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| Sri Rama Krishna Parama Hamsa (1836-1886) |
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| Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) |
When the British bragged about their empire as that on which the sun will never set, on the Indian firmament shone great stars which dazzled millions of eyes and made the British feel about their conquests too insignificant before these amazing world personalities. The conquered Indians conquered the entire world when Swami Vivekananda in his mellifluous tone addressed the Parliament of Religions at Chicago on Sep.11, 1893.
The unique contribution of Vivekananda lies in interpreting philosophy as a practical way of life. He is the modern saint who recognized that the uplift of whole mankind is more important than personal salvation. He played the role of a humanist and enabled Indians to realize the greatness of their heritage. He added a universal dimension by re-defining Hinduism as a way of life rather than a religion. He infused hope and courage in the hearts of youth by his inspiring speeches and showed by example that service to man is superior to service to God. As many people say, he served as a link between the East and the West. As a man of practical wisdom, he realized that it is useless to preach religion to hungry people. So he devoted his life for the uplift of the poor and established Rama Krishna Mission Centers for rendering social service. His mastery of English and his scientific way of interpretation together with the message of universal love made him the right person to expound the greatness of Indian Yoga and Atma Vidya (Spiritual knowledge) to the West. Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa chose him as his successor knowing his capabilities and unswerving dedication to serve humanity. As such let us recall a few events of exemplary life to get ourselves inspired and be ready to follow his teachings at least to some extent.
Swami Vivekananda was born on the 12th of January in 1863. His mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi was a pious lady and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. his father Viswanath Dutt was an eminent lawyer and was well-versed in Sanskrit, Persian, Bengali and English. Vivekanand's actual name is Narendranath Dutt. From boyhood he was active, precocious and playful. teachers were wonder-struck by his keen intellect and knowledge. After graduating with distinction he joined the course of law, but had to discontinue his studies due to the sudden death of his father. As a student Narendra took keen interest in music and sports. According to him "The world is a gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong." He was of the opinion that half of the misery in the world was due to physical disability. The quest to know God led him to see Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa who recognized in Narendra the proper man to understand and propogate the true spirit of India.
After the demise of Sri Ramakrishana Paramahamsa in 1886, Vivekanada had to shoulder the responsibility of running the Ashram. In fond memory of his Guru Vivekananda set up Rama Krishna Mutt at Belur in 1899. Rama Krishna Mission was set up in 1897 to serve society in various fields like health, tribal welfare, rural development, youth training camps, education and disaster-management. At present there are more than 170 branches in and outside India.
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| Belur Mutt |
To understand India and meet the people face to face, he travelled throughout India. At Kanyakumari he had a prophetic vision about the glory of India and his duty to re-awaken the dormant spirit of his motherland. In 1893 he went to America to attend the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He held the audience spellbound by his majestic personality, wide knowledge and his message of universal love. He travelled through Europe and wherever he went, people could not resist applauding his message of love. As he said he set out for Europe not merely to preach Hinduism but to make man a better man.
In his view all religions are different ways to reach the same ultimate truth. "Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true. "Desire, ignorance and inequality are the trinity of bondage." "Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards is evil." Weakness and selfishness obstruct our progress. "Strength is life. Weakness is death; expansion is life; contraction is death; love is life; hatred is death." "The greatest sin is to think yourself weak." "We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate." "All power is within you..... Stand up and express the divinity within you.""Arise,awake, stop not till the goal is reached."
Swami Vivekananda enthralled the audience by his simple, clear and inspiring speeches and his books on various philosophical topics. His style is expository marked with simplicity, clarity and rhythm with appropriate similes and analogies. His books touch our hearts and infuse in us a sense of hope, zeal and clear understanding. His books on "Raja Yoga", "JnanaYoga", "KarmaYoga and Bhakti Yoga", "Lectures from Colombo to Almora", "Letters of Swami Vivekanada", "Inspired talks by Swami Vivekananda"are worth reading to get a clear idea about Advaita Philosophy and the principles of Sanatana Dharma. 'The complete Works of Swami Vivekananda " was published in nine volumes by Advaith Ashram. As a poet and visionary he wrote nearly thirty poems in Bengali and English. As a forerunner to Tagore's poetry we find in his poems blending of Indian philosophy and universal love. Romain Rolland (1866-1944), the French biographer of Swami Vivekananda, says "His words are great music---- I cannot touch these sayings without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock." Sri K.V.Surynarayana Murty in his essay "The Poetry of Vivekananda" says " His poetry is a splendid blend of immense poetic sensibility and spiritual profundity, intellectual brilliance and indefatigable energy, unselfconscious universal love and the authentic voice of a prophet. Poems like " The Song of the Sanyasin", "A Hymn to Rama Krishna", "A Hymn to Divine Mother", "Quest for God", "Kali" etc are some of the poems which capture your attention by the sheer beauty of their language and noble feelings and thoughts. Of course he is not so emotional and romantic like Tagore or abstruse and obscure like Aurobindo. His style is straightforward and inspiring with lucid presentation of his spiritual thoughts and feelings.
After his return to India Swami Vivekananda worked whole-heartedly for betterment of the poor and downtrodden. At the tender age of thirty-nine, the Master who saw Brahman in every creature, became merged with Brahman. To the present youth of India the life of Swami Vivekananda is a brilliant example to understand and put in to practice the true spirit of service and love with a sense of universal brotherhood. Thus only we can honor the great philosopher-saint, in whom Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa saw "the direct manifestation of Shiva." Let me conclude with the unforgettable and noble words of Swami Vivekananda spoken in Chicago.
" I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations on the earth."
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12th January, 2016 Somaseshu Gutala
