Swami Vivekanand (1863-1902) was a Hindu monk born in Calcutta who founded the Ramakrishna Mission. He had a voracious appetite for learning from a young age and questioned religious traditions. After meeting the spiritual leader Ramakrishna Paramhansa, he underwent a transformation and decided to spread Vedanta philosophy. In 1893, he represented Hinduism at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where he became very popular in the West. He lectured extensively in America and Europe before returning to India to establish the Ramakrishna Mission to undertake social service and humanitarian work.

2. Swami Vivekanand
 1863 – 1902
 Narendranath Datta
 Born in Calcutta
 Great Taste for Music
 Adept in Sports
 Hindu classics – Tutelage of Mother
 Voracious Reader
 Prodigious Memory
 Verbatim familiarity with Encyclopedia
Britannica

3. Childhood
Courage, presence of mind, intelligence
restless. When very restless mother
poured cold water on his head chanting
‘Shiva’. Immediately quietened
Loved birds and animals. Pets- cow, a
monkey, a goat, a peacock. Pigeons,
guinea pigs
Favourite game – ‘King and the Court’
Self- King and playmates
Ministers/courtiers Leadership
Worshipped images of Shiva, Ram, Sita

4. Wandering monks asking alms
Gave only possession a tiny piece of
cloth around waist
Mother lock him up when monk
appeared
Throw out of widow anything in hand
to holy men
Heard - holy men grew long hair that
enter earth when in meditation
Often pretended meditation- open eyes
now and then to see hair touch earth
Once in meditation, snake entered,
friends fled, he remained absorbed,
snake left.

5. Parents
Father – Vishwanath Datta
charitable and sympathetic to
poor
Mother – Bhubaneshwari Devi –
deeply religious. Spare time
sewing and singing from
Ramayan and Mahabharat,
sympathy for poor
Narendranath – Inherited
rational mind and independent
spirit from father
Devotional nature from mother

6. Questioning spirit
Father’s office separate tobacco
pipes for clients of different
communities/religious groups
Narendranath heard – pipes
meant for other castes – degrade
oneself
Smoked from all pipes. Caught
and scolded. Wanted to see if it
made any difference

7. At school(Calcutta Metropolitan Instn.)
Founded by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Organized theatrical gr., gymnasium,
took lessons in Fencing, wrestling,
rowing, other sports.
Visited museums,zoological gardens with
friends.
Averse to superstition –Favourite game
climb tree,neighbour – pluck flowers.
Threats failed. Owner said, tree was
haunted by evil spirit, wring necks of
boys, all frightened, Narendra ‘not to
believe people said unless proved
right’.

8. That is realization
Do not believe in a thing because
U have read it in a book.
Do not --another man has said it is
true.
Find out the truth for yourself.
Set up a heavy trapeze in
gymnasium, An English sailor
helped, trapeze hit the sailor, fell
unconscious, crowd thinking dead
ran away. N tore a piece of cloth
from dhoti, dressed, washed face,
nursed, purse of donation

9. 1879
Passed school first div.
His interests: books on literature
and history, newspapers, public
meetings
Joined Scottish Church College,
Olive complexion, full face, broad
forehead, strong jaws, glowing
eyes, irresistible charm, sparkling
with wit, humour and kindness

10. Romain Rolland writes
Nobody would come near him
without paying homage to his
majesty.
In college, specialized in western
philosophy, ancient and modern
history
Developed critical inquiry
Doubts stormed his mind
Grew older became sceptical
about very existence of God

11. Attracted to Brahmo Samaj Movement
Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Denounced rituals, image worship
Wanted to make social(landlords,
women, priests) and religious life
healthy
Emancipation of women, widow
remarriage, spread of mass edu.
supported slogans of French
revolution, progressive ideas.
Restless soul(yearning for realizing
God)

12. Rev, W.W. Hastie, his Principal
Narendranath is really a
genius. I have travelled far and
wide but I have never yet come
across a lad of his talents and
possibilities, even in German
Universities, among
philosophical students.
From Hastie first time heard
about spiritual leader Shri
Ramakrishna

13. Met Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa
Shot Q’ have U seen God?
Replied in clear, confident
&unfaltering voice
He had, could be realized
Frequent visits
Rational mind, questioning
spirit, lot of conflict
Master’s spiritual guidance
– transformed, skepticism
disappeared

14. Master’s love, guidance emphasized
Discipline – body &mind,
self control
Regular meditation,
detachment
God is one known by
different names
All living beings
manifestation of God
Service to mankind more
important than Salvation

15. 1888
Left Calcutta, went to Varanasi,
Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra,
Vrindavan, Mathura, the
Himalyas.
thought of God always in mind
Discovered real India, saffron
robe, renouncing worldly life,
Travelled far and wide on foot
often w/o food and shelter,
stayed with poorest of poor, guest
of kings/ princes

16. Revealed ‘book of life’
Poverty, ignorance, ruined
economy, foreign rule,
crippling caste system , muffled
cries of helpless people
Went to Kanyakumari, swam
little rock, meditated three days
and nights
Mind at peace, turned inwards,
Decided to attend Parliament of
Religions in Chicago

17. Firm conviction
It is futile to teach
religion w/o first
trying to remove
poverty and suffering

18. Journey to Parliament of Religions
Not know exact date of opening
Little money, no credentials
Maharaja of Khetri, a devotee, ticket
for sea voyage
Left Bombay, visited Ceylon,
Penang, Singapore, Canton,
Nagasaki, the by land to Yokohama,
Vancouver - Chicago (July)

19. America
Overwhelmed by power, riches, inventive
genius
Dismayed, open first week if Sept., too late
for registration, no w/o official reference
Decided to visit Boston, fellow traveler rich
Massachusettes lady – invited to house
Introduced to Prof. J. H. Wright
Write wrote to President of the committee
Offered rail ticket to Chicago

20. Chicago
Lost address of the committee
Coloured man – Shunned
No lodging, slept in big empty box at
station
Tried way to venue, knocked doors
Sat down exhausted. a Lady gave food,
rest, took to Parliament, accepted. Mrs
hale remained faithful, devoted

21. Parliament of Religions
To mark 400th anniversary of
Columbus’s discovery of
America
Vivekanand tense &nervous
End of day, spoke ‘Sisters and
Brothers of America’ burst in
loud applause
Hinduism – mother of all
religions – key characteristics
acceptance and tolerance
Addressed parliament six times

22. Emerged as world teacher
Principles of Vedanta
Conducted regular classes in
America
Large following in West &
East
1893 to 1896 innumerable
lectures
Founded Vedanta society
Visited England, Miss Noble –
Sister Nivedita inspired
freedom fighters by writings

23. Back to India
People stormed, flowers, inscence,
offerings
Planned mission of social service
Worship God embodied in men
Founded Ramkrishna Mission
Messages of Shri Ramkrishna, Vedanta
Social service, poor, orphanage, famine,
Plague, relief work, education
Second journey – London, San Francisco,
Oakland, Alameda, France, Hungary,
Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Athens, back
in Belur

24. Teachings
Believe first in yourself, then in God
Bravery is the highest virtue
Dare to speak the whole truth always
God in every being
Knowledge is to find unity in
diversity
Education is that by which character
is formed, strength of mind is
increased, intellect is expanded and
by which one can stand on one’s feet.
Man making Education

25. Christopher Isherwood
He stood impartially between East
and West, prizing the virtues and
condemning the defects of both
cultures. Synthesis between young
India and ancient India. Champion
against poverty and oppression.
Praised American idealism. British
singleness of purpose. Such
Greatness