Remembering Swami Vivekananda on Smriti Divas

#Death Anniversary July 4, 1902

Swami Vivekananda is known as the patriotic saint of India because of his great courage to bring 'Sanatana Dharma' to the world as well as his determination in introducing Yoga and Vedanta as Indian philosophies to the Western countries. Not just this, he is credited as a major force in the contemporary Hindu reform movements in India. 

Swamiji was arguably the most inspiring person for the younger generation and hence his birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day in India, while his death anniversary, July 4, is observed as Swami Vivekananda Smriti Divas. 

Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta in a Bengali family in Calcutta. Despite having a BA degree, he was unemployed. During this phase, he doubted the existence of God and even told others to stop believing. That's when he met the mystic, Sri Ramakrishna and got reformed by his teachings.

15 days after the passing away of his guru, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda decided to walk the length and breadth of India to know the problems of his countrymen, because he believed that a sanyasi staying at a single place, would, in course of time, be inflicted by the ills of society, whereas a sanyasi, always on the move, will shield himself from them.

He travelled around America and England. In fact, he is perhaps best known for his 1893 speech which began with the words "Sisters and brothers of America ...," when he addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, Illinois.

Hearing Vivekananda speak, Harvard psychology professor William James said, "that man is simply a wonder for oratorical power. He is an honor to humanity."

Parliament President John Henry Barrows said, "India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful influence over his auditors".

Vivekananda attracted widespread attention in the press, which called him the "cyclonic monk from India".

The New York Critique wrote, "He is an orator by divine right, and his strong, intelligent face in its picturesque setting of yellow and orange was hardly less interesting than those earnest words, and the rich, rhythmical utterance he gave them".

The New York Herald noted, "Vivekananda is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation".
American newspapers reported Vivekananda as "the greatest figure in the parliament of religions" and "the most popular and influential man in the parliament".

The Boston Evening Transcript reported that Vivekananda was "a great favourite at the parliament... if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded".

He spoke several more times "at receptions, the scientific section, and private homes" on topics related to Hinduism, Buddhism and harmony among religions until the parliament ended in September 1893.

Vivekananda's speeches at the Parliament had the common theme of universality, emphasising religious tolerance. He soon became known as a "handsome oriental" and made a huge impression as an orator.

Once a British University professor called Swami Vivekananda as a chief guest for an event and introduced him to the chief as follows - "There is a monk in India who possesses knowledge and wisdom more than all our University professors put together."

He was considered a "shrutidhara", a person with a prodigious memory. Other than studying Sanskrit scriptures and Bengali literature, Vivekananda studied Western philosophers as well.

Swami Vivekananda even predicted that he would not live beyond 40 years and when he died on July 4, 1902, he was just 39 years old.

Not many people know that the great figure who toured America and England and was known for his brilliant eloquence scored only a 47% at the university entrance level exams, a 46% in the Intermediate and a 56% in his final year during his graduation.

After his father’s death, the family was reduced to poverty. On many mornings Vivekananda would tell his mother that he had lunch invitations and he would go out so the others would get a larger share. He writes, “On such days, I had very little to eat, sometimes nothing at all. I was too proud to tell anyone…”

In spite of his BA degree, Vivekananda had to go from door to door in search of employment.

After the death of his paternal uncle Taraknath, his wife Gyanadasundari ousted Vivekananda’s family from their ancestral house and filed a suit in the court. The Maharaja of Khetri, Ajit Singh, used to send 100 rupees to Swamiji’s mother on a regular basis to help her tide over her financial problems. This arrangement was a closely guarded secret.

Vivekanand had to face all these hardships in his life but he was just a diamond in the making and his guru Sri Ramkrishna recognised it. Ramakrishna's teachings helped change his life and he dedicated it for the betterment of the society.