SWAMI VIVEKANANDA-MAIN DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was a prominent Indian spiritual leader who played a key role in the revival of Hinduism and the spread of Vedanta philosophy in the West. He was born as Narendra Nath Datta in Kolkata, India, to a traditional Hindu family.

As a young man, Vivekananda was deeply influenced by the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, whom he met in his early twenties. After Sri Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda traveled extensively in India and eventually founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, a spiritual organization dedicated to the service of humanity and the propagation of Sri Ramakrishna's teachings.

In 1893, Vivekananda attended the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, where he delivered a series of lectures that introduced Hinduism and Vedanta philosophy to the Western world. His lectures were well-received, and he became widely known as a spiritual leader and philosopher.

Vivekananda's teachings emphasized the universality of religion and the importance of self-realization as the ultimate goal of human life. He believed that all religions lead to the same truth and that the essence of all religions is the realization of the divinity within oneself.

Vivekananda was also a strong advocate for social reform and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized in India. He believed that service to humanity was an essential part of spiritual practice and encouraged his followers to work for the betterment of society.

Vivekananda's legacy continues to inspire millions of people around the world today, and his teachings are studied and revered by students of various spiritual traditions. His life and work serve as an example of the power of spiritual practice to transform individual lives and to inspire social change.