Swami Chidananda: Fourth Monk-In-Charge & President (1993 - 2013)
Swami Chidananda joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1956 at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, after completing his university education.
He was initiated by Revered Swami Yatishwarananda Maharaj, Vice President of the Ramakrishna Order. During the formative years of his monastic career, he had the privilege of receiving direct guidance from the Revered Maharaj, the author of "Meditation and Spiritual Life."
He took Sanyasa at the Belur Math from Revered Swami Vireshvarananda Maharaj in the year 1966.
He was initiated by Revered Swami Yatishwarananda Maharaj, Vice President of the Ramakrishna Order. During the formative years of his monastic career, he had the privilege of receiving direct guidance from the Revered Maharaj, the author of "Meditation and Spiritual Life."
He took Sanyasa at the Belur Math from Revered Swami Vireshvarananda Maharaj in the year 1966.
In Nov. 1983, He was appointed the President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama,
Banglore. Some of his most noteworthy achievements in this capacity include:
1. Transliterated Yajur-Veda & Rig-Veda into Kannada & Published Two
Books ( Saswar Veda Mantra)
2. Started Vivekananda Yuvak Sangha
3. Conducted Youth Conventions (Attended by over 25,000 Students)
4. In 1986, Organized Drought Relief & Rehabilitation for Over 4000 Cattle.
5. Adopted 14 Impoverished Villages For Development, a Far-Reaching, Visionary Project Involving
2. Started Vivekananda Yuvak Sangha
3. Conducted Youth Conventions (Attended by over 25,000 Students)
4. In 1986, Organized Drought Relief & Rehabilitation for Over 4000 Cattle.
5. Adopted 14 Impoverished Villages For Development, a Far-Reaching, Visionary Project Involving
-- Construction of homes for villagers
-- Introduction of modern agricultural technologies to increase food production
-- Vocational & Practical Training To Upgrade Village Economy
-- Establishment of a Fair-Price Depot For Village Trade
-- Founding of School for 350 Village Children
-- Instituting Mobile Dispensary to Bring Regular Modern Medical Care To 70 Villagers.
-- Introduction of modern agricultural technologies to increase food production
-- Vocational & Practical Training To Upgrade Village Economy
-- Establishment of a Fair-Price Depot For Village Trade
-- Founding of School for 350 Village Children
-- Instituting Mobile Dispensary to Bring Regular Modern Medical Care To 70 Villagers.
In May 1989, He was named Assistant Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta.
In August 1993, Swami Chidananda Was Appointed As Minister-In-Charge & President of The Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago, Illinois, & The Vivekananda Vedanta Monastery in Ganges, Michigan.
In August 1993, Swami Chidananda Was Appointed As Minister-In-Charge & President of The Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago, Illinois, & The Vivekananda Vedanta Monastery in Ganges, Michigan.
Swami Chidanandaji has made great strides to publicly honor the memory of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago.
Under his dynamic initiative and leadership the following honors were made:
September 11, 1995: A Bronze Plaque was Installed Commemorating Swamiji's Historic Address (At The Parliament) At the Art Institute of Chicago (Site of the Parliament of Religions in 1893)
November 11, 1995: The Portion of Michigan Avenue Directly In Front of The Art Institute Was Renamed "Swami Vivekananda Way."
July 12, 1998: A 10' 2" Bronze Statue of Swami Vivekananda (The Largest Public Statue In America) Was Installed At The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Lemont, Illinois.
Sept, 2013: Swami Vivekananda 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration.
Swami Chidananda has great emphasis on Spiritual Retreats.
Under his dynamic leadership following special events were conducted:
-- 1993: Centenary Celebrations of The Parliament Of World Religions.
-- 1993: Monk's Conference.
-- 2001: Vedanta In The Third Millenium: Monk's Conference.
-- 2005: Vedanta For The Global Village: Monk's Conference.
-- 2003-2008: Construction of Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple
-- 2008: Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple Inauguration
-- 2009: Temple Anniversary Celebration: Library, Temple Gate, Sign Board Inauguration by Chief Guest Swami Gautamananda
-- 2012: Temple Anniversary Celebration:Temple Dome Kalasha Pooja by Chief Guest Swami Gautamananda
-- 2013: Swami Vivekananda 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration
-- These monthly retreats are well attended & have a become a spiritual staple of the devotees.
-- Annually, 10-11 retreats are conducted with a retreat every month.
-- 1993: Monk's Conference.
-- 2001: Vedanta In The Third Millenium: Monk's Conference.
-- 2005: Vedanta For The Global Village: Monk's Conference.
-- 2003-2008: Construction of Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple
-- 2008: Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple Inauguration
-- 2009: Temple Anniversary Celebration: Library, Temple Gate, Sign Board Inauguration by Chief Guest Swami Gautamananda
-- 2012: Temple Anniversary Celebration:Temple Dome Kalasha Pooja by Chief Guest Swami Gautamananda
-- 2013: Swami Vivekananda 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration
These conferences are attended by all the Monks of The
Ramakrishna Order in the West.
Over Thousands of devotees attend these programs & are greatly benefitted by them..
-- Every year, Swami Chidananda invites Swamis
of the Ramakrishna Mission to conduct retreats.
Over Thousands of devotees attend these programs & are greatly benefitted by them..
-- These monthly retreats are well attended & have a become a spiritual staple of the devotees.
-- Annually, 10-11 retreats are conducted with a retreat every month.
Swami Vivekananda visualized a "Temple Universal in The West". To fulfill Swamiji's vision,
in 2003, Swami Chidananda purchased 15 acres of land in Homer Glen, a suburb of Chicago
to build new Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple. Temple moved from Hyde Park to Homer Glen on 21st September 2008.
Swami Chidananda is known for Vedic Chanting. He has recorded numerous CDs including devotional songs, Vedic chanting, the Bhagavad Gita
Chanting, a series of lectures for practical living, and an on-going series of weekly lectures on the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.