Swami Vivekananda, a beacon of inspiration for the youth, ignited minds with his wisdom and spiritual fervor. His teachings emphasized self-discovery, universal harmony, and service to humanity. Vivekananda's electrifying speeches at the World's Parliament of Religions in 1893 left an indelible mark, fostering a global legacy of empowerment and enlightenment.

1. Swami Vivekananda
The Youth Icon
Dr. Monica Sharma
Associate Professor,
History
KMV , Jalandhar

2. Socio - Political Situation in late 19th century
India
Colonial Rule-Demoralised Nation
Caste System
Social Reform Movements
Nationalist Movement
Formation of Indian National
Congress (INC):
West
Religious Pluralism
Intellectual Awakening
Social Reform-women's suffrage movement,
labor rights movements
Colonial Expansion:encounters with diverse
cultures and religions.
Industrial Revolution: leading to urbanization,
social upheaval, and economic disparities.

3. Early Life And
Education
• Swami
Vivekananda,(Narendranath
Datta) was born on January 12,
1863, in Kolkata.
• He hailed from a middle-class
Bengali family, and his
parents, Vishwanath Datta
and Bhuvaneshwari Devi,
instilled in him a deep sense
of spirituality and intellectual
curiosity from a young age.
• Vivekananda received his
early education at home,
where he studied a wide range
of subjects, including history,
literature, and the scriptures.
• He was a brilliant student and
excelled in his studies. Later,
he joined the Presidency
College in Kolkata.

4. Meeting His Guru Rama Krishna Paramhans
• One day in November 1881, Vivekananda went to Kali Temple
in Dakshineshwar where Sri Ramakrishna was staying.
• He straightaway asked Ramakrishna, "Sir, have you seen
God?" Without a moment's hesitation, Sri Ramakrishna replied:
"Yes, I have. I see Him as clearly as I see you, only in a much
deeper sense."
• Vivekananda was astonished with Ramakrishna's reply. He
was also surprised to see a common simple man saying that
"God can be seen
• Vivekananda started visiting Dakshineswar frequently and a
relationship of "Master and disciple" developed between the

5. Parliament of Religions
Swami Vivekananda delivered his
famous speech at the Parliament
of Religions in Chicago in 1893.
His speech on the universality of
religions and the importance of
tolerance and acceptance made
a profound impact on the
audience.
Vivekananda's speech not only
introduced Hinduism to the
Western world but also promoted
interfaith dialogue and
understanding. It helped break
down religious barriers and
fostered a sense of unity among
different religious communities.

6. The Iconic Chicago Speech

7. Role in Spreading
Hinduism Abroad
• Swami Vivekananda embarked on a
series of travels and delivered powerful
lectures around the world, spreading the
teachings of Hinduism to diverse
audiences.
• His message of universal brotherhood,
tolerance, and the harmony of religions
resonated with people of different cultures
and backgrounds.

8. Founding of the
Ramakrishna Mission
Objective : To propagate the teachings
of Vedanta.
Core Values : Service to humanity as a
form of worship.
Organizational Structure: The mission
was structured to serve the community
and nurture spiritual aspirants.

9. Ideology of Swami Vivekananda
Advaita Vedanta had influence on Vivekananda’s
thought
Concept of Oneness (Ekam Sat) and Unity of all
existence
Emphasis on self-realization and service to humanity
Promotion of practical spirituality and the union of
knowledge and action (Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga)

10. Key Teachings
of Swami
Vivekananda
Concept of the
divinity of the
soul and
potential for
self-realization
Importance of
fearlessness
and strength in
character
Education as a
means of
empowerment
and social
transformation
Call for the
revival of
India's spiritual
heritage and its
role in global
harmony

11. Teachings and
Philosophy
Universality of
Religion
Harmony of all faiths and
the worship of the divinity
in every individual.
Practical
Spirituality
Practical application of
spiritual principles in daily
life.
Humanitarian
Values
Emphasis on service to others
and the importance of
selflessness.

12. Legacy of Vivekananda and Ramakrishna
Establishment of
the Ramakrishna
Mission and Math
1
Global impact
through the
propagation of
Vedanta and Yoga
2
Continuing
influence on Indian
spirituality,
education, and
social reform
3

13. Legacy : Bridge Between the East and West
He built a
bridge between
Indian culture
and
Western culture.
He interpreted Hind
u philosophy and the
Hindu way of life to
the Western people
in an idiom which
they could
understand.
He made
the Western
people realize
that they had to
learn
much from
Indian
spirituality
First great cultural ambassador to the West.
He showed India had a great contribution to make
to world culture , ending India’s cultural isolation
from the rest of the world.
Nationalism: While Vivekananda focused primarily
on spiritual and moral regeneration, his teachings
also fostered a sense of national pride and unity
among Indians.
Social Reform: His teachings inspired individuals
to work towards social justice, equality, and the
upliftment of the downtrodden.
Spiritual Revival:He emphasized the universality
of Vedanta and the unity of all religions, providing a
sense of pride in India's spiritual heritage.

14. Global recognition
and legacy
International Appeal
His message spread
globally and inspired
people from diverse
cultures.
Enduring Influence
His philosophy
continues to influence
a wide range of fields,
including education,
art, and social reform.
Iconic Legacy
He is revered as a
symbol of India's rich
spiritual heritage.

15. Books Written by Swami
Vivekananda: "Karma Yoga"
"Raja Yoga"
"Bhakti Yoga"
"Jnana Yoga"
"Lectures from Colombo to
Almora"
"The Complete Works of Swami
Vivekananda" (Compilation)

19. Inspiring Generations-
Leo Tolstoy.
“If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative.”
Rabindranath Tagore.
“Vivekananda has given the most definitive statement of religious tolerance and interfaith unity in history.”
Barack Obama.
“My homage and respect to the very revered memory of Swami Vivekananda. … I have gone through
Swami Vivekananda’s works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for
my country became a thousand-fold.
Mahatma Gandhi.
“Even after another 150 years, the life and message of Swami Vivekananda will continue to carry the same
significance as they do now. … His words have the power to awaken the spiritual potential inherent in
humankind. …

20. Jawaharlal Nehru's Observation
“Rooted in the past, full of pride in India’s
prestige, Vivekananda was yet modern in his
approach to life’s problems, and was a kind of
bridge between the past of India and her
present … he came as a tonic to the depressed
and demoralized Hindu mind and gave it self-
reliance and some roots in the past.”

21. Thank You