Hi there!!! Today I'll be continuing yesterday's story about Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk who revolutionized spiritual insight. Let's go…
He asked all of them to look up to Narendranath as their leader. Soon, Ramakrishna died of his complications. His disciples mourned him.
After Shri Ramakrishna's death, Narendranath and his teacher's disciples started living in an old, worn-out and ruined house in Baranagar, a small city on the outskirts of Kolkata. They eventually undertook monastic vows there. From that time, Narendranath and his new disciples became monks. REAL monks. Sometime after his ordainment, Narendranath began to call himself by the name of Swami Vivekananda. His new name was received very well by his disciples.
With financial assistance, he started the first order of the Ramakrishna Mutt. Many people started to follow the Ramakrishna Mutt as soon as it started. Thus, Swami Vivekananda gained many followers from all around Kolkata.
After some time, Vivekananda left the monastery and became a wandering monk. He went around all of British India. Vivekananda travelled on foot for the whole journey, surviving just by begging for alms. He started a five-year trek from the centre of Indian learning, Varanasi (now known as Banaras). He trekked from place to place, city to city, learning about the common man. He observed as he walked the streets and learnt about diverse religions. He saw the suffering and poverty of the common man. He was the first religious leader in India who said that the real cause of India's downfall was because the common people always suffered neglect.
Vivekananda concluded that due to centuries of distress, the common people had lost faith in themselves. So, they needed to recognise their ability to bring change in their lives. Vivekananda knew that spreading his philosophy and his education would awaken the ignorant people. Meanwhile, he continued to travel and reach Kathiawad, a place near Gujurat.
In Kathiawad, Swami Vivekananda heard about the World's Parliament of Religions, which was to be held in Chicago. Many of his friends and admirers urged him to go and attend the Parliament. But, Vivekananda wasn't so convinced. His only words for the topic were, "I will give it a thought." He continued his travels and reached Kanyakumari, the farthest tip of India, stretching into the Palk Strait. He meditated on 'the last piece of Indian rock', which strangled into the water. While meditating, Swami Vivekananda had a vision. It was of a united, strong and independent India. He also saw that the Britishers would be thrown out of their country, leaving them to rule their own land. The people of India would frolic with freedom, as their oppressors were finally gone.
From Kanyakumari, Swami Vivekanada trekked to Madurai (a place in Tamil Nadu) and met the Raja of Ramnad, Bhaskar Sethupati. He welcomed Vivekananda like a royal king and showered his with treasures.
Bhaskara Sethupati who, like all of Vivekananda's disciples, urged him to go to Chicago. Meanwhile, Vivekananda's disciples had started to collect funds for his journey, much to the dislike of Vivekananda. The Kings of Mysore, Ramnad and many other places also provided financial aid.
At last, in May 1893, Swami Vivekananda left from Bombay to Chicago.
Vivekananda arrived in Chicago in July. He then found out that the Parliament was only in September!!!" Vivekananda was shocked!! He didn't understand why he had left so early!! Apart from the difficulties of surviving in a completely unknown place for two months, he also had difficulty in registering himself as a member of the Parliament. He wasn't allowed into the Parliament. During this tough time, Vivekananda met Professor John Henry Wright, a professor at Harvard University. Professor Wright was greatly impressed by Vivekananda's teaching and helped him obtain permission to participate in the Parliament.
The World's Parliament of Religions began in September in the Art Institute of Chicago. On the opening day, Swami Vivekananda was the last speaker. Nervously, he started his speech, "Sisters and brothers of America!!" His address was greeted with a thunderous applause which lasted for two minutes, along with a standing ovation. When silence befell the by-standers, Vivekananda began his speech.
He spoke about the harmony of all religions of the world. It was the universal message of oneness in his speech which captivated his listeners. He greeted the audience of behalf of the Ramakrishna Mutt, of Kolkata and of India - a country with the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic Sanyasis, and a religion which teaches tolerance and universal acceptance.
Though his speech was short, Vivekananda took the audience by storm. He was instantly famous. Many a day he spoke at the PArliament about Hinduism and Buddhism, stressing on universality and religious tolerance.
After the Parliament, Vivekananda spent nearly two whole years lecturing off in distant Europe. He was constantly in touch with his brethren in India - inspiring them and sending them money.
When he reached India, Vivekananda received a magnificent welcome. On his way to Madras, the train which he had boarded was sometimes crowded by Vivekananda's followers. They all crammed on just to listen to him speak. In his lectures, he talked of India's cultural and religious traditions. From Madras, his inspiring words continued up to Baranagar! His speeches had a tremendous impact on the Indian freedom fighters, too.
On the first of May, 1897, Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission to help in social service. The main and only motive of founding this organization was to uplift the Indian society. Two years later, amidst declining health, Vivekananda visited the West again. In San Francisco, New York and California, Vivekananda founded several institutions to teach Hinduism. Later he attended the Congress of Religion in Paris. Due to his hectic schedule, Vivekananda's health began to take a turn for the worse. During his last days, Vivekananda stayed at the newly-founded Belur Mutt and continued his missionary work.
On the Fourth of July, 1902, Swami Vivekananda passed away peacefully while meditating. He was thirty-nine at the time. Swami Vivekananda was a man of enormous mental strength and determination. He considered to have inspired India's freedom struggle movement and also considered as the 'Maker of Modern India'. His philosophy can perhaps be summarized in one of his quotes - "Arise, awake and stop not 'til the goal is reached."
Thanks for reading Swami Vivekananda - part 2!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive notifications about my posts!!!! Happy Reading!!!!
He asked all of them to look up to Narendranath as their leader. Soon, Ramakrishna died of his complications. His disciples mourned him.
After Shri Ramakrishna's death, Narendranath and his teacher's disciples started living in an old, worn-out and ruined house in Baranagar, a small city on the outskirts of Kolkata. They eventually undertook monastic vows there. From that time, Narendranath and his new disciples became monks. REAL monks. Sometime after his ordainment, Narendranath began to call himself by the name of Swami Vivekananda. His new name was received very well by his disciples.
With financial assistance, he started the first order of the Ramakrishna Mutt. Many people started to follow the Ramakrishna Mutt as soon as it started. Thus, Swami Vivekananda gained many followers from all around Kolkata.
After some time, Vivekananda left the monastery and became a wandering monk. He went around all of British India. Vivekananda travelled on foot for the whole journey, surviving just by begging for alms. He started a five-year trek from the centre of Indian learning, Varanasi (now known as Banaras). He trekked from place to place, city to city, learning about the common man. He observed as he walked the streets and learnt about diverse religions. He saw the suffering and poverty of the common man. He was the first religious leader in India who said that the real cause of India's downfall was because the common people always suffered neglect.
Vivekananda concluded that due to centuries of distress, the common people had lost faith in themselves. So, they needed to recognise their ability to bring change in their lives. Vivekananda knew that spreading his philosophy and his education would awaken the ignorant people. Meanwhile, he continued to travel and reach Kathiawad, a place near Gujurat.
In Kathiawad, Swami Vivekananda heard about the World's Parliament of Religions, which was to be held in Chicago. Many of his friends and admirers urged him to go and attend the Parliament. But, Vivekananda wasn't so convinced. His only words for the topic were, "I will give it a thought." He continued his travels and reached Kanyakumari, the farthest tip of India, stretching into the Palk Strait. He meditated on 'the last piece of Indian rock', which strangled into the water. While meditating, Swami Vivekananda had a vision. It was of a united, strong and independent India. He also saw that the Britishers would be thrown out of their country, leaving them to rule their own land. The people of India would frolic with freedom, as their oppressors were finally gone.
From Kanyakumari, Swami Vivekanada trekked to Madurai (a place in Tamil Nadu) and met the Raja of Ramnad, Bhaskar Sethupati. He welcomed Vivekananda like a royal king and showered his with treasures.
Bhaskara Sethupati who, like all of Vivekananda's disciples, urged him to go to Chicago. Meanwhile, Vivekananda's disciples had started to collect funds for his journey, much to the dislike of Vivekananda. The Kings of Mysore, Ramnad and many other places also provided financial aid.
At last, in May 1893, Swami Vivekananda left from Bombay to Chicago.
Vivekananda arrived in Chicago in July. He then found out that the Parliament was only in September!!!" Vivekananda was shocked!! He didn't understand why he had left so early!! Apart from the difficulties of surviving in a completely unknown place for two months, he also had difficulty in registering himself as a member of the Parliament. He wasn't allowed into the Parliament. During this tough time, Vivekananda met Professor John Henry Wright, a professor at Harvard University. Professor Wright was greatly impressed by Vivekananda's teaching and helped him obtain permission to participate in the Parliament.
The World's Parliament of Religions began in September in the Art Institute of Chicago. On the opening day, Swami Vivekananda was the last speaker. Nervously, he started his speech, "Sisters and brothers of America!!" His address was greeted with a thunderous applause which lasted for two minutes, along with a standing ovation. When silence befell the by-standers, Vivekananda began his speech.
He spoke about the harmony of all religions of the world. It was the universal message of oneness in his speech which captivated his listeners. He greeted the audience of behalf of the Ramakrishna Mutt, of Kolkata and of India - a country with the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic Sanyasis, and a religion which teaches tolerance and universal acceptance.
Though his speech was short, Vivekananda took the audience by storm. He was instantly famous. Many a day he spoke at the PArliament about Hinduism and Buddhism, stressing on universality and religious tolerance.
After the Parliament, Vivekananda spent nearly two whole years lecturing off in distant Europe. He was constantly in touch with his brethren in India - inspiring them and sending them money.
When he reached India, Vivekananda received a magnificent welcome. On his way to Madras, the train which he had boarded was sometimes crowded by Vivekananda's followers. They all crammed on just to listen to him speak. In his lectures, he talked of India's cultural and religious traditions. From Madras, his inspiring words continued up to Baranagar! His speeches had a tremendous impact on the Indian freedom fighters, too.
On the first of May, 1897, Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission to help in social service. The main and only motive of founding this organization was to uplift the Indian society. Two years later, amidst declining health, Vivekananda visited the West again. In San Francisco, New York and California, Vivekananda founded several institutions to teach Hinduism. Later he attended the Congress of Religion in Paris. Due to his hectic schedule, Vivekananda's health began to take a turn for the worse. During his last days, Vivekananda stayed at the newly-founded Belur Mutt and continued his missionary work.
On the Fourth of July, 1902, Swami Vivekananda passed away peacefully while meditating. He was thirty-nine at the time. Swami Vivekananda was a man of enormous mental strength and determination. He considered to have inspired India's freedom struggle movement and also considered as the 'Maker of Modern India'. His philosophy can perhaps be summarized in one of his quotes - "Arise, awake and stop not 'til the goal is reached."
Thanks for reading Swami Vivekananda - part 2!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive notifications about my posts!!!! Happy Reading!!!!
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