Chinmaya Mission
A Brief Introduction
Lineage of Gurus
Adi
Shankaracharya
Swami
Sivananda
Swami
Tapovan
Swami
Chinmayananda
Swami
Tejomayananda
SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA
— PUJYA GURUDEV
Childhood

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 Technique

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
Youth

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 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..
Initiation

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
Visionary

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 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.
Legacy

He created a global organization committed to Vedanta.

He also started numerous educational institutions and social
service projects.
About Chinmaya Mission
Chinmaya 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?
Teachings

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 Tejomayananda

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 Tejomayananda

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 Tejomayananda
 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 Centers
Mumbai, Siddhabari, Uttarakasi.
Missions Worldwide
Central Chinmaya Mission Trust - Mumbai
 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 Worldwide
Sidhabari - 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 Worldwide
Uttarkashi

Tapovan Kutir, the home of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, is
here

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda spent several years
studying at the feet of his guru.
CMLA

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
CMLA

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 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 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 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.