Swami Tapovan Maharaj of Uttarkashi was the “Source” where from Swami Chinmayananda (The Founder of the Chinmaya Movement) acquired the Knowledge of Vedanta (Science of Religion). Swami Tapovan was himself the ideal who had personally understood (through deep study, dispassion and contemplation) the relationship between the biological processes of the body and the human psyche. In a spirit of deep renunciation, the infinitely gentle poet in him, saw Humanity and Nature as one vast “plant”, needing only “Love” for its highest fulfillment.
Intimate communion with Nature (while he walked peaks and valleys of the Himalayas for countless years), gave Swami Tapovan the boundless spiritual reverence. He revealed Nature’s secrets in his “travelogue” in two Sanskrit masterpieces, “Himagiri Viharam” and “Kailasa Yatra”.
The masterpiece, without a doubt, is “Ishwara Darshan”, which is his autobiographical “sketch” – it is an absorbing account of a search for the Truth .. Its scientific clarity is subtle, because the treatise gives insight into how the saints of the East attain self mastery;
There are many saints and sages in the history of India. There are also many gurus. But visionaries are only a few. Sri Swami Chinmayananda was not only the sage of modern times, not only a guru but also a great visionary, whose work touched not only India but the whole world. From time to time, the world witnesses birth of a Yuga Purusha who comes for the purpose of leading the suffering humanity to the path of Dharma.
Lifelong Achievements
In 1992 Swami Chinmayananda gave an address in the United Nations titled “Planet in Crisis”. Just before the Mahasamadhi Swamiji was recognized as a world-renown teacher of Vedanta and Hindu religious leader. He was selected as a President of Hindu religion for the Centennial Conference of the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda gave His address a hundred years ago. He was also honored in Washington, DC, at “World Vision 2000”, a conference of religious leaders sponsored by Hindu Vishwa Parishad on August 6-8, 1993.
The award was to be presented to Swamiji for His selfless service to humanity and as his extraordinary achievement in creating a renaissance of spiritual and cultural values in the country of His birth, India. Unfortunately, Swamiji was not able to appear for the last two functions as He attained Mahasamadhi on August 3rd.
Swami Chinmayananda, the greatest Missionary and the visionary of our times left His bodily form in San Diego on August 3rd but His mission will continue, carried out by all of us with the zeal and love that He taught us for years. His body was taken to India and buried in Sidhbari ashram, but His teachings and His achievements will live forever.
Swami Tejomayananda is the former Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, a position he held since 1993 after Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi. If Swami Chinmayananda served the cause of Vedanta with his service, knowledge and pioneering qualities, Swami Tejomayananda – fondly addressed as Guruji – completed that with his natural attitude of devotion. This is richly and abundantly evident in his talks, his singing, and his demeanour.
But the gentleness of devotion arrived riding on the back of an intense education in physics, going up to a Master’s degree. Born, Sudhakar Kaitwade to a Maharashtrian family in Madhya Pradesh, this physicist had a close encounter that changed the velocity, direction and path of his life.
In an era rife with scepticism and confusion about matters spiritual, Swami Swaroopananda is a rare voice that blends authenticity with accessibility; theory with self- practice; logic with heart.
Formerly the Regional Head of Chinmaya Mission Australia, United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa and Far East, and presently Chairman of the Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth Trust (University for Sanskrit and Indic Traditions) and Director of the Chinmaya International Residential School in Coimbatore, South India, Swami Swaroopananda has now been bestowed by Swami Tejomayananda the privilege to also serve as the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.
Born and brought up in the bustling commercial capital of India, Swamiji had always been convinced that beyond life’s superficial, everyday joys and sorrows, there was something more enduring and satisfying. As a child he heard from his grandmother many religious stories based on the great Indian epics and the history of saints. These stories suddenly came to life, acquiring new meaning and depth, when as an adolescent he encountered the preeminent Master of Vedanta, Swami Chinmayananda.
His heart completely moved and inspired, in 1984 Swami Swaroopananda gave up his family’s thriving business in Hong Kong to undergo intensive training under Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tejomayananda at Sandeepany, Mumbai. He was initiated into the monastic order in 1992. Since then, he has touched thousands of lives across the world, and his tremendous work in bringing out the essential wisdom and underlying unity of all religions has garnered him a place among the vanguards of self-development philosophy.
Born and raised in India, Shriman Vijay completed a degree in Science from Kanpur University. Moving to Canada in 1974 he slowly established himself as a successful entrepreneur. His life changed after attending a Chinmaya Mission Camp in 1995, particularly listening to Pujya Swami Tejomayananda. Soon after Shriman Vijay began attending Dharma Sevaka Courses and inspired to share his inspiration, initiated Study Groups and Bala Vihar® in his home.
In 2010 Shriman Vijay partially attended the Residential Vedanta Course in Piercy. And in 2014 joined the Residential Vedanta Course in Sidhabari. Studying in Hindi for 2 1/2 years under Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, Pujya Swami Subodhananda and Pujya Swami Gangeshananda, Shriman Vijay is now posted at CM in London.
Under the guidance of Shriman Vijay, CM London has flourished as an independent center. CM London established the Chinmaya Hanuman Ashram which was inaugurated by Swami Swaroopananda ji in July 2018 and the center obtained non-profit charity status in October 2018. Shriman Vijay has been instrumental in the growth of Chinmaya Region of Waterloo and Guelph, a chapter of CM London. We have hundreds of Bala Vihar® students (including our chapter) and seekers of all ages studying under the tutelage of Shriman Vijay. With over 6 weekly study classes for adults including Bhagavad Gita, Meditation and Upanishad classes and Jnana Yajnas, Shriman Vijay has dedicated his life to sharing the knowledge of Vedanta. Through compassion and love for his students, Shriman Vijay has transformed numerous lives by making Vedanta relatable and practical.