ANDOVER, MA– Members of the Chinmaya Mission Boston family will celebrate Swami Chinmayananda’s 100th birthday with great fanfare on Sunday, May 8, at Chinmaya Mission in Andover, MA. There is a great line-up of musical, dance and theatrical performances throughout the day – from the traditional/classical genres to more contemporary styles.
Other highlights of the day include a primer on Gita: “18 Chapters in 18 minutes”. Younger visitors will have several opportunities for fun games such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Chutes & Ladders – all Chinmaya Mission style. And for those wanting to de-stress, Yoga sessions will be offered by trained professionals.
Here is a brief history of Swami Chinmayananda:
On May 8th, 1916, in the city of Ernakulam in the southern Indian state of Kerala, was born a baby boy named Balakrishna Menon who was destined for greatness. His innate curiosity for the truth led him to the sanyasis residing in the Himalayan Mountains from where he returned as Swami Chinmayananda, an enlightened soul, with a mission to share the knowledge of ancient Hindu scriptures with the masses of India.
In 1953, Swami Chinmayananda’s devotees established Chinmaya Mission with this simple yet profound goal – “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.”
The Boston chapter of Chinmaya Mission was started in an apartment in Brookline, MA back in 1980 by Brahmacharini Pavitraji. Over the decades, Chinmaya Mission Boston has blossomed into a center for spiritual learning and service, boasting nearly 450 member families from Dover, NH to Newton, MA, with its flagship center located in Andover, MA.
Celebrations on Sunday, May 8, will commence at 8:00 a.m. with a formal offering of our pranams to Swami Chinmayananda. There is a great line-up of musical, dance and theatrical performances throughout the day – from the traditional/classical genres to more contemporary styles. In addition, celebrations will be joined by some long-time members of Chinmaya Mission Boston who have had the great fortune of having interacted closely with Swami Chinmayananda.
Chinmaya Mission Boston will mark this day by partaking of their experience as members and supporters reminisce about their personal connections with Swamiji.
In parallel with the cultural program, several interactive display booths and activities will be on hand that will showcase the myriad different initiatives Chinmaya Mission is involved in worldwide. From elementary education to technology colleges, from women’s empowerment initiatives to hospitals, from preservation of our ancient Hindu scriptures to serving the needy, the Mission does it all.
What a great way to learn about the Mission all under one roof! Want to get a quick primer on The Holy Gita or brush up on your knowledge of it? Then you will not want to miss “18 Chapters in 18 minutes”! Younger visitors will have several opportunities for fun games such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Chutes & Ladders – all Chinmaya Mission style! And for those wanting to de-stress, Yoga sessions will be offered by trained professionals.
At the Grand Finale of celebrations, Chinmaya Mission will have the distinct honor of having His Holiness Swami Tyaganandaji, resident Acharya of Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Boston, as the guest of honor. Swami Tyaganandaji is a well-known speaker, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order, and the Hindu chaplain at both Harvard and MIT. He will attend the celebrations and address to the audience.
Of course, no celebration is complete without delicious food. If you are in the mood for fresh masala dosas or sizzling puri chhole and delicious homemade sweets, you will not be disappointed.
The Chinmaya Mission Boston family extends a warm invitation to one and all to join them in celebrating the life of a great Mahatma, and in the process, learn a little about his teachings, his life’s mission, and about the Boston chapter.
For more information about the Centenary Celebrations and Chinmaya Mission Boston please visit http://www.chinmaya-boston.com/cbcc or contact at info@chinmaya-boston.org.
