Short Biography of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

Swami Vivekanandas original name was Narendranath

Dutta, and his ancestral house was Gour Mohan
Mukherjee Lane, Simla Streeta north Calcutta locality.
Naren, or Bilay as he was fondly called, was born on 12
January 1863 to Bhuvaneswari Devi and Viswanath Dutta,
a well-to-do attorney-at-law in the Calcutta High Court. He
was their sixth child and first surviving son (of the elder
five, four died in childhood. He also had two younger
brothers.).
Narens exceptional abilities, intelligence and prodigious
memory set him apart as a leader, right from his school
days. He had a flair for drawing, a melodious voice, an
orator who could speak extempore, and was also
proficient in physical activities like rowing, swimming,
wrestling and riding.
After passing his entrance examination at the age of
sixteen, Naren joined the Arts faculty of Presidency
College in 1880. He studied English, History,

Mathematics, Logic, Psychology and Philosophy during

his
B.A.
Since childhood, Naren was affected deeply affected by
the idea of leading a life of spirituality. In his youth, he was
haunted by two opposite visions: one of leading a worldly
life of luxury, and the other of a renunciating monk. In his
longing to know the Truth leading to the realization of God,
he found the confident response of Ramakrishna
Pramahamsa that he had seen God, the only convincing
answer.
He accepted Ramakrishna as his guru, who himself was
most eager to have Naren by his side, as he was
convinced that Naren was the one person who could
understand and disseminate his teachings. Narens
education from his guru continued through the five years
he was in contact with him at his ashram at
Dakshineshwar.
In 1886, after Ramakrishnas death, Narendranath and
other disciples started the Ramakrishna Math at Belur with
the aim of serving mankind in order to realize God. With
the Ramakrishna Order being consolidated, Narendranath
was torn between loyalty to the Math and its mission, and
his yearning to be a wandering monk. He left the Math in
July
1890
to
start
on
an
all-India
tour.
On his journey, he befriended both prince and pauper
alike. After two years of peregrinations, he reached
Kanyakumari and realized his life mission: that India could
rise again only when it realized that its glory, its strength
and originality lay in its spiritual consciousness. And that
his life mission would be to renew that consciousness
within Indias masses. The way to achieve that would be to

make the West acknowledge Indias inherent strength in

the realm of spirituality, and the knowledge that it had to
impart to the West. This was important because the West
was seen as the omnipotent power that could conquer all,
and their recognition of Indias strength was essential.
In order to spread his word and message in the West, he
decided to attend the World Parliament of Religions to be
held in Chicago in 1893. On the eve of his departure, he
adopted the name of Swami Vivekananda. The moment
he addressed the gathering there as Sisters and Brothers
of America, he received a thunderous standing ovation
that lasted for minutes, and his worldwide fame was
assured.
Swami Vivekananda lectured in several cities across the
United States on the essence of Hinduism: the Vedanta
philosophy. In 1895, after receiving pressing invitations to
England, he left for London where he continued his series
of lectures and classes. After this, he returned to USA,
and then back to England, and also other European
countries, spreading the seeds of Vedanta farther and
deeper.
In early 1897, Swami Vivekananda returned to India where
a rousing reception awaited him wherever he went. The
hard work in USA and England and the nonstop lecturing
took a toll on his health. After recuperating for a few
months, he set to work in earnest again at the
Ramakrishna Math in Belur. Under Swami jis guidance,
the Math set up more centres in different parts of India and
served the people in times of calamities like the plague.
Two years later, Swami Vivekananda set upon his second
phase of travels in the West. Again, he alternated between

USA and England, though this time he was not starting

afresh, but building on the foundation set up in his last
visit, and carried on by his numerous Western disciples.
In late 1900, he returned to India, again worn out by his
ceaseless work. Contrary to doctors advice, he continued
working and travelling to the extreme boundaries of the
country. Ultimately, the physical body could not keep up to
the demands of the great soul. Swami Vivekananda
breathed his last on 4 July 1902 at the Belur Math, leaving
behind an immortal legacy not just in the hearts of his
contemporaries, but for all generations to come.