Swami Vivekananda, born as Narendranath Datta on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata (then Calcutta), India, was a spiritual genius of commanding intellect and boundless energy. He is one of the most influential figures in the modern spiritual renaissance of India and a key figure who introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. His short life of only 39 years left an indelible mark on history, not only in India but across the globe.From an early age, Narendranath was deeply curious and spiritual. He was born into a well-educated and cultured family. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was