Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati (born Balakrishna Menon; May 8, 1916 – August 3, 1993) was a Hindu spiritual leader and teacher. He founded the Chinmaya Mission in 1951, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading knowledge of Advaita Vedanta, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other ancient Hindu scriptures. Chinmayananda played a key role in popularizing these teachings among the English-educated Indian middle class and the Indian diaspora. He authored numerous publications, including commentaries on the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Chinmayananda also helped establish the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and served as its first president. He conducted lecture tours worldwide and played a significant role in the global Hindu spiritual and cultural renaissance.
Chinmaya Mission is a spiritual organization founded by Swami Chinmayananda. It has established ashrams, temples, and centers around the world for spiritual retreat, study, and practice. The mission conducts various devotional, spiritual, cultural, and social projects, including Bala Vihar (children's education program), Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (youth wing), and Chinmaya Study Groups for adults. It has also built numerous temples and operates the Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD) for sustainable development. Swami Chinmayananda established the Chinmaya International Foundation and the Chinmaya Vidyalayas (schools). He inaugurated the Chinmaya Mission Hospital and initiated rural health care services. Chinmayananda authored many publications, including commentaries on scriptural texts, and his books have been translated into multiple languages. He introduced the BMI Chart, a teaching tool based on Vedanta. Swami Chinmayananda received honors and recognition, including the Hindu Renaissance Award and the title of "Hindu of the Year." He addressed the United Nations and was selected as "President of Hindu Religion" for the Centennial Conference of the Parliament of the World's Religions. A commemorative coin was released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark his birth centenary.
Life span: 1916 – 1993
