Vivekananda is synonymous with rousing enthusiasm
and youthful energy. Though the soil of Bengal has given birth to so many
spiritual luminaries like Ramakrishna,
Lahiri Mahasaya, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh,
no other had huge public outreach like Swami Vivekananda. This darling child of
Mother India propagated the message of Indian Spirituality beyond national
boundaries.
Whoever remembers Vivekananda, they are
engraved with his famous Chicago Speech given at Parliament of Religions on
11th September, 1893. It had an electrifying effect on American minds of that
time and literally created waves in their society.
Narendranath Datta (Vivekananda's family name) was
born on Monday January 12, 1863 to Bhuvaneswari Devi and Viswanath Datta in
Kolkata. He soon showed a precocious
mind and developed a keen memory. Vivekananda in his later years once said to
an audience that " I am indebted to my mother for whatever knowledge I
have acquired.' At the age of fifteen he experienced his first
spiritual ecstasy.
Naren had first heard about Sri Ramakrishna from a
relative, Ramachandra Datta who was one of the foremost householder disciples
of the Master. Having understood his spiritual bent of mind, he was
advised to visit Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar. The young Naren met
Ramakrishna for the first time in November 1881 in the house of the Master's
devotee Surendranath Mitra. He was invited there to entertain the
visitors with his melodious music. Having been impressed, Ramakrishna asked
Narendranath to visit him at Dakshinewar. During the meeting when he posed Ramakrishna a question "Sir,
have you seen God ? the master replied without a moment's hesitation "
Yes, I have seen God.’’ He further said him that ‘’ I had seen God
like I saw you.’’ Naren was astounded with the master’s reply.
Ramakrishna in fact waited the eager arrival of Vivekananda to whom he
transferred his spiritual energy thereby, he became a World Teacher with his
first visit to America and later to Europe and other countries.
Ramakrishna knew the energies of Vivekananda. The
master in his own words said that “among
lotuses, Narendra is a thousand-petaled one”. Naren assumed the name of
Vivekananda at the time of his departure for America in 1893.
Vivekananda's famous Chicago speech at Parliament
of World's Religions on 11th Sept., 1893 with his starting salutation "Brothers & Sisters of America"
enthralled the seven thousand packed audience. His extempore talk captivated
the audience and sprouted the seeds of spirituality on American minds.
The influence of Swamiji on stalwarts like Mahatma
Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose not only enriched their personal lives but
contributed immensely in liberating India from British clutches. What we need
to learn from Swamiji's life is his inquisitive mind.
Reading his literature stirs the blood with
mystical energy. The core philosophy of Vivekananda centers on divinity within
us. While defining education, he says
that it is the manifestation of
perfection already in man.
Vivekananda in his brief sojourn of 39 years on
this planet has literally brought a spiritual revolution. He is the first
Indian who propagated the Message of India on Western soil. Swamiji's words are
like live ammunition which triggers us into deep thought process, sharpening
our intellect and bring utmost humility. Swamiji is a hardcore pragmatist. What
he taught, he lived through. He exemplified the life of Advaita philosophy.
He is a living embodiment of what an ordinary man
could achieve even without sufficient ways and means but only an iron will to
spread the message of his Master. In a tribute of his immense contribution,
Govt. of India declared 12th January as 'National Youth Day'.
As long as Indian philosophy lives through this
civilization, Vivekananda remains the torch-bearer of Wisdom at the world
stage.
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