30 Interesting Facts About Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta was an Indian Hindu monk. He was a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the contemporary Hindu reform movements in India and contributed to the concept of Indian nationalism as a tool to fight against the British empire in colonial India. Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began with the words “Sisters and brothers of America …,” in which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. We will talk about some unknown and interesting facts about Swami Vivekananda. So let’s know about the interesting facts related to “Swami Vivekananda” and his life.
FACT#1. Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863, 6 minutes before sunrise, at 6.33 minutes 33 seconds.
FACT#2. The family members expressed the desire to name the boy Durgadas, but on the basis of the dream seen by the mother, the child’s house was named Veereshwar while his official name was Narendra Nath.
FACT#3. He is known for his oratory skills, especially the English speech he gave in Chicago is still famous today. But you will be surprised to know that in BA, Swami Ji’s number in English used to be around 50%.
FACT#4. When Swami Ji was angry in his childhood, his mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi would pour cold water on him and say “Om Namah Shivaya … and by doing this, he would calm down.”
FACT#5. He loved animals and birds, he kept cows, monkeys, goats, and peacocks in his childhood.
FACT#6. After his father’s death, his family was in extreme poverty. Many times Swamiji used to lie in the house that he has been invited to eat somewhere so that the rest of the people can get food properly.
FACT#7. Swamiji was very attractive, so many women were willing to befriend him with the wrong intentions, but they were never ready for it. Once he told a woman – to leave these stupid desires and meditate on God
FACT#8. Swamiji’s faith in God was lost due to no employment even after doing his BA. And he started saying – “God does not exist”
FACT#9. After the death of Swami Vivekananda’s uncle Ji Taraknath, his aunt removed Swamiji’s family from his ancestral home and made a case in court which ended at the very end of his life.
FACT#10. Swami Ji’s sister Jogendrabala committed suicide and ended her life.
FACT#11. Maharaj Ajit Singh of Khetri used to send 100 rupees continuously in secret to Swamiji’s mother so that he could deal with the economic crisis.
FACT#12. Swamiji loved his mother very much and continued to worship her throughout her life.
FACT#13. When Swami Ji became a monk from Narendra, his name was Swami Vividishanand, but before moving to Chicago, he changed his name to Vivekananda.
FACT#14. No woman could enter Swamiji’s monastery, not even his mother. Once when a disciple brought his mother inside reverently, Swamiji was very angry and said – “I made the rules and now this rule is being broken for me only.”
FACT#15. Swami Vivekananda was fond of tea, against the beliefs of that time, he had allowed the tea to be drunk in his monastery.
FACT#16. Once he had made Mughlai tea for everyone with Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
FACT#17. Swamiji loved eating khichdi.
FACT#18. Swami Ji was so engrossed in serving the needy that he did not pay attention to his health. In his short life of 39 years, he faced about 31 diseases including diabetes, asthma, liver and kidney diseases, and many other diseases.
FACT#19. Swamiji would have taken a lot of books from the library and returned them the next day. Once upon this, the librarian picked them up from a book and asked him something which Swamiji readily told and the librarian was amazed.
FACT#20. Swamiji always used to say that he would not live beyond the age of 40 and he went to heaven at the age of 39 years.
FACT#21. Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, seeing Swami Vivekananda, asked if you could sing some hymns about religion, and Narendra Dutt said yes. Then Narendra recited Bhajan in his melodious tones for 2 days. Swami Paramahamsa recited a hymn very pleased. Since then, he became a firm follower of “Vedanta Math”.
FACT#22. India’s Vedanta reached every country in America and Europe only because of Swami Vivekananda. He established the Ramakrishna Mission and is still doing his work. He was a talented disciple of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
FACT#23. Ramakrishna died on 16 August 1886. Ramakrishna taught Vivekananda that serving humans is more than worshiping God.
FACT#24. In July 1893, Vivekananda went to Chicago. At that time the World Sarva Dharma Sammelan was organized there. But for some reason, he was not given the opportunity to speak first. But later, with the help of Professor John Henry, he got a chance to speak.
FACT#25. At the World Religion Conference on 11 September 1893, he gave his first speech on Hindutva. He began his speech with “Sister and Brothers of America”. On hearing this, all the people present there stood up for him and played applause. Around 7 thousand people had gathered at that time.
FACT#26. After his Chicago speech, he gave a number of speeches around the world and met people from a lot. Such as Bhagini Nivedita, Max Muller, Paul Dusen, etc.
FACT#27. He returned to India in 1897. He also gave many speeches in India. He also lectured on social issues. At that time his speeches had a great influence on leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose.
FACT#28. In 1899, despite being in bad shape, he traveled south. In this journey, he founded the Vedanta Society in San Francisco and New York, and the Peace Ashram in California.
FACT#29. He has written many books – Karma Yoga (1896), Raj Yoga (1896), Vedanta Shastra (1896), Speeches from Colombo to Almora (1897), Bhakti Yoga, etc.
FACT#30. Swami Vivekananda died on 4 July 1902 at the age of 39 in Belur Math. His birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.
30 Swami Vivekananda Quotes In English | Swami Vivekananda Thoughts
Qoute#1. Always try to represent yourself as happy. Initially, it becomes your look, gradually it becomes your habit and finally, it becomes your personality.
Qoute#2. Comfort is no test of truth. Truth is often far from being comfortable.
Qoute#3. The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire.
Qoute#4. When you are doing any work.. do it as worship, as the highest worship, and devote your whole life to it for the time being.
Qoute#5. Don’t look back -forward infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience – then alone can great deeds be accomplished.
Qoute#6. Each work has to pass through these stages – ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.
Qoute#7. Have faith in yourselves, great convictions are the mothers of great deeds.
Qoute#8. The cheerful mind perseveres and the strong mind hews its way through a thousand difficulties.
Qoute#9. You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
Qoute#10. Take up one idea, make that one idea your life, think of it, dream of it, let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Qoute#11. Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is achieved.
Qoute#12. All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cried that it is dark.
Qoute#13. Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead, if you lose, you can guide.
Qoute#14. Talk to yourself once a day, otherwise, you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.
Qoute#15. Be a hero. Always say, I have no fear.
Qoute#16. Learn everything that is good from others but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.
Qoute#17. Do not wait for anybody or anything. Do whatever you can, and build your hope on none.
Qoute#18. A man is not poor without a rupee but a man is really poor without a dream and ambition.
Qoute#19. Do one thing at a time, and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.
Qoute#20. Karma determines what we deserve and what we can assimilate. We are responsible for what we are; and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.
Qoute#21. With regard to Karma-Yoga, the Gita says that it is doing work with cleverness and as a science; by knowing how to work, one can obtain the greatest results.
Qoute#22. Work for work’s sake. There are some who are really the salt of the earth in every country and who work for work’s sake, who do not care for name, or fame, or even to go to heaven. They work just because good will come of it.
Qoute#23. If you wish to help a man, never think about what that man’s attitude should be towards you. If you want to do great or good work, do not trouble to think what the result will be.
Qoute#24. Excessive attachment to food, clothes, the tending of the body, and the dressing of the hair should be avoided. The householder must be pure in heart and clean in body, always active and always ready for work.
Qoute#25. If a man retires from the world to worship God, he must not think that those who live in the world and work for the good of the world are not worshipping God.
Qoute#26. Everything we do, physical or mental, is Karma, and it leaves its marks on us.
Qoute#27. All the actions that we see in the world, all the movements in human society, and all the works that we have around us, are simply the display of thought, the manifestation of the will of man. Machines or instruments, cities, ships, or men of war, all are
Qoute#27. simply the manifestation of the will of man; and this will is caused by character, and character is manufactured by Karma.
Qoute#28. A fool may buy all the books in the world, and they will be in his library, but he will be able to read only those that he deserves to, and this deserving is produced by Karma.
Qoute#29. Every man should take up his own ideal and endeavor to accomplish it. That is a surer way of progress than taking up other men’s ideals, which he can never hope to accomplish.
Qoute#30. Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.
Frequently Asking Questions
Qus1. at what age swami vivekananda died?
Ans1. Swami Vivekananda died at the age of 39.
Qus2. What was Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago speech about?
Ans2. Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago speech, delivered at the World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893, was about introducing Hinduism to the Western world and promoting religious tolerance and understanding. He spoke about the fundamental unity of all religions and the need for mutual respect and appreciation of different spiritual traditions. He also emphasized the importance of personal spiritual practice, social service, and the role of religion in promoting human welfare.
Qus3. Swami Vivekananda few lines
Qus4. When swami vivekananda died?
Ans4. Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902.
Qus5. Why swami vivekananda is famous?
Ans5. Swami Vivekananda is famous for several reasons:
- He was a key figure in the introduction of Indian spirituality and yoga to the Western world. His speeches at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 helped to introduce Hinduism to a wider audience and promote religious tolerance and understanding.
- He was a spiritual leader and teacher, who emphasized the importance of personal spiritual practice and self-realization. He advocated for the individual’s direct experience of God, rather than relying solely on scripture or tradition.
- He was a social reformer, who advocated for the education and empowerment of women, the removal of caste restrictions, and the promotion of interfaith harmony.
- He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, he popularized the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and America and is considered as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of his time.
- He was a charismatic and eloquent speaker, his speeches and writings continue to inspire people around the world.
- He helped to establish the Ramakrishna Mission, an organization dedicated to social service and the promotion of education, which continues to operate in India and around the world.
Qus6. Where did swami vivekananda died?
Ans. Swami Vivekananda died in Belur Math, West Bengal, India. Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, an organization founded by Vivekananda himself. He died in his room at the Belur Math on July 4, 1902, at the age of 39.
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1 Comment
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