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Home , Bal Gangadhar Tilak, John Henry Wright, Sister Nivedita, Vishwanath Datta

Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Arise, Awake and Do not stop until the goal is reached

Vision of

Dr. Nirmala Kumari Mohapatra

“Buddha is the only prophet who said, I do not He admitted Sri as his . Guru care to know your various theories about God. tested the disciple and vice versa. After the What is the use of discussing all the subtle passing away of Guru Sri Ramakrishna in 1886, doctrines about the soul? Do good and be good. Narendra had to bear a lot of responsibilities. And this will take you to freedom and to whatever Then he became a wandering monk. He visited truth there is ? ..... He works best who works various places of historical interest and pilgrimage. without any motive, neither for money, nor for Thus he came across many leading personalities fame, nor for anything else; and when a man can like , Maharaj Ajit Singh of do that, he will be a Buddha, and out of him will Khetri (a princely State) and so many others. The come the power to work in such a manner as will Maharaj of Mysore gave him the assurance of transform the world.” giving financial support to go to the western (Vivekananda - His Call to the Nation, P.61) regions. Before his foreign trip Narendranath assumed the name - Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda’s early name was Narendranath Datta or simply Naren. Swami’s journey to America Narendranath was born on 12, January 1863 commenced on 31st May 1893 to attend the (Monday) in Calcutta (now ). His mother Parliament of Religions at . He reached Bhubaneswari Devi was an accomplished lady Chicago about the middle of July 1893. To his with regal bearing. She was deeply religious. disappointment he could know that the Parliament Narendranath’s father was an of Religions would not held until September. The attorney-at-law in the . He funds with him would not be sufficient to live and was well-versed in several scriptures of different wait at Chicago. So he went to city which faiths and religions. His son Naren, the intelligent was less expensive than Chicago. Accidentally boy was good at studies, sports and music. In his he came in acquaintance with Miss Katherine school and college-career he was distinguished Sanborn who invited him to be her guest at as a good athlete, known orator, - over all a leader. Baston. Then Miss Katherine introduced He had interest in spirituality. So he consulted with Vivekananda with Prof. of the authorities of . He also met . The introduction letter of Prof. several prominent pundits of different religions. J.H. Wright to the Chairman of the

JANUARY - 2020 31 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Parliament of Religions was an asset. He wrote Now there stands the famous about Swamijee - “Here is a man who is more on the bank of the river Ganga. There runs learned than all our learned professors put Nivedita Girls’ High School. There is Advaita together.” Vivekananda returned to Chicago two Ashram at Mayavati (Almora). Like these there days before the commencement of the said are several institutes in and abroad. All are occasion. But the address of the committee, preaching holy spirits of Swami Vivekananda. His providing hospitality for the oriental delegates was inspirations are ever-lasting. He passed away on lost. Anyway Mrs. George Hale helped him. On 4-July, 1902. September 11, 1893, the long-awaited Parliament His words have strong impact on the of Religions started. Swamijee’s turn came for humanity. Once he said - speech. His address on the platform - ‘Sisters and brothers of America’ was applauded by the “After so much austerity, I have vast audience. He spoke on universality. The understood this as the real truth - God is present theme of his speech was vast as sky and deep as in every ‘jiva’; there is no other God besides that. the ocean. The audience listened with great Who serves ‘jiva’, serves. God indeed.” respect and appreciation. Swamijee by the by (Vivekananda - His Call to the Nation, P.62) became very famous in USA and . He “This is the gist of all worship - to be pure founded a Society in New York. A large and to do good to others. He who sees Siva in pannel of disciples accepted his words. Prominent the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really figures of the pannel were Captain and Mrs. worships Siva; and if he sees Siva only in the Sevier, Miss Margaret Noble, E. T. Sturdy and image, his worship is but preliminary”. others. Miss Noble later on accepted her new name - ‘’. She served India and (Vivekananda - His Call to the Nation, P.63) dedicated her life time for Education. Such a sannyasi - Swami Vivekananda is Returning India in 1896 Swamijee ever honoured. founded the in 1897. The aims ideals of the mission are purely spiritual and based on human-service. Serve man as God is the central point of the mission. So Swamijee Dr. Nirmala Kumari Mohapatra, S2/426, Niladri Vihar, served the humanity at large. Bhubaneswar-21.

32 JANUARY - 2020