 |
| Swami Vivekananda |
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863. His house name was Narendra Dutt. His father Vishwanath Dutt believed in western civilization. He also wanted his son Narendra to be taught English and run it on the style of western civilization. Narendra's intellect was very sharp since childhood and the longing to attain God was also strong. For this he first went to the Brahmo Samaj, but there his mind was not satisfied.
Vishwanath Dutt died in 1884. The burden of the house fell on Narendra. The condition of the house was very bad. Kushal was that Narendra was not married. Narendra was a great guest-servant even in extreme poverty. He himself would feed the guest while being hungry, he himself would lie outside in the rain all night and make the guest sleep on his bed.
Hearing the praise of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Narendra went to him with the idea of reasoning at first, but Paramhans ji recognized on seeing that this is the same disciple whom he has been waiting for many days. By the grace of Paramhans ji, he had self-realization, as a result, Narendra became prominent among the disciples of Paramhans ji. After retiring, he was named Vivekananda.
Swami Vivekananda had dedicated his life to his Gurudev Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa. In the days of Gurudev's death, regardless of the critical condition of his home and family, regardless of his own food, the Guru was constantly present in the service. Gurudev's body had become very sick. Sputum, blood, phlegm, etc., came out of the throat due to cancer. He used to clean all these very carefully.
Once someone showed hatred and carelessness in the service of Gurudev and frowned with disgust. Seeing this, Vivekananda got angry. While teaching the lesson to that Gurubhai and showing Gurudev's love for everything, he picked up a spittoon filled with blood, phlegm etc. near his bed and drank it whole.
It was only by the majesty of such exclusive devotion and loyalty to the Guru that he could best serve the body of his Guru and his divine ideals. They could understand Gurudev, merge their own existence into the form of Gurudev. To spread the fragrance of India's priceless spiritual treasure all over the world. At the foundation of this great personality of his was such guru-bhakti, guruseva and unrelenting loyalty to the guru.
At the age of 25, Narendra Dutt wore ocher clothes. After that he traveled all over India on foot. In 1893, the World Council of Religions was being held in Chicago (USA). Swami Vivekananda reached there as the representative of India. The people of Europe-America looked at the people of that time with a very inferior look. There people tried a lot that Swami Vivekananda did not get time to speak in the Sarva Dharma Parishad. He got some time with the efforts of an American professor, but all the scholars were astonished to hear his thoughts.
Then he was very welcome in America. There was a large community of his devotees. He lived in America for three years and continued to provide the wonderful light of Indian philosophy to the people there.
'Without spirituality and Indian philosophy the world would be an orphan' was the firm belief of Swami Vivekananda. In America, he established many branches of Ramakrishna Mission. Many American scholars accepted his discipleship. They always address themselves as servants of poor. He always tried to make India's pride bright across the country and longitudes. He left his body on 4 July 1902.
