He became famous as an 'Orator by Divine Right' and as a 'Messenger of Indian Wisdom to the Western World', after his speeches at the World's Parliament of Religions held in September, 1893 at Chicago, America. After the Parliament, Vivekanandji spent about three and a half years mostly in the eastern parts of USA and also in London to spread the concept of Vedanta as practiced by Shri Ramakrishna.
Awakening of the Countrymen
On returning to India in January 1897, he got enthusiastic welcome everywhere. He delivered a series of lectures in different parts of India, which lead to a great movement all over the country. Vivekanandji's efforts were to do the following through his inspiring and overwhelming lectures :
» to stir up the religious awareness of the masses and generate pride in their legacy.
» to amalgamate Hinduism by highlighting the common bases of its sects.
» to focus the attention of educated people on the plight of the oppressed masses, and to elaborate his plans for their uplift by applying the principles of Practical Vedanta.
Foundation of Ramakrishna Mission
Immediately after returning back to Kolkata, Swami Vivekanand accomplished one of the most important tasks of his mission. He established Ramakrishna Mission on 1st May 1897, a foundation to propagate Practical Vedanta and to carry out various forms of social service, like running hospitals, educational institutes, hostels, rural development centers etc. and conducting massive relief and rehabilitation work for victims of earthquakes, cyclones and other calamities in different parts of India and other countries, jointly by monks and lay people.
Belur Math - The symbol of unity of all religions In early 1898, Swami Vivekanand acquired a big plot of land on the western bank of the Ganga, at a place known as Belur, to build a monastery as a permanent habitat for the monks, open to all men without any discrimination of religion, race or caste. He got it registered as 'Ramakrishna Math' after two years. Here, Swamiji recognized a new, universal pattern of monastic life which adapts ancient monastic ideals to the conditions of modern life, giving equal importance to personal enlightenment and social service. Disciples
Many people in the West were influenced by the life and message of Swami Vivekanand. Some of them even became his disciples or devoted fellows. Among them, some of the names that may be specially mentioned are of Margaret Noble (later known as Sister Nivedita), Captain and Mrs. Sevier, Josephine McLeod and Sara Ole Bull, etc. Sister Nivedita dedicated her life for the education of girls in Kolkata. Some of his Indian disciples also joined Ramakrishna Math and became Sanyasis.
Last Days During his second visit to the West in June 1899, he spent most of his time on the west coast of USA. He delivered many lectures there and returned to Belur Math in December 1900 and spent rest of his life in India, inspiring and guiding people, both monastic and lay. Constant work, especially giving lectures to motivate people, had an adverse effect on Vivekanand's health and his it started deteriorating. Eventually, he breathed his last on the night of 4th July, 1902. Prior to his 'Maha Samadhi', he had written to a Western follower that, "It may be that I shall find it good to get outside my body, to cast it off like a worn out garment. But I shall not stop working and keep inspiring men everywhere until the whole world shall know that it is mingled with God.
Decision to attend the Parliament of Religions
It was when these ideas were taking shape in his mind in the course of his wanderings that Swami Vivekananda heard about the World's Parliament of Religions to be held in Chicago in 1893. His friends and admirers in India wanted him to attend the Parliament. He too felt that the Parliament would provide the right forum to present his Master's message to the world, and so he decided to go to America. Another reason which prompted Swamiji to go to America was to seek financial help for his project of uplifting the masses.
Swamiji, however, wanted to have an inner certitude and divine call regarding his mission. Both of these he got while he sat in deep meditation on the rock-island at Kanyakumari. With the funds partly collected by his Chennai disciples and partly provided by the Raja of Khetri, Swami Vivekananda left for America from Mumbai on 31 May 1893. The Parliament of Religions
Swami Vivekanand came to know about the World's Parliament of Religions to be held in Chicago in 1893 while he was touring in the country to spread the message of his Guru. His admirers and comrades wanted him to attend the Parliament. He too felt that the Parliament would provide the right platform to present his Guru's message to the world, and thus he decided to go to America. Another reason, which prompted Vivekanandji to go to America, was to seek financial help for his mission of uplifting the masses. He, however, wanted to have an inner conviction and divine call about the mission, which he got while sitting in deep meditation on the rock-island at Kanyakumari. His Chennai disciples managed to collect some funds for his visit to America and rest was provided by the Raja of Khetri, and finally, Swami Vivekanand left for America to participate in the World Parliament of Religions on 31st May, 1893 from Mumbai.
