Vivekananda

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A prominent Indian monk and philosopher known for his role in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world
2. An influential figure in the revival of Hinduism and a key proponent of the unity of all religions, famed for his speeches at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago
3. A revered spiritual leader who founded the Ramakrishna Mission, emphasizing service and the importance of spirituality in everyday life

Etymology: Vivekananda was not born with this name. He was given the name Narendranath Datta, and he took the monastic name Vivekananda when he became a disciple of the mystic Ramakrishna. Such religious names were conferred on monks in the Ramakrishna tradition, and this one is built from two Sanskrit nouns: "viveka," meaning discernment or the ability to tell the real from the unreal, and "ananda," meaning bliss or joy. Together the name means roughly "bliss of discernment," a fitting choice for a teacher who argued that the many religious paths lead toward one truth. The English spelling is a straightforward transliteration of the Sanskrit compound, so the name's meaning survives largely intact when it is read in English.