Swami Chinmayananda was born on 8 May 1916 as Balakrishna Menon (Balan), in the city of Ernakulum in present-day Kerala India.
The life of Swami Chinmayananda was one of extraordinary spiritual strength, immeasurable love and tireless service. In less than half a century, he has left behind a worldwide organization, hundred of institutions, and millions of devotees. This was all aimed at a single theme, discovering the Eternal within.
Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda was a hindu spiritual leader, philosopher, thinker, writer, disciplinarian and a teacher, all rolled into one . He wrote 35 books on the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita , in addition to a set of interpretations of Adi Shankaracharya‘s Bhaja Govindam and Vivekcudamani.
Swami Chinmayananda conducted his first Jnana Yajna (a series of spiritual discourses) in December 1951, at a small temple in Pune, Maharashtra. Jnana Yajna, a term he coined from Lord Krishna's teachings in the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, refers to the student who through scriptural studies performs the ritual of worship (yajna) at the altar of wisdom (jnana). All these spearheaded a global Hindu spiritual and cultural renaissance that popularized the religion's esoteric scriptural texts, teaching them in English all across India and abroad.
Later an inspired band of devotees thus formed 'Chinmaya Mission' on August 8, 1953. a worldwide non-profit organisation, to spread the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other ancient Hindu scriptures. The objective of the Mission was also the promotion of Indian culture and social service.
Swamiji wished to build an institution, not an institute, a veritable movement that nourished souls, creating new generations of men and women of high integrity and great moral stature. With this in view he started the Chinmaya Educational Institutions and Vidyalayas. Gurudev’s vision, enshrined in the Chinmaya Vision Programme, is the foundation on which these Chinmaya Educational Institutions stand tall today, nourishing the global Chinmaya family and the society at large.
Love is a consistent passion to give, not a meek persistent hope to receive. The only demand of life is the privilege to love all.
H.H. Swami Chinmayanada
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