Swami Vivekananda: Achievements
Swami Vivekananda is popular for his works in reforming Hinduism in our country. There are many such works that he did in the 19th Century which led to the Vedanta movement in India. During the period of 1893, Swamiji started introducing Hinduism in the Parliament of the World’s Religion at Chicago followed by many other books that lead to the revolution of Ramakrishna movement.
His Guru Ramakrishna Deva had a great influence on Swami Vivekananda’s life. This philosopher was born on 12 January 1863 had a lifespan of 39 years. He was from an Aristocratic family in Calcutta.
The Vedanta Movement
The Chief Disciple of Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda started this movement on first may 1897 with the mission of promoting higher education, health care, tribal welfare, disaster relief, and rural management. The Vedanta movement is the Ramakrishna Mission and there many centers in more than 20 countries of the world.
Teachings
He had a strong influence of Hinduism in his Vedanta philosophy and believed in the truth of Nationalism. Vivekananda gave a modern representation to the oldest Vedanta culture. He also revolutionized raj yoga and taught on various forms of meditation in New York and other parts of the world.
Publications before his death
He was a powerful orator and a great writer too. He had a list of publications in his name while he was alive such as:
- Vedanta Philosophy: Lectures on Jnana Yoga
- Raja Yoga
- Vedanta: An address before the Graduate Philosophical Society
- Bartaman Bharat
- Sangeet Kalpataru
- Karma Yoga
- Lectures from Colombo to Almora
Publications after his death
- Complete Works
- Speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda
- Practical Vedanta
- Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion
- Narada Bhakti Sutras
- Inspired Talks
- The east and the west
- Bhakti Yoga
- Addresses on Bhakti Yoga
The Ramakrishna Math
With mass popularity of the Vedanta teachings by Vivekananda, he started opening spiritual organisation titled as Ramakrishna Math. It mainly consists of disciples who believe in serving others in order to serve the living god. There are thousands of disciples actively participating in providing extensive health care and many other services for the needy.
Visits to the West
It was on the 31st May 1893, he started his journey to the west. The places such as Japan, China, Canada and the USA were part of his journey. He then, went on give a fantastic speech at the Parliament of World’s Religion that started on 11 September 1893. In this historic speech, he got an opportunity to represent India and Hindu culture.
Second Visit to the West
It was 1899, that he again visited the west with two more disciples Sister Nivedita and Swami Turiyananda. He got a chance to visit San Francisco and New York to establish Vedanta Societies and Shanti Ashram to promote the authenticity of Bhagavad Geeta.
Death
Swami Vivekananda passed away during meditation on the 4th July 1902 night at 9:10 pm due to natural causes. With that, India lost its most popular and influential personality.
