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Lectures from Colombo to Almora

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Lectures from Colombo to Almora
Cover of 1897 edition
Front cover of 1897 edition
AuthorSwami Vivekananda
LanguageEnglish
SubjectPhilosophy
PublisherVyjayanti Press, Madras
Publication date
1897
Publication placeIndia
ISBN9788175050815
OCLC276782395
TextLectures from Colombo to Almora at Wikisource

Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897) is a book of Swami Vivekananda. After visiting the West Vivekananda reached Colombo on 15 January 1897. Upon Vivekananda's arrival at Colombo, a forty-feet high monument was built on the spot where he landed to celebrate his achievements in the West.[1] He reached Calcutta via Madras on 20 January (1897). Then Vivekananda travelled extensively and visited many Indian stated. On 19 June (1897) he reached Almora. The lectures delivered by Swami Vivekananda in this period were compiled into the book "Lectures from Colombo to Almora". The book contains reports of 17 lectures in total.

Background

In 1893 Swami Vivekananda went to the United States to join Parliament of the World's Religions where he got overwhelming success and public attention. For next four year, from 1893 to 1897, he travelled through various cities of the United States and England, and gave a series of lectures on religion and Vedanta. He came back to India in 1897 via Colombo.[2]

Vivekananda reached Colombo on 15 January 1897 where the natives warmly welcomed him.[3] Vivekananda mentioned this welcome in a letter written to Mary Hale on 30 January 1897:[3][4]

Things are turning out most curiously for me. From Colombo in Ceylon, where I landed, to Ramnad, the nearly southernmost point of the Indian continent where I am just now as the guest of the Raja of Ramnad, my journey has been a huge procession — crowds of people, illuminations, addresses, etc., etc. A monument forty feet high is being built on the spot where I landed. The Raja of Ramnad has presented his address to "His most Holiness" in a huge casket of solid gold beautifully worked. Madras and Calcutta are on the tiptoe of expectation as if the whole nation is rising to honour me. So you see, Mary, I am on the very height of my destiny, yet the mind turns to quietness and peace, to the days we had in Chicago, of rest, of peace, and love; and that is why I write just now, and may this find you all in health and peace!

After staying at Colombo for four days he reached Calcutta[a] on 20 January via Madras[b]. Between 1897 and 1899 Vivekananda travelled extensively and visited many Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kashmir.[2]

On 6 May 1897 Vivekananda started his journey to Almora[5] and on 19 June he reached there.ed into the book "Lectures from Colombo to Almora".[6] 17 lectures delivered by Vivekananda in different places in this period were compil[7]

Lecture locations

Lectures of the following locations are included in the book—[c]

  1. Almora
  2. Anuradhapura
  3. Calcutta
  4. Colombo
  5. Jaffna
  6. Kandy
  7. Kumbhakonam
  8. Madras
  9. Madura
  10. Manamadura
  11. Mayavaram
  12. Pamben
  13. Paramakudi
  14. Ramesvarem
  15. Ramnad
  16. Tanjore
  17. Trichinopoly
  18. Vavoniya

Publication

The book first published from The Vyjayanti Press, Egmore, Madras in 1897 under the title "From Colmobo to Almora".[6] The introductory note of the book was written by friend and disciple of Vivekananda Henrietta Muller.[7]

Inspiration

These lectures have been subject of scholarly studies and source of inspiration for many people. Sri Lankan sage Yogaswami was deeply influenced by the lecture given by Vivekananda at Colombo. Vivekananda's opening words "The time is short and the subject is vast" had deep impact on the young Yogaswami.[8]

References

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ Now known as Kolkata
  2. ^ Now known as Chennai
  3. ^ In alphabetical order, name and spelling according to book's first edition's table of content.[7]

Citations

  1. ^ Mittra 2001, p. 70
  2. ^ a b Bharathi 1998, pp. 123–125
  3. ^ a b Mukhopadhyay 2011, p. 188
  4. ^ Vivekananda 1897
  5. ^ RKMIC 2009, p. 53
  6. ^ a b Chattopadhyaya 1999, pp. 239–242
  7. ^ a b c Vivekananda 1897a
  8. ^ Hinduism Today 1999, pp. 116–118

Sources

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