The Power of Vedanta at Chinmaya Mission

Channelising the power of Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, Chinmaya Mission inspires and encourages many towards achieving personal excellence and social responsibility.

The story of Swami Chinmayananda is often spoken about in the precincts of the Chinmaya mission. A young freedom fighter, Chinmayananda set out on a path of self realization and discovered that answers to life’s daily problems lay in the Bhagavad Gita. As he went from place to place giving discourses, Chinmaya Mission was soon established in 1953, as an organization imparting the practical knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads and their relevance in today’s times as well.

With a presence in many countries, cities and countless hearts, the center began its Vizag operations in 1963. It did not have an office back then, but when a doctor couple donated a piece of land in PedaWaltair region, a hall, temple and some rooms were soon set up in 1997. Today, with a reach out to approximately 500 families, the center is renowned for its sessions on spirituality, time management, soft skills and also for the free camps they conduct every year. Chinmaya mission follows the guru shishya tradition and stresses that knowledge is not simply attending a course in college. While that is essential to help one survive in the material world, it is also of extreme importance that one discovers the elements that lead to peace, calm and satisfaction. The guruji at Chinmaya and other facilitators and volunteers thus take classes not just on the campus but reach out to schools, colleges and organizations as well.

With Swami Anantanandji as the resident guru at the PedaWaltair center, the center also has a branch at Steel plant. Many people from across age groups, benefit from the two centers, where they go to attend classes on Upanishads or a wide variety of relevant topics. Along with sharing knowledge, the mission also conducts programs such as feeding the hungry, conducting free medical camps and supporting the community in whatever way needed. Their regular programs include an annual balavihar which is held free of cost for over 450 children, and is well-received by many. With their focus on shaping the right attitude in children and developing the questioning intellect, Chinmaya mission also holds weekly camps for kids, training programs for youth and working professionals.

In a society where many non government organizations have come forth to play varied roles, and render service in different areas of importance, Chinmaya mission is unique for rendering service that enables the intellect to grow. Upanishads influence the way one thinks, and followers at the Chinmaya mission believe that it is this thought that shapes action, helping one choose calm over anxiety and love over hatred.