Chinmaya Mission, New Delhi

THE HISTORY OF CHINMAYA MISSION, DELHI

Swami Swaroopananda's first yagna (on the Japji Sahib) in Delhi was arranged in a hall in the Blind School in February. The auditorium could accommodate 300 people comfortably. By the second day of the yagna, the audience swelled to 500 and the hall became tightly packed. In the following days, as more people came for the talks, there was no space for them and many people had to go back. This yagna was an eye opener for the Delhi Mission. After the major success of this yagna, bigger halls began to be hired by the Mission for the yagnas of both Swami Tejomayananda as well as Swami Swaroopananda.

The first seminar on Indian Ethos and Global Competitiveness organized by Delhi Chinmaya Sewa Trust on August 5,1995 was held at the Hotel Taj Mansingh, New Delhi. It was arranged by Mr. Anil Sachdev. Mr. Sachdev has arranged several business seminars around India to promote ethics and efficiency in business based on values and techniques of management given out in our scriptures. These seminars were highly appreciated, as people recognised the value and effectiveness of the ancient management techniques.

Observance of Pujya Gurudev's second Mahasamadhi was held on August 12 at the Shri Ram Centre.

Geeta gyana yagna by Swami Tejomayananda was arranged at FICCI auditorium from September 9 onwards.

Discourses by Br. Manan Chaitanya at the Ayyappa Temple from November 26 to December were held.

Chetana '95, a residential camp for three days for the youth was taken by Br. Manan Chaitanya from December 31.

Brni. Nandita came as a second acharya to the Delhi Mission in 1995. Her work has stopped since March 1999 due to ill health.

1996. The building was rising and the visiting swamis would come and see its progress.

Discourses by Swami Swaroopananda on the Nauvan Mahalla verses from the Guru Granth Sahib took place from January 27 to February 2 at FICCI Auditorium. The morning talks on Isavasya Upanishad were held at Delton Hall.

Puja, sahasranama, archana and a talk by Brni. Nandita Chaitanya at the Kailashpati Temple, Hauz Khas. From February 10 to 16, talks on Shiv Geeta from the Ram Charitmanas were held by her at the same temple.

Shivaratri celebrations were held on February 17.

Br. Manan Chaitanya was given sanyas on Mahashivaratri by Swami Tejomayananda in Mumbai and given the name, Swami Nikhilananda.

Swami Nikhilananda held yagnas on the Ram Geeta from March 24 to 27 and on the Kenopanishad from April 2 to 9 at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir.

Jagriti '96, a children's camp, was organized from March 28 to 31 at the Logicstat Farm.

On Gurudev's birth anniversary on May 8, paduka puja and aarti was performed by Swami Nikhilananda at the Centre.

Geeta gyana yagna by Swami Nikhilananda at Faridabad from September 1 to September 4.

A Camp was conducted by Swami Tejomayananda from October 13 at the Logicstat Farm. Swami Tejomayananda held the evening classes at the Centre, since the flooring was ready. This was inaugurated by Swami Gokulananda of Ramakrishna Mission.

A conference was organized by the Mission in association with AIMA on Oct 17 at Hotel Taj Palace on Indian Ethos and Global competitiveness.

Bhai Chaman Lal and Bhai Chand Afzal sang shabad kirtan from the Gurbani on November 4 to celebrate Guru Nanak Devji birthday.

Swami Nikhilananda held a yagna at Vasant Vihar from November 18 to 24.

1997. Discourses by Swami Swaroopananda on the Japji Sahib from February 15 to 22 and on the Kena Upanishad from February 16 to 22 at the Centre. The talks were a big success. Swami Swaroopananda had by now become very well-known in Delhi, especially for his talks on the Sikh scriptures.

Jagriti '97, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra, New Delhi organized a 4 days residential camp from March 27 to 30 at the Logicstat Farm.

Geeta gyana yagna by Swami Nikhilananda was held at the Centre, from April 8 to 16.

On May 4, the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding was inaugurated by Swami Tejomayananda. Also present on the occasion were the chief guest, Mr. Venkatachellia

(former Chief Justice of India), Swami Purushottamananda, Swamini Purnananda, Swami Subodhananda, Swami Dhyanananda, Swami Nikhilananda and many devotees. Havan was performed and likhat japa of "Om Sri Chinmaya Sad Gurave Namah" which devotees had been writing for a year, was placed beneath the area reserved for the pratima.

The next day, to commemorate the event, Vani Jairam sang devotional bhajans as a tribute to Swamiji. Cassettes of her bhajans are available with Chinmaya Mission, Delhi.

An exhibition of woven wall hangings by Rajan, an eminent painter and weaver of international repute, were also displayed from May 4 for two days.

Gurudev had insisted on calling the Mission centre in Delhi as the 'Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding', because firstly, it is located in the capital city of India. It is also the portal through which everyone passes in order to go to Utterkashi, Sidhbari, Nepal and other pilgrim centres. It has been hosting groups coming from all over India on pilgrimages. The Centre was envisaged by Swamiji for the promotion of man's greater understanding of himself, the world and his role in it, because the lack of this understanding is the fundamental cause for all the world's problems and conflicts. An effort to bridge this gap in understanding would therefore contribute towards creating a world where individuals and communities are more integrated and harmonious within and between themselves. A world more in the nature of a 'cosmos' than a 'chaos'.

50 years of India's independence was celebrated with a grand function at the Chinmaya Vidyalaya. Swami Jyotirmayananda hoisted a flag at the Mission centre as well.

A yagna by Brni. Nandita Chaitanya was held from August 17 to 24 at the Centre.

A sadhana camp by Swami Nikhilananda was held from September 24 to 28 at the Logicstat Farm.

A yagna by Swami Tejomayananda took place from October 13 to 18 at the Centre. This was extremely well attended, both for the morning as
well as evening classes.

A youth Camp - Chetana '97 - was held at the Logiscsat Farm from December 4 to 7 and was taken by Swami Nikhilananda.

1998. Padma Bhushan Pandit Jasraj stirred the hearts of a large audience with classical bhajans and was also awarded the Chinmaya Rasraj Award by Swami Tejomayananda on February 27.

Talks by Swami Tejomayananda on 'Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram' were held from May 15 to 17 at the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding.