Chinmaya Mission, New Delhi

THE HISTORY OF CHINMAYA MISSION, DELHI

On May 17 at 6 p.m., the pratima of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda was unveiled by Swami Tejomayananda. The pratima is made of five metals - gold, silver, copper, tin and zinc. The original in plaster was made by sculptor Kasinath in Bangalore. The wax mould was made by sculptor Ramesh Bisht in Delhi. The artisans came from Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu and they did the traditional casting of panchadhatu according to the Shastras. The pratima has been placed at the exact spot where Swamiji's body rested in the Mahasamadhi state on August 7, 1993. The canopy and the dwaja stambha have been made in the traditional Kerala style by the famous Kanippayyur Narayanar Namboodari. This is the altar of the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding, surrounded by a lotus pond. He represents the essence of the Goal. In this idol lies the Ideal.Swami Brahmananda had a bhajan satsang on Mukunda Mala on July 24.

A youth camp took place from October 1 to 4 on satya and ahimsa at the Centre.

Gyana Ganga - a light and sound show - by Chennai CHYKs was staged at the Centre on October 4.

Discourses were given by Swami Subhodhananda from November 24 to 30 at the Centre.

There were discourses by Swami Anubhavananda from December 13 to 19 at the Centre.

An exhibition of bronzes arranged in conjunction with the Tamil Nadu emporium was held at the Centre.

1999. A workshop called 'Take Off' was conducted by Swami Nikhilananda and Brni. Nandita Chaitanya on January 17 at the Centre.

Prakriti, a classical dance drama with Vedic chantings was presented by Chinmaya Yuva Kendra members from Bangalore on February 6 and 7.

The Vanprastha Sanstha Programme was inaugurated by Swami Gokulananda of Ramakrishna Mission on February 26. It lasted for four days till March 1. The senior citizens group (Vanprastha Sanstha) is doing very well in Delhi and meets regularly for discussions and satsangs. A former member of Parliament, Mr. R.P. Sinha (who, incidently, had offered his premises for the first archarya to stay in 1976) and Commander S.K. Sood are leading the sanstha. Many seminars have been organized and eminent people are invited to address them.

Discourses by Swami Swaroopananda at the Centre on the Hanuman Chalisa and Meditations from the Guru Granth Sahib were held from April 24 to May 3. Despite the hot season, the halls were full.

Guru Poornima celebrations were held at the Centre. From July 9 to 11, video recorded talks by Swami Chinmayananda were shown.

Mahasamadhi Aradhana for Pujya Gurudev was held on August 3 at the Centre.

A yagna by Swami Purushottamananda was held at the Centre from August 7 to 13.

Gyana yagna by Swami Subhodhananda from August 24 to 30 was held at the Centre.

A gyana yagna by Br. Atma Chaitanya took place from September 9 to 15 at the Centre.

There was a Bhakti Sandhya by the renowned singer, Shubha Mudgal, on September 16, in the holy presence of Swami Tejomayananda.

A gyana yagna by Swami Tejomayananda took place from October 2 to 8 at the Centre which was very well attended.

Chinmaya Mission is involved in many social service projects. One of them was collecting funds for the Army Jawans Welfare Fund, following the Kargil war. Swami Tejomayananda presented the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, a cheque of Rs. 63 Lacs which was collected from Mission members all over the world. Another project taken up, was the relief fund for the Orissa cyclone victims.

The 10th annual Srimad Bhagwat Saptah Yagna in Malayalam was taken by Swami Ashishananda at the Uttara Guruvayoorappan Temple from October 4 to 11.

There were discourses by Swamini Purnananda at the Centre from October 21 to 27.

Two seminars on Indology were organized in November. The first one was inaugurated by Swami Tejomayananda. Many eminent people participated. Dr. L.M. Singhvi (member of the Rajya Sabha) showed great interest and was a helping hand at these seminars. The director of the Chinmaya International Foundation, Dr. Ramaswamy Iyengar, did the co-ordination.

A Bhakti Sandhya of devotional bhajans by Mr. Anup Jalota was held on November 19 at the Chinmaya Hamco Auditorium in the Centre.

There was a gyana yagna by Swamini Purnananda from November 22 to 28 at the Centre.

2000. LOC (Line of Control) - a play by the Chennai CHYKs was staged at the Centre on January 2. Swami Mitrananda from Chennai came with the group.

A gyana yagna by Swami Mitrananda was held between January 4 and 10 at the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding.

Swami Swaroopananda spent twenty days in Delhi from February 13 onwards and took the Sukhmani Sahib from the Guru Granth Sahib and the 3rd chapter of the Bhagawad Geeta. Several other functions like a youth meet, meditation classes and a talk at the Institute of Technology and Management, Gurgaon were also held. All these events were very well attended.

On March 18, Padma Shri Dr. K.J. Yesudas sang with great devotion at the Chinmaya Hamco Auditorium. He showed great respect for Gurudev at his altar in Swami Jyotirmayananda's room by placing Gurudev's padukas on his head.

There was a gyana yagna by Swami Purushottamananda from March 24 to 30 at the Centre. It was very much liked by the members.

There were discourses by Swami Chidananda from April 22 to May 1 at the Delhi and Noida centres.

Pandit Channu Lal Mishra gave an exquisite performance of classical bhajans on April 23 in the holy presence of Swami Tejomayananda.

On Chinmaya Jayanti (May 8), a special function was held at the Centre in which the Union Minister of Law, Mr. Ram Jethmalani and the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. L.M. Singhvi spoke about Gurudev. Swami Jyothirmayananda also recounted his early days with Gurudev. Swamini Purnananda also spoke at the function.
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The Chinmaya Vision Programme in education is also gaining ground. About 500 principals and teachers from many schools in Delhi attended sessions by Swami Vimalananda.

There was a yagna by Swami Tejomayananda from May 11 to 16 on the Tulsi Ramayan and Nirvana Shatakam at the Centre. Swamiji also addressed a well attended youth meet on 'A spiritual Adventure'.

The first Bhakti Sandhya by Swami Tejomayananda himself took place at the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding on May 16. Swamiji thrilled the audience with his devotional bhajans.

During the month of May, about 100 children came for the daily camp for children during their summer holidays.

There was also a very successful youth workshop conducted at the Centre by Swamini Purnananda at the end of May.

Regular yagnas by Swami Tejomayananda and Swami Swaroopananda since Gurudev's mahasamadhi, have helped the growth of Chinmaya Mission in Delhi. Swami Tejomayananda has brought into the Mission a fervour of bhakti and Swami Swaroopananda, an interfaith harmony between Hindus and Sikhs. Because of his own upbringing and love for Sikh scriptures, Swami Swaroopananda shares his knowledge and devotion with the Hindus and Sikhs alike. Many other swamis have also blessed the Centre by holding gyana yagnas in Delhi including Swami Purushottamananda, Swami Brahmananda, Swami Subodhananda, Br. Atma Chaitanya, Swamini Vimalananda, Swami Mitrananda, Swami Ashishananda and Swamini Purnananda.

The Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding building has got a completion certificate and is fully functioning now.

Each city offers the sewa of which the devotees and members of the local Mission are capable. Delhi, so far, has specialized in arranging lecture series by different swamis of Chinmaya Mission, bhakti sandhyas, business seminars and photographs which have been supplied to devotees all around the world. And now the archiving of 10,000 photographs of Gurudev onto CD ROMs is in progress.