Q.

Examine Vivekanand’s role as a revivalist reformer in terms of his ideas of

Vedantik equality and spiritual revolution?
Ans. The importance of the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda can never be
overestimated by contemporary Hindus; the numerous Ramakrishna centres around
the world bear testimony to his abiding influence even 127 years after his address to
the Parliament of World Religions in 1893. Vivekananda symbolises a Hinduism that
has been able to assert its sovereignty not just over the intolerable and very parochial
missionary attitudes of Christianity in the 19th century, but his notion of universal
Hinduism took root amongst the people of the world and thus positioned itself in
the pantheon of World Religions The result of reformation and revival was the
admission of Hinduism into the pantheon of World Religions. To become a World
Religion, a religion must be able to do a few things: religion should be able to
emancipate itself; it must develop a universal message; it must own a doctrine of
salvation that is unequivocal and accessible to its potential adherents; it must be
literate; it must possess a collection of sacred scripture that is translatable into
different languages; it must have a class of interpreters who can act as missionaries
and above all, it must transcend cultural boundaries 
In Bengal, the seat of the East India Company's power, at the beginning of the 19th
century, where the first renovation of Hindu society began with Raja Rammohan
Roy (1774-1833). Roy's intention in the sphere of religious reform was to return to the
religion of their Indian ancestors. Consequently, he based his authority on the
Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras as the authoritative texts of Hinduism.  
Narendra Nath Datta (l863–1902), later known as Swami Vivekananda, was the
prime follower of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. An educated youth, he was drawn to
Ramakrishna’s message. Dissatisfied with conventional Swami philosophical
positions Vivekananada and practices, he advocated the practical Vedanta of service
to humanity and attacked the tendency to defend every institution simply because it
was connected with religion. He emphasized a cultural nationalism and made a call
to Indian youth to regenerate Hindu society. His ideas bred a sense of self-
confidence among Indians who felt inferior in relation to the materialist
achievements of the West. He became famous for his addresses on Hinduism at the
1893 World Congress of Religions in Chicago. Despite his fame, he was condemned
by orthodox Hindus for suggesting that the lower castes should be allowed to
engage in the Hindu rituals from which they were traditionally excluded.
Vivekananda’s activist ideology rekindled the desire for political change among
many western-education young Bengalis. Many of the youths who were involved in
the militant nationalist struggle during the Swadeshi movement following the
Partition of Bengal were inspired by Vivekananda.
Vivekananda considered Hinduism as the mother of all religions. He is established
through historical chronological order. He showed that Vedic religion influenced
Buddhism which in turn played a helpful role in influencing Christianity. He said
that all religions of the world have the same value and importance. Vivekananda
preached the unity of God through his universal religion. He said that although the
paths are different for different religions, the goal is the same. He attached great
importance to the unity of all religions and their unification into one universal
religion.
Swami Vivekananda was a great lover of Vedantic philosophy. He believed in
monism. He had firm faith on one God. His motto, as reflected earlier, was to
establish a link among different religions. He had told that as water of different
rivers mingle in the sea, similarly every religion finds itself at the feet of God. He did
not see any difference between a Veda or Koran or Bible. Temple, Mosque and
Church were equal for him. He preferred to meditate at any place without any
inhibition in his mind. By his personal example he preached monism or Avaita
Vedantism. By that he showed his toleration towards every religion. He spoke the
message of Vedanta regarding the world unity and to believe shapeless God.