New Delhi: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today released a commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati, a Hindu spiritual leader and teacher who inspired the formation of Chinmaya Mission.
Narendra Modi releasing a commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda, at a function, in New Delhi on May 08, 2015
Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide nonprofit organisation, to spread the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta, the nondual system of thought found in the Upanishads, which epitomise the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled the pioneering work of Swami Chinmayananda in the field of education and social reform. He described Swami Chinmayananda as a visionary, who saw the need to inculcate India’s great culture and spiritual traditions, through the English medium, among an “elite” class of people, who had moved away from this heritage.
Speaking about Swami Chinmayananda, the Prime Minister said that when Swami ji talked about the Geeta, he was a Gyan-Margi (one who follows the path of knowledge), and when he worked in his schools and hospitals, he was a Karm-Margi (one who follows the path of work). He said, that in this sense, Swami Chinmayananda’s life is an inspiration for others.
The Prime Minister recalled his meetings with Swami Chinmayananda, and said it was a matter of great pride that a commemorative coin was being issued to mark his centenary.
Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley, Union MoS for Finance Jayant Sinha, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission Swami Tejomayananda, and National Director of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra Swami Mitrananda, were also present on the occasion.