Swami Bodhasarananda (right) and Swami Satyamayananda release the Vivekananda CD-Rom on Monday. Picture by Pabitra Das

A hundred years after his death, Swami Vivekananda’s mass appeal continues to grow, and sales of his published works keep soaring. To address the “ever-increasing demand” for Swamiji’s literature around the world, Advaita Ashrama has launched a CD-Rom, Swami Vivekananda: Life, Works & Research.

Releasing the “library in a pocket” at MusicWorld on Monday, Swami Bodhasarananda of Advaita Ashrama said: “Swamiji is not the monopoly of the Ramakrishna Mission. He belongs to the entire world, and this monumental work has been put together to address a global audience, not just Indians. His teachings on religious harmony is even more relevant today, when the world is facing challenges from divisive and disintegrating forces.”

The CD-Rom, in English, is an advanced version of an earlier publication, and is the product of more than a year’s painstaking research by monks of the Advaita Ashrama, which was founded by Swami Vivekananda himself in 1899.

The Ashrama, with its main centre at Mayavati, in the Himalayas, is entrusted with the propagation of original writings of Vivekananda.

The CD-Rom, comprising more than 10,000 pages of Swamiji’s writings, quotes and relevant information, is priced at Rs 300 and developed by the Ashrama’s city unit at 5, Dehi Entally Road. It contains all his lectures and writings, the nine-volume printed English edition of which comes for Rs 958.

The other sections in the CD-Rom are: The Life of Swami Vivekananda by his eastern and western disciples; Swami Vivekananda in the West — New discoveries, a pioneering research by Sister Gargi; and Thoughts of Power — a collection of quotes. Sixty-eight rare photographs and a benedictory address by the president of the Ramakrishna Order, Swami Ranganathananda, complete the menu.

Dipra Jha, MusicWorld regional manager, said: “We feel privileged to be associated with the distribution of this product. This CD-Rom should prove handy for both admirers and researchers.” Jha added that the product will be available at all the MusicWorld outlets in the country.

To cater to children showing an active interest in Swamiji’s life and philosophy, Advaita Ashrama published another CD-Rom on the day, Vivekananda for Children. It contains an account of Swamiji’s life, tales and parables by him and 51 photographs.