Guru Parampara

H.H. Swami Tapovan Maharaj (1889-1957)

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

H.H.Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993)

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.
Inspired by Swami Tapovan Maharaj of Uttarkashi, our Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji decided to dedicate his life spreading the ‘life giving’ message of the Bhagavad-Gita and the Upanishads to house holders everywhere.
For forty-two years, Gurudev traveled throughout the world, tirelessly “converting Hindus to Hinduism”. In the words of one great master, Gurudev put “Vedanta on horseback”. During this time, he slowly built a team of teachers who in turn are holding up the torch of Vedanta in India and abroad.
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. On August 3, 1993, He became one with the Infinite Truth.

H.H. Swami Tejomayananda

Swami Tejomayananda is the former Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, a position he held since 1993 after Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi. Swamiji has carried forward the work of Pujya Gurudev with the same tireless commitment and dedication.
He speaks effectively in Hindi, Marathi and English. His style is humorous, yet zeroing in unerringly on the mystic message of Vedanta. Swamiji sings melodiously and listening to the Bhagavatam or Ramayana from Swamiji is always an emotional and spiritual treat to the seeker. 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.
His book "An Introduction to Hindu Culture" has been used by American Schools as a reference book on Hinduism. His "Vision of the Bhagavad-Gita" brilliantly summarizes the esoteric philosophy of the Geeta in a way that any layman can understand.

H.H. Swami Swaroopananda
Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide

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.

Swami Siddhananda
Resident Acharya @ Chinmaya Madhuvan

As Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji stated, “The spirit of Advaita is not to stay away from anything but to stay in tune with everything”. Swami Siddhanandaji has stayed true to this ideal not for a minute, day, or year but for five long decades.
Swami Siddhananda was born in Kerala. After his college education, Siddhaji joined Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai on September 15th, 1972, to study Vedanta directly from Pujya Gurudev. He successfully completed the course in April of 1975. Swamiji served at Chinmaya Mission, Chennai from 1976-1992. During that time, Swamiji spearheaded several projects including Tapovan Prasad and Bala Vihar magazines, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra, Madras Chinmaya Seva Trust, Sarveshwara Dhyana Nilayam and the Chinmaya Vidyalaya.
In August of 1992, Swamiji took charge at Adi Shankara Nilayam, Cochin leading all Chinmaya International Foundation activities in the early years.
In 1994, Swamiji arrived in the USA to take care of Chinmaya Publications West. While working tirelessly leading Chinmaya Publications, Swamiji also conducts Bal Vihar, Study Group, Satsang and Bhajan Sandhya. Swamiji’s dynamism in spreading Gurudev’s work has resulted in four vibrant Chinmaya Centers – Kedar, Madhuvan, Ramalaya and Sudarshan in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania East.
Siddhaji is also an artist, composer and accomplished singer who has released seven devotional albums.
Swamiji’s fifty plus glorious years on the path of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti has not been one of inertia. “We can, We Must!”- Swamiji continues to inspire devotees worldwide with his enthusiastic leadership style, teamwork, oratory skills and the essence of Vedanta.

Chinmaya Mission

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Chinmaya Madhuvan

905 Big Oak Road,
Yardley, PA 19067
Phone: (215) 736-1923 / (215) 396-0390