Mysuru:  Swami Vivekananda’s electrifying address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893) with his crystal clear voice addressing the gathering, ‘Sisters and Brothers of America….’ was an enlightened awakening to the new age, said Nadoja Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah (Hampana).

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day national seminar on 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Address, organised by Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysuru in collaboration with Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Centre for Philosophy and Indian Culture, University of Mysore, at the Senate Bhavan in Manasagangothri here yesterday and said that the large gathering which was mesmerised listening to the address of the Monk, spontaneously stood up and applauded.  

‘I salute you people on behalf of all the million Hindus belonging to all religious hues from India. I am proud to belong to a religion which has sheltered the persecuted and refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth and which has taught to the world both tolerance and universal acceptance,’ expounded Hampana on Vivekananda’s address.

Swami Vivekanada along with the concept of Hindu religion propounded Vedanta, Yoga, Philosophy and the rich Indian culture very eloquently. He repeatedly talked about diversity and the need for peaceful coexistence of all religions. That very day he transpired from a Yogapurusha to Yugapurusha, he said.

Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda who spoke about the new India were the harbingers of new ideas. While Gandhiji was responsible for getting India freedom, Vivekananda gave the country religious freedom, he said.

Vivekananda realising his end had come had renounced public life, became introspective and meditative. He had predicted that he would leave this world before he turned 40 and his prescience proved right as he departed at the age of 39, on July 4, 1902. However, his preachings and his messages still reverberate throughout the world, said Hampana.

Strong bonding with Mysuru

Swami Vivekananda had a strong bonding with Mysuru. It looked like Sriguru (Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) himself had sent him to Mysuru. When he came here he was influenced by the place and also influenced others. He lauded the Maharaja’s pro-people and social conscience, said Prof. Hampana.

University of Mysore Vice Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar  inaugurated the programme. Ramakrishna Ashram President Swami Muktidanandaji and Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji spoke. Ramakrishna Vidyashala Chief Swami Yukteshanandaji was present.

Valedictory

On the concluding day today of the two-day national seminar, Illumine Knowledge Resources, Mumbai Founder and CEO Srinivas Venkataram speaking on ‘Transforming youth power into an effective power for progressive India,’ opined that social progress was equally important like economic progress. He asked the youth to realise their strength and work towards set goal.

The problems of the neighbours should also be viewed sympathetically with humility. He advised the youth to find solutions for their problems without waiting for someone else to solve them, he said.

Speaking on ‘Spiritual strength of Swami Vivekananda as found in USA,’ Sri Mangalanathanandaji of Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bengaluru recalled that during a discourse of the Swami in New York, USA, an American lady was stunned to see the monk almost motionless and still while meditating and assumed that the monk was not alive. The smiling monk asserted that he would not leave behind his body in USA and spoke on real meditation, he said.