Swami Vivekananda (in Sanskrit viveka means “discernment” and ananda “bliss”), born January 12, 1863 in Calcutta and died July 4, 1902 in Belur Math in West Bengal (India), is a philosopher and spiritual master who introduced Hinduism to the Western world and inspired the Indian independence movement. He is one of the main disciples of Ramakrishna and the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission.
Swami Vivekananda, towards the liberation of India
After the death of Ramakrishna in August 1886, he took over the management of the ashram. On December 25, 1887, on Christmas night, he founded “The Order of Râmakrishna” thereby marking his kinship with the Christian religion.
He then made several trips to India, during which his only possessions were a kamandalu (water pot) and two favorite works: the Bhagavad-Gita and The Imitation of Jesus Christ.
In 1893, with the financial help of one of his disciples, he went to Chicago for the World's Fair. He will speak several times during the Parliament of Religions and his impact will be considerable. During his introductory speech on Hinduism on September 11, 1893, the audience of 7,000 gave a two-minute standing ovation. From then on, he held conferences and many disciples in the United States joined him.
In 1896, he published the book Raja Yoga, his interpretation of Patañjali's Yoga sūtra adapted to Westerners, which was a success and can be considered the origin of modern yoga. He toured the world to spread the teachings of Râmakrishna. His return to India in 1897 is reported and followed by the founding of the “Râmakrishna Mission” which will then be disseminated in various countries. He returned to the West in 1899.
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Today, Indians commemorate the birth of Swami Vivekananda. He contributed to making Hinduism and India known among Westerners at the end of the 19th century. He was a precursor of the Indian freedom movement. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #January 12 #inde #vivekananda
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