Chinmaya Swaranjali

Experience directly the beauty and rhythm of the Lord, which is always available in Indian devotional songs

Swami Chinmayananda

Chinmaya Swaranjali

A musical offering to the divine Swami Chinmayananda noted that “Music is an ornamentation of Silence and should be used by seekers to experience the silence within, in our quest towards Oneness with our Divine Self.” He called the art of listening to Indian classical music itself a Meditation.

Swami Chinmayananda’s love for classical music and dance was legendary. When top vocal and instrumental classical musicians gave concerts to raise finds for Chinmaya Mission projects he swayed and tapped to the ragas and talas, totally immersed in the divine vibrations.
Indian classical music is believed to originate from Samveda and Natyashastra, wherein words and sounds produce vibrations, and shlokas and stutis are created in a way to create and spread positivity.

Path of Devotion

Music lovers unite in worship

Most Chinmaya Mission centres have regular bhajan classes or sessions as one of their core activities. This regular devotional singing led to the birth of Chinmaya Swaranjali, the music wing of Chinmaya Mission, in 2003, to mark the birthday of Swami Tejomayananda, former Global Head of the Mission and ardent devotional singer and composer.

Today, Chinmaya Swaranjali is a veritable movement dedicated to exploring the mystical world of Indian classical and devotional music and its transcendental power. It has become one of the integral grass root activities of the Mission due to the passionate involvement of musically-minded devotees and its focus on devotion as a pillar of spiritual gowth.

Local to global

Music without boundaries

The group soon started singing in temples & homes, at fundraisers and were even featured on a TV Show. Devotion and talent were found wedded to each other in these members and they sang with joy and abandon with the love for God.
As the number of participants increased more groups formed first in Mumbai and then beyond. By 2008, groups were formed all over the country, including Goa, Pune, Delhi and the National Capital Region. Soon, Chinmaya Swaranjali started connecting to Chinmaya Mission centres overseas, inspiring groups in London, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

These days, in addition to weekly bhajan sessions at Chinmaya Mission festivals and celebrations, a typical Swaranjali group might give recitals of devotional music, audio-video multimedia concerts, and perform with classical orchestras. They offer workshops for start-up, planning and staging performances.as well.

Swaranjali Highlights

With regular workshops and demonstrations of classical Indian arts, Chinmaya Swaranjali is a confluence of performers and audiences, and a dynamic platform for new and upcoming artists as well as keen learners, invigorating the artist in everyone.

Chinmaya Swaranjali Mumbai - Audio-visual multi-media concerts such as ‘Parikrama’, ‘Ai Mann Ho Jaa Magan’, ‘Swara to Ishwara’, ‘Meeradha’, ‘Kanha Aao Raas Rachaao’, and ‘Aan Baso Raghurayi’ Experimental projects like ‘Chinmaya Vani Vadya Vrnda’ (orchestrated theme music) have also met with success.
A special annual programme called Tridhara is held by all the Swaranjali centres in Mumbai on June 30 to mark Swaranjali Foundation Day.

Chinmaya Swaranjali IndoreIn 2011, as part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Group launched Bhakti Rajat, an earnest compilation of expressive, beautiful and traditional bhajans in a Commemorative Album of two audio CDs.

Chinmaya Swaranjali Sacramento
Chinmaya Swaranjali Sacramento enthral and uplift audiences with melodious bhajans during various festivals and Mission events, including Annual Day and Chinmaya Family celebrations and Jnana Yajnas.

Swaranjali Highlights

Chinmaya Swaranjali, San Jose, CA

Started in 2003, Chinmaya Swaranjali, San Jose, constantly reaches out to local language experts to fine-tune their lyrics and pronunciation. They are also invited to participate in celebrations outside the Mission, at the local temples. In 2006, with the support of local senior artists, the Group recorded 100 songs, called Bhaktirasamrutam, as part of a Fundraiser for the new Building Fund of the Chinmaya Mission.

Swaranjali Rameshwaram, Tustin, California
The chapter was initiated in 2009 enchant all at important festivals and felicitations held at the Chinmaya Mission.

Chinamaya Swaranjali UK
Chinmaya Swaranjali UK has a monthly bhajan programme and organises many concerts throughout the year. Its annual fundraiser - ‘Swara to Ishwara’- held successfully, since 2007, involving other local artistes, performs to packed audiences.. Recently, the Swaranjali UK team published Chinmaya Gitanjali, a bhajan book for its members.

To find out about classes and activities near you, contact your nearest Chinmaya Mission Centre or contact us at ccmt@chinmayamission.com

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust

Saki Vihar Road, Powai, Mumbai - 400 072.

Tel : +91-22-2803 4900

E-mail : ccmt@chinmayamission.com