HOUSTON. Anticipation,  Arrival, Happiness unlimited – The AAH moments of an unforgettable centenary birthday event to culminate a greater Chinmaya movement.

Pujya Gurudev’s own glory filled Chinmaya Prabha Houston when the brilliant joy of the Chinmaya Jyoti arrived on the beautiful morning of May 8, 2016, the most auspicious occasion of the centenary Chinmaya Jayanti.

It was a majestic entrance impeccably timed, true to the inimitable style of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda – a magical coincidence planned by the Master Himself who turned a previous disappointment into a memorable blessing! Gurudev’s Jyoti was initially scheduled to arrive on April 30^th.  From months before, an eager Chinmaya Houston family had diligently planned and prepared an exquisite welcome for the flaming presence of its beloved Gurudev. Then, when a stormy forecast delayed the Jyoti’s arrival, the disappointed hundreds of devotees, paused, prayed, and waited for an entire week.

The clouds moved away, the skies cleared, and the bright morning sun smiled as Gurudev chose the most appropriate time to enter Chinmaya Prabha – on His 100^th birthday! As the traditional Kerala drums announced His arrival, the Chinmaya Jyoti was received with ceremonial kalasas and diyas at the entrance of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and escorted by an energetic group of Chyks into a delightfully decorated courtyard filled with more than a thousand overjoyed Chinmaya family members. Just as Gurudev’s Jyoti entered the courtyard, a gentle sprinkling of raindrops signaled the unmistakable Presence of the Master at Chinmaya Prabha! Those few moments made everyone in the courtyard, both young and old,  feel such a divine rapture of indescribable joy. Then one of the Chyks lit up the torch powered by the Jyoti, and as he carried it high, the other Chyks walked along. waving huge saffron flags with Gurudev’s own message to the next generation: “You have hoisted the flag, not me. Now, it is up to you to keep it flying high.”

It felt as if Gurudev was walking tall, surrounded by his energized Chyks, amid all of the devotees gathered there, his eyes catching sight of many hundreds more of smaller saffron flags that hundreds of young Bala Vihar children waved to greet Gurudev. As the Jyoti proceeded toward the Saumyakasi Sivalaya with the Jyoti yatra song sung melodiously by the orchestra children and with the graceful dance of a group of devotees, the fanfare of a matchless 100^th birthday of a Mahatma began. Acarya Gaurangbhai spoke about the glory of the Chinmaya name and said that the true way to keep the Chinmaya Jyoti forever glowing could only be with the unending supply of the oil of Knowledge passed onto the maximum as Gurudev wanted. As the celebrations unfurled, young children dressed as a caterpillar danced and demonstrated the spiritual metamorphosis into brilliant butterflies. Then, it was time to pledge ourselves with a poem that Uma Aggrawal had composed, to offer everyone’s gratitude with the promise to Him – “Unto You, Our Best.” The voices of both young and old rang out strong in resolve as Gurudev’s Jyoti entered Sivalaya and from there, with Siva’s blessings, came into Chinmaya Smriti. Truly, everyone could feel the deliberate footsteps of the Master striding purposefully into the space that He had blessed many years ago.

Gurudev’s Jyoti ascended the stage in Chinmaya Smriti amid heartfelt devotional invocation with “Om Sri Chinmaya Sadgurave Namaha.” As the Jyoti glowed centerstage, the whole congregation sang the Chinmayastakam with hearts bowed in great love for Him. In his address to  all, Uncle shared a story of the Ram Sevak who came miraculously to serve during Hanuman Mastakabhisekam at Sidhbari. He said that a Guru comes to reveal everyone’s purpose in life and it is that Guru’s Grace who also reveals God, “ Tatpadam darsitam ena tasmai sri gurave namaha.”

No Jayanti of Gurudev’s is  complete without Gita. Aptly, the children who won the Gita chanting competition were recognized and blessed by Acarya Darshanaben and Acarya Gaurangbhai during the celebration. The greater credit also went to all the children who had learned the 13^th chapter from January 2016 and came to sing the Lord’s Song just the day before – on May 7^th, almost as if to declare the coming of the Gitacarya on his 100^th birthday.

What followed was a most reverent Paduka Puja when more than a thousand voices chanted the 108 names of Gurudev. As all then sang the special birthday song composed by Pujya Guruji, Gurudev’s hundredth birthday was a resounding triumph. As chanting dissolved into melliflous bhajans at the end of the morning and everyone feasted on a delicious lunch afterward, the message of the thirteenth chapter became manifest – Gurudev had truly arrived at Chinmaya Prabha to celebrate His birthday, enlivening all hands and hearts to work together in that unbroken harmony of His Glory. Hari Om!

For more information, please visit chinmayahouston.org or call Jay Deshmukh at 832-541-0059.

We celebrated Chinmaya Jyanti in a grand way. The entire Vidyalaya ambience wore a festive look. The students came in traditional dress to perform Gurupaduka Pooja. All the Vidyalaya Board Members, Mission Committee members, Vidyalaya staff and many parents were present to be a part of the Birth Centenary Celebration. The Celebration started at 7 a.m. Gurudev’s Padukas were brought in to the Santorum traditionally with Poornakumbham and vedic chantings. The devotees could feel the presence of the Great Master when Gurupaduka Pooja was performed in the hall decorated beautifully with flowers and lamps. The students gave speeches on life of Gurudev. The Principal, through his speech, urged the students to read the books on Gurudev and imbibe values by quoting various incidents on the life of Gurudev.

The entire school reverberated with Bhagawad Geeta Chanting, other chantings and melodious Bhajans and soaked the devotees in Bhakti Ras. The Grand Celebration was concluded with Chinmaya Aarathi , Shanti Path and distribution of Mahaprasad at 11 a.m.

The Birth Centenary Celebration of our Pujya Gurudev will remain fresh forever in everyone’s mind.

The day started with Gayatri and Ayusya Homam and Paduka Puja. The birth of a Mahathma is the beginning of his divine work. So, it is appropriate that Gurudev’s Jayanti is celebrated as Seva Day. Blood Donation Camp co-ordinated by Shri Dhandapaniji, was organized at Chinmaya Surya from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and 100 units of Blood were donated to JIPMER Blood Bank. Also, annadhanam was arranged at various places viz.

JIPMER and Udhavi Karangal Home for Boys and Girls. “On a Quest”, a wonderful tribute to the life and the vision of Pujya Gurudev was screened in tamil- Thedal, at Chinmaya Surya. This was followed by a Paduka Puja, satsang and honouring of Smt. Raji Narayanan who co-ordinated the Illamthorum Geethai project of taking Srimad Bhagavat Gita and Pujya Gurudev to 100 Houses. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Prasad was arranged for all the participants throughout the day. More than 1500 devotees participated during the day. Through our sincere efforts, Pujya Gurudev who is ever installed in our hearts will become more and more radiant within and all around. May His grace and blessings flow through us to the world around us.

1. On 7 th May Paada Puja was performed by the children and teachers of chinmaya vidyalaya south Park Bistupur and vidya Bharati chinmaya vidyalaya telco.

2. On 7 th may bhajan sandhya was aorganised, at chinmaya vidyalaya south Park Bistupur, mission members teachers performed Paada Puja and redered Bhajans

3. On 8 th May , lunch was given to inmates of old age home of bharat sevasram sangh, mission members teachers and students of vidyalaya served lunch

4. On 8 th May at 6.30 PM the extension block of vidya bharati chinmaya vidyalaya was inaugurated by the plant head Tata Motors Mr A B Lal

5. Samashti Vishnu Sahasranama Archana was performed at the Vidya Bharati Chinmaya Vidyalaya by 1000 children, mission members and teachers, school committee members.

6. Bala vihar children performed Pada Puja chanted Geeta and bhajans in the bal vihar

On 8 th May 2016, Sunday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm,”Sri Gurudev Janma Shatabdi-100 th year day” was celebrated very meaningfully at “Sri Datta Sabhabhavanm” of Chinmaya Suyog at Chinmaya Mission, Dharwad.

Good number of devotees participated in the function and Centre’s Devi group members had organized the event systematically.

Sri Swamy Gahananandji addressed the gathering and explained about Pujya Gurudev’s life, him establishing the Chinmay Mission, etc in detail.

As good number of children are attending the ongoing Summer Camp at Centre and they also took part in the function, a talk by a student of 10 th Standard Kumari. Rajeshwari from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Hubli was arranged to address the children about Sri Gurudev.

Secretary C.S.Ku.lkarni briefed about the activities of the Centre and requested everyone’s wholehearted participation and help to make full use of the Centre.

Then Padukapuja, Aarati and Prasad distribution were performed under the guidance of Sri Swamiji.