THE HISTORY OF CHINMAYA MISSION, DELHI

In 1976, Swami Chinmayananda was scheduled to come to Delhi for a yagna. When he had not arrived at the yagnashala by 6.29 p.m., everyone knew something was wrong. At 6.30 p.m., the chief guest Dr. Karan Singh, walked towards the dais without Swamiji. People were told that Swamiji had arrived in Delhi, but was running 103 degrees temperature and would come the next day. Instead, Dr. Karan Singh, gave a discourse that evening. The next day, Br. Vivek Chaitanaya (now Swami Tejomayananda) was roped in by nervous organizers to hold the fort. The young brahmachari spoke quite well, having prayed to Swamiji to speak through him! One never imagined at that time, that we were listening to the future head of Chinmaya Mission! Swami Dayananda was called from Bombay as Swamiji's condition got worse and doctors who had wrongly diagnosed malaria made his liver condition worse by giving him malaria drugs. Swamiji was flown to Bombay and taken directly to a hospital in a serious condition. Upon stabilizing, he convalesced in Bombay before going to Coimbatore for three months to undergo ayurvedic treatment with the Varrier family.

1977. Swamiji came back for a yagna in September and delivered a series of such excellent discourses on the 11th chapter of the Bhagawad Geeta, which describes the Vishvaroop Darshan of the Lord. If ever language revelled in the heights of poetry, wisdom, inspiration and bliss mixed together for a period of 10 days, without coming down even an inch, it was during this yagna. Luckily these lectures were taped professionally and are still available to mankind. Swamiji stayed with Dr. and Mrs. S.K. Lal during this yagna.

1978. Swamiji came officially only for a day when he spoke to business executives at FICCI Auditorium on October 6. The Mission produced a souvenir for the occasion entitled 'Poise in Action'.

1979. A National Yagna was held in Delhi at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan. Swamiji's younger sister, Kannakan Amma, came as a camp delegate. She was so shy that one could not catch her anywhere near Swamiji! It was only when group photos were being taken that she was forced to sit near him! Brni. Pavitra and Swami Harinamananda were assisting Swamiji with the camp.

At this yagna, the audience had a treat with the meeting of two eminent mahatmas of Vedanta on the dais. Swami Akhandanandaji of Brindavan, who was very famous for his discourses in Hindi, was asked by Swamiji to address the audience in Hindi.

A 10-year-old girl, Rama Gopalakrishnan (daughter of a devotee, Madhavi Gopalakrishan), gave an exquisite Bharatnatyam dance performance during the yagna. One could see that the girl was a child prodigy.

During this year, Mrs. Anjali Singh started taking Pujya Gurudev's photographs. Thence began a chronology of around 10,000 photographs of Swamiji taken by her around the world, and another 5,000 to 10,000 photographs after his Mahasamadhi.

On May 6, a Chinmaya Vidyalaya was started in a rented place in Defence Colony on the Ring Road. Swamiji blessed the inaugural function with his presence. Lt. Gov. Admiral D.R. Kohli was the chief guest.

Mrs. Indira Bhardwaj became the principal of Chinmaya Vidyalaya in November. She has been serving the school in that capacity with great dedication till the present day. Mrs. Rajani Arora, Mrs. Varsha Shukla, Mrs.Vatsala Kurup, Mr. S.C. Nagpal, Mr. V.K. Pandey and Mrs. Ramani have been teaching in the school with great dedication, some of them, since the beginning.

1980. On the first anniversary of the opening of the school, a variety programme was held at Mavalankar Hall for which Swamiji came on May 9. These programmes continue till date in the school premises to celebrate Founder's Day.

An open heart surgery was done on Swamiji in Houston, U.S.A and for a while his programmes were curtailed. Delhi devotees saw him on his return with his leg bandaged up and he had to go for walks with a monitor.

During the 1980s, Swamiji stayed mostly with Nisha and Hari Kapoor in Greater Kailash and also with the Nambiars, and once each in passing through, with Mr. S.P. Kohli and Mrs. Singhania.

1981. Swamiji had recovered and resumed his missionary work with great vigor.

1982. Swami Jyothirmayananda was able to get some land allotted on top of a hill in Vasant Vihar for the purpose of a school. The architectural design was made by Madhav Naik.

The Bhoomi Puja in the Vidyalaya was performed on May 16 in Swamiji's presence.

Delhi had the honour of a National Yagna in March after a gap of 2½ years. (photo no. 5 Swamiji taking the morning class at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan) Mrs. Krishna Varma met Swamiji around this time.

Br. Bodha Chaitainya was appointed acharya in Delhi from 1982 till 1990. He subsequently left the Mission.

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