Swami Vivekanada

• 13 Sep 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Prime Minister of India recalled Swami Vivekananda’s iconic 1893 speech at Chicago and said its spirit has the potential to create a more just, prosperous, and inclusive planet.

• Swami Vivekananda, is regarded as a one of the finest spiritual leaders and intellects India has produced.

Key Points

• Birth: He was born as Narendranath Datta on 12^th January, 1863.
  
  • National Youth Day is held every year to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
  • In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State, he took the name ‘Vivekananda.’
• Contributions:
  
  • Introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
    
    • He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress.
  • Laid the greatest emphasis on education for the regeneration of our motherland. Advocated a man-making character-building education.
  • Best known for his speech at the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893.
  • Spelt out the four pathways of attaining moksha from the worldly pleasure and attachment in his books - Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga and Bhakti-yoga.
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.”
• Associated Organisations:
  
  • He was the chief disciple of the 19^th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa and established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
    
    • Ramakrishna Mission is an organization which works in the area of value-based education, culture, health, women's empowerment, youth and tribal welfare and relief and rehabilitation.
  • In 1899, he established the Belur Math, which became his permanent abode.
• Death: He died at Belur Math in 1902. Belur Math, located in West Bengal, is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.

Source: PIB