Swami Vivekananda's Biography

Swami vivekananda (1863-1902)

Swami Vivekananda was born Narendranath Dutta, son of a well-know lawyer of Calcutta, Vishwanath Dutta, and a very intelligent and pious lady,Bhuvaneshwari Devi in the year 1863. Vishwanath often had scholarly discussions with his clients and friends on politics,
religion and society. He would invite Narendranath to join in these discussions and even to express his views on the topics under discussion.
Narendra, not in the least embarrassed, would say whatever he though was right, advancing also arguments un support of this stand.
Some of Vishwanath's friends resented Naren's presence among them, more so because he had the audacity to talk about matters concerning adults.
Vishwanath, however, encouraged him. Naren would say: Point out where I'm wrong, but why should you object to my independent thinking?
Naren learnt the Epics and puranas from his mother, who was a good story-teller. He also inherited her memory among other qualities.
He, in fact, owed much to her as he used to say later. Naren was all-rounder. He could sing, was good at sports, had a ready wit, his range of knowledge
was extensive, had a rational frame of mind and he loved to help people. He was a natural leader. He was much sought after by people because of this various
accomplishments.
Naren passed Entrance examination from the Metropolitan Institution and F.A. and B.A. examinations from the General
assembly's Institution (now, Scottish Church college). Philosophy was the first priority with him and Hastie, Principal was the
College, was highly impressed by Naren's philosophical insight. It was the from Hastie that he first heard of Sri Ramakrishna.
As a student of philosophy, the question of God very much haunted his mind. Was there a God? If there was a God, what was He like? What were
man's relations with Him? Did He create this world which was so full of anomalies? ?He discussed these questions with many, but no one could give him satisfactory
answers. He was a great orator and many young people, attracted by his oratory, enrolled as members of the Brahmo Samaj. Naren also did the same. For some time he
was satisfied with what the Brahmo Samaj rough the core of the matter, so far as religion was concerned. A relation of his used to advise him to visit Ramakrishna at Dakshineshwar,
who, he said, would be able to remove all his doubts about religions.