SWAMI

CHINMAYANANDA SARASWATI
(1916-1993)
Presented By: Suyash Kale
Nikhil Bhardwaj
Amit Verma
Gaurav Kharat
Darsh Patel
EARLY LIFE

 Born May 8, 1916, Ernakulam, Kerala

 Parents – Parukutti & Kuttan Menon
 Named Balakrishna Menon
 Lost his mother at an early age
 A great sense of humor
 He completed his formal schooling in Sree Rama Varma
High School, Kochi (1921–1928)
 Vivekodayam School, Thrissur (1928–1932).
 Learned English, Malayalam and Sanskrit at school
EARLY MEDITATION
TECHNIQUE 
 Balans family gathered for long pooja and satsang,
every evening
 Balan invented his own game during this pooja session
 Gazing at his favorite picture of Lord Shiva
 Repeatedly opening his eyes to look at the picture and
closing his eyes to visualize the image in his mind
 Accidentally, Balan had discovered a technique of
meditation In later years, this method helped him invoke
the Lord in his mind, at will 
YOUTH
   He completed his FA (Fellow of Arts) at the Maharaja's College,
Ernakulam (1932–1934) and his BA (Bachelor of Arts) at the 
St. Thomas College, Trichur (1935–1937)
 In 1940, Balan joined Lucknow University to major in English and Law
 Excelled in literature, participated in debates & plays held on the
campus
 Got involved deeply in the Indian independence movement writing &
distributing pamphlets, & delivering speeches
 This landed him in prison
 He became ill in prison & was tossed out on the roadside
 Helped by compassionate lady
 After graduation he became journalist at National Herald in Delhi
SPIRITUAL QUEST
 Balan (Balakrishnan) Decided to write an expose’ on “The
bluff of the Swamis in the Himalayan regions”
 Travelled to Ananda Kutir, Swami Sivananda’s ashram in
Rishikesh
 Was overwhelmed with the love, dedication & divinity and
teachings of Swami Sivananda
 Balakrishnan’s journey to expose others ended up in
exposing himself to his own spiritual revolution and
evolution
 A striking inner transformation unfolded within
Balakrishnan
 He began questioning & reflecting upon the purpose of
life and the secret of permanent happiness..
INITIATION
  Balakrishnan chose to become a renunciate himself
 Balakrishnan, initiated into sanyasa
 Mahasivaratri, Feb 25, 1949 by Sw. Sivananda
 Blessed with the name “Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati
 Chinmayananda means “Filled with the bliss of pure
Consciousness”
 Swami Sivananda then guided him to renowned vedanta
master, Swami Tapovanam in Uttarkasi, Himalayas
 Swami Tapovanam who rarely took on disciples, put forth
strict conditions
 Swami Chinmayananda led an austere life and underwent
intense study of vedantic texts
VISIONARY
  Gurudev sought and received his Guru’s blessings to spread Vedanta to
the masses
 Conducted first jnana yajna in December 1951, at a small temple in Pune
 Teachings based on the authority of the Vedas, Advaita vedanta, and his
direct experience
 Word spread and soon Swami Chinmayananda taught tens of
thousands around the globe
 Teacher extraordinaire
 Famed for his depth, clarity, eloquence, wit & humor
 Conducted Gita jnana yagnas all over the world
 Attained Mahasamadhi on August 3, 1993 in San Diego
 Gurudev had conducted 576 jnana yajnas as well as countless family
spiritual camps
PUBLISHED
WORK
 Authored over 35 books, including
commentaries on the major Upanishads and
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.
 The latter work has been acclaimed as one of
the most refined, insightful, and practical
commentaries ever written on the Gita.
 The collection of his video talks on the Gita is
heralded today as one of Chinmaya Mission's
most illustrious publications.
LEGACY
 He created a global organization committed to Vedanta.
 He also started numerous educational institutions and social service
projects.
About Chinmaya Mission
 An inspired band of devotees formed 'Chinmaya Mission' in 1953,
under the guidance of Gurudev.
 Mission Statement:
 To provide to individuals from any background, the wisdom of
Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and
happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to
society.
 Mission Motto:
 To give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the
maximum time is our religion
 TRIVIA !!
 WHAT IS THE MISSION MOTTO OF CHINMAYA MISSION?
Teaching
  Following the Vedic guru-shishya parampara,
Chinmaya Mission makes available the ageless
wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, the knowledge of
Universal Oneness.
 Provides the tools to realize the wisdom in one's life.
 Members work to uplift humanity beyond selfish
and sectarian attitudes and activities. Seeks personal
growth, heightened efficiency, contentment, and the
ability to live with others in peace and harmony.
 CONCLUSION
HARI OM

 “Om is the goal to be reached. Om is state of consciousness

and bliss when you no longer have any desires. This is possible
only after all our vasanas are exhausted. It is not easy to
remove these vasanas one by one. We need God’s grace to
remove all our vasanas.
 So we call “Hari, O Lord please help me. I cannot do this by my
own efforts. I need your grace to loot these vasanas from me”.
 Keep you attention on Hari to take you to OM.
Thank You