Jnana YajnasA 108 Day Pilgrimage with Swami Chinmayananda

Pujya Gurudev, everytime He expounded on the potency of devotion described in Gita’s chapter 12,  told seekers that Bhakti was not the realm of mere emotion for a divine idol. It was the more subtle act of faithful attunement to the Highest Reality using the sacred form as the springboard – from Form to the Formless. Thus, every verse of chapter 12 signifies how a devotee can rise in love to merge with the Infinite. As Pujya Gurudev painted the profile of an inspired devotee detailing the attributes that Bhagavan Krishna had Himself enumerated, the audience at Allahabad were filled with the yearning to become that Bhakta who is most dear to Bhagavan. When He described the path of constant practice to uplift the mind, He reinforced that an emotional heart needed a balanced head; the individual must understand the Indivisible Essence.

Since the Jnana Yajna was of shorter duration than previous ones, both Akhanda Kirtan and a Gita Havana could not be done. However, Pujya Gurudev headed a vibrant procession of devotees riding on cycles, buses, and cars to Rasulabad with bhajans to worship in the temples of Prayagraj. Apart from the Gita discourses, Pujya Gurudev spoke on “Our Culture” at the Aeronautical Training Centre Club at Bamrauli.

Though the 46th Jnana Yajna was planned as an afterthought when rains hindered Pujya Gurudev’s discourses on Gita Chapters 5 & 6 at Delhi, it was a shining example of the resourcefulness of a young branch of Chinmaya Mission. Pujya Gurudev showered the blessing of divine Love to reward the way a sudden availability of an adored Guru was utilized respectfully.