Gurudev - Sri Swami Chinmayananda has been recognized as a sage, guru, legendry philosopher, and guide of modern times, who rejuvenated the study of scriptures by taking them to masses and leading mankind on the path of Bhakti. Gurudev was a tireless missionary who traveled for forty years to different parts of India and many other countries, taking with him the principles and teachings of Vedanta.
Extraordinary spiritual strength, limitless love and tireless service were what Gurudev's life was all about. In less than half a century, Swami Chinmayananda left behind a worldwide organisation, hundreds of institutions, and millions of devotees. This was all aimed at attaining the single goal of helping the masses discover the Eternal within.
A holy bud springs forth
Swami Chinmayananda was born on May 8th, 1916 as Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala. His family was very devout in their religious life and had regular contact with holy men. This influenced Balan's mental and moral make-up, setting the foundation for the noble mission of his life.
Balan excelled in his education graduating in Science, Political Science, Law and English Literature at Lucknow University before plunging into India’s freedom struggle against the British. His nationalist activities led to his imprisonment. After he was released, Balakrishnan joined ‘The National Herald’ newspaper. A man of strong ideas and ideals, he entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence the political, economic and social reforms in India. While working for the newspaper, he decided to write an article “exposing” sadhus (monks), and hence travelled to Swami Sivananda’s ashram in Rishikesh for this purpose. However, he was transformed when he met Swami Sivananda. He began to ponder over questions like what the purpose of life was and what the secret of happiness was. He was inspired to become a sadhu himself! On 25 February, 1949 (Sivaratri day), he was initiated into sanyas (monk-hood) by Swami Sivananda. Thus Balakrishnan Menon was reborn as Swami Chinmayananda, the one who is saturated in Bliss and Consciousness.
Blossoming of the holy bud
After some months at the ashram, Swami Sivananda saw the potential in Swami Chinmayananda and guided him to the most renowned Vedanta master of the time, Swami Tapovanam, who lived in Uttarkashi in the Himalayas. As Swami Tapovanam’s disciple, Swami Chinmayananda led an extremely austere lifestyle for 12 years and was put through a rigorous study of the scriptures. After his studies, Swami Chinmayananda travelled throughout India. He observed widespread spiritual and social degradation in the society and his heart went out to the masses. He felt a deep inner urge and compassion to share with them the knowledge that had brought fulfillment to his own life.
After obtaining Swami Tapovanam’s blessings, Swami Chinmayananda conducted his first Gyana yagna (spiritual discourse) in December 1951 in Pune for a small group of three people. However, as he conducted more gyana yagnas around India, orthodox priests became outraged. They felt Vedanta was their preserve and should not be freely given out to the general public. They complained to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, a senior Hindu saint. However, instead of restraining Swami Chinmayananda, the Shankaracharya advised the priests to go listen to him!
The blossomed flower spreads its fragrance!
From then on, there was no turning back. Chinmaya Mission was formed in 1953. From pulpits throughout India and the world, Swami Chinmayananda spread the man-making knowledge of Vedanta. He became a world-renowned authority of the ancient Hindu scriptures, especially the Bhagavad Geeta and the Upanishads. His highly dynamic style and logical approach appealed to the young and old alike. Tens of thousands came to listen.
For many years, Swami Chinmayananda followed a work schedule of 18 hours a day. Chinmaya Mission centres sprang up all over India and the globe. Hundreds of swamis and brahmacharis were trained to teach Vedanta. Thousands of study groups were started at the grassroots level. During his forty years of travelling and teaching, Gurudev opened numerous centres and ashrams worldwide. Many social projects were initiated such as schools, colleges, and youth development programmes, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, old age homes, training programmes for village nurses, income generating schemes for village women and rural environment projects.
Swami Chinmayananda brought about a revival of spiritual and cultural values in India and awakened the rest of the world to the ageless wisdom of Advaitic Vedanta as expounded by Adi Sankaracharya. He made the mysterious and elusive principles of Vedanta accessible to each and everyone regardless of age, nationality, or religious background. His was a life of selfless service to others. According to him, selfless work, study, and meditation were the cornerstones of spiritual practice. He was the author of more than thirty-five books, each one being a masterpiece, which include commentaries on the major Upanishads and the Bhagavad Geeta. His commentary on the Bhagavad Geeta is acknowledged as the finest ever written.
Swami Chinmayananda was selected by the Hindu Host Committee to be the President of Hindu Religion, representing Hinduism worldwide at the Meeting of the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago (during August 28 - September 4, 1993), an honor bestowed on the great Swami Vivekananda a century ago. The Parliament had selected fourteen eminent religious leaders around the world to form a council to guide the world into the next century. At "World Vision 2000," a conference of religious leaders sponsored by Hindu Vishwa Parishad during August 6-8, 1993, H.H. Swami Chinmayananda was to be honored for his lifetime of selfless service to humanity and his extraordinary achievements in creating a renaissance of spiritual and cultural values in India and abroad.
The Flower’s final abode at the lotus Feet
of the Lord
On August 3, 1993, Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi in San Diego, California, USA, after suffering a massive heart attack after the ceaseless service of the compassionate Master to humanity for over 42 years. By then, this great sage had created a renaissance in Hinduism. He ended the monopoly of orthodox priests over Vedanta and gifted with great love this eternal and priceless knowledge to the masses of India and to the rest of the world.
Today His mortal remains are buried in Sidhabhari which has become an abode of pilgrimage.
Though his mortal frame has left us, memories of his love and compassion are eternally etched in the hearts of millions of devotees. The great work that gurudev initiated and carried out is being continued with true zeal and pure devotion by his faithful followers.
|
Gurudev - Sri Swami Chinmayananda