Birth of Sister Nivedita, the first foreign woman to convert to Hinduism, influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda
Sister Nivedita’s real name was Margaret Elizabeth Noble. She was an Irish-born social worker, author, and disciple of Swami Vivekananda who adopted the name Nivedita, meaning “the offered one,” after coming to India.
Birth name: Margaret Elizabeth Noble
Profession: Social worker, author, teacher, and later a dedicated follower of Swami Vivekananda
Origin: She was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland
Renaming: She was given the name “Nivedita” by Swami Vivekananda on March 25, 1898, shortly after she arrived in India
Swami Vivekananda brought Margaret Noble, an Irish teacher, into the Hindu spiritual tradition and initiated her as Sister Nivedita, which means “Dedicated to God,” in March 1898. She then dedicated her life to the ideals of Hinduism, becoming a prominent advocate for Indian culture, women’s education, and the country’s independence movement.
Meeting Vivekananda: Margaret Noble met Swami Vivekananda in London in 1895 and was deeply influenced by his teachings. She decided to dedicate her life to his mission and traveled to India in 1898.
Indian initiation: Swami Vivekananda initiated her into the vow of brahmacharya (lifelong celibacy) on March 25, 1898. He gave her the monastic name “Nivedita,” meaning “Dedicated to God”.
Dedication to Hindu ideals: Nivedita embraced the Hindu way of life, becoming a devout follower and an influential proponent of its philosophy and culture.
Social and national work: She immediately engaged in social work, such as establishing a girls’ school in Calcutta, and nursing victims during a plague epidemic. She also became a voice for Indian nationalism, inspired by her revolutionary Irish heritage.
A new identity: Nivedita is remembered as the first Western woman to be initiated into an Indian monastic order, and she became a powerful bridge between Eastern and Western thought.
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