Vivekananda also known as Swami Vivekananda, born Narendra Nath Datta,
was an Indian Hindu monk and chief disciple of the 19th-century saint
Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies
of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising
interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion
during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism
in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India.
Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is
perhaps best known for his inspiring speech in which he introduced Hinduism at
the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893. Vivekananda
conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating
tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India,
Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint.
