Swami Vivekananda

Indian religious leader, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna inspired by his teacher to serve men as visible manifestations of God. An illumined being of the highest order, he was the forerunner who brought the spiritual teachings of India to the West in 1893 at the convening of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, greatly influencing the last hundred years of spiritual growth in Europe and America. During his three-year stay in American, he founded Vedanta in the West. Many of these acknowledge him as a modern Buddha and an emanation of Lord Shiva. Highly intelligent with a retentive memory, he had stories of the scripture memorized by the time he was six. At 17, he passed the entrance exams of Calcutta University. Vivekananda became one of the most beloved chelas of Sri Ramakrishna. As the master spent his last years teaching his disciples and streams of visitors, Vivekananda recorded his instruction from 1882 until his guru died on 8/16/1886. On 5/31/1893, Vivekananda took the universal teachings to the West, breaking with the caste tradition and losing his caste as a result. His denial of the rigid system brought him severe censure from Indian traditionalists. On 2/20/1897, Swami, as he was called, returned to Calcutta, and the following year, founded the Ramakrishna Mission. The first monastery at Belur Math inaugurated on 12/09/1898. In June 1899, he made a second visit to the new world. Vivekananda died at 39 years in a state of samadhi on 7/04/1902, at Belur Math, near Calcutta, 22N38, 88E18. Link to Wikipedia biography