Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and the United States. He was born on January 12, 1863 in Kolkata, India, and he passed away on July 4, 1902.
Vivekananda was a brilliant scholar and a powerful speaker, and he was a leading figure in the Hindu reform movement of the 19th century. He was a disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna, and he was deeply influenced by his teachings.
Vivekananda is best known for his speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, in which he introduced Hinduism to the Western world. In this speech, he emphasized the importance of tolerance, compassion, and harmony among different religious traditions. He also spoke about the unity of all religions and the fundamental principles that they share.
Vivekananda’s ideas and teachings had a profound impact on the development of spiritual and philosophical thought in the West. He is also remembered for his contributions to the revival of Hinduism in India, and for his efforts to promote education and social justice.
Today, Vivekananda is revered as a spiritual leader and a cultural ambassador of India. His birthday, January 12th, is celebrated as National Youth Day in India, in recognition of his contributions to the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage.