A contextualized study of vivekananda’s neo-vedanta (through karl mannheim approach of sociology of knowledge)

This paper aims to evaluate a contextualized interpretation of Vivekananda’s neo-Vedanta in nineteen century Bengali society by implementing the Karl Mannheim approach of sociology of knowledge. This approach will focus the socio-historical perspectives that facilitate the transformation of Classical Indian Vedanta philosophy to neo-Vedanta. Religious encountering in pluralistic society posed serious threats of assimilations and syncreticism to religious beliefs. This issue is going to be examined in especial context of Hinduism through Karl Mannheim approach’s horizontal and vertical mobility. Here horizontal mobility reflects the role and contribution of the Warren Hasting, orientalists and Christian missionaries as a key factor in destabilizing the core beliefs of Hinduism (Idol worship, caste system and Brahmins the soul custodians of religious knowledge). That further makes road for vertical mobility of in four cast strata of Hindu society by questioning the authority and monopoly of Brahmins (priestly class of Hindus). Thus, results in collapsing of intellectual monopoly of Brahmins by creating free intelligentsia who were fully equipped to reinterpret classical Hinduism. Among these the role of Vivekananda’s neo-Vedantic predecessors (Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Keshab Chandra Sen and Ramakrishna) cannot be ignored who contributed the genetic makeup of Vivekananda’s neo-Vedanta.