San Diego Center Honors Swami Chinmayananda’s Legacy At 25 Year Milestone

India-West News Desk

SAN DIEGO, CA – Vibrant celebrations marked a milestone year at Chinmaya Mission San Diego earlier this month, as the spiritual organization commemorated its 25th anniversary in a city regarded as sacred by many of its members worldwide.

San Diego holds a unique place in the history of the Chinmaya Mission: It was here that its founder, Swami Chinmayananda, attained Mahasamadhi on August 3, 1993, a moment devotees describe as spiritually transformative for the city.

In the years that followed, local devotee Lakshmi Sukumar reflected on the absence of Mission activities in San Diego despite its deep spiritual significance. She recalled that when she shared her thoughts with senior monk Swami Shantananda in New Jersey, he revealed that he had made a resolve at his guru’s bedside that a center would one day arise in San Diego.

That vision began to take shape on January 28, 2001, with the inauguration of Chinmaya Mission San Diego and the lighting of the Chinmaya lamp. More than a decade later, on August 3, 2013, the Chinmaya Jyoti Center was formally inaugurated.

The 25th anniversary observances coincided with the 75th year of the global Chinmaya Movement, creating what organizers described as an auspicious alignment. The silver jubilee celebrations culminated in a week long Jnana Yajna titled ‘Bhagavad Gita Saptah,’ conducted by Swami Shantananda from January 27 to February 1, 2026.

The Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Yatra commenced on January 27 with Swamiji and Sukumarji ceremonially escorting a life size portrait of Swami Chinmayananda into the ashram premises, accompanied by the CMSD Youth Band and traditional lezim dancers. A radiant archway and commemorative displays highlighted the 25 year milestone.

The inaugural Jyoti was lit, followed by Guru Paduka and Sri Krishna pujas. Over six days, Swami Shantananda unfolded selected verses from the Bhagavad Gita, offering lucid explanations and relatable anecdotes that resonated with devotees. Organizers described the atmosphere as uplifting and contemplative, with participants immersed in a systematic exploration of the scripture’s teachings.

The concluding program on February 1, titled ‘Sankhya Mahima in Sanatana Dharma,’ brought together adults and children in a presentation envisioned and guided by Lakshmi Sukumar, who thoughtfully leads CMSD. Through reflections on the spiritual significance of numbers, interactive segments and scriptural insights, participants showcased months of preparation in a collective offering of devotion.

A key highlight of the finale was the release of a commemorative souvenir by Swami Shantananda, ‘Saṅkalpa to Sthāpanā,’ described as a “record of gratitude for the past and a source of inspiration for the future.”