Dated : 24 Mar 2024
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To understand anything is to find in it something which is our own.
-Swami Chinmayananda
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Gyan Yajna at Ahmedabad
Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad organized a Gyan Yagna by Swami Avyayananda ji on Narad Moha prasang from Shri Ramcharitmanas. Swamiji expounded on the teachings from the incident and provided wonderful insights. With examples of Ma Parvati ji’s undeterred faith in Devarshi Narada ji as a Guru, Swamiji pointed out that there is much to learn in the Ramcharitmanas in order to progress on the path of spirituality. He also explained the significance and the reason for Lord Shri Rama’s avatar. The 4-day long yagna from 5th to 8th June was daily attended by more than 200 devotees at ParamDham temple of Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad.
Activities in Bengaluru during May 2023
Activities in Bengaluru during May 2023
Gita Jnana Yajna in V V Puram
Pujya Swami Adityananda of Mandya center conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in Kannada from 11/05/2023 to 16/05/2023 taking Bhagavad Gita for Daily Life in Prashanta Ganapati Temple, Prashantanagar. The Yajna was inaugurated by Pujya Swamiji himself in the presence of temple trustees.
Pujya Swamiji focused his discourse on chapters 7 to 12 stressing the need to understand that meaningful living is possible only when sincerely understand that outer world cannot be held responsible for our condition. We ourselves create heaven or hell in the present life with our reactions to individuals, objects & situations that just should be accepted as they are using our viveka. This is possible only when we develop a vision of oneness experiencing the Lord / Self in all manifest world of plurality accepting the fruits of our actions as His will and continuing to perform selfless actions for the benefit of society.
The Yajna was a grand success with participation of sincere devotees.
Deenabandhu Pratishta Day and Pujya Gurudev’s 107th Jayanti
Deenabandhu Kalia Mardha Krishna temple’s Pratishta and Pujya Gurudev’s Jayanti were jointly celebrated on Sunday, 7th May, 2023 in Deenabandhu Krishna Temple with the usual religious fervour. The panchamruta abhisheka of the presiding deity Kalia Mardhana Krishna along with Ganesha and Hanuman was done to the chanting of Purusha Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhruguvalli, Deenabandhu Ashtakam, Mukundamala and Madhurashtakam followed by bhajans.
The entire temple complex wore a festive atmosphere with flower decoration and devotees moving around chanting stotrams and bhajans.
The entire programme was divinised by the presence of all Karnataka Acharyas. Pujya Swami Brahmananda blessed the gathering highlighting the significance of sincere devotion along with Pujya Gurudev’s contribution in spreading the message of scriptures and the Bhagavad Geeta as Art of Living to the common people.
The highlight of the function was Paduka Puja of twelve pairs of Guru Padukas that were later distributed by Pujya Swamiji to representatives of different areas of Bengaluru for conducting Paduka Puja in residences of devotees throughout 2023 – 2024 till May 2024 when Pujya Gurudev’s 108th Jayanti will be observed.
Swami Chinmayananda’s 108th Year!
Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s Jayanti – marked as Seva Day in Chinmaya Mission – is an opportunity to celebrate and share His tremendous legacy of Jnana and Seva, as an expression of love and gratitude. It is a joyous occasion that His 108th year is from 2023-2024.
Starting from 8 May 2023, Chinmaya Mission Centres will have various initiatives. This would all be in the lead up to 2026, which will be the 75th year of the Chinmaya Movement!
Contact your local Chinmaya Mission Centre for more information about their events and classes.
Tata Mumbai Marathon – Recognition for Chinmaya Mission
It was a proud moment for the entire Chinmaya family when Chinmaya Mission received wonderful recognition at the Tata Mumbai Marathon Philanthropy Awards Nite 2023. In January 2023, more than 100 runners from Chinmaya Mission geared up to raise awareness and funds for the social initiatives of Chinmaya Mission.
In a special awards function on 21 March 2023, Chinmaya Mission was recognized as the 3rd NGO out of 250 to have raised over Rs 2.56 Crores. This award highlights the work that began seven decades ago by a single visionary inspired to serve the nation. Swami Chinmayananda took countless people along in His Marathon efforts of spreading the highest knowledge of self-development and empowering millions through social projects – particularly in rural development and education.
To date, the Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development has supported 972 villages and impacted the lives of more than 60,000.
Our largest project in education is our new university Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth. CVV offers a unique type of education, where internationally benchmarked courses are coupled with the best from our Indian wisdom. This will open the way for global partnerships, ground-breaking research, thought leadership, new frameworks of thinking and courses that guarantee jobs and create leaders poised to pioneer movements of positive change.
Dr. Manisha Khemlani, the CEO of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, was also awarded the prestigious Change Legend
award for having raised more than ₹1 crore. It is a remarkable achievement for a single individual to raise this in her first time participation in the Tata Mumbai Marathon.
Programmes at Kampala, Uganda
Recently, Swami Swaroopananda (Global Head, Chinmaya Mission) visited Kampala, Uganda, as part of his Africa tour, between 26 March and 28 March 2023. His visit commenced with ‘Meditation on the Gayatri Mantra’, which took attendees to the depths of silence. At Makerere University, he spoke about how our ancient cultures and wisdom have given us a holistic approach to life, and how we should revive this way of thinking rather than holding ourselves to Western standards for everything.
At Kampala International University, Swami Swaroopananda gave insights and practical tips on how success can be achieved without stress and why we need not be stressed to be successful. The key is to aim high and to have a noble goal that will give us greater inspiration.
The fundamental focus of both the university talks was on mastering the mind.
15th Chinmaya Inspirational Yatra
Niagara to India. 35 yatris. 15 days. For some participants, it was their first visit to their motherland. The 15th Chinmaya Inspiration Yatra was meticulously organized by Shri Vijay and Shri Vivek from London, Canada. The Yatris visited Shri Krishna’s holy cities of Vrindavan, Mathura and Gokul, with the last stop being Govardhan Parikrama, which was done via e-Rickshaw. The Yatris were then hosted by Chinmaya Mission Prayagraj, where Swami Gangeshananda imparted the everlasting knowledge of purushartha as a true bhakta from Bhagavatam. Brahmacharini Shashwati Chaitanya also delivered discourses on Shri Bharat’s devotion to Shri Rama in Ayodhakanda (Ramacharitmanas). Immersed in Bhakti marg, the Yatris experienced miracles of Guru Kripa.
The Yatra concluded with a visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gangaji aarti. The members were fortunate to be part of this Yatra and expressed their sincere gratitude to the Guru-shishya Parampara.
Satsang by Swami Brahmananda in Vijayanagar
Swami Brahmananda conducted a Satsang in Vijayanagar on Sunday 5 March, 2023 to observe the anniversary celebrations of the Chinmaya Mission Centre there. The programme consisted of Abhisheka to Lord Ganapati to the chanting of Ganapati Atharvasheersha, followed by Vedic Chants and Rudra, Bhajans and Satsang.
Swami Brahmananda stressed the importance of dissolving the ego which is the root cause of all desires. Mahatmas lead life as any other normal person but revel in internal peace never reacting to situations of the world and not allowing the mind to get disturbed under any circumstances. They look upon all individuals, objects & situations as manifestations of the Self seeing nobility and goodness in the world of plurality. They live beyond the realm of caste, colour and creed never seeing any dosha in others.
We should never abstain from performing our daily duties like puja, japa, tapa, to which our elders gave tremendous importance. We find this dedication in the life of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda who devoted nearly 16 to 18 hours daily in study, Satsang and trying to bring solace to sadhaks who approached him with their questions, doubts and sorrows.
The programme was attended well by several sadhaks from different parts of the city.
Gita Jnana Yajna in Jayanagar, Bengaluru
Swami Brahmananda conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in Kannada from 12 March to 19 March 2023 in Ragigudda Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Jayanagar, taking Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9. The Yajna was inaugurated by Shri Varadarajan, Secretary of the temple.
Swami Brahmananda stressed that mere study and chanting of Bhagavad Gita is useless unless we are able to live the teachings preached therein with firm conviction that the values become part of our daily life. It is important to realise the futility of seeking happiness from the outer world without understanding the truth that our nature is infinite joy and peace. Our life should be dedicated to realise this all pervading Jyoti, enlivening the entire world of plurality. Just as we strive to keep our body and clothes stain free, we need to ensure that agitations in our mind are reduced and the mind is kept pure and sharp through various self-disciplines like puja, bhajan, tapa, dhyana, seva, satsangs, among others. The concept of heaven and hell have been wonderfully designed by our elders to inculcate the significance of leading a disciplined life so that heaven and hell can be created on earth in this very life. The Lord expects nothing from us except total unconditional love and surrender like the one exhibited by Lord Shri Hanuman.
The Yajna was a grand success with hundreds of sadhaks attending daily.
Gita Jnana Yajna in Kengeri, Karnataka
Swami Krutatmananda of Chinmaya Mission Hubballi conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in Kannada from 26 February to 4 March 2023 in Shri Abhaya Hasta Ganapati Temple, Kengeri, taking Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12. The Yajna was inaugurated by Smt Vimalamma, a senior member of Chinmaya Mission.
Swami Krutatmananda explained the significance of devotion and how all types of devotion are equally viewed by the scriptures with equal importance, as every individual is unique and is undertaking the journey towards realizing his/her true nature at a pace and on a path decided by their inherent tendencies. The paths of worshipping the Lord in the manifest or unmanifest form have their own significance depending upon the mindset and attitudes cultivated by each individual. It is important to develop an attitude of unconditional surrender and love and face any situation with a calm and peaceful mind without reacting. A realised Master is able to lead a meaningful life transcending all dualities spreading joy and love to all around him.
The Yajna was well attended on all the days.
Announcing the 19th Vedanta Course in English
On the blessed day of Hanuman Jayanti, Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head, Chinmaya Mission, announced that the upcoming 19th Residential Vedanta Course in English at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, will be inaugurated on 15 January 2024, on the auspicious occasion of Makara Sankranti. The Resident Acharya for the Course will be Swami Advayananda.
The last date to apply is 31 July 2023. Detailed information, including eligibility and the application form, is available at
http://sandeepany.chinmayamission.com/.
Those who would like further information may write to:
sandeepany@chinmayamission.com