India, with her wealth of spiritual tradition, has produced many spiritual giants.

 

Sri Ramakrishna

One of the greatest spiritual giants was Ramakrishna (1836-1886). His life was a testament to truth, universality, love and purity. Born in a rural village outside Calcutta, Ramakrishna, even as a boy, naturally gravitated toward leading a spiritual life. This tendency only intensified as he grew older. When as a young man, he became a temple priest, he was seized by an unquenchable thirst for union with God, and he immersed himself in intense meditation and other spiritual practices. – More –

 

 

Sri Sarada Devi

The affectionate term “Holy Mother” refers to Sarada Devi (1853-1920), Ramakrishna’s wife and spiritual counterpart. As was customary in India, she was betrothed to him while still a child. At the age of 18, she left her parental home to join her husband. By that time, Ramakrishna had dedicated his body and mind to the spiritual search, living as a monk. However, he received Sarada very kindly, feeling that Divine Providence had brought her. When asked why she had joined him, she replied that she had come only to help him in his chosen way, which—as she well knew—meant the way of complete renunciation of all earthly ties for the sake of God-realization. Thus, she became his first disciple. – More –

 

 

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was the foremost disciple of Ramakrishna and a world spokesperson for Vedanta. His lectures, writings, letters, and poems are published as The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. He felt it was best to teach universal principles rather than personalities, and most of the Vedanta Societies which were founded in America and Europe up through the 1930s can trace their origins directly to Vivekananda or the people who heard him speak from 1893 through 1900. – More –