Vivekananda and the Brahmo Samaj
Founded in 1828, inspired by Raja Rammohan Roy, the Brahmo Samaj was a significant social force in the late 19th century in Bengal. Maharshi Devendranath Tagore and Keshabchandra Sen, whom Naren knew, were two of its most prominent leaders.
 |
 |
 |
| Raja Rammohan Roy | Maharshi Devendranath Tagore | Keshabchandra Sen |
The Brahmo Samaj was both a religion and social movement. It offered a monotheistic religion which protested against Hindu polytheism, image worship, the doctrine of Divine Incarnations, and the need for a Guru. As a reform movement the Samaj sought the eradication of the caste system, the recognition of the equality of all men, the education and emancipation of women, and the raising of the marriageable age
As a teen, Narendranath often attended Samaj meetings and enthusiastically supported their program, believing, initially, that the Samaj was an ideal institution which might help to solve all life's problems, individual or national.
In 1878, a schism occurred in the Samaj, between a faction headed by Keshab Sen and another headed by Pandit Shivanath Shastri, and Vijaykrishna Goswami. The latter formed a new society on May 15, 1878, called the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. Narendranath joined the new organization, and his name was on the roll of the original members.
 |
 |
| Pandit Shivanath Shastri | Vijaykrishna Goswami |
- www.vivekananda.net edited by Frank Parlato Jr.