Swami Vivekananda contributed significantly to the 19th century religion and social reform movement. The work related to his movement was the following:
The work of religious reform
Swami Vivekananda, did not consider any distinction between Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc. . At the World Conference they expressed their faith in the truth of all religions. The more the Vedas were valid, the same Upanishad, Puran, Mahabharata etc. were also valid for him. The more interested in worshiping him in the formless form of God, the same was in the form of realization. They emphasized on religious liberality, equality and cooperation. He said that the root cause of religious clashes is to give more emphasis on external things. Principles, Religious Activities, Books, Mosques, Gardens, etc., which have differences, are mere resources. For this reason, do not put too much emphasis on them. Explaining the religion, he said, religion is the development of God-devoted within man, religion is neither in books nor in religious principles. It only resides in cognition. He said that humans eat food everywhere in the world , but there are different ways of preparing food in different country. Similarly religion is the food of man’s soul and there are many forms in the country. From this it is clear that there is basic unity in all religions, although its forms are different. He told other preachers that India is a country where religious discrimination has never occurred. He also clarified that there is no benefit from conversion of religion because every religion has the same goal. He explained to the followers of Christianity that the promotion of Christianity in India can not be as much advantage as Western industrial technical and economic knowledge can be. Conquering India can be political, not cultural.
With this, Swamiji demonstrated the greatness of Hindu religion, elevated the head of India with glory. He described Hindu religion as based on Satyam Shivam Sundaram. He conveyed to everyone that Hindu nation has been a teacher of the world and will remain in the future. Every Hindu should protect his religion and culture. Every Hindu should protect his religion and culture. Western education should also be adopted along with all this. He beautifully interpreted the truth of Vedanta philosophy and said that India can win the whole world on the basis of the spirituality of Vedanta. Vivekananda said that it is inappropriate to oppose the worldly life to be interviewed with God or Brahma. He firmly said that the true God worship is that we should devote ourselves to the service of our human beings. He used to call the poor and needy human as the form of God, and for him the term ‘ दरिद्रनारायण ‘ was used. When the neighbour is hungry, sacrifice in the temple is not a virtue, but it is a sin. These announcements of Swamiji created a great revolution in the religious field. Those who were influenced by the materiality and rationality of the West, chasing Christianity or atheism, their eyes were opened. The feeling of self-pride in the people has eroded the feeling of mental slavery and selflessness. Swamiji had a clear belief that the diversity of religions is inherently natural and needs also. He said that you can not do the ideology of all the people, it is the truth and I thank God for it. Innovative ideas are born only by the difference of thought and conflict.
Social service works by Swamiji
Swami ji gave importance to the service of human society in his religion. He was in favor of education, women’s revival and economic progress. He criticized stereotypedness, superstitions, poverty and illiteracy. He also said that till the corpses are hungry and ignorant, I consider that every person a traitor, who gets education at their expense, but does not care about them at all. Thus social service was the first religion of Swami ji. He believed that it was necessary to remove the poverty of the country. He used to say that for the pure work of liberation for the countrymen, he is ready to go to hell. Swamiji was against/anti the untouchability and did not consider the difference of character based on birth. But Swamiji did not believe in social reforms directly. He had said that spirituality is self-sustaining and self development is possible only through the social and economic progress of the country. First, by spiritualism, they wanted to make humans human and they considered them the basis of progress. He believed that with renunciation( संन्यास ), social service should be equally important goal. He was greatly influenced by the lifestyle of the West. He stressed on organized efforts for public welfare. Therefore, he had set up Ramkrishna Mission for achieving the goals of social welfare, where different caste, class and religion could be found to help the miserable people. He said that to help the poor, there would be a sacrifice in the path of God-realization. Vivekananda’s greatest success was that he presented the ideals of social service to the saints, in front of hermits (संन्यासी).
Formation of Nationalism
Swami Vivekananda also contributed immensely to the formation of nationalism. He established the superiority of all Hindu religion and spiritualism, which created self-pride and patriotism in the Hindus. He explained the main teaching of Vedanta that each person can see God’s light in himself. Just as God is always free, so every person is also always free.
Thus Vivekananda served the unique service of Hindu religion and Indian culture. His teachings made Indians aware of their bright past, so that they could proud on their past. That is why Ravindranath Tagore has written, “If anyone wants to understand India, then he should read Vivekananda”. Similarly, Arvind has written that Vivekananda’s success in western India is proof that India has not just been awakened to avoid death, once someone has seen this Hindu monk and it is difficult to forgot him and his message.
After the death of Swamiji, Ramkrishna Mission, established by him, is successfully doing his great work. Two newspapers for the promotion of spiritualism are published.
Swamiji’s speeches were published in several texts. Branches of Ramakrishna Mission are present in different cities of India and are doing many welfare work. By establishing the hospital, orphanage, school, reading room etc., this institution is still engaged in social service.
Reference :https://www.indiaolddays.com/
