At the Paris Congress of the History of Religions in 1900, Ramakrishna's follower Swami Vivekananda argued that the Shiva-Linga had its origin in the idea of the Yupa-Stambha or Skambha — the sacrificial post, idealized in Vedic ritual as the symbol of the Eternal Brahman.

Narasingha Sil has argued that Vivekananda revised and mythologized Ramakrishna's image after Ramakrishna's death.

Carl Olson argued that in his presentation of his master, Vivekananda had hid much of Ramakrishna ’ s embarrassing sexual oddities from the public, because he feared that Ramakrishna would be misunderstood.

According to Vivekananda, the explanation of the Shalagrama-Shila as a phallic emblem was an imaginary invention.

A fifth individual whom Drury identified as an important influence upon the New Age movement was the Indian Swami Vivekananda ( 1863 – 1902 ), an adherent of the philosophy of Vedanta who first brought Hinduism to the West in the late 19th century.

Swami Vivekananda (; pronounced: ) ( 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902 ), born Narendra Nath Datta (), was an Indian Hindu monk.

Rabindranath Tagore's suggestion ( to Nobel Laureate Romain Rolland ) was – " If you want to know India, study Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Dutta in Calcutta, the capital of British India, on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival.

The house of 3, Gour Mohan Mukherjee street, Kolkata, where Vivekananda was born, now it is maintained by the Ramakrishna Mission.

Later he was crowned with the name Vivekananda by Ajit Singh, the Maharaja of Khetri.

Dr. Barrows, the president of the Parliament said, " India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful influence over his auditors.

The Boston Evening Transcript reported that Vivekananda was " a great favourite at the parliament ... if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded ".

" Eventually in 1895, money sent by Vivekananda was used to start the periodical Brahmavadin, for the purpose of teaching the Vedanta.

Swami Vivekananda – the photo was taken in Bushnell Studio in San Francisco, 1900.

The Swami Vivekananda temple at Belur Math, on the place where he was cremation | cremated.

Vivekananda died at ten minutes past nine p. m. on 4 July 1902 while he was meditating.

Swami Vivekananda believed that the essence of Hinduism was best expressed in the Vedanta philosophy, based on the interpretation of Adi Shankara.

Vivekananda was the principal reason behind the enthusiastic reception of yoga, transcendental meditation and other forms of Indian spiritual self-improvement in the West.

" Vivekananda drew the attention towards the prevalence of poverty in the country, and maintained that addressing such poverty was prerequisite for the national awakening.

Subhas Chandra Bose also said about Vivekananda, " His personality was rich, profound and complex ... Reckless in his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and versatile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks but yet simple as a child, he was a rare personality in this world of ours.

" Aurobindo Ghose considered Vivekananda as his spiritual mentor, saying " Vivekananda was a soul of puissance if ever there was one, a very lion among men ..." At the Belur Math, Mahatma Gandhi was heard to say that his whole life was an effort to bring into action the ideas of Vivekananda.

Hindu monks, beginning with Swami Vivekananda, brought yoga to the Western world in the late 19th century.

Teachers such as Swami Vivekananda, who brought Hinduism to the West, held beliefs like those found in Smartism, although he usually referred to his religion as Vedanta.

Such Grihastha disciples financially helped the monastic disciples led by Vivekananda to form fellowship at a derelict house at Baranagar on the river Ganges.

Living mainly on bhiksha ( alms ), Vivekananda travelled on foot and railway tickets bought by his admirers whom he met during the travels.

In July 1890, accompanied by the fellow monk Swami Akhandananda ( also a disciple of Ramakrishna ), Vivekananda visited the Himalayas.

With the aid of funds collected by his Madras disciples and Rajas of Mysore, Ramnad, Khetri, Dewans and other followers, Vivekananda left for Chicago on 31 May 1893 from Bombay assuming the name Vivekananda — the name suggested by the Maharaja of Khetri, Ajit Singh.

The Paris addresses are memorable for the scholarly penetration evinced by Vivekananda related to the worship of Linga and authenticity of the Gita.

Jamsetji Tata was influenced by Vivekananda to establish the Indian Institute of Science — one of India's best known research universities.

Scientist Nikola Tesla was one of those influenced by the Vedic philosophy teachings of Vivekananda.

Manuscript of " Blessings to Nivedita " a poem written by Swami Vivekananda in his own handwriting.

Vivekananda observed that human could be classified into four categories — those who were in constant activity, or the worker ; those who were driven by their inner urge, or the emotional ; those who tended to analyse the working of their minds, or the mystical ; and those who weighed everything with reason, or the rational.

Many of the country's political leaders of the 19th and 20th century, including Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, were influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Roy, Ramakrishna and Vivekananda were all influenced by the Hindu school of Advaita Vedanta, which, arguably, emphasises unity over diversity.

For writer Stephen Prothero, many perennialist thinkers ( including Armstrong, Huston Smith and Joseph Campbell ) are influenced by Hindu reformer Ram Mohan Roy and Hindu mystics Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi, the renowned spiritual teacher reckoned as the greatest karmayogi to uphold Sanatana Dharma since Swami Vivekananda drew inspiration from the Guru's life and teachings and popularised it through his long oratories across the length and breadth of Kerala. He can be regarded as a political successor of the guru who enshrined the guru's vision in the setting up of Hindu Aikya Vedi uniting all the Hindu organisations in Kerala under the aegis of a single organisation brushing aside caste distinctions and uniting the two major groups of Hindus in the state, respectively the savarna Nairs and Ezhavas. As Noted by

His religious school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda – both were influential figures in the Bengali Renaissance as well as the Hindu renaissance during the 19th and 20th centuries.

After the death of their master, the monastic disciples led by Vivekananda formed a fellowship at a half-ruined house at Baranagar near the river Ganges, with the financial assistance of the householder disciples.

His teaching, " Jive daya noy, Shiv gyane jiv seba " ( not kindness to living beings, but serving the living being as Shiva Himself ) is considered as the inspiration for the philanthropic work carried out by his chief disciple Vivekananda.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission is one of the main organizations founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897.

" The American newspapers reported Swami Vivekananda as " the greatest figure in the parliament of religions " and " the most popular and influential man in the parliament ".

Swami Vivekananda remains the most influential figure in modern Hinduism.

On 11 November 1995, a section of Michigan Avenue, one of the most prominent streets in downtown Chicago, was formally renamed " Swami Vivekananda Way ".

Ramakrishna's most famous disciple, Swami Vivekananda, travelled to the United States in the 1890s where he formed the Vedanta Society.

He was most inspired by the life of Swami Vivekananda and his four small volumes: Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Inspired Talks, and most particularly by Swami Vivekananda ’ s masterful poem, " The Song of the Sannyasin.

His most important works include translations of The Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, biographies of Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda, his compilation of the works of Swami Vivekananda under the title of Vivekananda: The Yogas and Other Works, his two books, Hinduism, Its Meaning for the Liberation of the Spirit, and Man in Search of Immortality, and his many articles written for various journals.

The temple is widely recognized as one of the most important places of worship in Hindu religion and most of the leading Hindu saints, including Adi Sankaracharya, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Gurunanak have visited this site.