Chinmaya MissionA Brief Introduction

Lineage of GurusLineage of Gurus

SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA — PUJYA

GURUDEV

ChildhoodChildhood

Born May 8, 1916, Ernakulam, Kerala

Parents – Parukutti & Kuttan Menon

Named Balakrishna Menon

Lost his mother at an early age

Brought up by his aunt

Charming and intelligent A great sense of humor

Learned English, Malayalam and Sanskrit at school

Early Meditation Early Meditation TechniqueTechnique

Balan’s family gathered for long pooja and satsang, every evening

Balan invented his own game during this pooja session Gazing at his favorite picture of Lord Shiva Repeatedly opening his eyes to look at the

picture and closing his eyes to visualize the image in his mind

Accidentally, Balan had discovered a technique of meditation

In later years, this method helped him invoke the Lord in his mind, at will

YouthYouth In 1940, Balan joined Lucknow

University to major in English and Law

Excelled in literature, participated in debates & plays held on the campus

Got involved deeply in the Indian independence movement writing & distributing pamphlets, & delivering speeches This landed him in prison

He became ill in prison & was tossed out on the roadside Helped by compassionate lady

After graduation he became journalist at National Herald in Delhi

Spiritual QuestSpiritual Quest Balan (Balakrishnan) Decided to write an expose’

on “The bluff of the Swamis in the Himalayan regions”

Travelled to Ananda Kutir, Swami Sivananda’s ashram in Rishikesh

Was overwhelmed with the love, dedication & divinity and teachings of Swami Sivananda

Balakrishnan’s journey to expose others ended up in exposing himself to his own spiritual revolution and evolution

A striking inner transformation unfolded within Balakrishnan He began questioning & reflecting upon the

purpose of life and the secret of permanent happiness..

InitiationInitiation Balakrishnan chose to become a renunciate

himself

Balakrishnan, initiated into sanyasa Mahasivaratri, Feb 25, 1949 by Sw. Sivananda

Blessed with the name “Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati

Chinmayananda means “Filled with the bliss of pure Consciousness”

Swami Sivananda then guided him to renowned vedanta master, Swami Tapovanam in Uttarkasi, Himalayas

Swami Tapovanam who rarely took on disciples, put forth strict conditions

Swami Chinmayananda led an austere life and underwent intense study of vedantic texts

VisionaryVisionary Gurudev sought and received his Guru’s blessings to

spread Vedanta to the masses

Conducted first jnana yajna in December 1951, at a small temple in Pune

Teachings based on the authority of the Vedas, Advaita vedanta, and his direct experience

Word spread and soon Swami Chinmayananda taught tens of thousands around the globe

Teacher extraordinaire Famed for his depth, clarity, eloquence, wit & humor

Conducted Gita jnana yagnas all over the world

Attained Mahasamadhi on August 3, 1993 in San Diego Gurudev had conducted 576 jnana yajnas as well as

countless family spiritual camps

Published WorksPublished Works

Authored over 35 books, including commentaries on the major Upanishads and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.

The latter work has been acclaimed as one of the most refined, insightful, and practical commentaries ever written on the Gita.

The collection of his video talks on the Gita is heralded today as one of Chinmaya Mission's most illustrious publications.

LegacyLegacy

He created a global organization committed to Vedanta.

He also started numerous educational institutions and social service projects.

About Chinmaya Mission

Chinmaya MissionChinmaya Mission An inspired band of devotees formed

'Chinmaya Mission' in 1953, under the guidance of Gurudev.

Mission Statement: To provide to individuals from any background,

the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.

Mission Motto: To give maximum happiness to the maximum

number for the maximum time is our religion

Trivia!!

What is the mission motto of chinmaya

mission?

TeachingsTeachings Following the Vedic guru-shishya

parampara, Chinmaya Mission makes available the ageless wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, the knowledge of Universal Oneness, and

Provides the tools to realize the wisdom in one's life.

Members work to uplift humanity beyond selfish and sectarian attitudes and activities. Seeks personal growth, heightened efficiency, contentment, and the ability to live with others in peace and harmony.

Trivia!!

Who is the current head of our

mission?

About Guruji

Swami Swami TejomayanandaTejomayananda

Born into a Maharashtrian family on June 30, 1950, in Madhya Pradesh

Sudhakar Kaitwade was not spiritually inclined as such. He intended to pursue a teaching career.

Sudhakar's revolutionary change came about the day he attended Swami Chinmayananda's talks on the Gita, Chapter 3.

A couple of talks later, he was so thoroughly inspired that he sought the permission of his mother to join the Chinmaya Mission's residential Vedanta course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai.

Swami Swami TejomayanandaTejomayananda

In 1983, Swami Chinmayananda initiated him into sannyasa, bestowing upon him the name, Swami Tejomayananda.

In 1989, Swami Tejomayananda was posted to CM San Jose, where he remained as acharya until 1993.

After Gurudev’s Mahasamadhi, became head of the mission.

Swami Swami TejomayanandaTejomayananda

Fluent in Hindi, Marathi, English, and Sanskrit.

Written commentaries, and original music, poetry, and text compositions

Progressive in thinking and precise in decision-making

Main CentersMumbai, Siddhabari, Uttarakasi.

Missions WorldwideMissions WorldwideCentral Chinmaya Mission Trust - Central Chinmaya Mission Trust -

MumbaiMumbai

The Mission has continued mushrooming and has over 300 centers worldwide.

It is here Swami Chinmayananda began the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, in 1964 to train young monks in Vedanta

Missions WorldwideMissions WorldwideSidhabari - HimalayasSidhabari - Himalayas

Samadhi Sthala houses Swamiji’s sculpture made of eight metals

Gurudev’s Kutiya where he worked

Hanumanji in Veerasana posture and is 25 ft tall and rests on a 7 ft granite pedestal, Ram Mandir

Missions WorldwideMissions WorldwideUttarkashiUttarkashi

Tapovan Kutir, the home of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, is here

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda spent several years studying at the feet of his guru.

CMLACMLA

Presence in Southern California since 1982. First balavihar Started.

Site for CMLA center located in Anaheim , CA in 1992. Gurudev named the ashram Kashi. Inaugurated by Guruji Swami Tejomayananda in January 1996.

Second center Chinmaya Mithila in Tustin was inaugurated by Guruji in 2005

CMLACMLA

The present Chinmaya Rameshwaram opened in January 1, 2010 and is the confluence of both centers

On January 17, the idols from Kashi and Mithila were ceremoniously installed in Chinmaya Rameshwaram.

OUR ACHARYASOUR ACHARYAS

In late 1995, a dynamic Brahmachari Someshwar Chaitanya came to CMLA and with his dynamic vision. CMLA has continued to grow to its present state.

He was initiated by Swami Tejomayananda and became Swami Ishwarananda in 2000.

In 2008 Swami Tejomayananda made long time devotee Dr. P. Mahadev, Acharya.

Hari OmHari Om Have you ever

wondered why do we greet each other “ Hariom” in Chinmaya Mission ? 

Gurudev used to say that it meant “ Hurry Home”--- find your True self.

WHY

Hari OmHari Om “Om is the goal to be reached. Om is state of

consciousness and bliss when you no longer have any desires. This is possible only after all our vasanas are exhausted. It is not easy to remove these vasanas one by one. We need God’s grace to remove all our vasanas. So we call “Hari, O Lord please help me. I

cannot do this by my own efforts. I need your grace to loot these vasanas from me”.

Keep you attention on Hari to take you to OM.