About The Mission
The Chinmaya Mission
In December 1951 in Pune, India, the great Saint and Master, Swami Chinmayananda delivered his first public address on Vedanta. That was the start of the dynamic 'Chinmaya Movement', which aimed at spreading the man-making knowledge of Vedanta to all corners of India and the world. Chinmaya Mission was formed in 1953 by devotees of Swami Chinmayananda to give organisational structure and cohesiveness to the work and the activities being initiated by Swami Chinmayananda.
Over the years, Chinmaya Mission grew into a worldwide organisation. Today, it is involved in:
- Spreading the sublime knowledge of Vedanta - Vedanta is the core of Hindu philosophy. In fact, it is a universal science of life. A science which is relevant to all people everywhere, whatever their faith. An understanding of Vedanta would inspire people to understand their own faith (whichever it may be) better. Therefore, although Chinmaya Mission is a Hindu spiritual organisation, it does not seek to change or convert anyone's beliefs. Chinmaya Mission's stated mission is: "to provide to individuals, from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society".
- Re-invigorating Indian culture - Chinmaya Mission is also involved in reinvigorating Indian culture in general. The Mission has forums for different age groups and for professionals, with each forum engaged in understanding and promoting Indian culture and spirituality. The Mission also organizes and promotes Indian music, dance, drama, art and literature. It also runs many temples, carries out research into Indian scriptures, traditions, rituals and languages, and has a vibrant publications division so that spiritual and cultural books, periodicals, audio tapes, video tapes and photographs may reach as many people as possible.
- Doing extensive social service - Chinmaya Mission is also actively involved in social services focussing especially on disadvantaged and underprivileged people. Hundreds of thousands of people benefit from the Mission's schools, colleges, hospitals, diagnostic centres, old age homes and rural village development projects. "To give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time is our religion." This is the Mission's motto.
Chinmaya Mission has 243 centres in India and around the world, which organize and coordinate the activities of the Mission in their area. After the mahasamadhi of Swami Chinmayananda in 1993, Swami Tejomayananda became the head of Chinmaya Mission. He is the chairman of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT), which is the apex body running the Mission. The headquarters of CCMT is in Mumbai, India.