Vivekananda: Back to India. Kashmir

1. Swami Vivekananda's triumphal march through Ceylon and southern India
2. Return to Bengal
3. In northern India
4. Return to Calcutta
5. Appendix I – Speech by Swami Vivekananda in Calcutta (February 28, 1897)
6. Appendix II - Lecture by Swami Vivekananda in Calcutta “Vedanta in All its Phases”

When Swami Vivekananda decided to return to India after his more than four-year travels through the United States and Europe, he had a very clear objective: “Now I only have one thought, and that is India.” But before reaching his homeland he would stop in Ceylon, present-day Sri Lanka.

His arrival in Ceylon was an unprecedented success. In Ceylon he gave several lectures and was offered a triumphal march. The Swami spoke about the universality of religion urging that the God worshiped as Shiva, as Vishnu, as Buddha or under any other name is one and the same. He was also received by the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim communities. They even asked him to send Swamis to preach the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

India was beginning to know and value the Swami's enormous work abroad. In a way, India was accepting Vivekananda as its Guru, as the prophet of a reinterpreted Hinduism. The Swami had said:

“India must listen to me! I will shake India to its foundations!”

Then the Swami embarked for the Indian subcontinent, arriving at Rameswaram where he was received by the Raja of Ramnad, who had already helped and motivated him to undertake the trip to the United States. The arrival was triumphant.

He continued his trip to Madras (the city that financed his trip to Chicago), where he gave one of his most moving lectures on the true mission of Vedanta. Vivekananda was beginning to be worshiped by millions of people.

The reception can only be described as tremendous, something similar had never been seen before. Seventeen triumphal arches were erected with the following mottos: “Long live the Venerable Vivekananda! Hail, Worthy Son of Sri Ramakrishna!” “Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti!” (“There is only one truth – or true being – and learned people call it by many names” Rigveda). He even came to be considered an Avatar. In one of his speeches he said:

“The best way to serve and seek God is to serve the needy, feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, help the fallen and friendless, assist and serve those who are sick and require help… As long as I have this body I am a dualist, but not after”

Then Swami Vivekananda decided to return to his homeland, to Calcutta, to Bengal. His return was also grand, a triumphal welcome arch was erected with the inscription: “Hail, Swamiji! Jay Ramakrishna!” Nearly five thousand people heard his speech, which has become famous as a masterpiece of oratory and fervent patriotism:

“My mission in America was not to attend the Parliament of Religions.. but to explain Vedanta and raise funds for the uprising of the Indian masses.. My work in England has been more satisfying to me than my work in America. My God in life: Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa”

In his speech he referred to the Bhagavad Gita quoting the famous and transcendental verse 7 of Chapter 4: The Yoga of Knowledge, Action and Renunciation (Jnana Karma Sannyasa):

“Whenever, O descendant of Bharata, Dharma declines and Adharma rises, then I incarnate. For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the evil, and for the establishment of Dharma, I come into existence in all ages.”

Dharma.

In this speech, he proclaimed Sri Ramakrishna as a divine incarnation. He also affirmed his status as a Sannyasin:

“I am a Sannyasin. If people give me money, I will first spend it in the service of man. I will try to save men first by making provision to give them food, education and religion”

Swami Vivekananda was interpreting Sri Ramakrishna's message in a new light: the realization of religious rejuvenation by uplifting the condition of the masses through service and propagating the transmission of the Master's life and ideas throughout the world. And he begins to meditate on the future Ramakrishna Mission as a religious and philanthropic institution.

These days, Swami Ramakrishnananda arrives in Madras at the Swami's request to open a center to propagate the teachings of Vedanta in South India.

In addition, the Swami gives numerous lectures and classes on Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita. This enormous and prolonged work begins to take its toll again on Vivekananda's health.

Swami Vivekananda initiates four Brahmacharis into Sannyasa stating:

“Remember, the Sannyasin is born into the world for the salvation of his own soul and for the good and happiness of many. Give up everything”

In this phrase, we find the future motto of the Ramakrishna Mission. Vivekananda also began to develop the formula so that both the monastic and lay disciples of Sri Ramakrishna could work together:

“Let this Sangha, or organization, therefore be called Ramakrishna Mission. The objective of the Sangha is to preach those truths of Sri Ramakrishna, for the good of humanity.”

The Swami himself becomes President General and appoints Swami Rrahmananda and Swami Yogananda, President and Vice President, respectively, of the Calcutta center. 1899 is a key moment, the Belur Math monastery is inaugurated. Ramakrishna's inspiration and light was constant:

“Sri Ramakrishna is much greater than his disciples believe him to be. He is the embodiment of infinite spiritual ideas capable of developing in infinite ways. One kind look from his eyes can create a hundred thousand Vivekanandas in this instant!”

In these days Vivekananda stated:

“I always try to keep down the torrent of Bhakti that wells up within me. I am trying to bind and bind myself with the iron chains of Jnana”

Thus, the disciples realized that Sri Ramakrishna was behind Swami Vivekananda, who was working through him.

The complete content on “The Life of Swami Vivekananda (V)” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Translated by Pedro Nonell.

Free e-book: Life of Swami Vivekananda (summary)

1. Parliament of Religions of Chicago)
2. Europe (London)
3. West (Science)-India (spirituality)
4. Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna
5. Sri Sarada Devi
6. M. Gupta
7. Swami Sarvapriyananda
8. Advaita Vedanta
9. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

1. Restore the Knowledge
2. Ignorance and Knowledge
3. Gita 4 7 (Yoga Knowledge)
4. Sankhya
5. spirit of Karma Yoga
6. Belur Math
7. Mahasamadhi
8. Dharma

Life of Swami Vivekananda (V): Back to India. Ceylon. The Swamiji phenomenon. Bengal. Kashmir.

Childhood-death of Ramakrishna, Cape Comorin illumination

1. Bhagavad Gita
2. Sankhya Yoga Philosophy
3. Karma Yoga
4. Bhakti Yoga
5. Para-Bhakti or Supreme Devotion
6. Jnana Yoga (Unity in diversity)
7. Jnana Yoga and Vedanta
8. Raja Yoga
9. Structure of the Bhagavad Gita
10. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali