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“Hail Renaissance”
Do we need a line to describe this magazine... -
a detailed booklet
A booklet prepared by Swamiji. -
Achyuta Menon
[caption id="attachment_76022" align="alignnone" width="300"]After his release from prison, Balakrishna Menon went to Baroda and stayed with his cousin Achyuta Menon (shown with his wife Mandakini) for nearly six months, while recuperating. It was here that he came across the writings of Swami Sivananda.[/caption]
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Aniyathi
[caption id="attachment_75987" align="alignnone" width="300"]Swami Chinmayananda's aunt Aniyathi (Kutty Paru Amma) with her husband Marayil Achutha Menon. [/caption]
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be hospitalised
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biological mother
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block of his own image
Based on an artists rendering, Gurudev created a block of this image for printing.
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cataract surgery
[caption id="attachment_76192" align="alignnone" width="350"]In a letter to Bhaskara Menon, Gurudev's care for his mother is expressed. To read more of this letter click here.[/caption]
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climate controlled facilities
[caption id="attachment_76900" align="alignnone" width="225"]Climate controlled facility at Chinmaya Archives, Powai, Mumbai, houses thousands of treasured artefacts of Gurudev and the Mission.[/caption]
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Death of his close friend
[caption id="attachment_77455" align="alignnone" width="250"]Balakrishna Menon's friend Narendra Shroff with his parents.[/caption]
In this video, Kamala Amma recalls Gurudev's friendship with Narendra Shroff. -
energetic discourses
A RARE MOMENT OF REFLECTION[video width="450" height="290" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GurudevBeyond.mp4"][/video] -
Ernakulathappan
Ernakulathappan Siva Temple [caption id="attachment_76107" align="aligncenter" width="194"]Wikipedia Link[/caption]
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except the venue
Snippet from a letter by Seshadri to Gurudev, with barely 10 days to go for the Yajna. -
Gurudev sent her recordings
JAYA MENON INTERVIEW PART 2[video width="400" height="220" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JayaMenon2.mp4"][/video] Jaya Menon, Padmini Amma's youngest daughter shares her memories of Gurudev's affection for his sister. Click here for the video with transcript. -
had two more children
[caption id="attachment_76006" align="left"]
L to R: Padmini, Swami Chinmayananda, Kanakam[/caption]
Balan with his two sisters -
how Gurudev helped
GURUDEV'S AFFECTIONATE NATURE[video height="250" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/VijayaLakshmiAndMadhavMenon.mp4"][/video]Gurudev's step sister Vijayalakshmi Amma narrates how affectionate Swamiji was with his siblings. Click here for the video with transcript. -
Hundreds of Interviews
The Chinmaya Archives has over 500 interviews with individuals associated with Gurudev over the years, including family members, mission sevaks, celebrities and devotees. -
Kochu Amma’s grandchildren
KOCHU AMMA'S GRAND DAUGHTERS SHARE MEMORIES
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IndiraSarasaShort.mp4"][/video]Indira and Sarasa, granddaughters of Kochu Amma, describe the close bond between Gurudev and his mother.
Click here for the interview with transcript. -
Kuttan Menon married
[caption id="attachment_75333" align="alignnone" width="240"]Kuttan Menon (father of Swami Chinmayananda) with his 2nd wife Devaki.[/caption]
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Leela Nambiar Amma
LEELA NAMBIAR INTERVIEW[video width="400" height="220" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Leena Nambiar.mp4"][/video] Leela Nambiar, a devotee of Gurudev narrates her memories of Kochu Amma. Click here for the video with transcript. -
Listen directly to her daughter Jaya Menon
JAYA MENON INTERVIEW PART 1[video width="400" height="220" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JayaMenon1.mp4"][/video] Jaya Menon, Padmini Amma's youngest daughter shares her memories of Gurudev's affection for his sister. Click here for the video with transcript. -
Listen to Leela’s sister
Indira Rajaram shares her memories
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IndiraRajaram.mp4"][/video]Swamiji sent Leela Rangaswamy (late Swamini Pavitrananda) to Poothampalli House to be taken care of by his mother. Listen to Leela’s sister Indira Rajaram talk about it. To watch this interview click here. -
mother spiritual advice
[caption id="attachment_76190" align="alignnone" width="300"]Swami Chinmayananda writes to his mother Kochu Amma on March 24th 1948. The snippet here shows his concern, and the spiritual advice he offered. To read more of this letter click here.[/caption]
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On his release
[caption id="attachment_76017" align="alignnone" width="227"]After his release from prison, Balakrishnan Menon stayed with his cousin Achyuta Menon for nearly six months. It was here that he came across the writings of Swami Sivananda. In this video, Kamala Amma shares her memories of those times.[/caption]
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Passion for Tennis
PASSION FOR TENNIS[video width="490" height="275" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PassionForTennis.mp4"][/video] -
playing tennis
[caption id="attachment_75333" align="alignnone" width="209"]Swami Chinmayananda, after a game of tennis with Sri Dwaraknath Reddy at his house in Chittoor. Swamiji in his youth had a passion for tennis. [/caption]
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precious artefacts, letters, photographs
A tiny glimpse into some of the rare jewels that are part of the Chinmaya Archives collection.
Clockwise: Gurudev's spectacles, Swami Tapovanam's Pass Book, a letter from Swami Chinmayananda to Mrs. Leela Nambiar and an album created by Gurudev from the 2nd Jnana Yagna in Madras. -
Pujya Gurudev gave a message
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referred to her as his mother
KOCHU AMMA'S GRAND DAUGHTERS SHARE MEMORIES
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IndiraSarasa.mp4"][/video]Indira and Sarasa, granddaughters of Kochu Amma, describe the close bond between Gurudev and his mother.
Click here for the interview with transcript. -
regale them with stories
HOW GURUDEV'S FATHER ENTERTAINED CHILDREN[video height="250" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/RamchandranBalchandran.mp4"][/video]Balachandran, Gurudev’s nephew, Kanakam Amma’s youngest son describes how Sri. Kuttan Menon (Gurudev's father) entertained the children. Click here for the video with transcript.
reminiscences of Sri Raveendran
GURUDEV'S NEPHEW RECOLLECTS
[video height="210" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Raveendran.mp4"][/video]Kanakam Amma's eldest son Sri Raveendran shares his memories of his mother, Gurudev's own sister. Click here for the interview with transcript.
[video height="210" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Raveendran.mp4"][/video]Kanakam Amma's eldest son Sri Raveendran shares his memories of his mother, Gurudev's own sister. Click here for the interview with transcript.
restoration techniques

Sarasa was at home
KOCHU AMMA'S GRAND DAUGHTERS SHARE MEMORIES
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IndiraSarasa2.mp4"][/video] Indira and Sarasa, granddaughters of Kochu Amma, recall the last days of their grandmother.
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IndiraSarasa2.mp4"][/video] Indira and Sarasa, granddaughters of Kochu Amma, recall the last days of their grandmother.
she give him the first morsel
SRI MURALIDHARAN MENON SHARES HIS MEMORIES[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Muralidharan-Menon.mp4"][/video] Sri Muralidharan Menon, describes how Gurudev insisted that Kochu Amma feed him the first Urula, before she started her meal.
Shroff’s death
SHROFF'S DEATH BECAME A CATALYST[video height="220" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/intAjayandSumanShroff.mp4"][/video]
Gurudev's best friend's son Ajay Shroff and his wife share their memories of Balan and his close friend Narendra Shroff. Click here for the video with transcript.
Sri Chattambi Swamigal
SREE VIDYADHIRAJA CHATTAMBI SWAMIGAL
The Great Scholar Saint of Kerala
(1853 – 1924)
For more information please visit the
Panmana Ashram website.
Swami Chidananda

tagging each item
Members of the Archives team at Chinmaya Mission work to organize, tag and store all material.

telegram to seshadri

Thankam
From Balooppa to Thankams[caption width="400"]
This picture with the writing on the back was sent by Balan to his sister Padmini (who he called Thankam)[/caption]

the Headmaster
Swami Tyageeshananda, headmaster, Vivekodayam Boys High School 

This was a great shock
DEATH OF HIS FRIEND[video width="600" height="230" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/intKamalaAmma.mp4"][/video]In this video, Kamala Amma recalls this incident. Click here for the video with transcript.
threadss of his life
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to Sri Seshadri
Sri Seshadri

This young gentleman was an instrument in the hands of Pujya Gurudev in his efforts to get the first Jnana Yajna off the ground.

touched his feet
When Swamiji met his teacher, he immediately prostrated to him, touching his feet.


ubera is our

using a gerua stone
Sri Naidu, recalls how Gurudev used Gerua stones to dye white cloth.
visited his father
KUTTAN MENON, GURUDEV'S FATHER

Watch Madhava Menon, Gurudev's step sister Vijayalakshmi Amma's husband recollect the memories of the time when Gurudev came home as a Sanyasi, after so many years. Click here to watch the video with transcript. [video width="768" height="250" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/intMadhavaMenon.mp4"][/video]

Watch Madhava Menon, Gurudev's step sister Vijayalakshmi Amma's husband recollect the memories of the time when Gurudev came home as a Sanyasi, after so many years. Click here to watch the video with transcript. [video width="768" height="250" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/intMadhavaMenon.mp4"][/video]
would shower her
SRI LAKSHMI HARIGOVIND SHARES HER MEMORIES
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lakshmi-Harigovind.mp4"][/video]Sri Lakshmi Harigovind, recalls how much Gurudev used to love his Amma.
[video height="240" mp4="http://archives.chinmayamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lakshmi-Harigovind.mp4"][/video]Sri Lakshmi Harigovind, recalls how much Gurudev used to love his Amma.
X caravan of cars
Sri Naidu describes the grand procession at the end of the first Jnana Yajna.
Yogiraj Bhairavananda Swamigal
YOGIRAJ BHAIRAVANANDA SWAMIGAL
One of the Kulagurus of the Poothampally house. He had an early influence on Balan.
प्रजहाति
Desires have abandoned him