Vivekanada

Swami Vivekanada

At a time when the world was shaken by the wars, conflicts, revolutions, strife, plagued by miseries of poverty, hunger, diseases, ignorance, literacy, hatred amongst religions, tyranny of landlords, socials……… the birth of Swami Vivekananda came to usher in renaissance of India.

At each critical period in Indian history a great man has appeared and imparted a new energy and vigor to the nation, enabling it to become young again "Sambahavami yuge yuge"- (Gita ) And this Was what happened in India at the end of 19th century -The Period of total spiritual decadence of the country.

Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 AD at 6.30am before sunrise on Monday - the day of Maha Sankranthi to Smt Bhuvaneshawari Devi and Sri Vishwanath Datta. They named him as Narendranath Datta. He was a born Brahmagnani of extraordinary genius with spiritual vision and mission to rouse men and women all over the world to an awareness of their divine nature and to show them the ways and means to express that divinity in to their thoughts and action in their art education, literature cultural social customs and institutions in changing all areas of life

Naren's family was known for its affluence philanthropy, scholarship and independent spirit. His father was a popular lawyer at Calcutta. His mother was cast in a different mould regal in appearance, gracious in conduct, with old tradition of woman-hood.

Naren was a natural leader among the boys of his age group. He had strong passion but even strong self discipline which held him back from sensuality of any kind. He enjoyed sports swimming, wrestling, riding horseback, he loved music and used to sing and dance and play several musical instruments with-outstanding skills. His memory was more phenomenal than his mother. As he matured this intelligence became predominantly analytical and critical. He was strict vegetarian slept on base floor and resolved to remain celebrate. When his parents urged him to many he flatly refused.

As a boy when he went to bed two pictures of his future great men used to pass through his mind. One as successful man in the world doing wonderful and extra ordinary work for the good of the World, as a householder, as a citizen Second a vivid picture of wandering monk of possessing nothing but good and doing much good to humanity. Day after day these two pictures used to dominate his mind.

He had become temporary disciple of John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer. He met Devendranath Leader of Brahma-Samaj and asked him whether he had seen god Devendranath told him he had eyes of the yogi and he should practice meditation.

Ramachandra Datta, a Cousin of Naren took him to Dakshineswar to see Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. When he met Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in 1881 he was 18 year old. He said to Narendra nath you have come late was that right? Couldn't you have guessed how I have been waiting for you? My ears are nearly burned off to the talk of these worldly people. I thought p -should burst not having any one tell how I really felt? Ramakrishna seen divine men in Narendranath. Yet another time Ramakrishna said to Naren with great affection "I know who you are my lord you are Nara the ancient sage, the incarnation of Narayana. You have come back to earth to take away the sufferings and sorrow of mankind" and spoke about resonation lucidly and beautifully for self realization, "God can be seen and spoken to just as I am seeing you and speaking to you" and advised him to practice meditation. He practiced meditation following the instructions of Devendranath Tagore. He was always felt uneasy and angry.

Narendranath said "My mind underwent a complete resolution with touch of master" He finally became able to control his anger.

Ramakrishna convinced that Narendranath Datta was actually an incarnation of his eternal companion. He advised him to go to "Kali Temple'.

Naren went to the temple of Kali Mata Divine mother. When he entered the temple he saw at once the Divine mother was actually alive, he was over whelmed and prostrated himself again and again before the shrine exclaiming "Mother grant me discrimination, grant me detachment, grant me Divine knowledge and devotion, grant me that I may see you with-out obstruction always". His heart was filled with peace the universe disappeared from his consciousness and Mother alone remained.

Naren felt "who he really was" and his relationship with Ramakrishna as eternal companion. He felt as if he was in presence of spiritual peace before Ramakrishna (Ramakrishna thought the doctrine of pure Vedanta which declares absolute identity of Brahma and Atma)

He practiced spiritual discipline with enabling intensity. Once Naren said to his disciple "from earliest time that I can remember, I used to see a marvelous point of light between my eyes to go to sleep and I used o watch its various changes with great alternation". Narendranath had had enough of visions and manifestations of spiritual power. He wanted for the highest experience of Non-duality Vedanta. The Nirvikalpa Samadhi in which their names and forms of the phenomenal World disappear for some time he used to remain unconscious. Narendranath was anointed in the Ramakrishna order of monks. He strictly observes the advice of Ramakrishna who used to mention the Words "Women" and Gold" as they two chief impediments to spiritual progress.

One day Ramakrishna Summor disciple Naren and called as Vivekananda to the great task of liberating the world. He not to care for his own Moksha or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. To care his private salvation would be a form of selfishness. So towards the end of the life Ramakrishna initiated his disciple not in the ideal of salvation but to the ideal of service.

Vivekananda felt that the Monks of Ramakrishna order should broaden their outlook by assimilating the thought current of the world. He examined the histories of different countries and various philosophical systems, Aristotle, Plato, Kant, Hegel, Shankara charya, Ramanuja charya, Madhwa charya, Buddha, Cháitanya and Nibarka and discussed thoroughly. He studied the Hindu Philosophical systems of Jnana, Bhakti, Kama and Yoga. He worked like a mad man. He would wake up the inmates of Monastery saying "awake, Arise all who would drink the Divine Necta.

He created a new monastic order, the Ramakrishna order blending the ideas of the Buddhist, the Christian and the Shankara charya orders. He has immersed treasure of knowledge, Wisdom and light that comes from God -realization. He spent his whole life teaching ultimate knowledge knowing which everything becomes known by knowing which all problems are solved.

He was at once a great karma-yogi and Raja-yogi and in him both Jnana and Bhakti were combined. He has a gift of vision. He integrated the three Vedanta's of Bhakạti, Jnana and Karma yoga's as he imbibed from his master. He never exclusively committed himself to any several schools of Wedanta (4) Advaita, Visitadvaita, Dwaitadvaita, and Dvaita. He was acquainted with these philosophies. He developed Vedanta of his own which had its roots in the Vedantic traditions in the Upanishads and Brahmasutras of Badarayana and Bhagawadgita.

He traveled to preach the message of his master to everyone all over India. He visited Varanasi, Prayaga, Gaya, Ayodhya, Baglpur, Himalayas, Badrikashram, Nainital near Almora under an old pea-pal tree by the side of a stream he spent many hours in meditation. He jolted down his deep Spiritual experiences in his notebook, "The microcosm and macrocosm are built on the same plan. Just as the individuals soul is encased in a living body, so is the universal soul in the living prakruti (nature) the object to universe-Kali is embracing Shiva "this is not a fancy. This covering of one soul by the other (nature) is analogous to the relation between an idea and Word expressing it. They are one and the same and it is only mental abstraction that one can distinguish them. Though his impossible without words. Therefore in the beginning was word" This dual aspect of universal soul is eternal. So what we perceive or feel is the combination of the eternally formed and eternally formless"

He realized in depth of meditation the oneness of universe and man, who is a universe in miniature.

Vivekananda wished to travel in India without being recognized. He wanted to remain unknown sanayosin. He visited palaces, mosques, tombs, vast ruins of extinct empire, deserts, forests, market places, lonely mountains and populous cites," where ever the spirit leads there I shall wonder". Let everyone strive to realize his goal according to his lights".

He mixed with all, slept in the huts, ate with the untouchables, conversed with maharajas, prime ministers, orthodox pundits, professors, lawyers. He saw the joys, sorrow, hopes and frustrations, theory of people, agony, miseries of poverty, anxiety of men, a hand for and it moved him deeply.

During his travel he advised Hindus to go to eternal truth of their religion. The message of Upanishads to respect temples, religion symbols and take their pride being born in the holy land of India. Avoided out molded orthodox and misguided rationalization of western reforms. )

People to study the eternal truth of Hinduism and cultivate the knowledge of Sanskrit Indian history along with western science. At Jaipur he advised the people to study gramma when he had and dinner with Muslims and untouchables, some commented about their castes. He replied that he is sanayasin belonging to the highest order of Paramahamsa above all rules of caste. In Gujarat at Junagadh he emphasized the need of preaching the message of Hinduism through pout the world. At Porbunder Pundit Shankar Panduranga, Prime minister encouraged him to learn French and to abroad to enlightening the Wets about Vedanta and interpretation of Hinduism where people could understand him and his Words. He visited Borada, Khandwa, Bombay, Pune, Kolhapur, Belgaum. During his wandering life he exchanged ideas with people and impressed every One with his earnestness; eloquence gentlemen with vast knowledge of India and western Culture he gained praise and respect who so ever he met Rajahs or  Administrators he exhorted them to:

Improve sanitary conditions of Villages.

Introduce scientific methods of agriculture

Procure pure Water for drinking

Free the poor peasants from literacy and ignorance

Provide education for excellence

Give back them their lost confidence

When he saw the pitiable stage of the people suffering from poverty, hunger, diseases and dying helplessly without treatment he cried and was tormented day and night while speaking to one of his disciple Hariprasad He exhorted…..

"Don't think always on diseases

Keep cheerful

Lead a religious life

Cherish elevating thoughts

Be merry

Never indulge in pressure with tax body

We should not consider ourselves so important as to think that the world cannot move on without us

At Bangalore he stayed as Mysore Maharajah's guest. The Maharajah was impressed by brilliance of thought, charm character, penetrating religious insights. He traveled to Malabar, Travncore, THvendum and Rameswaram, Kanyakumari. He discussed about education with Rajah of Ramnad.

He worshiped Divine mother at Kanyakumari, Cape Camorin). He traveled all over India form Himalayas to kanya kumari. He recalled what he had seen the pitiable conditions of the Indian masses, victim’s of, poverty, unscrupulous rules, landlords, priests, tyranny of casteism and discrimination of gender. He asked himself what his duty was in this situation. He prayed for Divine guidance-from Cape Camorin he walked to Madras, Pondicherry, Ramnad. He discussed religious philosophy, Science and literature. At Hyderabad he discussed about his mission to the vast. He explained to his brother disciples the reason he wanted to go to the west that is the suffering of Indian people and to find meals for the salvation of the poor India.

He had received the blessings of Ramakrishna in abundance through austerity and self control he conserved great spiritual power. He knew the glory of our past, he left intimating the degradation of the present day. He used his personality with the past and present, ancient  wisdom and modern knowledge. He dicided to visit the west and present to its people the philosophy of the Upanishads. There was no such missionary enterprise in the 3000 years old Vedic culture. He was fully aware of the international character of human relationships in the modern context. He loved India, loved humanity, affirming the faith in the glory of man and ancient past. He decided to lead India in the current world cultural forces.

Swami Vivekananda left Bombay by steamer on 31st May 1893 and passing through Colombo, Penang, Singapore, Hongkong, Canton, Nagasaki, Kobe, Vasaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and Yokohama, he landed at Vancouver, and then reached Chicago by train by middle of July 1893. From then on up to his first speech at Parliament of religionist at Chicago on 11th Sept 1893, he had to face many hardships and sharp moments of despair. The rude shock came when he learnt from the parliament Information Bureau that sessions were to commence only in September that none could he admitted as delegate without proper Credentials from some organizations in India, and that even the time for such admission had gone by. In spite of all these trials and hardships he was determined not to give up attending the parliament of religions.

Miss. Kate Sanborn invited him to be her guest while traveling to Boston. He was guest at her house called 'Breezy Meadows' in Metcalf Masachuseth, Miss Samborn introduced Vivekananda to Dr J.H.Wright, Professor of Greek at Harvard University.Prof Wright said "To ask you Swami for your credentials is like asking the sun to state the right to shine" and wrote to the chairman of the parliament committee" Here is a man who is more learned than all our learned professors put together".

He presented the Swami with rail ticket to Chicago and letters of introduction to the committee Vivekananda rejoiced at him literal manifestation of divine grace. He stayed at Mrs., Mary Halis residence. She conducted him to the office of the parliament and had him admitted as a delegate He prayed goddess Saraswati.

With his first address as "Sisters and Brothers of America" Swami Vivekananda has created millennial history of Hinduism at world at the parliament of Religious. Before he could utter another word the whole parliament was caught up in a great wave of enthusiasm and hundreds rose to their feet with shouts of applause. There was clapping, cheering for full two minutes.

Hon. Mervin-Mar- Marie Snell president of the scientific section of the parliament said "One of N its chief advantages has been in the great lesson which it has taught the Christian world especially the people of the United states, namely, that there are other religions more venerable than Christianity which surpass it in philosophical depth in the Spiritual intensity in independent vigours of thought and breadth and sincerity of human sympathy while not yielding to it a single hours breadth in ethical beauty and efficiency Eight great non-Christian religions groups were represented in its deliberation -Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, Confuscianism, shitoism, Mohammedanism and Mazdanism".

The parliament gave him tremendous ovation that afternoon, (Page 391 Vol II Great spiritual teachers).

Swami Vivekanada was spiritually realized luminous and great organizer and orator, whose heart bide for the poor in this country and abroad. His successfully carried the message of Vedanta to foreign lands. As a matter of fact he was an intellectual giant who built a bridge between east and west. He lectured in the U.S.A, England mostly on the Upanishads, The Bhagvad Gita and six systems of our philosophy Ramayana and Mahabharata also on different topics.

Miss Margaret E. Noble resolved to dedicate her life to his work in India and expressed her desire to come to India. Swami Vivekananda wrote "yet the difficulties are many; you cannot form any idea of the miser, the Superstition and the slavery that are here. You will be in the midst of a mass of half naked men and women with quaint ideas of caste and isolation shunning the white skin and through fear or hatred and hated by them intensely, on the other hand you will looked upon by the white as a crank and every one of your movement will be watched with suspicious".

While training western disciple sister Nivedita who was adopted as the children of Ramakrishna. Swami. Vìvekananda asked her to associate with holy mother her. He would visit almost daily to reveal to her the deep secrets of Indian world its history, folklore, customs and traditions. He tried to their minds all preconceived notions and wrong ideas about India. He wanted her to love India of yore, when she had produced great philosophies, epics, dramas, religious systems.

With a view to Hinduism the minds he asked western disciples to visit Hindu ladies at their homes and observe their dress, food, customs which were radiantly different from their own. Then he put a severe test for their love to Vedanta and India.

Swami Vivekananda never tolerated stupid criticism of Indians way of life, he used to tell that they could serve India only if they love India and they love India only if they knew India and her past glorious and present problems.

Swami Vivekananda as spiritual gurus said "I will give everything I have of the best to you, everything that I am. If I have any spiritual realization it is yours. I will be with you forever, if need be I shall go through a thousand deaths and thousand hells for you". He med) confidence faith in the disciples to learn spirituality, Vedanta by renunciation, Vivekananda meant renunciation of EGO and not work. He discovered a new revelation the ideal of service as Sadhana, Service to Society as a way of salvation.

Swami Vivekananda and his master were advent transmitted Spirituality with glance or with gesture. He used to caution his disciples not to rule over others. The first disciple of Vivekananda pioneered the Ramakrishna mission (movement) in U.S.

Swami Vivekananda passed away at the age of 39 years 5 months and twenty hours day fulfilling his own prophecy "I shall not live to be forty years old "on 4th July 1902.

A spiritual guru has the potential of transferring his experience of the divines truth to the disciple in Such a way that there is identity of perception in both master and student i.e. they see eye to eye and this experience brings about a change in the life and attitude of the disciple.