September 11, 2021, marks the 128th anniversary of his groundbreaking speech of Swami Vivekananda in the United States. On this day, Swami Vivekananda delivered his famed speech at the ‘Parliament of the World’s Religions’, garnering a full two minute standing ovation and the moniker of ‘cyclonic monk of India’.
Parliament of the World’s Religions
The Parliament of World’s Religions, held for the first time in 1893, from September 11 to September 27. It was attended by eminent personalities from around the world at the same forum.
There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, the first being the World’s Parliament of Religions of 1893, which was an attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths.
The event was celebrated by another conference on its centenary in 1993.
An organization was incorporated in 1988 to carry out the tradition of the Parliament of the World’s Religions by marking the centennial of the first Parliament.
The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions is headquartered in Chicago. Its board of trustees are elected from various faith communities.
Significance of this event
The Chicago address had dwelt at length on Hinduism and Indian culture, and his words continue to remain resonant till date. Introducing Hinduism to the world in 1893, Swami Vivekanand spoke about intolerance, religion and the need to end all forms of fanaticism.
He became popular in the western world after his famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions.
He was considered a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India and bringing it to the status of major world religion in the late 19th century.
Swami Vivekananda’s address in the World “Parliament of Religions” at Chicago in 1893 drew the world’s attention to the ancient Indian philosophy of Vedanta. He popularised practical Vedanta as it preached love, compassion and equal respect for all.
Swami Vivekananda despised violence in all its forms and asserted that had such demons been away from humans the world would have been a better place to live in.
He said that such vices had filled the Earth with violence which was the reason for the spilling of human blood senselessly. Such acts as per him were also responsible for destruction of human civilizations which could have been much ahead had it not been for wars.
Early life- contributions
- Born in Kolkata on January 12, 1863 in Kolkata, Swami Vivekananda was known as Narendra Nath Datta in his pre-monastic life.
- He is known to have introduced the Hindu philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the West.
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.”
- In 1893, he took the name ‘Vivekananda’ after Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State requested him to do so.
- He formed the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 “to set in motion a machinery which will bring noblest ideas to the doorstep of even the poorest and the meanest.”
- In 1899, he established the Belur Math, which became his permanent abode.
- He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress.
Books written by him
‘Raja Yoga’, ‘Jnana Yoga’, ‘Karma Yoga’ are some of the books he wrote.
How are Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts relevant still today?
- Swami Vivekananda, in his address, propagated the idea of tolerance and universal acceptance.
- He analysed the dangers posed by the meaningless and sectarian conflicts in society to the nations and the civilisations.
- He firmly believed that the true essence of religion was common good and tolerance. Religion should be above superstitions and rigidities.
- Swami Vivekananda believed that youngsters in India are the chain that binds our past to a greater future.
Therefore, there is greater need today, in contemporary India, to pay heed to the words spoken by Swami Vivekananda as early as in 1893.
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