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Beginning of Bala Vihar
The clarion call that Gurudev made during the Hindu Renaissance drew not just the adults. Everywhere He went, the very young too felt that magnetic pull in His booming laughter, His cheerful spirit, and His extraordinary love. Naturally, in His Jnana Yajnas, a place was made to nourish the children, the future of Chinmaya Mission. With great love and care, the beautiful garden of Bala Vihar took shape first as the tender “Children’s Welfare” sections in different Chinmaya Mission centers during the late 1950s.
Swami Tapovan Maharaj’s Mahasamadhi
“Death is born with us when we are born,” consoled a deeply ailing Swami Tapovan Maharaj when Gurudev was heartbroken during the last meeting with His peerless Guru in the first week of December 1956. Then, at the serene and auspicious time of 4:30 am on the full moon day of 16 January 1957, Swami Tapovan Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi. In His most reverential tribute, Gurudev expressed, “A God without temple, A Veda without language, was this master mind and he lived for 68 years; a monumental expression of an ideal Vedantic Teacher.”
25th Jnana Yajna
From December 1951 in Pune to December 1956 in Hyderabad, Gurudev’s tireless efforts through Jnana Yajnas ignited a wave of renewed interest in the Vedic scriptures. To commemorate the sterling milestone at the 25th Jnana Yajna, the first volume of a publication called “Hail Renaissance” was brought out. Crowning the publication was a letter from Gurudev dated 20 December 1956 heralding the budding Hindu Renaissance. It also included His article about the genesis of the Chinmaya movement along with testimonials from devotees.
All India Radio Talks
During the 13th Jnana Yajna in New Delhi, Gurudev was invited by All India Radio, the national public broadcaster, for a three-part broadcast on key topics in spirituality. With His commanding voice, He reminded Indians again about their spiritual status: "Ours is an Age of Science. The new India, thrilled with her freedom, is looking forward to a healthy future wherein the maximum number can come to enjoy the maximum amount of peace and happiness in life. From time immemorial, ours has been the land of spiritualism, and the whole world has been looking up to us to teach them the right way of living…”
Jnana Yajna 13: Gurudev Begins Discourses on the Bhagavad Gita
“The Gita is therefore to be studied and delivered to as many devotees as possible. This Pravachana - missionary zeal in propagation - has been emphasized in our scriptures also. The Lord’s Divine Song was not a prescription for one Arjuna of the Mahabharata days. It is for all times to all of us - Arjuna is a sample young man of the world,” stated Gurudev during His first Gita Jnana Yajna (18 Sep - 26 Oct 1955) at the Modern School, Barakhambha Road, New Delhi, after He explained the meaning of the Gita Dhyanam and highlighted the lasting relevance of Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
Launch of the Fortnightly Magazine - Tyagi
By the September of 1955, there were already more than 35,000 ardent devotees who had reached out to Gurudev requesting for the Yagna Prasad booklets to be mailed to their addresses. Recognising the great demand for the booklets and the fact that it was becoming inefficient timewise and financially to do the bulk mailing, an enthusiastic group seeked Gurudev’s approval for the launch of a fortnightly magazine. “Tyagi” was born on September 1, 1955, with Gurudev's exhortation, “May Tyagi hold the torch high…” A treasured blessing followed from Swami Tapovan Maharaj as He received the first issue.
The Mission gains Momentum
The pace picked up significantly after the second Yajna in Chennai gave birth to Chinmaya Mission. While the organisation formulated its structure and code of conduct, Gurudev took the message of the major Upanishads to the prominent cities of India to awaken and elevate the educated. From Mundakopanishad in Madras (now Chennai), He elevated the intensity in Mandukya Upanishad in Delhi and drenched the rest of the cities with His Vedantic eloquence during His first eleven Upanishad Jnana Yajnas.
Foundation of Chinmaya Mission
“Don’t start any organisation in my name. I have not come here to be institutionalised. I have come here to give the message of our ancient sages, which has benefited me. If it has benefited you also, pass it on.” This was the reply that a group of earnest devotees received when they wrote to Gurudev in Uttarkashi after the second yajna in Chennai that ended in June 1953. What they wanted was an umbrella organisation to unite the growing forums of deeper study and reflection. So, they persisted: Since the word ‘Chinmaya’ stood for ‘true knowledge,’ and they were seekers of that Truth, it was apt to call the organisation, “Chinmaya Mission.” When Gurudev accepted that request with His compassion, Chinmaya Mission was born and registered on August 8, 1953.
Chinmaya Study Groups
Gurudev’s thunderous pravachans (discourses) left seekers thirsting for more. Many sincere seekers who were captivated by His compelling wisdom wanted to bask in His teachings. This desire to reflect, relearn, and reinforce through joint discussions spawned the Chinmaya Study Groups that sprung up in every city beginning with the second Jnana Yajna in Chennai. Though Gurudev had encouraged seekers to strengthen their understanding through small group study sessions during the very first Jnana Yajna, the first structured Study Group truly took shape after the second Jnana Yajna. This initiative eventually gave rise to the formation of Chinmaya Mission as the guiding and coordinating organisation.
Yagna Prasad - Discourses in Print
The fire of spiritual thirst had been kindled by that incomparable 100-day Upanishad Jnana Yajna, and Gurudev was astute about keeping the flames growing. He ensured that every discourse starting from His introductory talks on Hinduism in several public venues before the first yajna were carefully recorded on paper. Gurudev personally reviewed the shorthand notes, and the edited discourses were printed within 24 hours as booklets titled "Yagna Prasad.” With great humility, Gurudev sent the first copy of the Yagna Prasad to his Guru, Swami Tapovan Maharaj, in Uttarkashi, with the message, "Thy Knowledge Broadcasted through Thy own Voice-box.”