K xxxiv Encyclopedia of Hinduismsocial reform movement led by women that
stresses meditation and world peace.1876 to 1890
¶ Max Müller (1823–1900), pioneer of compara-
tive religion as a scholarly discipline, publishes
50-volume Sacred Books of the East, English
translations of Indian and other Asian scrip-
tures.1879
¶ First emigrant ship to Fiji adds 498 Indian
indentured laborers to the nearly 340,000
already working in other colonies of the British
Empire.
¶ Birth of Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950),
Hindu advaita renunciant saint of Tiruvannama-
lai, South India.1884
¶ Birth of Swami Ramdas (1884–1963), known as
Papa, Indian saint and devotee of Lord Rama.1885
¶ Indian National Congress founded.1886
¶ René Guénon (1886–1951), first European phi-
losopher of note to become a Vedantin, is born.1887
¶ Birth of Swami Shivananda (1887–1963),
renowned universalist teacher, author of
200 books, founder of Divine Life Society in
Rishikesh, and guru to many teachers who
brought Hinduism to the West.1888
¶ Birth of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975),
philosopher, eminent writer, and free India’s
first vice president and second president.1893
¶ World Parliament of Religions in Chicago rec-
ognizes Eastern religious traditions through
presentations by representatives of Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Swami Vive-
kananda receives acclaim as spokesperson for
Hinduism.1894
¶ Birth of Meher Baba (1894–1969) of Poona,
silent sage whose mystical teachings stress love,
self-inquiry, and God consciousness.1896
¶ Birth of Anandamayi Ma (1896–1982), God-
intoxicated yogini and mystic saint of Bengal.
¶ Birth of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(1896–1977). In 1966 he founds International
Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in
the United States.1897
¶ Swami Vivekananda founds Ramakrishna Math
and Mission near Calcutta (Kolkata).1908
¶ Birth of Swami Muktananda (1908–1982), a
guru of the Kashmiri Shaivite school who
founds Siddha Yoga Dham to promulgate Indian
mysticism, kundalini yoga, and philosophy
throughout the world.1912
¶ Anti-Indian racial riots on the U.S. West Coast
expel large Hindu immigrant population.1916
¶ Birth of Swami Chinmayananda (1916–1993),
Vedantist scholar, lecturer, teacher, and founder
of Chinmaya Mission.i-xL-hindu-fm.indd xxxiv 12/14/06 1:02:39 AM