Chinmayananda - Definition and Overview

Swami Chinmayananda (स्‍वामी चिन्‍मयानन्‍द) (1916-1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. Graduating from Lucknow University, he entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence political, economic and social reform in India. But his life was changed when he met Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh and became very interested in the Hindu spiritual path.

Balakrishna Menon took sanyas/monkhood from Swami Sivananda to become Swami Chinmayananda - the one who is saturated in Bliss and Consciousness. Swami Shivananda saw the potential in Swami Chinmayananda and sent him to study under a great Guru in the Himalayas - Swami Tapovan Maharaj under whom he studied for 12 years. At the end of the education he decided to spread his teaching all over the world.

During his forty years of travelling and teaching, Gurudev opened numerous centres and ashrams worldwide, he also built many schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. As well as reinvigorating India's rich cultural heritage, Swami Chinmayananda made Vedanta accessible to everybody regardless of age, nationality, or religious background.

On 3 August 1993, in San Diego, USA, Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi. He work has created an international organization called the Chinmaya Mission.

Related links

• Chinmaya Mission (http://www.chinmayamission.org/)
• Survey_of_Hindu_organisations