Power Pack - Lectures from Colombo to Almora - of Swami Vivekananda 130th Year

Swami Vivekananda delivered his first historic public lecture in the East, titled "India, the Sacred Land", at the Floral Hall in Colombo on January 16, 1897, following his triumphant return from the West.

Summary of the Colombo Speech

Recognition of a Principle: Vivekananda humbly disclaimed any personal credit for the grand royal reception given to him by the local Hindu community, stating it honored a principle rather than an individual.

 
Triumph of the Spirit: He noted that the grand welcome was not for a conqueror, politician, general, or millionaire, but for a simple, begging Sannyasin (monk), which highlighted the deep spiritual foundation and inclination of the Hindu mind.

 
Religion as the National Backbone: He strongly asserted that if India and its civilization were to survive and thrive, religion must forever remain the core and backbone of its national life.
Gratitude to the Motherland: He attributed whatever success he achieved in the West not to any personal greatness, but to the blessings, goodwill, and spiritual heritage of India—which he revered as the sacred Punya Bhoomi.

 
Message of Harmony: Consistent with his global philosophy, he emphasized religious tolerance, universal consciousness, and harmony over sectarian hatred.

Swami Vivekananda delivered a historic address on Vedantism at the Jaffna Hindu College on January 24, 1897, in response to a warm welcome address from the local Hindu community.

Context and Arrival. The Welcome: The Hindus of Jaffna presented an address of welcome honoring him as a representative of their ancient faith, recalling how their ancestors preserved their religion through centuries of Portuguese and Dutch persecution.

The Gathering: An estimated 4,000 people—comprising the intellectual and social elite of Jaffna—gathered at the Hindu College to hear him speak.

Core Themes of the AddressThe Unity of Existence: He emphasized the core Vedantic truth that underneath superficial differences lies a single, universal Divine Reality.

 
Fearlessness and Strength: True Vedanta, according to the Swami, calls for absolute fearlessness, inner strength, and the realization of the infinite potential of the human soul.

 
The Temple of Man: He stressed that the living God resides within every human being, making service to humanity and recognizing the divine spark in others the highest form of worship.

 
அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் ஐரோப்பிய நாடுகளுக்குச் சென்றுவிட்டு இந்தியா திரும்பும் வழியில், சுவாமி விவேகானந்தர் 1897ஆம் ஆண்டு சனவரி 15ஆம் நாள் இலங்கையின் கொழும்பு நகருக்கு வந்தடைந்தார். இதுவே அவரது வரலாற்றுச் சிறப்புமிக்க முதன்மையான இலங்கை விஜயமாகும் (அவர் இதற்கு முன் 1893இல் ஒருமுறை கொழும்பு துறைமுகத்தில் சில மணி நேரம் தங்கியிருந்தார்).

இலங்கைப் பயணத்தின் முக்கிய நிகழ்வுகள்கொழும்பு வரவேற்பு: 

1897 சனவரி 15இல் கொழும்பு வந்தடைந்த அவருக்கு கொழும்பு மக்களும் பல்வேறு அமைப்புகளும் உற்சாகமான வரவேற்பளித்தனர்.

 
பயணப் பாதை: கொழும்பிலிருந்து கண்டி, அனுராதபுரம், மாத்தளை வழியாக யாழ்ப்பாணம் நோக்கிப் பயணம் செய்தார்.

 
அனுராதபுரம் பயணம்: மாட்டு வண்டியில் பயணம் செய்து அனுராதபுரத்தை அடைந்த அவர், அங்குள்ள புனித போதி மரத்தைக் தரிசித்தார். திரண்டிருந்த மக்களிடையே பக்தி குறித்து உரையாற்றினார். 

யாழ்ப்பாண வருகை: யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் அவருக்கு மிகச்சிறப்பான வரவேற்பு அளிக்கப்பட்டது. பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான மக்கள் கலந்துகொண்ட ஊர்வலம் நடைபெற்றது.

 
சொற்பொழிவுகள்: கொழும்பில் அவர் ஆற்றிய புகழ்பெற்ற சொற்பொழிவுகள் பின்னர் "கொழும்பு முதல் அல்மோரா வரை" (Lectures from Colombo to Almora) என்னும் நூலாகத் தொகுக்கப்பட்டன.

உரையின் தலைப்பு: "இந்தியா, புனித பூமி" (India, the Sacred Land) என்ற தலைப்பில் அவர் தனது புகழ்பெற்ற சொற்பொழிவை ஆற்றினார்.
** முக்கிய கருத்துக்கள்:** மனிதநேயம், ஆன்மீக ஒற்றுமை, சகோதரத்துவம் மற்றும் சகிப்புத்தன்மை ஆகியவற்றை அவர் தனது உரைகளில் வலியுறுத்தினார். இந்தியா தனது ஆன்மீக கருத்துக்கள் மூலம் உலக அமைதிக்கு உதவ வேண்டும் என்றார்.

இலங்கையில் விவேகானந்தரின் தாக்கம்

விவேகானந்த சங்கம்: விவேகானந்தர் மறைந்த ஒன்பது நாட்களுக்குள், 1902ஆம் ஆண்டு கொழும்பில் உலகின் முதல் 'விவேகானந்த சங்கம்' உருவாக்கப்பட்டது.

நினைவுச் சின்னங்கள்: கொழும்பு மற்றும் திருகோணமலை போன்ற பகுதிகளில் விவேகானந்தக் கல்லூரிகள் செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றன. விவேகானந்தரின் நினைவாகக் கொழும்பில் விவேகானந்தா கல்லூரி (Vivekananda College) நிறுவப்பட்டது.

 
சுவாமி விவேகானந்தர் 1897 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஜனவரி 24 மற்றும் 25 ஆம் திகதிகளில் யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரிக்கு வருகை தந்து, அங்கு சிறப்பான சொற்பொழிவை ஆற்றினார்.

வரலாற்றுப் பின்னணி மற்றும் நிகழ்வுகள்  வருகை மற்றும் வரவேற்பு:

 1897 ஜனவரி 24 அன்று யாழ்ப்பாணத்திற்கு வருகை தந்த சுவாமி விவேகானந்தருக்கு, பெரியகடை முதல் இந்துக் கல்லூரி வரை வீதி எங்கும் தோரணங்கள் கட்டப்பட்டு, பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான (15,000-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட) மக்களால் எழுச்சியான வரவேற்பளிக்கப்பட்டது. 

சொற்பொழிவு: ஜனவரி 25 அன்று இரவு யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரியின் பிரதான பிரார்த்தனை மண்டபத்தில் "வேதாந்தம்" என்ற தலைப்பில் சுமார் ஒரு மணி நேரம் நாற்பது நிமிடங்கள் அவர் சொற்பொழிவு ஆற்றினார். [1, 2]
சிறப்பு பங்கேற்பு: இந்நிகழ்வில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் ஆன்மிகப் பெரியவரான யோகசுவாமி அவர்களும் கலந்துகொண்டு சுவாமிஜியின் உரையைக் கேட்டறிந்தார். 

கல்லூரிச் சிறப்பு: கிறிஸ்தவ மிஷனரிப் பாடசாலைகளுக்கு மாற்றாகத் தமிழையும் சைவத்தையும் காப்பதற்காக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரிக்கு சுவாமிஜியின் வருகை அப்போதைய சமூகத்தினரிடையே மிகப்பெரிய ஆன்மிக மற்றும் தேசிய எழுச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

Swami Vivekananda's historic journey from Colombo to Ramanathapuram (Ramnad) took place in January 1897 as part of his triumphant return to India after lecturing in the West. 

Travel Path and Key Milestones

Colombo (January 15–19, 1897): Arrived via the steamer Prinz Regent Luitpold, received a massive public welcome, and delivered his famous First Public Lecture in the East at the Floral Hall.

 
Kandy (January 19, 1897): Traveled by morning train to the hill station. 
Dambulla & Anuradhapura (January 20–23, 1897): Continued overland by coach and bullock cart (due to a broken coach near Dambulla) to reach the ancient city of Anuradhapura. 

Jaffna (January 24–25, 1897): Crossed via Elephant Pass into Jaffna, where he received an enormous torchlight procession and delivered a major address on Vedantism at Jaffna Hindu College. 
Pamban (January 26, 1897): Sailed across the Palk Strait by steamship from Jaffna (about 50 miles) and landed at Pamban in South India, where he was warmly received by his disciple, the Raja of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram). 

Sri Krishna Jayanti Celebration by Sunday Religious School 13-9-2026

Photo Album

• Sri Krishna Jayanthi - Sunday Religious School Celebration - 08-09-2024
• Ramakrishna Mission Religious School, Colombo.

Ramakrishna’s teaching — Gita teaches to become unselfish and tyagi
Ramakrishna used to say that one could understand the essential meaning of Gita by repeating the word several times “Gita, Gita Gita Gita…”, and when it is done, one finds (her/him)self uttering “ta-Gi ta-Gi ta-Gi…”.  means “renounce” or “one who renounces everything for God.”

Swami Vivekananda in Sri Lanka - 2nd visit - 11 days

Arrived Colombo on 15-01-1897 at 6.00 pm Left Jaffna on 25-01-1897 at about midnight. Reached Pamban - Tamil Nadu at about 3.00 pm on 26-01-1897.

Vivekananda’s Lankan connection

As the country celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, PRIYADARSHI DUTTA takes a look at a forgotten aspect of his life: His 10-day visit to Sri Lanka in January 1897, soon after his successful journey to the West.

"This is the punya bhoomi, the land of karma. Today I stand here and say, with the conviction of truth, that it is so. If there is any land on this earth that can lay claim to be the blessed punya bhoomi, to be the land to which souls on this earth must come to account for karma, the land to which every soul that is wending its way towards God must come to attain its last home, the land where humanity has attained its highest towards gentleness, towards generosity, towards purity, towards calmness, above all, the land of introspection and spirituality — it is India”.

This is an extract from Swami Vivekananda’s first public lecture in the East. Delivered soon after his return from the West (1893-1896), it was his first speech advocating India to recognise its spiritual mission. Such idolisation of India inspired the nationalist movement that broke out within a decade. Curiously, this speech was delivered neither on India’s territory nor addressed to the Indians. It was delivered in the Floral Hall of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on January 16, 1897, where the Lankan Tamils comprised the audience.

Against popular misconceptions, Sri Lanka (unlike Burma) was never part of British India. The island had become a British Crown colony in 1802, with its separate legislative council, chief justice, military service, civil service and a governor who reported to the secretary for colonies rather than the secretary for India in London.

Vivekananda’s exploits in Sri Lanka is a little known chapter. En route India, he plodded through the island for 10 days between January 15 and January 25, 1897. He came there on the invitation of Tamil Hindus who had keenly followed his great feat in the West. Tamils were in midst of a ‘Hindu Renaissance’ initiated by the Saivite reformer of Jaffna, Arumuga Navalar (1822-1879), and Vivekananda’s visit gave it a big push in that direction.

The Swami reached Colombo on January 15. Thousands of Tamils came out to welcome him. In fact throughout his entire stay, a large number of Tamils from all walks of life accompanied him. He was respectfully called the ‘Swamigal’ by the welcoming devotees. Being immensely touched by this, Vivekananda said that this roaring welcome was not in honour of a military general, a great politician or a millionaire but a monk attested to the spiritual bent of Hindu mind.

Vivekananda stayed in a bungalow in Barnes Street in the outskirts of Colombo. It was later renamed as Vivekananda Lodge. On January 16, he delivered his speech at Floral Hall. Its most striking part was that Vivekananda spoke with the confidence as if standing on the soil of India amidst Indians. He referred to India as punya bhoomi (sacred land) and made the audience feel as if they were living in this punya bhoomi. He betrayed no awareness of standing upon the soil of a Buddhist-majority country.

Vivekananda had to shelve his plan of sailing for Madras (Chennai) from Colombo as he was receiving numerous telegrams from various Tamil-inhabited towns of Sri Lanka to visit them. On January 19, he took the train to Kandy — the hill station inhabited by tea plantation workers from Tamil Nadu. He was welcomed at the Kandy railway station by a traditional band and temple insignia amid loud cheers.

After delivering a brief speech, Vivekananda set out for a long, arduous journey to Jaffna by a stagecoach as there were no railway line linking Kandy and Jaffna in those days. It was during this 200-mile journey that an outrageous incident happened. After nearly 50 miles, the coach broke down near Dambulla, known for its famous cave temple complex. This forced him to take a bullock-cart to reach Anuradhapuram, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka and the largest ‘buried city’ of the world.

Anuradhapuram hosts the Bo-tree, offshoot of the Bo-tree of Bodh Gaya, under which Buddha had received enlightenment. On seeing Vivekananda, a huge crowd of Tamils and Sinhalese gathered, and he was compelled to deliver a lecture. He was speaking on the subject of bhakti, which was being translated into Tamil and Sinhalese.

Suddenly, a huge crowd of Buddhist bhikshus (monks) gathered around him and began beating drum and gongs in order to stop the lecture. The Swami had to stop his speech abruptly.

Then, after a journey of two nights, Vivekananda reached Vavuniya, in the northern part of Sri Lanka, another place of Tamil predominance. On January 24, 1897, the Swami crossed the Elephant Pass to step into Jaffna Peninsula. Jaffna, Tamil heartland, was the principal centre of Hinduism in Sri Lanka. He was received by a delegation of leading Hindus 12 miles outside the city, and brought in a triumphant procession.

But the real spectacle was in the evening. A torchlight procession, accompanied by Carnatic music and attended by an estimated 15,000 people, began. On the way, the Swami worshipped at Siva and Kathirasan temples. After the procession, his carriage reached the Jaffna Hindu College, where a huge crowd awaited him. Vivekananda delivered his keynote address on ‘Vedantism’.

The theme was interesting, considering the fact that Jaffna has always been the centre of Saiva Siddhanta, which does not subscribe to the Vedantic model. After delivering an enlightened lecture, Vivekananda sailed from Jaffna by steamship by the midnight. After a journey of 50 miles on Palk Strait, he arrived at Pamban on January 26.

We remember how Indian Tamils were instrumental in Vivekananda’s visit to the US to address the Parliament of Religion. But it is forgotten how the Lankan Tamils were the first to welcome him in the subcontinent. Vivekananda visited Sri Lanka briefly again in 1899, en route Europe.

The Tamils of that country never forgot him. The world’s first — and still surviving — ‘Vivekananda Society’ was established in Colombo in 1902 within nine days of the Swami’s death. The Jaffna Tamil immigrants to British Malaya (Malaysia) established a Vivekananda Ashram in Kuala Lumpur in 1904. Today, there is the Vivekananda College in Colombo and Orr’s Hill Vivekananda College in Trincomalee.

Lankan Tamils still remember the Swami fondly, but do we?

Thambyah Mudaliyar Chathiram

Jaffna  - Scenes During the Visit of Swami Vivekananda in 1897.

Thambyah Mudaliyar Chathiram - Memorial opening 7-8-2017

Commemoration of Stay /visit/ Use of Thambyah Mudaliyar ChathiramBy Swami Vivekananda & 7 Direct Disciplesof Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva. On 7^th of August 2017.

The memorial was unveiled on the 7th of August 2017, in the Presence of Hon. D.M. Swaminathan, (Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs) by Rev Swami Goutamanandaji Maharaj (Vice President, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission and the President, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai).

All were welcome by Sri J.M. Swaminathan, Attorney-at-Law, a board member of Ramakrishna Mission (Ceylon Branch) and a descendant of the family members who made the address of welcome to Swami Vivekananda & traveled with him in Sri Lanka.

Revered Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj spoke on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda and Harmony of Religions and also felicitated the present trustees of the Thambyah Mudaliyar Chathiram for continuing the services of Thambyah Mudaliar Chathiram and permitting Ramakrishna Mission to have a Memorial at the historical important place.

The Chathiram was established in Colombo by Sri Thambyah Mudaliyar in 1880 for local & Indian pilgrims of Lord Muruga of the famous temple Kathirkamam (Kataragama), to rest on their way.

Sri Thambaiyah Muthaliyar was a member of the 1^st Colombo Municipal Council and relative of the well-known Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan & Ponnambalam Arunachalam.  The above three together with other prominent members of Hindu Society, assembled at the Chathiram to organize a grand reception, the scale never given to any other person in the history of Sri Lanka, to receive Swami Vivekananda when he visited Sri Lanka on 15^th January 1897 on his way to India.

Swami Vivekananda later sent Swami Shivananda in July to Sri Lanka to spread the message of Sri Ramakrishna. He stayed in the Chathiram and conducted classes, lectures, etc. for about 8 months.

 Swami Ramakrishnananda, Swami Abhedananda, Swami Turiyananda, Swami Vijanananda, Swami Triguanatitananda and Swami Niranjanananda visited Sri Lanka on various occasions. The Hindu Chathiram was the only place available at that time for them.

Photos. - Album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rkmcey/albums/72157684843376583