Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and philosopher who was influential in introducing Hindu philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He was born in 1863 in Kolkata, India and received a traditional education before joining the Brahmo Samaj, a religious reform movement. Not satisfied with their teachings, he sought answers about experiencing God directly. He achieved fame after speaking at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where he introduced Hinduism and challenged the view that Christianity was the world's only true religion. He traveled throughout India and the United States, establishing Vedanta centers and spreading the ideals of practical Vedanta, including karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and ra