Sister Gargi
Encyclopedia
Sister Gargi; (1911–2004) born Marie Louise Burke was an eminent researcher on Swami Vivekananda
. Burke is known for her six volume work, Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries.
Burke was initiated into the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda movement in 1948 by Swami Ashokananda
, the then abbot of the Vedanta Society of Northern California in San Francisco. Burke took her first vows in India from the Ramakrishna Order
in 1974 and was given the monastic name "Gargi" after the Vedic scholar in recognition of her brilliant accomplishments as researcher and writer. In 1983, the first Vivekananda Award was given by the Ramakrishna Mission
for her research on Vivekananda. Later on, she took her final vows of sannyasa
and was given the name Pravrajika Prajnaprana.
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
. Burke is known for her six volume work, Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries.
Burke was initiated into the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda movement in 1948 by Swami Ashokananda
Swami Ashokananda
Swami Ashokananda was a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission. He was Swami-in-charge of the from 1932 until his death in December 1969 at the age of 76.-Life:...
, the then abbot of the Vedanta Society of Northern California in San Francisco. Burke took her first vows in India from the Ramakrishna Order
Ramakrishna Order
The Ramakrishna Order is the monastic organization founded by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciple Swami Vivekananda. It encompasses the twin organizations Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, both headquartered at Belur Math near Kolkata, India....
in 1974 and was given the monastic name "Gargi" after the Vedic scholar in recognition of her brilliant accomplishments as researcher and writer. In 1983, the first Vivekananda Award was given by the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
for her research on Vivekananda. Later on, she took her final vows of sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
and was given the name Pravrajika Prajnaprana.