Swami Tapovan Maharaj of Uttarkashi was the “Source” where from Swami Chinmayananda (The Founder of the Chinmaya Movement) acquired the Knowledge of Vedanta (Science of Religion).Swami Tapovan was himself the ideal who had personally understood (through deep study, dispassion and contemplation) the relationship between the biological processes of the body and the human psyche.In a spirit of deep renunciation, the infinitely gentle poet in him, saw Humanity and Nature as one vast “plant”, needing only “Love” for its highest fulfillment.

Intimate communion with Nature (while he walked peaks and valleys of the Himalayas for countless years), gave Swami Tapovan the boundless spiritual reverence. He revealed Nature’s secrets in his “travelogue” in two Sanskrit masterpieces, “Himagiri Viharam” and “Kailasa Yatra”.

The masterpiece, without a doubt, is “Ishwara Darshan”, which is his autobiographical “sketch” – it is an absorbing account of a search for the Truth .. Its scientific clarity is subtle, because the treatise gives insight into how the saints of the East attain self mastery

Swami Tejomayananda is the former Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, a position he held since 1993 after Swami Chinmayananda attained Mahasamadhi. If Swami Chinmayananda served the cause of Vedanta with his service, knowledge and pioneering qualities, Swami Tejomayananda – fondly addressed as Guruji – completed that with his natural attitude of devotion. This is richly and abundantly evident in his talks, his singing, and his demeanour.

But the gentleness of devotion arrived riding on the back of an intense education in physics, going up to a Master’s degree. Born, Sudhakar Kaitwade to a Maharashtrian family in Madhya Pradesh, this physicist had a close encounter that changed the velocity, direction and path of his life

In an era rife with skepticism and confusion about matters spiritual, Swami Swaroopananda is a rare voice that blends authenticity with accessibility; theory with self- practice; logic with heart.

Formerly the Regional Head of Chinmaya Mission Australia, United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa and Far East, and presently Chairman of the Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth Trust (University for Sanskrit and Indic Traditions) and Director of the Chinmaya International Residential School in Coimbatore, South India, Swami Swaroopananda has now been bestowed by Swami Tejomayananda the privilege to also serve as the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

Born and brought up in the bustling commercial capital of India, Swamiji had always been convinced that beyond life’s superficial, everyday joys and sorrows, there was something more enduring and satisfying. As a child he heard from his grandmother many religious stories based on the great Indian epics and the history of saints. These stories suddenly came to life, acquiring new meaning and depth, when as an adolescent he encountered the preeminent Master of Vedanta, Swami Chinmayananda.

His heart completely moved and inspired, in 1984 Swami Swaroopananda gave up his family’s thriving business in Hong Kong to undergo intensive training under Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tejomayananda at Sandeepany, Mumbai. He was initiated into the monastic order in 1992. Since then, he has touched thousands of lives across the world, and his tremendous work in bringing out the essential wisdom and underlying unity of all religions has garnered him a place among the vanguards of self-development philosophy

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ | तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः |

प्रकाशन्ते महात्मन इति || श्वेताश्वतर उपनिषद् 6.23 ||

Swami Shantanandaji is well known for his unparalleled devotion to Lord Krishna and for his absolute devotion to his Guru, Swami Chinmayanandaji. Due to this unique qualification that Swamiji possesses, many devotees come to him from diverse backgrounds, cultures and geographies, and discover Self-knowledge through the study of major Upanishads, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Ramacharit Manas, and Narayaneeyam (to name a few).

Swamiji served his Guru as a traveling secretary for two years and became sannyasin in 1992.  True to his devotion to his Guru, Swamiji himself traveled extensively, taught near and far, and has devotees in every part of the world. As every devotee that has interacted with Swamiji knows, he is a member of everyone’s family, and everyone is a member of his Chinmaya family. Swamiji is an authority on the scriptures, yet remains unassuming and easily approachable as he connects with people across generations, languages, and faiths.

Swamiji was instrumental in building the Chinmaya Mission center in Hong Kong and many centers in the USA.  He is the current resident Swamiji at the Chinmaya Mission Tri-State Center. He is also also the president of Chinmaya Mission West and oversees the activities of over 60 Mission centers in the USA and Canada.

Swamini Radhikananda has been sharing the universal teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam and other Vedantic scriptures for over 30 years. She was blessed to meet Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda first in 1978 in Washington D.C. and, inspired by his divine presence and teachings, she attended the newly formed weekly Vedanta study-group for several years while completing college degrees and work in special education. In 1987 she joined the two-year Vedanta course at 'Sandeepany Sadhananalaya,' in Mumbai, India, under the blessed guidance of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda. Since 1989 she has served at several CM centers in the U.S., most recently in St. Augustine, Florida from 2004 – 2021 before coming to New Jersey. Besides conducting Vedanta classes and assisting at Bala Vihar children’s Camps, she has participated in numerous Interfaith programs and made presentations on “Understanding Hinduism” to university Comparative Religion classes. She also enjoys devotional singing and has recorded several CD’s of original and traditional songs, including two for children (Come to Me, My Krishna and His Eternal Smile) and Songs for the Light with kirtan-style chants.

On Mahashivaratri day, February 17th, 2015, Swamini Radhikananda (formerly known as Brahmacharini Arpita) received sannyasa initiation from Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda (Head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide 1993-2016). She presently assists at the Chinmaya Vrindavan center in Cranbury, NJ and feels a special calling to bring the life-transforming vision of Vedanta to the western community via Gita classes at local Yoga studios and other venues. She considers this service through Chinmaya Mission to be her greatest joy and privilege!