Swami Vivekananda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vivekananda |
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Vivekananda in Chicago, September 1893. On the Left note, Vivekananda wrote: "One infinite pure and holy – beyond thought beyond qualities I bow down to thee".
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| Birth Date | 12 January 1863 Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India) |
| Died on | 4 July 1902 (aged 39) Belur Math, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day West Bengal, India) |
| Birth name | Narendranath Datta |
| Guru/teacher | Ramakrishna |
| Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta Rāja yoga |
Swami Vivekananda (born Narendranath Datta on 12 January 1863 – died 4 July 1902) was an important Indian Hindu monk and thinker. He was a student of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna.
Vivekananda helped introduce Hinduism to people in Europe and America. He shared Hindu ideas like Vedanta and Yoga with the Western world. Many people see him as a key figure in bringing Hinduism to global attention in the late 1800s. He is famous for his speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893. He started it with "Sisters and Brothers of America."
He was a very influential thinker and social reformer in India. He also helped spread the ideas of Vedanta in the Western world. Vivekananda played a big role in modern Hindu reform movements. He also helped shape the idea of nationalism in colonial India. Today, he is seen as one of the most important people in modern India. His birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.
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Swami Vivekananda's Early Life
Swami Vivekananda was born into a wealthy family. His birth name was Narendranath Datta. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was a lawyer. His mother was Bhuvaneshwari Devi. Narendra was one of nine children.
Even as a child, Narendra was good at meditation. He could easily enter a deep state of calm. He once saw a light when falling asleep. Another time, he had a vision of Buddha during meditation. When he was young, he was very interested in wandering monks. He showed strong leadership skills even then.
Becoming a Monk and Traveling India
As a young man, Narendra met his teacher, Ramakrishna. He then decided to become a monk. After Ramakrishna passed away, Vivekananda traveled all over India. He wanted to learn about the lives of people in British India.
He was deeply moved by their struggles. He decided to help his country. He found a way to travel to the United States. There, he became very well-known after the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago. This is where he gave his famous speech.
Sharing Hindu Ideas with the World
After his success at the Parliament, Vivekananda gave many talks. He spoke in the United States, England, and other parts of Europe. He taught people about the main ideas of Hindu philosophy.
He started the Vedanta Society of New York and the Vedanta Society of San Francisco. These groups helped spread Vedanta teachings in the West. In India, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math. This group offers spiritual training for monks and followers. He also started the Ramakrishna Mission. This organization focuses on charity, social work, and education.
Movies About Swami Vivekananda
Many films have been made about Swami Vivekananda's life.
- The Light: Swami Vivekananda (2013) by Utpal Sinha.
- Swami Vivekananda (1955) by Amar Mullick.
- Swami Vivekananda (1998) by G. V. Iyer.
- Sound of Joy (2014) is an animated short film. It shows Vivekananda's spiritual journey. This film won an award for best animated non-feature film.
Inspiring Words from Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda shared many powerful messages. Here are some of his famous quotes:
- You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.
- Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
- Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.
- Religion is the manifestation of the divinity already in man.
- Service to man is the true service to God.
- Strength is life, Weakness is death.
- The brain and muscles must develop simultaneously. Iron nerves with an intelligent brain—and the whole world is at your feet.
His Writings and Talents
Vivekananda wrote several important books. These include books on the four Yogas: Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga. These books are still important for anyone interested in Yoga.
He was also a talented singer and poet. He wrote many songs, including his favorite, "Kali-The Mother." Vivekananda often used humor in his teachings. He was also an excellent cook.
Images for kids
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Group photo taken on 30 January 1887 in Baranagar Math, Kolkata.Standing: (l–r) ) Shivananda, Ramakrishnananda, Vivekananda, Randhuni, Debendranath Majumdar, Mahendranath Gupta (Shri M), Trigunatitananda, H.Mustafi Sitting: (l–r) Niranjanananda, Saradananda, Hutko Gopal, Abhedananda
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Vivekananda at Chennai 1897
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Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati (a branch of the Ramakrishna Math founded on 19 March 1899) later published many of Vivekananda's work and now publishes Prabuddha Bharata.
See also
In Spanish: Swami Vivekananda para niños
