Swami Vivekananda

Why is in news? PM recalls Swami Vivekananda’s outstanding 1893 speech at Chicago

Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher and author.

He was a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.

Influenced by Western esotericism, he was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian darsanas (teachings, practices) of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.

Swami Vivekananda is best known in the United States for his ground breaking speech to the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in which he introduced Hinduism to America and called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism.

Swami Vivekananda died at an early age of 39 years on July 4, 1902, due to rupture in the blood vessel of his brain.

Swami Vivekananda combined thinking of different religions, communities and traditions. His thoughts inspire liberation from inertia. Swami Vivekananda is the inspiration behind National Youth Day.

Vivekananda linked morality with control of the mind, seeing truth, purity and unselfishness as traits which strengthened it. He advised his followers to be holy, unselfish and to have faith.