Swami Vivekananda death anniversary: Did you know the mystical aspects around Swami’s death?
Jul 4, 2024, 17:43 IST
Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta, was a towering figure in Indian spirituality and the spread of its influence in the Western world. A disciple of the mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekananda is best remembered in the West for his speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he began with the words, “Sisters and brothers of America!”.
His teachings and philosophy continue to inspire millions, emphasising the potential of the human soul and the unity of all religions. However, the circumstances surrounding his death on July 4, 1902, remain shrouded in mystery and speculation.
At 7:00 pm, Vivekananda retired to his room, asking not to be disturbed. By 9:20 pm, he had passed away while meditating. The official cause of death was given as the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain.
This belief is rooted in the yogic concept of maha samadhi, where an enlightened soul consciously exits the physical form. This idea is further supported by the belief that the rupture in his brain was due to the piercing of the “brahmarandhra” — an opening at the crown of the head — allowing his soul to merge with the universal consciousness.
This sense of impending death did not deter him from his work, however, and he remained active in his duties at the Ramakrishna Math until his final day. His close associates noted that he was keenly aware of his mortality and often spoke about the ephemeral nature of life.
In the book, Shankar pens “shariram byadhimandiram” to describe Vivekananda's body, which roughly translates to a “temple of diseases". Despite his emphasis on physical strength — once controversially stating that it was better to play football than read the Gita — his own health was in a constant state of decline.
Swami Vivekananda's life and teachings continue to resonate with people around the world. His message of self-realisation and unity of all religions remains relevant today. Reflecting on his own identity, Vivekananda once said, “Nature, body, mind, go to death, not we. We neither go nor come. The man Vivekananda is in nature, is born and dies; but the Self (soul) we see as Vivekananda is never born and never dies. It is the eternal and unchangeable Reality.”
Swami Vivekananda was finally cremated on a sandalwood pyre on the banks of the Ganga, opposite the spot where his guru, Ramakrishna, was cremated sixteen years earlier. His legacy lives on through the Ramakrishna Mission and the many lives he touched with his profound wisdom and unwavering dedication to the spiritual upliftment of humanity.
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His teachings and philosophy continue to inspire millions, emphasising the potential of the human soul and the unity of all religions. However, the circumstances surrounding his death on July 4, 1902, remain shrouded in mystery and speculation.
The final day
On the morning of July 4, 1902, Swami Vivekananda reportedly awoke early and proceeded to Belur Math, the headquarters of the self-founded Ramakrishna Mission. He spent three hours in meditation, a practice central to his daily routine. Following this, he taught the Shukla-Yajur-Veda, Sanskrit grammar, and the philosophy of yoga to his pupils. Later, he discussed plans for a Vedic college at the Ramakrishna Math with his colleagues.At 7:00 pm, Vivekananda retired to his room, asking not to be disturbed. By 9:20 pm, he had passed away while meditating. The official cause of death was given as the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain.
The mystical element
The circumstances of Vivekananda’s death have fueled various speculations and mystical interpretations. Some followers believe that his departure was not due to any physical ailment but was a conscious decision to leave his body.This belief is rooted in the yogic concept of maha samadhi, where an enlightened soul consciously exits the physical form. This idea is further supported by the belief that the rupture in his brain was due to the piercing of the “brahmarandhra” — an opening at the crown of the head — allowing his soul to merge with the universal consciousness.
Swami’s premonition of death
The mysticism of the man only intensifies when you take in the fact that Vivekananda seemed to have a premonition of his death. As per ‘The Monk as Man’, a biography of Swami Vivekananda by renowned Bengali writer Shankar, the Swami reportedly told the French soprano Rosa Emma Calvet in Egypt that he would not live past the age of 40. This was a prophecy that indeed came true as he passed away at 39 years, five months, and 24 days.Advertisement
This sense of impending death did not deter him from his work, however, and he remained active in his duties at the Ramakrishna Math until his final day. His close associates noted that he was keenly aware of his mortality and often spoke about the ephemeral nature of life.
Vivekanada’s struggles with health
However, this is not to say that the Swami did not suffer from his share of mortal troubles. Throughout his life, Vivekananda battled numerous health problems, amounting to no less than 31 different ailments, as per reports. Insomnia plagued Swami relentlessly, and he often wrote about his struggles with sleep in letters to close friends. He also suffered from liver and kidney diseases, malaria, migraines, diabetes, and heart ailments.In the book, Shankar pens “shariram byadhimandiram” to describe Vivekananda's body, which roughly translates to a “temple of diseases". Despite his emphasis on physical strength — once controversially stating that it was better to play football than read the Gita — his own health was in a constant state of decline.
Legacy and reflection
Swami Vivekananda's life and teachings continue to resonate with people around the world. His message of self-realisation and unity of all religions remains relevant today. Reflecting on his own identity, Vivekananda once said, “Nature, body, mind, go to death, not we. We neither go nor come. The man Vivekananda is in nature, is born and dies; but the Self (soul) we see as Vivekananda is never born and never dies. It is the eternal and unchangeable Reality.”
Swami Vivekananda was finally cremated on a sandalwood pyre on the banks of the Ganga, opposite the spot where his guru, Ramakrishna, was cremated sixteen years earlier. His legacy lives on through the Ramakrishna Mission and the many lives he touched with his profound wisdom and unwavering dedication to the spiritual upliftment of humanity.