Vivekananda for Youth

On my recent visit to Ramkrishna Mission – Belgavi, I bought a book called 'Vivekananda for Youth' published by the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Ramkrishna Mission, Hyderabad. The book brings out the Swami Vivekananda’s life story for the youth. Here is a short summary of his life story. 

Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath) was born in a well-known Datta family that lived in the Simla of Kolkata (then Culcutta). His father was a lawyer. As a child, Naren was a naughty and loved to hear Mahabharata and Ramayana stories from his mother. He also liked to meditate with his friends. Naren began his studies when he was six years old. At school, he was an intelligent and quick learner. He enjoyed outdoor games and talking to his friends, even when the teacher was present. He even got punished for that. He showed leadership qualities early in his life. One of Naren’s favourite games was ‘king and the court’ in which he always played the king. Other activities that he was involved in were: playing with animals, cooking, fencing, lathi-play, wrestling etc. He passed his first arts examination in 1881 and obtained his B.A. degree in 1884. Naren spent five years learning music. He was a great singer and could play several musical instruments, but was more interested in intellectual matters. He visited many religious leaders to seek explanations on religious and spiritual matters.

Naren learned about Sri Ramakrishna (a great Hindu Saint from Kamarpurkar village in the Hooghly district) from Prof. W.W. Hastie, the Principal of Presidency College and also from a relative. After visiting Sri Ramakrishna several times, he developed great adoration for the saint. Thereafter, he learned meditation and other techniques from Sri Ramakrishna. Naren went through a tough time – financially at home after his father’s death in 1884, but he continued to spend most of his time with Sri Ramakrishna. When Sri Ramakrishna passed away in 1886 leaving his disciples in great sorrow, Naren started to organize them into a monastic brotherhood. They moved to Baranagore where they meditated, sang songs and discussed the religious ideas of all the religions as taught by Sri Ramakrishna. At Baranagore Math, people often referred to Naren as Swamiji.

After staying for two years at Baranagore Math, as is a tradition with the Hindu monks to wander from one place to another, Swamiji also left the math and went to Banaras in 1888. He visited many cities in the North India. He went to Gazipur, Banaras, Meerut and the Himalayas. Swamiji had a variety of experiences while he was wandering. He met Prince Mangal Singh in Alwar. Swamiji then visited Mount Abu where he met Maharaja of Khetri. From Khetri, he went southwards. Swamiji visited Rameshwaram and then Kanyakumari. Sitting on a big rock in the ocean, he contemplated on how he could contribute to developing his motherland. He decided to go America and attend the Parliament of Religions. He went to Madras and discussed his idea of going to America. The Maharaja of Khetri offered a first class ticket on a ship going to Canada and also made the necessary arrangements. He suggested Swamiji to take the name of Vivekananda. Swamiji accepted this name and till today he is known by the same respected name.

Swami Vivekananda commenced his journey to America on May 31, 1893 from Mumbai. The ship sailed to Vancouver, Canada. From there Swamiji went to Chicago by train. In Chicago, Swamiji visited the Chicago World Fair where he was surprised by the scientific inventions, industrial products and the other exhibits. When he went to the information bureau to find out about the Parliament of Religions, he was told that they could not accept him as a delegate as he did not have any relevant papers and the date of registration was over. Swamiji was disappointed, but he met Prof. J.H. Wright of Harvard University. Impressed by Samiji’s views and intellect, Prof. Wright wrote to the Chairman of the Committee introducing Swamiji as, “a man who is more learned than all our professors put together” and made all the arrangement for Swamiji’s participation in the Parliament.

The Parliament of Religions opened on September 11, 1893 and was held in a large building called the Hall of Columbus.  At the Parliament of Religions, Swamiji’s speech was very well appreciated and the audience was impressed. He became a famous personality with all newspapers featuring him. But, the poverty in India continued to worry him despite his popularity abroad.

After the success in the Parliament of Religions, Swami Vivekananda was in great demand. His ideas, the way he spoke and his personality fascinated people. He started to receive invitations for speaking. Swamiji travelled far and wide for giving lectures. After a while, Swamiji decided to stop travelling and stay in one place. So, he started a Vedanta Society in New York and held classes there. Swamiji was full of spiritual power and had a great influence on his devotees. One of them, Miss Waldo, compiled many of Swamiji’s teachings at the Thousand Island Park, in a book called “Inspired Talks”. His disciples published three books based on his lectures, entitled Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga and Karma Yoga.  His dream was to blend the best of Indian and American cultures. His vision was to see Indians going to the West to teach spirituality while people from the West coming to India to share their knowledge about science, industry, technology and cooperation. He travelled to England and went on tour to Europe too. Swamiji made many friends and disciples in England, who helped him in his work in India too. One of them was Miss Margaret Noble, who later became famous as Sister Nivedita. He sent Swami Saradananda to America and Swami Ahedananda to England to carry on his work there. And, Swami Vivekananda returned to India, where travelled to different places and gave lectures.

Swami Vivekananda was very tired after many days of travelling, meeting people, giving lectures and interviews. So, he went to Kolkata. Swamiji talked to his brother monks about his ideas of rebuilding India. Swami Vivekananda told them that monks are meant to serve the people and not just to pray, meditate and to realise God. Swamiji called for a meeting of the leading monks and his devotees on May 1, 1897. He told them that he wanted all monks together. They all agreed to start an organization called Ramkrishna Mission.

Ramkrishna Mission, Belgaum (Belgavi)

Later on, Swami Vivekananda went to Himalayas along with brother monks and disciples from the West. They passed through different cities and Swamiji explained to them the greatness of every city they passed. Sister Nivedita recorded his conversations which she later complied in a book. Swamiji spent his time in meditation, mostly by himself. He spent less time with his disciples, but shared his ideas of uplifting the poor in India and serving the country. Swami Vivekananda was happy with great spiritual experiences he had. But, as his health declined, he had to come back to Kolkatta.

One of Swamiji’s dream was to help the women of India. Indian women were pure, humble and had many other pure qualities, but they were not educated. He wanted them to be educated so that they could solve their problems on their own and be independent. He felt happy when Sister Nivedita started a school for girls.

Swamiji was happy with the things happening around him, but his health grew worse. Doctor advised him to take a break and move to a cooler place. So he visited the West again. He went to New York, California, San Francisco, where he gave many lectures. On seeing a great response to his lectures, he started the Vedanta Society in San Francisco. Swamiji worked too hard that his health got disturbed again. So he moved to Paris with his friends where he attended the Congress of the History of Religions. Thereafter, he visited Austria, Turkey and stayed in Istanbul. Further, he visited Egypt. Eventually, after tiring activities, he had a strong desire to return to India. Swamiji reached India in December 1900 by ship where he travelled to Mayavati – in the Himalayas, Dhaka and Guwahati.

Swamiji moved back to Belur Math. Swami Vivekananda went to the Chapel in the morning where he meditated for three hours, sang songs, took meal with other monks and taught Sanskrit grammar to the brahmacharins for two hours. He went silent in the evening and started meditating. He died a few minutes after nine in the evening while meditating. That was Swami Vivekananda’s last day – July 4, 1902.

Swami Vivekananda worked hard for the welfare of the people throughout his life. His life was concluded, but his legacy continues to live. His call for the nation was “Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached!”.

I liked what the publisher says about Swami Vivekananda – he is “everything positive, nothing negative”.