A whole of life spiritual vision

In December 1995, a group of about 30 eminent citizens of Allahabad voiced concerns over India's fast-growing population of elderly people. A potential solution was to empower them through a specially designed education curriculum to make best use of the 25-30 years of post-retirement life.

A Third Age Institute was set up with its Headquarters in Chinmaya Naveen Seva Ashram Nyas (CNSAN) under the banner of Chinmaya Mission. The institute was named as Chinmaya Vanaprastha Sansthan (CVS) - ‘Vanaprastha’ standing for the third stage of life and ‘Sansthan’ for institute.

Developed by Swami Shankarananda, as the first ever educational course for the elderly in India, Vridhavastha Samadhan Shivir was inaugurated at Allahabad on 11 August, 1996. It was a national, residential camp, attended by 43 delegates from different parts of the country.

In 1998, CVS formally came under the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT), and it now operates nationally as a wing of CCMT for senior citizens under the name - Central Chinmaya Vanaprastha Sansthan (CCVS).

Unique retirement villages
In addition to Vanaprastha Sansthan, Chinmaya Mission offers senior citizens the services of Pitamaha Sadans or retirement villages. Chinmaya Mission has eight Pitamaha Sadans (senior citizens homes) in India. They are located in Allahabad, Kanpur, Rewa, Tamaraipakkam, Coimbatore, Ellayapalle, Kothapatnam, and Kolhapur.

Pitamaha Sadans provide affordable and comfortable accommodation, nourishing vegetarian food, libraries, medical and other facilities in a spiritually enriched environment.

The focus of the Pitamaha Sadans is on spirituality, Regular activities include Vedanta classes, satsangs, bhajan sessions, celebration of festivals, and periodic sadhana camps, thus providing an excellent ambiance for spiritual unfoldment.