Our Centre

Stop all your attachments to false values. In an ever changing world, there is nothing worthwhile for us to desire or weep for. Joys and sorrows are bound to come in human life; they are just like the two sides of the same coin.

- - Swami Chinmayananda


Introduction

Chinmaya Mission® was established in India in 1953 by devotees of the world-renowned Vedanta teacher, His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda.  Guided by his vision, devotees all around the world formed the nucleus of a spiritual renaissance movement that now encompasses a wide range of spiritual, educational, and charitable activities, ennobling the li   Read More..

Welcome to the spiritual hub of the world’s heritage city -“આપણું અમદાવાદ”. Our centre was named by Pujya Gurudev as “ParamDham” – the supreme abode of the Lord. Bhagavan Himself has said in the Bhagavad Geeta “यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम।” – reaching where there is no return that is my supreme abode – “ParamDham”.

Pujya Gurudev performing Bhumi Puja for ParamDham

A desolate piece of land on the outskirts of Ahmedabad was blessed and transformed into “ParamDham” when Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda conducted the Bhumi Puja on 5th February 1973. This place was then not even considered to be a part of the city. Little did anyone know that it will once become the heart of Ahmedabad. Situated just opposite ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), ParamDham reminds one of the confluence of science and spirituality.

Old ParamDham

By 1975 a unique temple and ashram complex was constructed. The old temple was built in such a way that one could see the main shrine of the temple straight from the front gate of the ashram. The exposed brick temple complex of ParamDham was one of its kind and was also nominated for the prestigious Aga Khan Award.

Pujya Gurudev & Swami Akhandananda Maharaj at ParamDham

 

Kumbhabhishekam of the temple at ParamDham was performed in the divine presence of Pujya Gurudev, Swami Akhandananda ji Maharaj and many other dignitaries on 19th May 1979. Since then ParamDham has been offering service to the society in accordance with Pujya Gurudev’s vision of world transformation through individual transformation.

Gurudev and His “Black Beauty”

An enchanting black idol of Shri Venugopala was installed in the old temple. Pujya Gurudev very fondly called our Venugopala as “My black beauty” or “My Negro”. That idol is now adorning the Sudharma foyer of Chinmaya Vibhooti – the International Vision centre of Chinmaya Mission. Pujya Gurudev had conceptualized a very unique design for the Kalasha to be mounted on the Shikhara of the Krishna temple with a Trishula (trident) of Lord Shiva on it indicating oneness of all forms of the Lord. The same Kalasha that was mounted on the Shikhara of the old temple, now adorns the new temple.

ParamDham has been blessed with divine footprints of our Pujya Gurudev all over the campus since Gurudev conducted Jnana Yagnas and discourses across multiple locations at our centre.

Pujya Gurudev’s Tulabharm at ParamDham

A significant landmark in  the history of ParamDham is that the centre was privileged to have organized Pujya Gurudev’s Tulabharam. In the initial years of our centre, many prominent personalities such as Smt. Shakuntala Desai, Smt. Mrinalini Sarabhai had played a vital role in starting the Mission activities in the city as members of the first executive committee.

Pujya Gurudev with ParamDham kids

ParamDham has received the blessings and guidance of many Brahmacharis and Swamis trained by Pujya Gurudev in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya who have been instrumental in promoting the growth of the centre. The acharyas posted in our centre includes Br. Swaroop Chaitanya (now Swami Viditatmananda), Br. Lakshya Chaitanya (now Swami Sarvananda), Brni. Smriti Chaitanya (now Swamini Vimalananda), Brni. Stuti Chaitanya, Br. Manan Chaitanya (now Swami Nikhilananda), Br. Vamdev Chaitanya (now Swami Dattapadananda), Br. Bhadresh Chaitanya (Swami Uttamananda) and Brni. Shubha Chaitanya (Swamini Anaghananda).

The center activities are now spearheaded by Swami Avyayananda Saraswati earlier called Br. Atharvana Chaitanya. For more than four decades many camps, study classes and cultural programs catering to the spiritual needs of all age groups were conducted by the acharyas posted in our centre.

Pujya Guruji at New “ParamDham”

In January 2017, devotees of ParamDham were blessed to witness the three-day long “PranaPratishtha Mahotsav” celebrations in divine presence of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanada, Swami Swaroopananda and Swamini Vimalananda.

Elaborate Havans, Pujas, and Kumbhabhishekam of the idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Vanavasi Shri Sita-Rama, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman ji was performed.

Pujya Guruji doing abhisheka of our Venugopala

On 18th January 2017, Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanada Himself consecrated a mesmerizing black idol of Lord Venugopala at the main Shrine of the temple. Shiva Parivar and Vanavasi Shri Sita-Rama also reside in the temple in the other two Shrines. Pratham Pujas at all the shrines of temple were performed. Paduka Pujas at the altars of Pujya Swami Tapovan Maharaj and Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda – who are enshrined as the main pillars of the new temple, were also performed to invoke the blessing of our glorious Guru Parampara.

Temple Shikhar

The centre is not only a spiritual landmark but also is an architectural wonder. A unique aspect of the construction is that even the debris of the old temple were re-converted and used in the construction of the New Temple. That way the same ParamDham which Pujya Gurudev had started way back in 1973 still live on! ParamDham Temple is a rare architectural marvel because of the folded plate structure is used in the shikhara of the Temple. During the day, the sunlight peep into the temple through the glass slits of the shikhara resembling the sun with its rays around when viewed from the center of the temple. This also allows a beautiful play of light in the temple throughout the day with the morning sun rays reaching Garbhagriha of Shiva Parivar.

Pradakshina Path

The pradakshina path of the temple is designed in such a way that one can see the temple Shikhara bearing a Golden Kalasha and a unique Garuda Dhwaja from the entire pradakshina path. Several eco-friendly features including rain water harvesting systems are also incorporated in the Temple. Thus, ParamDham temple stands as a unique illustration conglomerating Tradition with Technology. This beautiful design of ParamDham also received the first prize under the category of “Green Buildings of 2017” by Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO).

ParamDham has been serving as the nerve centre of Chinmaya Mission activities at Ahmedabad and has been carrying forward the noble work for over four decades to realize the Missions motto: “To give maximum happiness to maximum number for maximum time”.

All activities of ParamDham are focused on fulfilling the vision-”To provide to individuals from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society”.

The centre conducts various activities like regular Satsangs, Aaratis and Pujas, “JnanaYagnas”-lecture series on Hindu scriptural texts, spiritual camps for all age groups, music programmes, and celebration of festivals in traditional manner. Regular study classes for children, youth and senior citizens are also conducted to make life happier and the world better based on the guidance from Indian scriptures. We also have a “Chinmaya Vani” book stall and “Chinmaya Upahar” – gift Shop at our centre. We hope to meet you soon at ParamDham.

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