The Reason Why Swami Vivekananda Was The Hero Of The 1893 Parliament of Religions.

Just a few days ago I was reflecting on the ideological divisions of India in present times. Some subscribe to the right wing, RSS-BJP conservatives, Nathuram Godse, Savarkar side whie some prefer left wing, Gandhism, Congressi temper. Again, while some are inspired by staunch nationalists like Bose or Bhagat Singh. Some are purely secular, atheistic while some are very religious. Like, we can go on discussing multitude of beliefs that modern Indians hold. 

Polarity for one idea gives birth to avarice and hatred for the other idea. Hence, now and then we see exchange of statements from various groups of thinkers, unnecessarily mocking each other's beliefs.

In this myriad, when I look back on Swami Vivekananda's life and works, I find it contradicting not a single genuine Indian citizen who is by heart patriotic. Clearly, not a single genuine nationalist, that is, lover of India, has ever spoken against Swami Vivekananda or anything in his life which was contradictory to his teachings. No criticism. If there may be any lips which has spoken something ill about Swami Vivekananda, then I would be so sorry for that person, for he has not yet known the character fully.

Studying the life of Swami Vivekananda, one thing we observe as clear as daylight is his immense love for India, immense love for its diversed culture, multiple faiths and colourful society. He breathed for India, died for India.

An entire blog must be dedicated to how exactly Swami Vivekananda, a wandering monk, end up in America's Parliament of Religions, but in this blog we will see what message did Swami Vivekananda give in his 11th September 1893 address, which, two days ago, celebrated its 129 years.

On Monday, September 11, 1893 the Parliament of Religions opened its deliberations with due solemnity. The spacious hall and the huge gallery of the art Palace were packed with seven thousand people - men and women, representing the culture of the United States. The official delegates marched in a grand procession to the platform, and in the centre, in his scarlet robe, sat Cardinal Gibbons, the highest prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the Western hemisphere. He occupied a chair of state and opened the meeting with a prayer. On his left and right were grouped the Oriental delegates: Pratap Chandra Mazoomdar of the Calcutta Brahmo Samaj, and Nagarkar of Bombay; Dharmapala, representing the Ceylon Buddhists; Gandhi, representing the Jains; Chakravarti and Annie Besant of the Theosophical Society.

 With them sat Swami Vivekananda, who represented no particular sect, but the Universal Religion of the Vedas, and who spoke, as will presently be seen, for the religious aspiration of all humanity. His gorgeous robe, large yellow turban, bronze complexion, and fine features stood out prominently on the platform and drew everybody's notice. In numerical order the Swami's position was number thirty-one.

The delegates arose, one by one, and read prepared speeches, but the Hindu sannyasin was totally unprepared. He had never before addressed such an assembly. When he was asked to give his message he was seized with stage-fright, and requested the chairman to call on him a little later. Several times he postponed the summons. As he admitted later: “Of course my heart was fluttering and my tongue nearly dried up. I was so nervous that I could not venture to speak in the morning session”.

At last he came to the rostrum and Dr. Barrows introduced him. Bowing to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Wisdom, he addressed the audience as “Sisters and Brothers of America”. Instantly, thousands arose in their seats and gave him loud applause. They were deeply moved to see, at last, a man who discarded formal words and spoke to them with the natural and candid warmth of a brother. 

It took a full two minutes before the tumult subsided, and the Swami began his speech by thanking the youngest of the nations in the name of the most ancient monastic order in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins. The keynote of his address was universal toleration and acceptance. He told the audience how India, even in olden times, had given shelter to the religious refugees of other lands - for instance, the Israelites and the Zoroastrians - and he quoted from the scriptures the following two passages revealing the Hindu spirit of toleration:

“As different streams, having their sources in different places, all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee”.

“Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him. All men are struggling through many paths, which in the end lead to Me”.

In conclusion he pleaded for the quick termination of sectarianism, bigotry, and fanaticism.

The response was deafening applause. It appeared that the whole audience had been patiently awaiting this message of religious harmony. 

Whereas every one of the other delegates had spoken for his own ideal or his own sect, the Swami had spoken about God, who, as the ultimate goal of all faiths, is their inmost essence. And he had learnt that truth at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna, who had taught incessantly, from his direct experience, that all religions are but so many paths to reach the same goal. The Swami gave utterance to the yearning of the modern world to break down the barriers of caste, colour, and creed and to fuse all people into one humanity.

Not a word of condemnation for any faith, however crude or irrational, fell from his lips. He did not believe that this religion or that religion was true in this or that respect; to him all religions were equally effective paths to lead their respective devotees, with diverse tastes and temperaments, to the same goal of perfection. 

How prophetic were the master's words that his Naren would one day shake the world!

The young, unknown monk of India was transformed overnight into an outstanding figure of the religious world. From obscurity he leapt to fame. His life-size portraits were posted in the streets of Chicago, with words “The Monk Vivekananda” written beneath them and many passers-by would stop to do reverence with bowed heads.

The “New York Herald” said: “He is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation”.

The reports of the Parliament of Religions were published in the Indian magazines and newspapers. The Swami's vindication of the Hindu faith filled with pride the hearts of his countrymen from Colombo to Almora, from Calcutta to Bombay. The brother monks at the Baranagore monastery were not, at first, clear about the identity of Vivekananda. A letter from the Swami, six months after the Parliament, removed all doubts, however, and how proud they felt at the achievement of their beloved Naren!

But how did Vivekananda himself react to this triumph, which had been the fulfillment of his long cherished desire? He knew that his solitary life as a monk in constant communion with God was at an end; he could no longer live in obscurity with his dreams and visions. Instead of dwelling in peace and serenity, he was thrown into the vortex of a public career with its ceaseless turmoil and demands. When he returned to his hotel the night after the first meeting of the Parliament, he wept like a child.

( From - Swami Nikhilananda “Swami Vivekananda – A Biography”, The Parliament Of Religions)

I believe that Swami Vivekananda gave exactly what the Parliament of Religions wanted - the message of love, the message of universal oneness.

Throughout his life Vivekananda propagated the glory and divinity of human soul. Alas, who can criticise a person who had said he worships the highest God while serving humanity :-)

Thanks,

Daksh Parekh.