Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda (1863 -1902) was the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is considered a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the "Western" World, mainly in America and Europe and is also credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century. Vivekananda is considered to be a major force in the revival of Hinduism in modern India. He is perhaps best known for his inspiring speech which began: "Sisters and Brothers of America," through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Vivekananda arrived in Colombo on 15 January 1897 and received an ecstatic welcome. Here, he gave his first public speech in East, India, the Holy Land. From there on, his journey to Calcutta was a triumphal progress. He traveled from Colombo to Pamban, Rameshwaram, Ramnad, Madurai, Kumbakonam and Madras delivering lectures. People and Rajas gave him enthusiastic reception. In the procession at Pamban, the Raja of Ramnad personally drew the Swami's carriage.
On way to Madras, at several places where the train would not stop, the people squatted on the rails and allowed the train to pass only after hearing the Swami. From Madras, he continued his journey to Calcutta and continued his lectures up to Almora. While in the West he talked of India's great spiritual heritage, on return to India the refrain of his 'Lectures from Colombo to Almora' was uplift of the masses, eradication of the caste virus, promotion of the study of science, industrialization of the country, removal of poverty, the end of the colonial rule.These lectures have been published as Lectures from Colombo to Almora. These lectures are considered to be of nationalistic fervor and spiritual ideology. His speeches had tremendous influence on the Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Bipin Chandra Pal and Balgangadhar Tilak.
Sri Lanka issued the stamp on 15th Jan 1997 to mark 100 years of his visit to Colombo.
- Kenneth Sequeira,
Email : kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com
P.O Box 2718, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on Swami Vivekanada in 1963 and 1993.
Date of Issue : 17 January 1963
Swami Vivekananda : Centenary of Chicago Address
Date of Issue : 11 September 1993
Customized stamp on Swami Vivekanada from Malaysia
To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (1863-2013), Ramakrishna Mission Malaysia observed the release of the ‘Arise, Awake!’customized postal stamp on Aug 2.The stamp takes inspiration from the holy man’s famous quote “Arise, Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached”.
