Swami Vivekananda Biography for GK Info
Swami Vivekananda was a great social reformer and a very inspiring personality of India. Vivekananda was called by the name Narendranath Datta.. He was born in Kolkata on 12 January 1863 to Vishwanath Datta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi. His father was a successful attorney. He used to practice meditation even from his boyhood, and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time.
At the threshold of youth Narendra had to pass
through a period of spiritual crisis when he was assailed by
doubts about the existence of God. In November 1881,
Narendra went to meet Sri Ramakrishna who was staying at the
Kali Temple in Dakshineshwar. Narendra became a frequent
visitor to Dakshineshwar and under the guidance of the Sri
Ramakrishna, he made rapid strides on the spiritual path.
After a few years two events took place which caused
Narendra considerable distress, sudden death of his father
in 1884 and Sri Ramakrishna in 1886. In the middle of 1890,
Vivekananda left Baranagar Math and embarked on a long
journey to explore and discover India. He went on a
pilgrimage all over the country, studying the conditions of
the people. Wherever he went, his magnetic personality
created a great impression.
He decided to attend the World Parliament of
Religions in order to spread his message in the West which
was schedule to be held in Chicago in 1893. On the eve of
his departure, he adopted the name of Swami Vivekananda. His
speeches at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in
September 1893 made him famous as an ‘orator by divine
right’ and as a ‘Messenger of Indian wisdom to the Western
world’. For three years he spread the Vedanta philosophy and
religion in America and England and then returned to India.
He found the Ramakrishna Math and Mission on 1 May 1897. In
1898, he established Belur Math.
In June 1899 he leaves India for second visit to the
West. He returned to Belur Math in December 1900. The rest
of his life was spent in India, inspiring and guiding
people. He has dedicated his life to guiding others for pure
and true spiritual path. His health deteriorated and Swami
Vivekananda breathed his last on 4 July 1902 at the Belur
Math, leaving behind an immortal legacy not just in the
hearts of his contemporaries, but for all generations to
come.
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