Death Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

• 04 Jul 2024

Source: BS

Why in News?

Every year, 4th July is observed as the death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He is considered as the father of modern Indian nationalism and is also credited with raising interfaith awareness and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion in the late 19th century.

What are the Key Points About Swami Vivekananda?

• About: Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta on 12th January 1863 in Calcutta.
  • In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State, he took the name ‘Vivekananda.’
  • He is credited for introducing yoga and Vedanta to the West.
  • He died at Belur Math (1902) in West Bengal. It is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.
  • National Youth Day is held every year on 12th January to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
• Spiritual Contribution:
  • He was one of India's greatest spiritual leaders and intellectuals and was the chief disciple of the Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
  • Vivekananda's message to the world about human values is rooted in the teachings of the Upanishads and the Gita, as well as the examples set by the Buddha and Jesus.
    • His mission was to bridge the gap between paramartha (service) and vyavahara (behavior), as well as between spirituality and daily life.
    • He advocated the doctrine of service. Serving jiva (living beings) is considered worship of Siva.
  • His landmark speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893 introduced Hindu philosophy (neo-Hinduism) to the Western world.
  • He laid emphasis on education for the regeneration of our motherland.  He advocated a man-making character-building education.
  • He gave the four pathways of attaining moksha from the worldly pleasure and attachment in his books- Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga and Bhakti-yoga.
  • He founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to propagate the ideals of service, education, and spiritual upliftment.

Ramakrishna Mission

• Ramakrishna Mission carries out extensive educational and philanthropic work and expounds a modern version of Advaita Vedanta, a school of Indian philosophy.
• Two objectives of the Ramakrishna movement were:
  • to establish a group of monks committed to a life of renunciation and practical spirituality, that can disseminate the universal message of Vedanta.
  • preaching and engaging in philanthropic and charitable activities, viewing all men, women, and children, regardless of caste, creed, or color, as true manifestations of the Divine.
• The mission was founded near Kolkata by Vivekananda in 1897 with a twofold purpose: to spread the teachings of Vedanta as embodied in the life of the saint Ramakrishna (1836–86) and to improve the social conditions of the Indian people.
• Motto: “ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAD HITAYA CHA” (“For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world”).