Archives Timeline Stories
A Unified Hindu Venture - VHP
The plan for Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was developed on 29-30 August 1964, in the sacred ashram of Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, around the auspicious time of Krishna Janmashtami. Named “Vishwa Hindu Parishad” to spearhead a World Hindu Convention in 1966, it was envisioned as a spiritual and cultural body with no political affiliation. Gurudev, as the first acting President, welcomed over sixty delegates from the different branches of Hinduism to unite, spread, and strengthen the Hindu values of living worldwide.
CCMT as Governing Body
To streamline the expanding activities, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) was establsihed on 27 June 1964. Working for the organisational development of the Mission, CCMT serves as the head office and the governing authority, ensuring coordination across the various wings and global branches of Chinmaya Mission.
Swami Sivananda’s Mahasamadhi
An exemplary Karma Yogi who truly lived the ideology of “Serve, Love, Meditate, Realize,” Swami Sivananda of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, attained Mahasamadhi on 14 July 1963. He was the dynamic sage who turned Balakrishnan Menon, a skeptic journalist, into Swami Chinmayananda, the charismatic Jivanmukta, by initiating him (Diksha) into sannyasa on 25 February 1949. When Gurudev heard the news of the Mahasamadhi of His Diksha-Guru, He undertook a tapovrata - severe austerities that lasted a whole year.
Vedanta Course Inauguration
On the shores of the Powai Lake in Bombay (now Mumbai), to fulfil Gurudev’s vision of a future army of Rishi Putras or Hindu missionaries, the first Vedantic Institute was inaugurated with His opening address: “On Tapovan Day, January 9,1963, the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya shall come to light….This Sadhanalaya stands for the revival of our glorious culture, a culture that will run as a golden chord, binding us all as one people of divine nobility and spiritual brotherhood.”
Launch of Tapovan Prasad
On 30th December 1962, Tapovan Prasad, the first official journal of Chinmaya Mission, was published by Tara Cultural Trust. Its very name indicated that all the work of Chinmaya Mission was an offering unto Parama Guru Swami Tapovan Maharaj. Right from its launch, Tapovan Prasad has reflected the growth and vision of Chinmaya Mission, offering a monthly overview of its spiritual and organisational activities. The magazine’s motto from the Bhagavad Gita, “O Kaunteya! Know for certain – My devotee shall never perish,” is a powerful reassurance to every seeker.
Women-powered Centenary Yajna
In His opening address at the Centenary Jnana Yajna (1 February - 2 March 1962) Gurudev said, "It is very auspicious to find that the women of Madras, as a Committee of ladies, are organising the hundredth yajna….In this 100th yajna, we will go one step further. We will not so much as discuss how to tune up our instruments of the mind and intellect; we will see what exactly is the Divine Centre in each one of us.”
Chinmaya Publication Trust
With His far-reaching vision, Gurudev launched the Chinmaya Publication Trust on 8 March 1961 in Chennai (then Madras) handing about 59 books authored by him for future publications. Over the years, the Trust became the precursor for the prolific Chinmaya Publications numbering over 900 titles currently. What started with books now has additional categories such as pen drives, audio CDs, video DVDs, monthly magazines under the Chinmaya Mission (CM) banner, and CM-themed gifts.
The first Residential Academy
Gurudev envisioned Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, a Gurukula (residential academy) where the future torchbearers of Vedanta would be trained. Since 1957, he searched tirelessly for the perfect space to build an abode that would kindle the flame of perfection, as its very name suggests. Inspired by one of his powerful talks, a devoted seeker, Smt. Tara Sarup, offered her land in Powai, Mumbai, for this noble cause. Soon, the space for the first Sandeepany Sadhanalaya was registered on January 19, 1960.
Study Groups for Women
Their spiritual inclination was strong, and Gurudev’s yajnas had kindled the flames of their desire to deepen their understanding of Vedanta. It was time for the women of the expanding Chinmaya Family to build their own forum to gather and grow. Thus, on the Sunday of November 2, 1958, at Chinmaya Nilayam, 16 Harrington Road, Madras (now Chennai), the first Devi Group was inaugurated.
Launch of the Monthly Magazine - Usha
Named after the Hindu goddess of dawn, indicating a new beginning and revival, Usha, the monthly magazine of Chinmaya Mission had its first issue released on March 15, 1958. In the editorial Gurudev wrote, “It is time that the Groups must come together and their activities get somehow co-ordinated and systematized, each group drawing its inspiration from its sister-groups functioning elsewhere in India. USHA will be this messenger; she will contact all Groups by her awakening rays!"