The spirit of Advaita is not to keep away from anything, but to keep in tune with everything.
Swami Chinmayananda
Swami Chinmayananda
Sceptic to Saint
Swami Chinmayananda (Gurudev) was born Balakrishna Menon on the 8th of May 1916, in Ernakulam, Kerala. He was bright, dynamic, and full of youthful energy. After earning a degree in English Literature, he pursued a promising writing career but soon immersed himself in India’s freedom movement as a journalist.
Surviving imprisonment and grave illness, in 1942, he emerged with a renewed perspective. Returning to journalism, he felt the urge to work on political, economic and social reform in India. His inner quest led him to the pilgrimage town, Rishikesh. Here, the young sceptic, Menon met Swami Sivananda and a striking inner transformation began. Instead of the outer world, his questions turned inward, igniting a journey of self-discovery. What began as a journalist’s mission to critique the role of swamis in India's future, turned into a life-changing encounter as he decided to follow the path of renunciation.
He was named Swami Chinmayananda - the one who is saturated in Bliss and Consciousness. Looking at his potential and a quest to learn more, Swami Sivananda sent him to Swami Tapovan Maharaj, a guru residing in the Himalayas. For years, he styaed in the mountains, immersed in deep study under the guidance of the revered Swami Tapovan Maharaj. But the knowledge he received could not remain confined as his heart burned with the desire to make it accessible to everyone. He descended from the heights, not to rest, but to serve.
During his forty years of travelling and teaching, Swami Chinmayananda opened numerous centres and ashrams worldwide. He also built many schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. Credited for the renaissance of spiritual and cultural values in India, he made vedantic wisdom accessible to everybody regardless of age, nationality, or religious background.
He attained Mahasamadhi in August 1993. His legacy remains in the form of books, audio and video tapes, schools and social service projects. Brahmacharins and Swamins trained at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, the residential Vedanta academy established by Swami Chinmayananda in Mumbai, continue to carry forward his legacy through Chinmaya Mission centres across the globe.
Read more of his remarkable story in the Chinmaya Archives
Spiritual Journey
1951
After completing his studies, Swami Chinmayananda felt a deep calling to share his wisdom with people in the plains. Honouring his Guru’s wishes, he embarked on a renunciate journey across India, travelling on foot, begging for food, and resting in ashrams or under trees. Strengthened in his resolve, in December 1951, he conducted his first Jnana Yagna—a series of spiritual discourses—at a temple in Pune, Maharashtra. With this Jnana Yagna, Swami Chinmayananda (fondly called Gurudev) marked the beginning of a transformative movement, eventually blossoming into Chinmaya Mission.
1947
In September 1947, the young sceptic Balakrishna Menon, visited the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh and met its head, Swami Sivananda. This changed his life’s trajectory and from then on, he regularly visited the ashram. A striking inner transformation unfolded; instead of questioning and confronting the outer, his focus turned within, questioning his thoughts and ideas.
1948
In further pursuit of an inner quest, in 1948, Balakrishna Menon the ascetic, toured the upper reaches of Uttarakhand. Following the pilgrim trail, he undertook a pilgrimage – the Char Dham yatra. Braving the freezing cold and inclement weather, sleeping out in the open, he paid his respects at the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.
1949
On Mahashivaratri, 25 February, 1949, Swami Sivananda initiated Balakrishna into sannyasa, naming him ‘Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati’. For more intensive study and greater austerity, encouraged by Swami Sivananda, he moved to Uttarkashi as a disciple of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, the most renowned Vedanta master of the times. Swami Chinmayananda unconditionally accepted the strict conditions laid down by the Master and became his ardent disciple.
1949-1950
Living in a cowshed, with a stone for a pillow, Swami Chinmayananda spent over two years in intense study to master the Scriptures – the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras. His burning desire knew no obstacles. His Guru was demanding and a great disciplinarian and at the same time was filled with unconditional love for his students.
1951
After completing his studies, Swami Chinmayananda felt a deep calling to share his wisdom with people in the plains. Honouring his Guru’s wishes, he embarked on a renunciate journey across India, travelling on foot, begging for food, and resting in ashrams or under trees. Strengthened in his resolve, in December 1951, he conducted his first Jnana Yagna—a series of spiritual discourses—at a temple in Pune, Maharashtra. With this Jnana Yagna, Swami Chinmayananda (fondly called Gurudev) marked the beginning of a transformative movement, eventually blossoming into Chinmaya Mission.
1947
In September 1947, the young sceptic Balakrishna Menon, visited the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh and met its head, Swami Sivananda. This changed his life’s trajectory and from then on, he regularly visited the ashram. A striking inner transformation unfolded; instead of questioning and confronting the outer, his focus turned within, questioning his thoughts and ideas.
1948
In further pursuit of an inner quest, in 1948, Balakrishna Menon the ascetic, toured the upper reaches of Uttarakhand. Following the pilgrim trail, he undertook a pilgrimage – the Char Dham yatra. Braving the freezing cold and inclement weather, sleeping out in the open, he paid his respects at the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.
1949
On Mahashivaratri, 25 February, 1949, Swami Sivananda initiated Balakrishna into sannyasa, naming him ‘Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati’. For more intensive study and greater austerity, encouraged by Swami Sivananda, he moved to Uttarkashi as a disciple of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, the most renowned Vedanta master of the times. Swami Chinmayananda unconditionally accepted the strict conditions laid down by the Master and became his ardent disciple.
1949-1950
Living in a cowshed, with a stone for a pillow, Swami Chinmayananda spent over two years in intense study to master the Scriptures – the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras. His burning desire knew no obstacles. His Guru was demanding and a great disciplinarian and at the same time was filled with unconditional love for his students.
1951
After completing his studies, Swami Chinmayananda felt a deep calling to share his wisdom with people in the plains. Honouring his Guru’s wishes, he embarked on a renunciate journey across India, travelling on foot, begging for food, and resting in ashrams or under trees. Strengthened in his resolve, in December 1951, he conducted his first Jnana Yagna—a series of spiritual discourses—at a temple in Pune, Maharashtra. With this Jnana Yagna, Swami Chinmayananda (fondly called Gurudev) marked the beginning of a transformative movement, eventually blossoming into Chinmaya Mission.
A Modern Master
The Leader
Swami Chinmayananda was a natural leader - kind, courageous, and deeply aware of the pain and confusion people felt in a world changed by war and partition. He saw that many had lost their sense of direction, families were growing apart, and people were chasing success without peace.
While many recognised the crisis, few had the courage, clarity, and conviction to act given the circumstances in the 20th century. Swami Chinmayananda led from the front, with unshakable faith in the scriptures and deep compassion for humanity. He knew that the timeless values of Sanatana Dharma could guide people back to a life of meaning and harmony. He didn’t just speak about these truths, he also brought them to life through action, showing how this ancient wisdom could be lived every day, in every home, by people from all walks of life.
From the first Jnana Yajna (a series of spiritual discourses) in a small temple in Pune with a small group of three attendees, his humble beginning rapidly expanded to more than 500 series of lectures given to audiences numbering thousands. With love and wisdom, he gently changed hearts and minds, offering a practical path for anyone who wanted to grow - young or old, rich or poor, from any part of the world.
The Visionary
Swami Chinmayananda was a true visionary who believed that the timeless wisdom of the scriptures should not remain hidden in caves or heard only in mountaintops, but should flow into every home and heart, guiding people in their everyday lives. He was committed to making Vedantic knowledge accessible to not only the scholars and ascetics, but also children, youth, householders, and seekers from every walk of life.
To ensure that the light of Vedanta would continue to shine for generations, Swami Chinmayananda paved the way with visionary institutions and initiatives.
He envisioned Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, an academy of intensive residential course to shape dedicated teachers who could carry the knowledge forward with clarity and conviction. He also established the Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), a pioneering research centre as a bridg between East and West, scholars and seekers, preserving India’s wisdom traditions in a modern context.
The Spiritual Master
Swami Chinmayananda recognized that true revival comes from nurturing every stage of life while embracing the strengths of the modern world. This was his path to restoring a society’s spirit.
He had an intuitive understanding of people's needs. The wisdom he shared was universal, but he skilfully tailored its presentation for every age group - children, youth, adults, and seniors. What began as customised guidance for each individual evolved into powerful pillars of growth, forming the core structure of Chinmaya Mission’s offerings.
For children, he founded Bala Vihar, where stories, songs, and values are taught in a fun, engaging manner. For youth, he established Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK), a dynamic platform to inspire, empower, and guide young minds toward purposeful living. For householders, his Jnana Yajnas and family spiritual camps offered deep insights into Vedanta and practical tools for harmonious living. Senior citizens found meaning and community through satsangs and seva. These offerings were not isolated programmes, but carefully designed streams of spiritual education and engagement that together nurtured a value-based lifestyle. With this approach, Swami Chinmayananda created a complete framework for holistic growth.
Mahasamadhi Shrine
Final resting place
Swami Chinmayananda’s shrine is located in the rose garden behind his kutir at Sidhbari in Himachal Pradesh. The elegant Kerala-style Samadhi Sthala sits serenely against the backdrop of the majestic Dhauladhar Mountains. Like the mountains, it is a refuge and a destination of profound, undisturbed peace.
Authored by Gurudev
Books that Awaken
Gallery
Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
Saki Vihar Road, Powai, Mumbai - 400 072.
Tel : +91-22-2803 4900
E-mail : ccmt@chinmayamission.com
