City Kemp News
Birth Centenary celebrations of Swami Chinmayananda – Founder of Chinmaya Mission [1916-1993]. The birth centenary is being celebrated across the country and the world in remembrance of his services to mankind. As a part of the celebrations Chinmaya Jyoti was flagged off by Swami Tejomayananda, Head Chinmaya Mission worldwide on May 8, 2015 at Ernakulam.
The Jyoti will be traversing the entire country in Chinmaya Sandesha Vahini a vehicle carrying the Akhanda Chinmaya Jyoti and also give a bird’s eye view of his life, work and his vision. The Akhanda jyoti will enter Bengaluru on July 21 from Mysore and will be in Koramangala on July 23 around 9.30 am.
The Chinmaya Jyothi will be in Vidyalaya premises till 8.30pm to enable the school children, parents and members of public to pay their respect to this great teacher and visionary.
There will be a day long programme of chanting bhajans, satsang, lectures by swamijis in the Prarthana Mandir of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Koramangala. These programmes are open for the public.
Chinmaya Mission is a well known Spiritual, Educational and a nonprofit Charitable organization founded in 1953 by Swami Chinmayananda and his disciples.
The Mission has more than 300 centres across the world today. The Mission is dedicated to Global Spiritual upliftment and Indian Cultural Renaissance. It is not an organization for achieving or accomplishing just a limited goal, relevant to a particular time or place. It is a “Movement of Creative Goodness” that touches all aspects of human life and is therefore relevant for all at all times. The Global governing body of the Mission is the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) Mumbai and its Head, World Wide is Swami Tejomayananda.
Swami Chinmayananda was a great ascetic of modern India who worked ceaselessly for over four decades spreading the essence of Bhagawad Geetha and Vedantha to the classes and masses around the Globe. Born on 8th May 1916 at Ernakulam, Kerala, he was named as Balakrishna Menon. Degrees in law and literature did not satisfy him. He joined the Indian Independence Movement in 1942 and was imprisoned. Later he became the Chief reporter of National Herald at Delhi. With this assignment he got an opportunity to interview and interact with Swami Shivananda of Rishikesh. This meeting transformed him. Swami Shivananda initiated him into the holy order of Sanyasa on 25th Feb 1949 and was given the name Swami Chinmayananda Saraswathi which means, one who revels in the bliss of pure consciousness.
He studied thereafter under Swami Tapovan Maharaj who taught him scriptures and spiritual way of life. On completion of his studies his Guru asked him to spread the knowledge he acquired to one and all through writings, lectures and Jnana Yagnas. His first talk was in Pune that heralded a new era. Being a great scholar and orator par excellence, the Swamiji dedicated his life for spreading the message of Geeta and Vedanta. He was one of the great spiritual leaders of Modern India and we owe to him for the cultural renaissance.
As a great visionary he felt that future of the Nation depends on the children and so he started Chinmaya Education Movement by opening Vidyalayas.
Currently there are around 100 Chinmaya Vidyalayas functioning all over. His firm belief was to give modern education by blending the best of the Eastern culture, traditions and Western thought and technology. One hall mark of all Chinmaya Vidyalayas is Value Based Education and the tag line of the Vidyalaya is ‘School With A Difference’.
In Karnataka there are 9 Chinmaya Vidyalayas serving over 10,000 children. Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Koramangala has completed two decades of yeoman service to the society and has earned the goodwill and gratitude of the community.
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Swami Chinmayananda, founder of world renowned Chinmaya Mission has been one of the pioneer propagators of the rich cultural heritage and subtle message of our scriptures through His famous Gita Jnana Yajnas and discourses on Upanishads. He has been single handed responsible for bringing the Bhagavad Gita safely enshrined in our puja rooms to the market place boldly declaring that the message of the Gita is not for the dead, but for the active, vibrant living who can imbibe the virtues spelt out in our scriptures in their day to day living.
If today the Bhagavad Gita is being studied by the masses in an effort to live it and bring peace and tranquility in society, Swami Chinmayananda has a very big role to play.
Born in 1916, He spent over forty years sharing the knowledge gained at the feet of the Himalayan Masters in an effort to remove the misconceptions about our scriptures deeply enrooted in the mind of common man. His contribution to society at the grass root level through Chinmaya Vidyalayas, Hospitals, Sandeepany Sadhanalayas, Rural Development Programmes, Child Welfare Schemes and Temples across the globe is now a legend.
His Birth Centenary is being celebrated across the globe this year through various programmes. One such event is the ‘Chinmaya Jyoti’ which will be travelling across the length and breadth of the country reminding sadhaks of the Master’s far sighted vision. It is the symbol of Knowledge, Devotion and Service and a humble tribute at the Lotus Feet of one of the greatest spiritual giants who strode the spiritual world during the last century. His life and message are also depicted through a wonderful exhibition ‘Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan’.
The Jyoti will be at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, 15th Main, 4th Block Koramangala, on July 23 from 10 am to 8pm and also there will be several programs through the day to celebrate the arrival of Jyothi.