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Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda (); ; ; IAST: ''Svāmī Vivekānanda''}} (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta; }}, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, spiritual teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He played a key role in introducing the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He is credited with fostering interfaith awareness and elevating Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century.

Born into an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Vivekananda showed an early inclination towards religion and spirituality. At the age of 18, he met Ramakrishna and became his devoted disciple, later taking the vows of a ''sannyasin'' (renunciate). Following Ramakrishna’s death, Vivekananda travelled extensively across the Indian subcontinent as a wandering monk, gaining first-hand knowledge of the harsh living conditions endured by the Indian masses under British India. In 1893, he travelled to the United States to participate in the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, where he delivered a landmark speech beginning with the words "Sisters and brothers of America...". His powerful message introduced Hindu spiritual thought to the Western world and advocated religious tolerance and universal acceptance. His address made a profound impression; an American newspaper described him as "an orator by divine right and undoubtedly the greatest figure at the Parliament".

Following his success in Chicago, Vivekananda lectured widely across the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe, disseminating the essential principles of Hindu philosophy. He established the Vedanta Society of New York and the Vedanta Society of San Francisco (now the Vedanta Society of Northern California), which laid the foundation for other Vedanta Societies in the West. In India, he founded the Ramakrishna Math—a monastic order for spiritual training—and the Ramakrishna Mission, dedicated to social service, education, and humanitarian work.

Vivekananda is widely regarded as one of the greatest modern Indian thinkers. He was a prominent philosopher, social reformer, and the most successful proponent of Vedanta philosophy abroad. He played a crucial role in the Hindu revivalist movement and contributed significantly to the rise of Indian nationalism in colonial India. Celebrated as a patriotic saint, his birth anniversary is observed in India as National Youth Day. Provided by Wikipedia