vivekananda (shami bibekānondo) (january 12, 1863–july 4, 1902) was the chief disciple of shri ramakrishna paramahansa. at birth, he was called narendranath datta (bengali: নরেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত). he was the founder of ramakrishna mission. he introduced hindu philosophy of vedanta and yoga in europe and america. he brought hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century.