Did Swami Vivekananda have a premonition about his impending death in actual? - GetBengal story

Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902, at the age of 39 years, five months and 24 days. Except for a few biographical accounts of his close followers, we do not know much about the last days of his life, or why he died at an early age. We know that in the last few weeks preceding his death he encouraged his followers and members of the math to practice meditation and lead a disciplined life. He also participated in meetings and discussions. From the available accounts, the following points emerge.

He was leading an active life as the head of the Ramakrishna Math until his last days. It is said that on the day of his death he taught yoga and other subjects to pupils. Later he held a meeting with his colleagues about a planned Vedic college in the Matth. Then, he went to his room to do meditation, asking others not to disturb him, and a few hours later passed into the higher realm (mahasamadhi). His close associates said he had a premonition about his impending death. According to one account, he said to have commented that he would not be alive to see his 40th birthday. Another account suggests that a few days before his death he studied the almanac (panchang) to determine the time and date for his death. It is also said three days before his death he showed to an associate, Swami Premananda, a spot on the monastery grounds where he wished his body should be cremated.

Swami Vivekananda suffered from many chronic ailments. The renowned Bengali writer Shankar, and author of The Monk as Man, placed the number at 31, which included insomnia, liver and kidney problems, malaria, migraine, diabetes and heart ailments. From his account, we also understand that before his death the Swami cut short his visit to Cairo, Egypt, due to health problems and returned to India where he wished to die. He died peacefully while doing meditation. It is said that the Swami was intent upon doing meditation himself and urged everyone else at the monastery to practice it. He often reprimanded those who neglected to do it and asked them to forgo meals for a day as part of the self-discipline. On the day of his death, he performed meditation for three hours in the morning, and again for two hours in the evening during which he passed away. One version suggests that he died due to the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain, but according to another version like a liberated yogi he left the body through the mystic opening (Brahmarandhra) in the crown of his head by rupturing it.

During the cremation of Swami Vivekananda, his ardent disciple Sister Nivedita could no longer suppress her grief. She got up and began to circle the blazing funeral pyre. Seeing her close to the pyre, Swami Brahmananda was concerned that her skirt would catch fire. He conveyed this to Swami Nirbhayananda, who then took Nivedita’s hand and led her away from the pyre. He made her sit on the bank of the Ganges and tried to console her.

(Taken from Jayaram V’s research works on Swami Vivekananda)