Smt. Darshanaben Nanavaty took final refuge at the lotus feet of Swami Chinmayananda in Houston, at 1.30 PM local time on 16 February 2024.

Shri Gaurangbhai and Smt. Darshanaben, fondly known as Darshana Aunty in Chinmaya Mission Houston, attended the Vedanta Course at Piercy, California in 1979, after which their commitment to the Vedantic path took root in Houston from the year 1982. In more than three decades that followed, their loving guidance has spiritually and culturally nourished thousands of families.

Abundantly blessed by Swami Chinmayananda, respected Darshanaben compiled the Bala Vihar curriculum textbooks for the benefit of all Chinmaya Mission Centres worldwide. She has been a guiding force in the training of Bala Vihar sevikas. Years ahead of her times, her creativity, tireless work and tremendous vision brought Swami Chinmayananda’s teachings to seekers in various formats, including books, animation, CD-ROMs and even mobile Apps. The far-reaching Gita 365 App was her brainchild, followed by other Apps created by the Chinmaya Mission Houston team.

Always a sincere and most loving guide and teacher, the ever-smiling Darshanaben will be remembered for her tremendous contribution to her Guru’s work and legacy.

Our heartfelt Shraddhanjali to Darshanaben.

The Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Shukla, visited Chinmaya Seva Ashram Laua-Lakshmanpur, Rewa, in the early evening of 9 February 2024 and joined in for a Bhajan Sandhya. The Managing Trustee of Chinmaya Sewa Trust Rewa presented him with ‘The Holy Geeta’ by Swami Chinmayananda, on behalf of the Centre.

The Hon’ble Deputy CM stayed overnight at the Ashram after participating in Samashti Bhiksha with Pitamahs and followers of Chinmaya Mission. He was also part of the morning Arati, after which he saw the Gaushala of the Ashram before he left.

Team Chinmaya Mission seized the opportunity to lead an awareness and fundraising campaign on the bustling streets of Mumbai. The team’s relentless chants echoed as they walked united, driven by the singular goal of effecting transformation and social impact through knowledge and seva.

“We Can, We Must” became the resounding theme as over 400 Chinmaya sevaks enthusiastically walked and ran for the cause. 10 ladies working at the Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development in Himachal Pradesh participated in the Dream Run in their traditional clothes. Students from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Shegaon, and Chinmaya Vidyalaya Tarapur added fervour to the event. Notably, participants from Chinmaya Mission Mumbai, Chinmaya Vibhooti and Chinmaya Naada Bindu also rallied behind the noble cause. The collective mission aimed to change lives with each mile, supporting Women’s Empowerment, Education, and Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Chinmaya University).

The spirit of unity and purpose reverberated through the streets, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

On the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, Brahmacharya Deeksha took place at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, for 17 Brahmacharins who have graduated from four different Sandeepanies.

These are their new names and the place of their work below:

 Makar Sankranti also marked the inauguration of the 19th batch of the two-year residential Vedanta Course in English, in the presence of Swami Tejomayananda. 61 young seekers from various parts of the have embarked on this journey into study, reflection and contemplation on Vedanta, under the guidance of Swami Advayananda.

This has been the first time in Chinmaya Mission that Brahmacharya Deeksha has taken place on the same day as a Vedanta Course inauguration. The link to watch the event is:

https://www.youtube.com/live/3u_ug0zlT0E?si=XYNd9XZrVOLIhqD9

Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad celebrated its annual Bala Vihar graduation with much fervor and enthusiasm. The ceremony, held on 7 January 2024, had more than 100 children of Chinmaya Bala Vihar gathered at the ParamDham with their parents.

The programme began with the graduation song, composed by Swami Tejomayananda. Brahmacharini Anupama Chaitanya, the spiritual guide at Chinmaya Mission’s Ahmedabad centre, explained the meaning of the composition and gave beautiful insights on graduating at all three levels of one’s being – the body, mind and intellect.

62 children were awarded certificates as an appreciation for their regular attendance and commitment to their classes, and a celebration of their success. The sevaks too were felicitated for their seva. The programme successfully concluded with the Chinmaya arati, and all the parents and children who attended it greatly appreciated the activities of Chinmaya Mission.

On His Jayanti day, Chinmaya Mission bows down at the revered feet of Param Guru Swami Tapovanji Maharaj, while sharing this precious collection of articles (some by Him and some about Him) from the Chinmaya Archives website:

https://archives.chinmayamission.com/gurus/swami-tapovan/tribute

Also celebrated as Gita Jayanti, the day when Bhagavan Shri Krishna shared the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita with Arjuna, we prostrate to this matchless scripture.

One of the greatest champions of the Gita, Swami Chinmayananda carried the divine thoughts therein, into hearts the world over. His message pays tribute to the profound wisdom of the shlokas of the Gita.

Swami Swaroopananda (Global Head, Chinmaya Mission), in his message, extols the greatness of the Bhagavad Gita, the vast reservoir of divine virtues.

The book points out that the real ‘amrtam’ is that which eliminates sorrow-fear-delusion (shoka-bhaya-moha) and brings  purification of the mind and total peace.

Read, Reflect and Contemplate.

Famously known as Baan Ganga, it is said that the two noble brothers – Shri Rama and Lakshmana crafted a Shivling from the sands of this sacred spot, bestowing upon it the name Walukeshwar, which signifies a deity formed from the very earth itself!

Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, has been invited to be the Guest of Honour for the grand Baan Ganga Maha Arati, a beautiful ceremony held every Tripuri Purnima Day!
Date: 26 November 2023
Time: 7 PM

News piece:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/baan-ganga-maha-aarti-on-november-26-promises-spiritual-grandeur-101700766328340.html

This year Chinmaya Mission Thrissur and Chinmaya Mission Educational & Cultural Trust (CMECT) Thrissur are constructing two houses of 520 square feet each, in the tribal area of Thrissur District, Kerala, under the “Home for Homeless” project, in connection with the 108th Birth Anniversary of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. The beneficiaries are Shri P.K. Sivankutty, Thamaravellachal, Peechi, and Smt. Sindhu Sivaraman. The foundation stone for each house was laid on 10 November 2023.