 |
| Swami Vivekanand |
Swami Vivekanand's life story.
Swami Vivekanand was born on 12th January 1863 in the Datta family. His father Shri Vishwanath Datta was an advocate, his mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi was a beautiful and kind hearted woman. Everyone loved and respected her. When Swami Vivekanand was born they had named him Narendranath.
Swami Vivekananda's full name was Narendranath Datta. In his childhood days he was a mischievous kid just like other children at his age. However even at a very young age he was kind hearted and was always eager to help people in need. He was quite fond of monks who used to come visit his place asking for some food.
He was so kind towards them that whenever they used to visit his house he used to give them some of his items from the house. He even once had given his own new clothing to one monk. Whenever he used to see monks he used to say that "when I grow up I will also be a monk".
His mother was not very fond of these habits. She always tried to stop him from giving away things from home, but young Narendra never listened to his mother. So, his mother used to lock him in the room whenever such people came near their house. However, it would never stop young Narendra from helping these monks. He used to throw things from his room window for these monks.
His mother used to tell him stories from Ramayana and Mahabharat. He loved Ramayan so much that he himself had made a statue of Lord Ram and Goddesses Sita and worshipped them daily.
Although as a kid Swami Vivekanand was mischievous, he was always a bright student and listener. His father had initially arranged a teacher to teach him at home. However in later years he was sent to Metropolitan Institute. In school his teachers were always surprised by his performance. He could remember everything just by reading or listings to it once.
Young Narendra loved to play with his friends. They used to role play as king and servants with ofcourse Narendra as the king. He loved doing different things and one of them was even cooking. Whatever he learnt or knew to do, he would teach that to his friends. He and his friends were always ready to help people in need.
Swami Vivekanand also practiced meditation with his friends at a quiet place. He used to be so deep in meditation that once he and his friends were doing meditation and a snake came very close to them.
Watching a snake come their way his friends started shouting and running. However young Narendra was so into the meditation that he did not even move an inch. His friends were calling him but it was in vain. After some time though the snake went on his own way.
When he returned home after the incident his mother asked him why he did not run from there seeing a snake and young Narendra had replied that he didn't even know that there was a snake there and he was peaceful and happy.
As the young Narendra was growing his mischievous lessened and his love for reading increased. He started reading different books. He also had a great interest in music. He got his degree in B.A. in 1881.
When he joined College 'General Assembly Institution' today known as 'Scottish Church College' he started learning music. For about 4-5 years he learned to play some instruments and was also a great singer. He used to sing so good that many people used to invite him to sing and he loved doing it.
His college professor W. W. Hestie was extremely impressed with his intelligence and always said that he never saw any student as smart and intelligent as Swami Vivekanand.
Swami Vivekanand had great interest in religious topics, and so with some students of his age he joined religious communities. He and his friends went to these places to listen to their preaching. He was even asked to sing for them some of the times.
After listening to such talks he had one question and that was if God really does exist? And if so has anyone seen him? He met with many spiritual leaders and asked them those questions but none were able to answer to his satisfaction.
As he could not find his answers he decided to visit Shri Ram Krishna. He had heard about him from his professor Hestie and one of his relatives. He had once seen him with the same relative. Shri Ram Krishna was well known Saint that time and people visited him with their queries and went back finding solutions to their problems.
One day Swami Vivekanand decided to visit Shri Ram Krishna along with some of his friends. Shri Ram Krishna used to live in a temple called ' Dakshineswar' in Kolkata. When he met Swami Vivekanand he was very happy to see him that his behaviour was not understandable for Swami. Ram Krishna always knew that Swami Vivekanand would one day make great name in history.
They had developed an unique relationship between them. Swami visited Shri Ram Krishna regularly and listened to his teaching along with his studies. He had now become his 'Guru'. Shri Ram Krishna loved him very much and always said 'Others are stars, but Narendra is a Sun.'
After the death of Shri Ram Krishna, as promised to his teacher Swami Vivekanand took care of other students and became their leader. With the help of one of his friends he got a house for him and his other Ram Krishna's students and they lived in that house praying and meditating every day. Sometimes with no food and sometimes with just rice and boiled vegetables to eat. However, everyone was happy with whatever they had. The house became the very first monastery of Shri Ram Krishna and is known as 'Baranagar Math'.
As the time passed Swami Vivekanand travelled to many places. He visited the country with some of his disciples. He met with many people and shared his views with them.
Many listened to him and respected him as a teacher. But when it came to applying those things in real life no one bothered. Seeing that there was no other way and to help the youth, following teachings of Shri Ram Krishna and as God's will, Swami Vivekanand decided to visit the United States where an international conference was going to take place.
On 31st May 1893 Swami Vivekanand left from Mumbai in a ship which went via Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hongkong, China, and Japan ports. He reached Vancouver in Canada and went to Chicago by train.
Their were still about 2 months remaining for the conference. With great difficulties, and very little money in hand he had managed to stay and reach the hall of Columbus where the Parliament of world's religions was being held on 11th September 1893.
When it was time for Swami Vivekanand to deliver his speech he started his speech by addressing the audience as 'My brothers and sisters of America' and delivered a beautiful speech which made history. He represented India and Hinduism. Everyone was so touched with his speech that he received a standing ovation and everyone wanted to have a word with him. Swami had delivered six speeches in Chicago.
When the news reached India the whole country was proud of him and there was no limit to the happiness of his colleagues and friends.
There are many books that tells the stories about Swami Vivekanand and also he had written many books in his life such as :
- Bhagavad Gita As Viewed By Swami Vivekananda
- Raja Yoga - This book was initially published in July 1896.
- Karma Yoga - It was first published in New York in 1896.
- Jnana Yoga - This book was published in 1899.
- Meditation and Its Methods - The book was originally published on 1st February 1976.
- Râja Yoga: Being Lectures by the Swâmi Vivekânanda.
- Sisters & Brothers of America: Speech at World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1893
There are many incidents from Swami's life that teach us a lot. He always wanted the youth of our country to work for the nation and make the country proud. Here are some of his motivational thoughts and teachings for students to get inspired and work hard.
Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.
The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong
You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.
In one word, this ideal is that you are divine.
Do one thing at a Time, and while doing it put your whole Soul into it to the exclusion of all else
Meditation can turn fools into sages but unfortunately fools never meditate.
That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.
The brain and muscles must develop simultaneously. Iron nerves with an intelligent brain- and the whole world is at your feet.
Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourself weak, weak you will be; if you think yourself strong, strong you will be
You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul
Don’t look back-forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience. Then alone can great deeds be accomplished?
It is the cheerful mind that is persevering. It is the strong mind that hews its way through a thousand difficulties.
Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that will tell you the real character of a great person.
When you are doing any work, Do it as worship, as the highest worship, and devote your whole life to it for the time being
If the mind is intensely eager, everything can be accomplished-mountains can be crumbled into atoms
0 Comments