PUJYA GURUJI SWAMI TEJOMAYANANDA

HEAD OF CHINMAYA MISSION WORLDWIDE

Sudhakar Kaitwade was born in Madhya Pradesh on 30th June 1950. As a student he took a keen interest in music and drama. The spiritual call came to him in 1970 when he heard a Gita discourse given by Swami Chinmayananda. He was inspired to join the Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai. After graduation in 1975, he served in the field for a few years as Brahmachari Vivek Chaitanya.

As a brahmachari, he was posted in the ashram located at the foothills of the Himalayas. In 1983, he was initiated into sanyasa by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and came to be known as Swami Tejomayananda.

In 1983, he was the Acharya in charge and taught two batches of brahamacharis and brahmacharinis at the Sandeepany ashram in Mumbai India. In 1989, Swami Tejomayananda was sent to San Jose to become the Acharya in charge of San Jose, USA

Upon Swami Chinmayananda’s Mahasamadhi in August 1993, Swami Tejomayananda returned to India and became the head of the Chinmaya Mission. He assumed his new role with ease and humility. Swami Tejomayananda works hard at fulfilling the vision of Pujya Gurudev. As he himself put it, "I am not in Swamiji's shoes, I am at his feet."

Swamiji has begun several new projects, including the Chinmaya Residential School (CIRS) in Coimbatore, the Chinmaya Center of World Understanding in New Delhi, the Chinmaya International Foundation in Cochin (CIF). His current project is Chinmaya Vibhooti.

Swami Tejomayanada has a keen sense of humour and explains Vedanta in an easy and logical manner. He is fluent in Sanskrit and is the author of many Sanskrit compositions. He has translated many of Gurudev’s texts into Hindi. His love for his Guru, the Vision and the work can be felt in all his actions.

“As he moves around the world at a bewildering pace his easy manner and devotional rendering of Vedantic texts has drawn many newcomers into the spiritual fold. His melodious voice has devotion. Extremely humane and approachable, he has never closed the doors to anyone who has sought his or advice. His conviction is simple - to fortify, strengthen and actualize the vision of his master - that of restoring the moral and cultural dignity of our ancient heritage. He takes very keen interest in the Vedanta course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya. He is actively participating in the selection of students, on design of course curriculum, imparting knowledge to the students on important texts, interacting with the students by periodical meetings with them and the Acharya."