BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, July 3, 2020: “Temples are for bhakti and spiritual institutions for jyana,” says Ramachandra Hegde, who serves as a board member and treasurer of Chinmaya Mission, Atlanta. Hegde, along with board members and volunteers, lead Chinmaya Niketan, Chinmaya Mission located in Norcross, Atlanta.
With weekly and all year around activities including Yoga sessions, satsangs, Balvihar for kids with concurrent programs for adults, summer camps, Sanskrit lessons, Gita conferences and study groups, along with festival celebrations, Chinmaya Niketan is buzzing with action. An important segment of the Niketan includes its book store.
“We have in excess of 150 titles in Chinmaya Niketan,” says Hegde. The collection includes a variety of books Chinmaya Publications , including spiritual books such as Bhagvad Gita Shlokas and commentary on them, commentary on Upanishads, Shrimad Bhagvata, Prakaran Grantha, leadership/management books based on spiritual values, work books – pre-k to middle school, Mananam series, bhajans on CD, Self Unfoldment, Kindle Life, Bhaj Govindam, Tattva Bodh, Atma Bodh, Vivekchudamani, among many others.
“Books ranging from $2 to $30 are available at the book store which is open when Bala Vihar is in session every Sunday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. However, we will keep it open 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Saturdays through August or even later if there is a request for it,” adds Hegde.
Chinmaya Publications is a state-of-the-art publications division of Chinmaya Mission West. They provide and make available, interpretation of the scriptures in a language the modern generation can understand and relate to. The publication has over 900 titles in its credit.
“We are all so immersed in finding permanent happiness and bliss. But everything that we think will make us happy is fleeting! And suddenly we feel incomplete once again. Hindu scriptures tell us that in reality we are complete and actual infinite in our power. Best way to find this out is through a Guru. In his/her absence spiritual books are the next best alternative. Chinmaya Mission has many of these. And in fact, the reader can also speak to a few of the volunteers we have who have undergone extensive Vedanta learning,” said Hegde when asked about the significance of reading spiritual literature.
“We wanted our daughter not to miss out in learning about Bharat and Bharatiya Sanskara. So we joined Chinmaya Prabha in Houston, TX in 2002 when our daughter Anisha was in 4th grade,” reminisced Hegde, adding that Anisha, who is now married, went on to ‘graduate’ from Chinmaya Mission Bala Vihar. Hegde and his wife Madhuri continued to be part of Chinmaya family. “Our President Dr Raghu Grandhige and his wife Geetha Grandhige have completed two years residential Vedanta Course in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya at CCMT, Powai, Mumbai,” he added.
You may visit http://www.chinmaya-atlanta.com/ for details.
Volunteer/s open the book store by appointment, after 5:00 PM weekday evenings. Please contact Ramchandra Hegde on (404) 966-4280. These appointments need to be made 24 hrs prior to the visit.
Chinmaya Mission was established in India in 1953 by devotees of the renowned Vedanta teacher Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati. The Chinmaya Mission is a Hindu religious and spiritual organization engaged in the dissemination of Vedanta, the science of the self as expounded in the Vedas, particularly the Upanishads, and other Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita.
