Swami Vivekananda
- Context: Vice President and Prime Minister have paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his death anniversary today.
About Swami Vivekananda
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- Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 in Kolkata, India.
- Originally named Narendranath Datta, his birth anniversary is celebrated annually in India as National Youth Day.
- Guru: Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
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- Founded: Ramakrishna Mission (1897), Ramakrishna Math, Vedanta Society of New York.
- Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism).
- Major Works: Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, My Master, and Lectures from Colombo to Almora.
- Revived Hindu spirituality and enhanced its global recognition.
- Promoted universal brotherhood, self-realization, and religious harmony.
- Ramakrishna Mission works in education, healthcare, social service, disaster relief, and spreading Vedanta.
- Represented Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Chicago, 1893).
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- Advocated harmony between East and West, science and religion, and tradition and modernity.
- Believed that social progress requires both inner strength and dedicated action.
- Inspired youth to develop strong character, physical fitness, and mental resilience (“muscles of iron, nerves of steel”).
- Encouraged the ideal of “Serve God through service to humanity.”
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- Considered education the most effective tool for empowering society.
- Emphasized Tyaga (sacrifice) and Seva (selfless service) as guiding values for nation-building.
- Viewed selfless service as a path to spiritual growth.
- Envisioned an India based on strength, dignity, freedom, individuality, love, and service.
Swami Vivekananda – Paths to Moksha & Core Teachings
- Karma Yoga: Liberation through selfless action; work is a means to realize God.
- Bhakti Yoga: Path of devotion; emphasizes pure, selfless love for the Divine without expectations.
- Raja Yoga: Psychological/spiritual discipline; focuses on concentration and meditation to attain higher consciousness.
- Faith in Self: Strong belief in oneself is essential; thoughts shape personality-positive belief leads to strength, while negative belief leads to weakness.
