- student of Ram Krishna Paramhansa
- superiority of hinduism, but also believe in universalism
- believed christians could be better christian if they follow ethics of vedas
- agreed to degeneration in recent times (not during Mughal)
- service of Jiva == worship of Shiva
- Daridra Narayana i.e. god in poor ∴ sociol work == path to spiritualism
- focus on mass mvmt via social service
- for this, set up Rama Krishna Mission 1897 to spread values of vedas, social service
- wanted to create army of followers to spread values of vedas, buddhism, upnishads, jainism
- indian masculinity superior to Western
- phy + spiritual
- indians not feminine
- started mini gym 🗿
- believed in supremacy of vedas, accepted idolatory and some hindu rituals as they simply help develop religious feelings
- liberty, equality, free thinking
- strongly criticized all social illness
- rep. Hinduism in Parliament of Religion (Chicago, USA, 1893)
- argued that western materialism & indian spiritualism should come together for welfare of mankind
- never gave political message
- only cultural nationalism
- Netaji: called him spiritual father of INM in Bengal
- Today, Rama Krishna Mission runs schools, hospitals relief work, dispensaries, hospitals
- died 1902
- -ve revivalists then took over by using supremacy of vedas, hindu ritual, past glory