January 12: Birth Anniversary of one of the most influential spiritual leaders Narendranath Dutta alias Swami Vivekananda

Narendranath Dutta alias Swami Vivekananda- one of the most influential spiritual leaders, educationist and Vedantic scholar with contemporary blend, a visionary thinker of India, a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and an icon for his fearless courage, his positive exhortations to the youth, his broad outlook on social problems, a prolific orator and the founder of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission was born on Pausha Krishna Saptami 1919 corresponding to 12th January 1863 of the Gregorian calendar. Swami Vivekananda dedicated his life to teaching and guiding the youth the importance of social service and laying the groundwork of character and leader attributes. His concept of service to the poor inspired successive generations. His birthday (12 January) is celebrated as National Youth Day every year. 

In 1984, the Government of Bharat declared and decided to observe the Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (12 January, according to the English calendar) as National Youth Day every year from 1985 onwards. To quote from the Government’s Communication, “It was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian (Bharatiya) Youth.’

Birth and Childhood:

Swami Vivekanand Ji was born on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta in a Bengali family. His childhood name was Narendra Nath Dutta. His father, Vishwanath Dutta was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court. Durgacharan Dutta, Narendra’s grandfather was a Sanskrit and Persian scholar who left his family and became a monk at the age of 25. Swami Vivekanand was admitted to a school founded by Sh. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in 1870. After matriculation, he joined the Presidency College in Kolkata and completed his M.A. in philosophy.

Meeting his Guru and accepted Sanyas:

Narendra met Shri Ramakrishna in1881 at his neighbor Surendernath’s house itself. Initially, for some days Shri Ramakrishna didn’t allow Narendernath to leave his side even for a moment. The two of them would have a great discussion when alone.

Shri Ramakrishna had decided to give Narendra the responsibility to carry on his incomplete mission. One day Shri Ramakrishna write on a piece of paper, “Narendra will perform the task of enlightening the masses.” Somewhat hesitantly Narendranath replied, “I won’t be able to do all this.” Shri Ramakrishna immediately spoke with great resolve, “What? Won’t be able to? Your bones will perform this task.” Later Shri Ramakrishna initiated Narendranath on the path of Sanyas and gave him the name Swami Vivekanand. Shri Ramakrishna left his body on 16 August 1886. Shri Ramakrishna taught Swami Vivekanand that service to people was the most effective worship of God.

After the death of Shri Ramakrishna, Vivekanand took the responsibility of the Ramakrishna’s Cossipore Math. He transferred the Math to Baranagar. In 1899 math was transferred to Belur. This is now known as Belur math.

Visits of Vivekanand:

Vivekanand started traveling in Bharat in 1888. He traveled all around Bharat for about five years and lived with different kinds of people. Vivekanand visited Chicago in July 1893. At that time Parliament of the World’s religions was being organized there. But due to a lack of credentials at first, he was not given the opportunity to speak. But with the help of Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University, he got the opportunity to speak.

On 11 September 1893 at the parliament of the world’s religion, he gave his first brief speech on Hindu Dharma. He began his speech with “Sisters and brothers of America”. 

With this speech, he got a standing ovation from the seven thousand people gathered there. His speeches at the World’s Parliament of Religions made him famous as an ‘orator by divine right’ and as a ‘Messenger of Bharatiya wisdom to the Western world’ After the speech of Chicago, he gave many speeches all around the world and met with many people including sister Nivedita who became her disciple.

He founded Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897. He delivered three famous speeches during his brief stay in Lahore. The first of these was on the “The common bases of Hindu Dharma, the second on “Bhakti”, and the third one was the famous lecture on “The Vedanta”.