Vivekananda PHOTOS: Chicago Hall Where He Gave His 1st Speech – What It Looks Like Now!

Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda images - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
The Art Institute of Chicago – The place where Swami Vivekananda delivered his famous “Sisters & Brothers of America” speech, before a packed audience of 7,000 who had gathered to attend the World’s Parliament of Religions. The year was 1893, and this photo was taken then. This is how the Art Institute would have looked to Swami Vivekananda as he walked up its entrance to deliver his speech.
Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda images - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
Swami Vivekananda seated on stage at the Art Institute, during the World’s Parliament of Religions conference (1893). It was from this stage that Swami Vivekananda gave his first speech introducing Hinduism and Vedanta to the West.
The moment he launched his speech with the loving greeting of “Sisters & Brothers of America”, there was a deafening applause, which lasted a full 2 minutes. The extraordinary reference had touched the American heart deeply, for all previous speakers had addressed the audience formally as “Ladies and Gentlemen”. But this greeting came from Swami Vivekananda’s Rishi heart, which was overflowing with love for humanity. Hence it had a magical effect, as he himself described!
Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda images - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
The original area within the Art Institute of Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda made his resounding speeches for religious harmony, has undergone many renovations and changes since then. A part of that original area now constitutes the Fullerton Hall.
Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda pics - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
Another view of Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago, a space which Swami Vivekananda himself graced with his Divine presence in the year 1893. (Photo courtesy Spiritual Bee’er Mukta.)
Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda images - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
The steps ascending which one arrives at the Fullerton Hall of the Art Institute. In 2017, a talented Indian artist Jitish Kallat, set up an art installation comprising LED displays, which laid out the text of Swami Vivekananda’s famous, “Sisters and Brothers of America” speech. Swamiji’s speech which called for an end to religious fanaticism, hatred and bigotry, had been delivered by Swami Vivekananda on 9/11 (1893). Jitish saw a coincidence between the date of Swamiji’s speech and 9/11, the anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and made his art installation calling for an end to religious fanaticism.

“Fanaticism is one of the most dangerous of all diseases. All wickedness of human nature is roused by it. The fanatic loses all power of judgement. The same man who is kind, good, honest, and loving to people of his own opinion, will not hesitate to do the vilest deeds when they are directed against persons beyond the pale of his own religious brotherhood.
– Swami Vivekananda

Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda pics - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
A plaque placed outside Fullerton Hall, commemorating the location of Swami Vivekananda’s famous speeches calling for an end to religious bigotry, hatred and intolerance.
Photos from the life of Swami Vivekananda - Swami Vivekananda images - vivekananda photos - Vivekananda Chicago speech at Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893
A closeup of the plaque outside Fullerton Hall

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