ABSTRACT
Referred to by delegates at the Parliament of Religions meeting in Chicago in 1893 as the ‘cyclonic monk from India’ Narendranāth Datta, better known as Vivekānanda, was born into an aristocratic family in Calcutta. As a college student he was renowned for his oratory and debating powers but he also displayed a meditative tendency that kept him aloof from his fellow students. He was inclined to rationalism and was impressed both by the analytic approach of Western science and the writings of the leaders of the Brahmo Samāj. His rational and analytic outlook suffered a change, however, when he met Rāmakrishna in 1881 and his intention to embark on a legal career was set aside. After an initial period of questioning he surrendered to Rāmakrishna’s influence and became his foremost disciple taking the name of Vivekānanda.
