Brahmachāriṇī Jyoti Chaitanya
Jyoti ji completed the 2-year residential Vedanta course in Sāndeepany Sādhālaya, Mumbai under Swāmi Bodhātmānada Sarasvati. Mukhya Swāmi
Swaroopānanda jī, in the holy presence of Pujya Gurujī Swāmi Tejomayānanda jī bestowed her Dīkṣa on October 2, 2019. Currently, she is serving at Chinmaya Mission Atlanta.
Born on Diwali day in 1985, a natural yearning for spirituality was present from a young age. Having been involved in Bālvikas programs and seva activities at the Local Sai Centre, while simultaneously being a studious pupil at school, this culminated in the desire to combine both secular and spiritual pursuits through the practice of Medical Science, with the inner purpose of service to humanity and dedication to the Higher.
After the achievement of a National Scholarship in 2004, Jyoti ji pursued a carrier in medicine and received a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery in 2009. While pursuing post-graduate study and working in the Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology for 4 years, her aim to specialize in Pediatrics, was curbed by a growing interest to delve into scriptural knowledge. It became apparent that a career based primarily in saving bodies, could not do justice to the real disease which every ‘patient of life’ faced… the disease of the mind. If there was a spiritual science which could master this plague, then good sense dictated that efforts be redirected into this pursuit. Consequentially, attending CM study groups and CHYK classes, ardent study of Gurudev’s online videos and other material of various Swāmis’ began to take precedence over secular studies. As these studies began to translate into personality changes and conducive life experiences, the initial curiosity quickly snowballed into at outright mission to discover ‘The Truth’. It manifested in the form of a vehement refusal to continue engaging the mundane world as we had been trained to mindlessly follow in accordance with the ‘norms’ of ‘modern society’. And so, a firm decision was made to leave family, medical career, and all prior personal pursuits behind and migrate to Bhārata Mātā to pursue 2 years of intensive study into the Highest Truths of Reality at Sāndeepany Sādhanālaya, Mumbai.
Under the masterful tutelage of Swāmi Bodhātmānandajī and having the blessing of being taught many texts under Pujya Gurujī and Mukhya Swāmijī, the course of study was successfully completed and Brahmacharia Dīkṣa was bestowed on the holy occasion of Gāndhi Jayanti, 2nd October 2019.
Now, after been exposed to the Masters of Advaita philosophy, life could never be the same again for Jyoti ji.
This humbling experience translated into one sole vision in life. Live the Truth and Realize! By an auspicious life dedicated to service, in the spirit of sannyāsa, the solitary aim is that this unwavering, and immeasurable
gratitude to paramparā be fulfilled in the Realization of the Ultimate goal.
Dr. Raghu G.V. came under the spiritual influence of H.H. Swami Chimayanandaji in 1989 when his family attended a Chinmaya Family Spiritual camp in Orlando. FL. Since then he and his wife Geetha continued to attend family camps every year. The spiritual pilgrimage started then has continued to grow under the guidance of H.H. Tejomayananda Swamiji. He attended his first month long Dharma Sevak course in Piercy CA in 1997. Since then he has conducted regular weekly study groups in his home in Warner Robins, GA, which still continues. In addition he has been involved with the Hindu Temple of Atlanta since 1989 and served there as the Education committee chairman for over 10 years. During this time he came in contact with and was deeply influenced by many Chinmaya Mission Swamis, Brahmacharis and other spiritual teachers.
In 2006 he retired from his medical practice and attended the year and a half long, 13th Vedanta course conducted by H.H. Swami Tejomayandaji in Mumbai Chinmaya Sandeepany Sadhanalaya. During this period he was further influenced by the spiritual life of the Sannyasa order and the other inspired youthful Vedanta students. In these 18 months, the Bhagavad Gita, 10 Upanishads, Vivekacudamani, Ramacharitamanasa of Tulasidasji and many other smaller but important spiritual literary works were taught.
After returning from the Vedanta course he has continued his spiritual sadhana and is conducting study groups. Recently he has moved to Atlanta to enable himself to spread the knowledge of Vedanta to the larger community.
Smt Geetha Raghu Grandhige’s spiritual journey started with attending Swami Chinmayanandaji’s family camp at Orlando, FL in 1989. From that time on, she has been attending family camps. In 1992 she had the fortune of meeting Swami Tejomayanandaji. She attended the 13th Vedanta course conducted by Swami Tejomayanandaji . Now she resides in Tucker, GA and is trying to spread the little knowledge gained in the course. Her recent educational activity was Dharmasevak course in Piercy learning Swetswatara Upanishad.
She has been conducting and coordinating the Bala Vihar classes since 1990. After attending the first Dharma Sevak course in 1997 in Piercy CA, she stared a Devi group in Warner Robins, GA. She has continued to actively participate in Study groups since 1994. Since returning from the Vedanta course she expanded her teaching activities to various study groups and two weekly Bala Vihar classes.
