Idealistic Thoughts of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda, known in his pre-monastic life as

Narendranath Datta, was born in an affluent family in Kolkata on 12

January 1863. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was a successful attorney

with interests in a wide range of subjects, and his mother,

Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was endowed with deep devotion, strong

character and other qualities. A precocious boy, Narendra excelled in

music, gymnastics and studies. By the time he graduated from Calcutta

University, he had acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects,

especially Western philosophy and history. Born with a yogic

temperament, he used to practise meditation even from his boyhood,

and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time