A hallowed space in Chinmaya Tapovan, the Samadhi Sthal of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993) is an inspirational altar in the ashram. It is the sacred place of Pujya Gurudev’s Bhu Samadhi (burial in earth). There, the mortal frame of a much-loved, matchless Guru, one of the greatest teachers of Vedanta, was placed with great reverence in a kund (pit dug inside the earth) on August 9th, 1993, after a dignified and poignant Vedic ceremony.

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi at 5:45 pm on August 3rd, 1993, in Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California. After 42 years of selfless teaching of the Highest Knowledge, the ageless Guru left His frail body that He used as the most exalted instrument of Bhagavan. When His body was respectfully brought back to Mother Bharat on August 7th, 1993, and laid in state in Chinmaya Mission Lodhi Road Centre, thousands of people paid tearful homage. Seated in a lotus position, Pujya Gurudev’s embalmed body had a radiant aura that can be glimpsed from those last photographs.

On August 8th, a long convoy brought Pujya Gurudev’s body back to His final resting place in Sidhbari. When His seated body was placed in Kamala Hall for the people of Himalayas and all others to offer their respects, He looked as bright and uplifting as He always did when alive. His favorite japa of “Om Namah Shivaya” surrounded Him as all devotees kept vigil until Pujya Gurudev’s last rites began. It was His wish to rest in the rose garden in front of His Kutiya facing the Dhauladhars that He loved. So, on the night of August 8th, the earth had been dug, 5 feet by 5 feet, 7 feet deep and lined with cement to receive the beloved son of Sidhbari.

In the early hours of August 9th, 1993, after a final darshan to all His beloved devotees, Pujya Gurudev’s body was placed facing the east as the last rites began. All Vedic rituals were performed with great solemnity to befit the Maha Purusha that Pujya Gurudev was. Pujya Gurudev’s body was bathed with Ganga water, milk, honey, ghee, camphor, sandalwood, incense, curds, and other aromatic substances in a last abhishekam performed amid reverential chanting of mantras for two hours. Then, His entire body was interred with salt according to Shastra vidhi, the scriptural injunctions. Starting with the Swamis and brahmacharins, everyone again paid their last respects with a common prayer that Pujya Gurudev’s Grace and blessings shall forever fill their hearts.

With the magnificent Dhauladhar standing guard in the backdrop, the austere Samadhi Sthal is breathtakingly meditative with its elegant combination of woodwork, clear glass, and rosy granite under a Kerala-style tiled roof crowned by a central golden Kalasha.

The structure is built in such a thoughtful manner that it opens up to seamlessly blend with the sylvan surroundings of Sidhbari. Constructed with devotion by Architect Mythili and her team in 1995, it was consecrated in a beautiful, solemn ceremony on Aug.3rd, 1995, by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda on the sacred occasion of the second anniversary of Pujya Gurudev’s Mahasamadhi day. It is an exquisite shrine among His beloved roses for an inimitable Guru who gloriously embodied the Auspicious Beautiful Truth – Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram – in every breath of His worshipful life.

Inside the Samadhi Sthal, Pujya Gurudev’s Presence is immediate, inspiring, and unmistakably powerful. The brilliant pratima of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda is made out of panchadhatu – a combination of gold, silver, copper, zinc, and iron. It was made in Mahabalipuram near Chennai with great prayers. As we gaze at His Pratima, we are filled with a deep yearning to hear His Voice just one more time thundering the message of the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads. Almost immediately floods the realization that we can hear Him in our inspired hearts that are made pure with the teachings that He tirelessly illustrated in His every action. We understand that our dearest Pujya Gurudev was more than His physical form which is why He is ever available to every devotee who strives to walk behind Him.