Published on the occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
BRAHMACHARI AMAL
RAMAKRISHNA MATH AND RAMAKRISHNA MISSION Belur Math, Howrah District • West Bengal 711202, India
Published by The General Secretary Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math, Howrah District West Bengal 711202, India. © All Rights Reserved November 2011 153000 This book is being published with financial assistance from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Printed and Distributed through: Advaita Ashrama 5 Dehi Entally Road Kolkata 700014, India ISBN 978-81-7505-354-0 Printed in India at Swapna Printing Works Private Ltd. Kolkata 700009
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This illustrated handy book on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) is published on the occasion of the celebration of his 150th birth anniversary, on behalf of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, District Howrah, West Bengal. Swami Vivekananda is a household name in India. He was one of the greatest spiritual leaders of the modern world. Through the lectures he delivered at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 and subsequent lecturing and teaching work for four and a half years in the USA and England, he succeeded to a great extent in changing the opinion of Western people about India, and raised the image of India to a high pedestal as the land of spirituality, harmony, and rich cultural heritage. After his return to India Swami Vivekananda through his stirring lectures awakened the minds of Indians to their glorious cultural heritage, infused self-confidence and positive outlook in them, and drew their attention to the immediate need to uplift the downtrodden masses of India. He was the first spiritual leader in modern India to speak for the poor masses and to take up different forms of selfless service to them. Above all, Swamiji is a universal ideal for modern youths. He passed away at the age