INDIA JOURNAL

Chinmaya Mission Opens New Center in Tustin

More than 700 people attended the inaugural ceremony of 'Mithila ' the new center opened by Chinmaya Mission here, on June 11.

TUSTIN,CA-Swami Tejomayananda, the worldwide spiritual head of the mission, presided over the inaugural function. A surprise moment in the well-planned and regulated event was the honor given to Swami Tejomayananda by the popular publication, 'Hinduism Today.' Each year the magazine, read around the world by the Indian Diaspora confers the title of "Hindu of the Year."
This year, the magazine's representative Arachana Dongre, announced that Swami Tejomayananda was the recipient - for his efforts to promote Hinduism and spread the Vedic knowledge all over the world. He was given a plaque and a shawl on the occasion. In his brief speech, laced with humility, Swami Tejomayananda said the award was a surprise to him also and he applauded the efforts of the community and outlined the purpose of the new center. The center, he said, was the realization of the mission's vision to expand and spread Vedic wisdom, knowledge and in the process help people "live life as a whole." "If you do not stand for something in life you will fall for everything," Tejomayananda said. "The center has to be the center of spiritual growth; you have to make it a power house (of spiritualism)." The center is the second in Southern California and has been named Mithila after the birth place of Sita, wife of Lord Ram. The first is the 'Kasi' Center in Anaheim. Swami Ishwarananda, a senior monk well known in Southern who will serve as the resident acharya of Mithila, pointed out in his speech to loud applause that by naming the center after Sita's home, women had been recognized. He said the 7,000- square foot complex would serve both as a shrine as well as a community center. The center houses the deities of Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. The deities, Swami Ishwarananda explained in his speech, held tremendous significance for leading a "complete life" - Ram, he said, stood for the "nature of discrimination -right and wrong;"
Laxman, he explained, was the epitome of dispassion; Sita stood for pure knowledge - knowledge that enhanced spiritual life and Hanuman represents all the virtues put tog ether. In his speech he also outlined ways in which members from both from within the community as well as outside could benefit from the center. "Pure knowledge enhances spiritual life," Swami Ishwarananda said. "Spiritual enhancement and true import of scriptures"
would be the guiding principals of the center. Keeping in line with the mission's objectives of spreading the Vedic knowledge and spirituality the center, he said, would be holding Bhagavad Geeta and Vedanta classes, Balavihar for children and youth groups. The center also has plans to introduce music and dance classes and cultural events. He said irrespective of the age and background anyone could benefit from the center's stress management, meditation and yoga classes. Dr.P.Mahadev, Director on the mission's Board and recognized as spearheading the establishment of the mission in Southern California, and Dr.Iyer, who played an instrumental role in the refurbishment of 'Mithila,' spoke on their experiences. Mayor of Tustin, Lou Bone, congratulated the mission for its new center and officially inaugurated the complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony. He presented a certificate of recognition to Chinmaya Mission which was accepted by Swami Tejomayananda. After the speeches, Swami Tejomayananda unveiled a plaque and offered prayers at the altar where the deities were ceremoniously unveiled by him. Bramhachari Girish Chaitanya thanked all the volunteers. Several members of the mainstream Tustin community were in attendance and along with mission devotees and guests partook of the Prasad that was served.