Vivekananda Vedanta Society-Chicago

The Vedanta Society of Chicago was inaugurated by Swami Gnaneswarananda, a disciple of Swami Brahmananda, on January 19, 1930. The center was established at 120 East Delaware Place. The Swami had his living quarters there, and this was where he gave interviews and held public and private classes. Swami Gnaneswarananda was also a talented artist and musician and taught his students Indian music as well.

In 1933, he organized a convention of American-based swamis at the time of the second Chicago World's fair and the 40th anniversary of the advent of Vivekananda in America. For the centenary of the birth of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936, Swami organized an elaborate program, which was attended by most of the swamis in the United States.

In 1933, Swami Gnaneswarananda had begun to suffer from a heart condition. His strenuous work and extensive travels gradually took their toll, and he passed away on Sunday, November 14, 1937, at the early age of 44 years.

As soon as possible after the sudden blow of Gnaneswarananda's death, Swami Vishwananda was sent from Bombay to take over his work, reaching Chicago in May, 1938. A few years after his arrival, he moved the center to 506 Deming Place. Then, in 1955, a building was purchased at 44 East Elm Street in a quiet, respectable neighborhood, and the name of the Vedanta Society of Chicago was changed to the Vivekananda Vedanta Society.

Due in part to poor health, the Swami became rather a recluse, with a deep meditative life. After a long illness, he gave up the body on July 25, 1965.

On July 28, 1965, Swami Bhashyananda was appointed the Swami-in-Charge of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society by the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. From the beginning his work was distinguished by vigorous expansion. Within a year the size of the congregation had tripled, and he began looking for larger quarters.

Swami Bhashyananda bought the present quarters at 5423 South Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago with the assistance of a staunch devotee from New York, Chester Carlson, the inventor of the Xerox. The new temple, which was located near the University of Chicago, was dedicated on September 7, 1966. In 1967, a one-story building, located at 5407 South Hyde Park Boulevard, was acquired by the society and named "Holy Mother's Cottage" to house women devotees who wished to lead a spiritual life. In 1970 the house next to the main temple was purchased and these two building were joined into one in 1974.

The most dramatic expansion of the Society was the purchase in 1968 of 80 acres of land for a Monastery and Retreat in the township of Ganges, Michigan. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new temple was performed on May 15, 1971. The Monastery land, with fruit trees, garden, a small lake and stream, bee-hives, farm acreage and farm animals, is restful to the eye and the mind. It now contains a temple, library, museum, book store, auditorium, dining hall, and guest facilities for retreatants. Each year there is a children's camp.

Swami Bhashyananda saw the Vivekananda Vedanta Society grow from a small center on Elm Street to a large complex of buildings at Chicago and Ganges. Unfortunately, after suffering a series of strokes, he left the body on October 4, 1996.

In May, 1991, Swami Chidananda came from India to assist Swami Bhashyananda, and was appointed Minister-in-Charge in 1993. From the time of his arrival here, Swami Chidananda continued the activities of the Society along the lines established by Swami Bhashyananda, particularly stressing the daily worship of Sri Ramakrishna and continuing the tradition of the annual Children's Camp. Like Swami Gnaneswarananda, the founder of the Society, Swami Chidananda is a talented musician and has recorded an ever-growing collection of music and lectures.

Swami Chidananda has made great strides to publicly honor the memory of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago. On September 11, 1995 at the Art Institute of Chicago, which was the site of the Parliament of Religions in 1893, a bronze plaque was installed commemorating Swamiji's historic address at the Parliament. On November 11, 1995, the portion of Michigan Avenue directly in front of the Art Institute was renamed "Swami Vivekananda Way." And on July 12,1998, a 10'2" bronze statue of Swamiji, the largest public statue of Vivekananda in America, was installed at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago.


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History The Vedanta Society of Chicago was inaugurated by Swami Gnaneswarananda, a disciple of Swami Brahmananda, on January 19, 1930. The center was established at 120 East Delaware Place. The Swami had his living quarters there, and this was where he gave interviews and held public and private classes. Swami Gnaneswarananda was also a talented artist and musician and taught his students Indian music as well. In 1933, he organized a convention of American-based swamis at the time of the second Chicago World's fair and the 40th anniversary of the advent of Vivekananda in America. For the centenary of the birth of Sri Ramakrishna in 1936, Swami organized an elaborate program, which was attended by most of the swamis in the United States. In 1933, Swami Gnaneswarananda had begun to suffer from a heart condition. His strenuous work and extensive travels gradually took their toll, and he passed away on Sunday, November 14, 1937, at the early age of 44 years. As soon as possible after the sudden blow of Gnaneswarananda's death, Swami Vishwananda was sent from Bombay to take over his work, reaching Chicago in May, 1938. A few years after his arrival, he moved the center to 506 Deming Place. Then, in 1955, a building was purchased at 44 East Elm Street in a quiet, respectable neighborhood, and the name of the Vedanta Society of Chicago was changed to the Vivekananda Vedanta Society. Due in part to poor health, the Swami became rather a recluse, with a deep meditative life. After a long illness, he gave up the body on July 25, 1965. On July 28, 1965, Swami Bhashyananda was appointed the Swami-in-Charge of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society by the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. From the beginning his work was distinguished by vigorous expansion. Within a year the size of the congregation had tripled, and he began looking for larger quarters. Swami Bhashyananda bought the present quarters at 5423 South Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago with the assistance of a staunch devotee from New York, Chester Carlson, the inventor of the Xerox. The new temple, which was located near the University of Chicago, was dedicated on September 7, 1966. In 1967, a one-story building, located at 5407 South Hyde Park Boulevard, was acquired by the society and named "Holy Mother's Cottage" to house women devotees who wished to lead a spiritual life. In 1970 the house next to the main temple was purchased and these two building were joined into one in 1974. The most dramatic expansion of the Society was the purchase in 1968 of 80 acres of land for a Monastery and Retreat in the township of Ganges, Michigan. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new temple was performed on May 15, 1971. The Monastery land, with fruit trees, garden, a small lake and stream, bee-hives, farm acreage and farm animals, is restful to the eye and the mind. It now contains a temple, library, museum, book store, auditorium, dining hall, and guest facilities for retreatants. Each year there is a children's camp. Swami Bhashyananda saw the Vivekananda Vedanta Society grow from a small center on Elm Street to a large complex of buildings at Chicago and Ganges. Unfortunately, after suffering a series of strokes, he left the body on October 4, 1996. In May, 1991, Swami Chidananda came from India to assist Swami Bhashyananda, and was appointed Minister-in-Charge in 1993. From the time of his arrival here, Swami Chidananda continued the activities of the Society along the lines established by Swami Bhashyananda, particularly stressing the daily worship of Sri Ramakrishna and continuing the tradition of the annual Children's Camp. Like Swami Gnaneswarananda, the founder of the Society, Swami Chidananda is a talented musician and has recorded an ever-growing collection of music and lectures. Swami Chidananda has made great strides to publicly honor the memory of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago. On September 11, 1995 at the Art Institute of Chicago, which was the site of the Parliament of Religions in 1893, a bronze plaque was installed commemorating Swamiji's historic address at the Parliament. On November 11, 1995, the portion of Michigan Avenue directly in front of the Art Institute was renamed "Swami Vivekananda Way." And on July 12,1998, a 10'2" bronze statue of Swamiji, the largest public statue of Vivekananda in America, was installed at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago.