaimed Hinduism as the father of all religions because it taught the world tolerance and universality. Through quotations from the Gita, he proved that there is no place for sectarianism, narrow-mindedness, or blind faith in religion. Thus, Swami ji heralded the victory of Vedanta in this great spiritual convention. He provided information about the fundamental principles of Indian philosophy to countries like America and England. It was a new message for the world. Therefore, in the darkness, wandering humanity found a clear path to new knowledge.
In his speech, Swami ji told the Americans about Hindus, saying that Hindus never call you sinners. You are all descendants of immortality. He said that there is nothing called ‘sin’ on this earth. If there is any sin, it is calling a person a sinner. You, the all-powerful soul, are pure, liberated, and great.
“Arise, awake, and strive to manifest the self.” (Dr. Satyendranath Majumdar, Vivekananda Charit, page 110)
His magnetic effect on this psychological discourse spread throughout America, and the American residents were impressed by his personality. The American nation began to openly praise Vivekananda, and every American became eager for his presence. The New York Herald newspaper wrote on this occasion that in the Chicago Parliament of Religions, Vivekananda alone is the greatest personality. After listening to his speech, it feels like sending our preachers to the prosperous nation of India is just foolishness.” In this context, it was written in the Boston Evening Transcript, “He is truly a great man, generous, simple, honest, and more knowledgeable than most of our scholars.”
Through his eloquent discussions and speeches full of Vedantic knowledge in the Parliament of Religions, Swami Vivekananda attracted the American people towards love for India. He compelled them to think that India is also a country like ours, where similar human beings live and their religion, customs, and God are also similar to ours. For 150 years, Christian missionaries had been spreading defamation about Hinduism, but Swami’s discourse on Hinduism silenced them, and the entire Western world was moved by hearing about Hinduism from Swami’s mouth. Then Hindus also began to feel proud of their religion and culture.
When Indians saw that even Europe and America were beginning to understand the importance of Hinduism, they also realized its importance. In this way, to express Hinduism, which had emerged as a force with English language, Christian religion, and European rationalism, its destruction was achieved through Swami Vivekananda’s vast knowledge and his Himalayan-like personality. Speaking out his thoughts at the Parliament of Religions, Sister Nivedita writes, “It can be said about Swami’s speech before the World Religion Conference that when he began his speech, the subject was the religion of Hindus, but when he finished it, the creation of Hinduism had taken place.”
Mr. Marin, chairman of the Science Department of the Parliament of Religions, wrote after this speech that the impact of Hinduism on the Parliament of Religion and generally on the American public was greater than that of any other religion. Swami Vivekananda, the most important and distinctive representative of Hinduism, who was undoubtedly the most popular and influential person in the Parliament of Religion, received more respect and praise on all occasions than any other Christian speaker. Christians also said about him that he is a king among men.Deeply impressed by Vivekananda, Dr. Annie Besant wrote, “A charismatic personality, adorned in yellow and orange garments, shining like the sun in the bustling environment of Chicago, with a lion-like head, penetrating eyes, sensitive aura, energetic pace… Swami Vivekananda’s impression, somewhat similar, also struck me. People call him a warrior monk, and they are not wrong, because his first impression was more of a warrior than a monk. His caste was filled with pride for his country and caste. This envoy of India, this did not make him feel embarrassed. He came with the message of his homeland, spoke in his name, and the carrier of this message reminded him of the glory of his royal land from where he came. Enchanted by his words, the vast community keeps their ears to his words, lest a single letter be missed, lest a single rhythm be forgotten. One person spoke that day, and we send missionaries to that country’s people. It would be appropriate for them to send their missionaries to us.
World-renowned historian Bill Durant writes that Swami Ji attended the assembly of religions organized on the occasion of the World Fair and by his illustrious personality, the message of unity in all religions, and worship of the same god in humans, he won everyone over with his simple morality. The dogmatic clergy found that people were respecting only one religion. Returning to India, Vivekananda gave such an instruction of a powerful religion to his countrymen, which no one had given from Vedic times till now. The common people did not care how his message would be received. The communities that were opposed to him later became his allies and promoters.
In England, they also became their supporters and promoters. Their personality also had a profound impact in England. Swamiji had firm belief that without the confluence of Eastern and Western knowledge, human welfare is not possible. He knew that until the confluence of Eastern and Western knowledge occurs, human welfare cannot be achieved. They wanted harmony between Vedanta and science. Swamiji knew that until the intellectual and scientific methods of Hinduism are not presented, the Western world cannot be accepted. For this purpose, he sent his Western disciples to India and Indian disciples to the West. On returning to India in 1897, he was welcomed unprecedentedly. Gradually, discussions began everywhere about the revival and rejuvenation of Hinduism and Indian culture. Swami Vivekananda’s reception began as the great Acharya of Hinduism. Through his organization, he started making Vedanta teachings practical. His Advaita Sangh was engaged in cultural development and national revival. Swami Vivekananda’s greatest contribution to the country is this. Swamiji had deeply studied Darwin’s theory of evolution and firmly believed that even if Darwin’s theory of evolution is correct, its conclusions are not final. He believed that struggle and opposition often become obstacles to the perfection of life. The goal of education and progress is only to remove obstacles on the path. When they are removed, the essence of the original divine nature shines forth. The obstacles in the path of spiritual progress can be removed through education, initiation, meditation, and concentration. Swami Vivekananda was an Advaitist and was deeply influenced by Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta. Swami ji believed that all religions and philosophies of the world bow towards Advaita Vedanta. Due to this syncretic perspective, they were considered fully Advaitist. Swamiji’s aim was to make humanity ordinary and especially to give the message of modern Indian humanity with action. His message was, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” Remember that you are the creator of your own destiny. Everything you need is within you, so rely on this power, acquire strength, and shape your own future. Swami considers the ashram system as the highest means to elevate humanity to the highest state. The goal of the entire human race and all religions is the same, and that is the complete union with God. Therefore, they said that our highest ideal is God, and love for Him is the only ultimate purpose of human life. According to Swami ji’s thoughts, there is a possibility of improvement even for the most fallen person. If you remove obstacles, knowledge will naturally manifest. Our nation resides in huts. At present, it is your duty to go from one part of the country to another and tell people in every village that sitting idly will not work. Introduce them to the reality and tell them, brothers, wake up. How much more will you sleep! Go, advise them to improve their condition, and by explaining the scriptures in simple terms, provide knowledge of higher truths so that they can understand it and have a stable thought in their minds that they also have equal rights in religion. Swamiji says that for centuries, the upper class people have destroyed all their powers. They used to look at women with great respect. They worshiped everyone as a mother, sister. They freed them from slavery, brought them out of purdah, inspired them to participate in public life, and gave a lot of emphasis on their education. They said that advanced nations have achieved greatness only by giving proper respect to women. Nations that do not respect women can never become great, nor can they ever become great, nor will they ever be able to become great. They wanted to make women like Sita by giving them education in worldly affairs and renunciation so that they could protect themselves. Swami Vivekananda was very saddened by the plight of the Dalits and the poor. He inspired his countrymen and other missionaries to support and help them. “Let every one of us pray day and night for the millions of untouchable Indians who are held fast by the chains of poverty, ignorance, and priestcraft.” They considered Hinduism as a world religion. One reason for this is that Hinduism has equal respect for various opinions, sects, and practices. In the World Religions Conference, he said that I feel proud to be a follower of a religion that has taught the world tolerance and universalism, both. We accept the truth of all religions, not just religious tolerance. By spreading Vedantic education, he ended conservative beliefs and based all religious doctrines on the criterion of reason and established Hinduism on the foundation of scientific and logical principles. They were supporters of individuality and socialism. Swami ji considered religion to be the soul of education. In his view, religion is a practice, an experience, a realization of the soul. A flaw of Western education is that it makes people extremely selfish. Education cannot elevate individuals to the highest level that the heart can lead them to. Through education, Swami ji wanted to develop qualities in individuals so that they could become ideal, virtuous, strong, and self-reliant. Therefore, he wished that people learn the knowledge of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Jnana Yoga at a high level.
Swami Vivekananda recognized the need for a common Indian language for the unity of India, and he encouraged teaching a universal language for inter-state communication to all children. He considered the mother tongue as the most powerful vehicle for general knowledge. He emphasized the study of the mother tongue as a medium of primary education. Therefore, he said, “Teach people in the language of their everyday conversation. Educate them in their vernaculars. Keep the ideas before them, and they will get to the intellect of it. They will then find out everything for themselves that is necessary. Give them a literature.”
Swami ji also had the vision of Indian renaissance and as an educator, he wanted to integrate spirituality with science. He wanted to provide practical and technical education to the citizens of the country. Along with this, he wanted to impart education in arts along with subjects like geography, history, and science. He believed in the holistic development of the individual. He always said that education should be according to the capacity of the individual’s intellect. No method is such that it destroys the individuality of the person. When educating children, there should not be any negativity, and there should not be continuous pressure to study because it hinders their development. Encouragement is always needed while teaching children. Therefore, it is necessary that there should be changes in education according to the needs of the students. Guidance should be provided according to their tendencies. There are some methods and techniques for teaching every subject.
He has discussed 15 methods of teaching, which are as follows:
- Lecture Method
- Instruction Method
- Self-illumination Method
- Experimental Method
- Correspondence Method
- Spiritual Method
- Knowledge Method
- Silent Method
- Experimental Method
- Question-Answer Method
- Argumentation and Analysis Method
- Example Method
- Storytelling
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