Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled Swami Vivekananda's famous speech at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 and said its spirit has the potential to create a more just, prosperous, and inclusive planet.
Who was Swami Vivekananda?
- Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders of India.
- Born Narendranath Dutta, he was the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna and the founder of Ramakrishna Mission.
- Swami Vivekananda is also considered a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the West and is credited with raising the profile of Hinduism to that of a world religion.
- He carried on the free-thinking philosophy of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa forward into a new paradigm.
- He worked tirelessly towards betterment of the society, in servitude of the poor and needy, dedicating his all for his country.
- He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualism and established Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage.
- His message of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevant especially in the current backdrop of widespread political turmoil around the world.
- His birthday, January 12, is celebrated as the National Youth Day in India.
- Birth: January12, 1863
- Place of Birth: Calcutta, Bengal Presidency (Now Kolkata in West Bengal)
- Death: July 4, 1902
- Place of Death: Belur Math, Belur, Bengal
- Parents: Vishwanath Dutta (Father) and Bhuvaneshwari Devi (Mother)
- Education: Calcutta Metropolitan School; Presidency College, Calcutta
- Institutions: Ramakrishna Math; Ramakrishna Mission; Vedanta Society of New York
- Religious Views: Hinduism
- Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta
- Publications: Karma Yoga (1896); Raja Yoga (1896); Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897); My Master (1901)
- Memorial: Belur Math, Belur, West Bengal
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Key-highlights of the Speech
- Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) is best known in the United States for his groundbreaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions.
- In this speech he,
- introduced Hinduism to America
- called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism
- had mentioned the basic yet most important things that one should follow in life.These things included:
- being patriotic
- loving all religions
- analysing religion
- being acquainted with science
- knowing importance and necessity of rituals
- being aware of roots of Hinduism
- being aware of the goal of science
- being aware of the cause of downfall of India
- being against religious conversations
