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Swami Vivekananda Jayanti 2025: January 12 is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the famous Hindu spiritual leader and intellectual from the late 19th century.

An eternal inspiration for youth, he continues to ignite passion and purpose in young minds.” In his honour, the government of India in 1984 declared his birthday as National Youth Day.

About Swami Vivekananda

Birth:

Born on 12 January 1863 in a Bengali family in Calcutta, he was originally named Narendranath Datta.
In his honor, the Government of India declared his birthday National Youth Day in 1984.

Early life:

From a young age, he became interested in Western philosophy, history, religion, spirituality and theology.
He was well-read in many subjects and meditated before images of Hindu gods and goddesses.
He met the religious leader Ramakrishna Paramhansa, who later became his Guru, and remained devoted to him until he died in 1886.

In 1893, he adopted the name "Vivekananda" at the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri State, changing from "Sachidananda" which he used earlier.

Literary works:

Raja Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Karma Yoga

Death: Attained Mahasamadhi on July 4, 1902.

Influence of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Swami Vivekananda's life changed significantly when he met his spiritual teacher Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in 1881. Ramakrishna recognized Narendra's spiritual potential and guided him to self-realization.
His teachings emphasized the unity of all religions and emphasized that all paths lead ultimately to the same divine truth, which became the cornerstone of Vivekananda's philosophy.
Under Ramakrishna's guidance, Vivekananda underwent profound spiritual transformations and realized a divine unity that transcended religious boundaries. After Ramakrishna's death in 1886, he took monastic vows, renounced worldly life, and devoted himself to spreading his guru's teachings.

His Contributions to Indian Society

Aspect	Details
Philosophical Contributions	Introduced the world to Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
	Preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, interpreting Hinduism through a Western lens and combining spirituality with material progress.
	Emphasized education as key to regenerating India, advocating a man-making, character-building education.
Famous Speech	Best known for his speech at the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893.
Pathways to Moksha	Explained the four pathways to attaining moksha in his books: Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga, and Bhakti-yoga.
Legacy	Called the “maker of modern India” by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Associated Organizations	Chief disciple of 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
	Established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, focusing on value-based education, culture, health, women's empowerment, youth and tribal welfare, and relief.
	Founded Belur Math in 1899, which became his permanent abode.

His Philosophy and Teachings

Aspect	Details
Philosophical Roots	Swami Vivekananda's philosophy is rooted in Vedanta, based on the teachings of the Upanishads, emphasizing the divinity of the soul, unity of existence, and self-realization.
Universal Religion	He preached the concept of a universal religion transcending sectarian boundaries, believing all religions are paths leading to the same ultimate reality. Religious pluralism and tolerance were central to his teachings.
Follower of Vedanta	A staunch supporter of Vedanta, Vivekananda emphasized the unity of existence, the divinity of the soul and the harmony of religions.
Self-Realization	He taught that the purpose of human life is to realize one's divine nature. Self-enquiry, meditation and spiritual practice are essential for achieving this realization.
Service to Humanity	Vivekananda espoused the ideal of Jiva is Shiva meaning service to humanity is equivalent to service to God. He encouraged selfless service for societal betterment.
Karma Yoga	He popularized the path of Karma Yoga advocating performing duties selflessly, without attachment to results and dedicating all actions to divinity.

Role in Indian Renaissance

National Awakening: Vivekananda instilled pride in India's cultural and spiritual heritage and encouraged the adoption of ancient traditions along with the positive aspects of Western science.
Youth Empowerment: He believed in the potential of the youth as the backbone of the nation and inspired them to be proud of their identity and work for social reform with his famous call, “Arise, awake and do not stop until the goal is achieved.
Promotion of inter-religious dialogue: His participation in the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago (1893) highlighted the global recognition of Hinduism and emphasized the universal values of tolerance and religious harmony.
Intellectual Renaissance: Vivekananda fostered an intellectual revival in India, encouraging critical thinking, scientific inquiry and rational spirituality and inspiring a generation of thinkers and leaders in the independence movement.

Legacy

Swami Vivekananda revealed to the world the real pillars of Indian national unity. He showed how a diverse nation can unite a sense of humanity and brotherhood.
Vivekananda emphasized the shortcomings of Western culture and India's contribution to overcoming them.
Subhash Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, once said, "Swamiji brought together East and West, religion and science, past and present. That is why he is so great. His teachings gave our countrymen unprecedented self-respect, self-confidence and self-assertion."
Vivekananda was successful in building a virtual bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.
He translated Hindu scriptures, philosophy and way of life for Westerners.
He convinced them that despite its poverty and backwardness, India could make a significant contribution to world culture.
He was instrumental in breaking India's cultural isolation from the rest of the world.

National Youth Day:

Government of India declared January 12 as National Youth Day promoting his ideals and values among the youth.

Source:

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts on education, nationalism and spirituality have had a lasting impact on Indian society. Analyze how his teachings shaped modern Indian thought and discuss their relevance in addressing contemporary socio-political challenges in India. (250 words)