||  Hari Om || Welcome to Chinmaya Mission Orlando

Chinmaya Mission of Orlando serves the Orlando and its neighbouring communities by teaching the eternal values to the children and imparting the knowledge of the Scriptures to the people. In the early 1980s, in a small church in Orlando, Brahmacharini Pavitra Chaitanya spoke on personality unfoldment. She said one’s personality should unfold like the blossoming of a bud into flower, spreading the fragrance of service, love, and peace. Her talk inspired many interested devotees and they asked her where they could learn more on this and related subjects. Pavitraji smilingly replied, “Go to the Master, Swami Chinmayananda, and attend his jnana yajnas.”

Through her guidance, various devotees were enthralled by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s talks during a Chinmaya Mission camp. Gurudev’s talks and presence. When they approached Gurudev for advice, he personally guided them and explained to them the need for children to learn about their culture, and the need for householders to study the scriptures through study groups and jnana yajnas. He then gave them a step-by-step walk-through on how to conduct Balavihar classes.

Inspired by Gurudev and with his blessings, a few devotees began a Chinmaya Balavihar and an Adult Study Group on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. What began with 25-30 children and 3 teachers grew over the years to 250 children. Activities and classes continued to increase and Chinmaya Mission Orlando was formalized to serve the community’s children, youth, university students, and adults.  

CM Orlando has hosted numerous satsangs, jnana yajnas, and camps over the years, all conducted by various CM Acharyas, including Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, Pujya Swami Purushottamananda, Pujya Swamini Sharadapriyananda, Swami Shantananda, and Brahmachari Prabodh Chaitanya, to name a few.

On July 19, 1993, CM Orlando purchased a 5-acre plot in Casselberry, Florida. The property included a small, two-bedroom house that was used for ashram activities and classes. The photos of Param Pujya Gurudev Swami Tapovanam and Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda were installed in the ashram’s main hall on the day Gurudev visited the ashram for the first time.Pujya Gurudev blessed the ashram and named it “Tapovan.”

 

Pujya Gurudev blessed the ashram and named it “Tapovan.” He guided CM Orlando’s devotees on the future installation of the murti of Lord Shiva as Lord Jagadishvara, Who presides over the temple of CM Mumbai’s ashram in India.

On July 18th, 1999, in the holy presence of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, the murti sthapana and prana pratishtha were performed at the outset of the new millennium, in a new building named Kaivalya.

In 2010, with Pujya Gurudev’s blessings, a new fully functional and equipped kitchen and dining area was added to the Ashram. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda gave the beautiful name of Sita Rasoi to the Kitchen. The spacious open-aired dining hall was named Anna Shree. On February 21^st 2010, Swami Shantananda ji  inaugurated Sita Rasoi and Anna Shree. Dedicated teams of volunteers prepare, offer and serve Mahaprasad to Pujya Gurudev, Lord Shiva and over 250 Balavihar children and devotees every week.

 

Plans are currently underway to expand the Kaivalya Meditation hall, add 14 new classrooms, a large library and a spacious office. With Pujya Gurudev’s and Guruji’s blessings, the construction is expected to start in 2013.

Today, Chinmaya Mission Orlando offers Bala Vihar, Junior CHYK, CHYK, Bhagwad Geeta and Upanishad classes every Sunday morning. Additional classes include tabla and classical dance. In addition to classes at the ashram, study groups and classes are conducted in other local chapters which include Lake Mary, Sanford, South Orlando, Kissimmee, Daytona Beach, Ft. Myers and Gainesville.