It gives us great joy to inform you that Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of YSS/SRF, arrived in India and reached Noida ashram on January 22, 2023 to begin his month-long visit to India. He was accompanied by Swami Kamalananda from SRF.
During his stay, Swami Chidanandaji presided over a special five-day programme of live-streamed talks and meditations at Hyderabad. The YSS Sangam 2023 was live-streamed February 12 – 16, and the events are still available for viewing.
We are happy to share here photos of Swamiji’s visit to different parts of India.
Serampore Pilgrimage Sites
While in Hyderabad Swami Chidanandaji made a joyous announcement of plans to develop two pilgrimage sites in Serampore connected with Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda’s guru.
The first of these relates to the banyan tree by the Ganges River that is a short way from Swami Sri Yukteswar’s hermitage in Serampore, under which he was visited by Mahavatar Babaji in 1894 (as recounted in Autobiography of a Yogi).
YSS has entered into an agreement with the municipality of Serampore to assume the management and maintenance of the area leading to the river from this sacred banyan tree. YSS has also acquired two large buildings adjacent to the banyan tree. In due course, YSS will develop plans for this site in order to provide a fitting meditative environment for devotees to feel the vibrations left there by the divine Babaji.
Swami Chidanandaji addresses devotees assembled under the sacred Banyan tree.
Swami Sri Yukteswar's Smriti Mandir, Serampore
Swami Chidanandaji kneels at the altar in the Swami Sri Yukteswar Smriti Mandir.
Swami Chidanandaji and party meditating in Swami Sri Yukteswarji’s sacred ashram.
The second site has to do with Swami Sri Yukteswarji’s main ashram in Serampore, where Paramahansaji received his life-transforming spiritual training of which he tells in the chapter “Years In My Master’s Hermitage” in Autobiography of a Yogi.
For many years Yogoda Satsanga Society of India has maintained a memorial temple (shown above) on a part of this ashram property. This Swami Sri Yukteswar Smriti Mandir was dedicated in 1977 by Sri Mrinalini Mata as part of the YSS Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
YSS has acquired ownership of the complete hermitage property. Plans are to eventually restore as much as possible of the original hermitage building, making available to spiritual seekers a pilgrimage site imbued with the vibrations of these great masters.
We look forward to sharing with you detailed plans for these two sacred pilgrimage sites in Serampore in due course.
Satsanga at YSS Noida Ashram
Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of YSS/SRF, gave a talk on “The Transformative Power of Kriya Yoga,” at YSS Noida ashram on February 26. This talk was attended by around 1,400 devotees and friends.
Swamiji spoke about the transformation that regular, devoted, persistent, devotional practice of the whole science of Kriya Yoga brings about.
Swamiji is at Noida for the last leg of his India tour.
Here are glimpses from Swami Chidanandaji’s satsanga at Noida:
Devotional chanting session led by Swami Kamalananda.
Swami Chidanandaji gives an inspiring talk on "The Transformative Power of Kriya Yoga" which was live-streamed also.
A section of devotees attentively listening to the talk.
Around 1400 devotees and friends attend the talk.
Swamiji releases the Hindi Hardcover edition of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi.
Swamiji greets devotees as he exits the hall after his talk.
Visit to Yogoda Satsanga Math, Dakshineshwar
After partcipating in the Sangam at Hyderabad, Swami Chidanandaji travelled to Yogoda Satsanga Math in Dakshineshwar. He conducted a special satsanga on Sunday, February 19, 2023. We are happy to share a few photos of the event below.
Swami Chidanandaji pronams to Guruji's photo before the satsanga.
Swamiji addresses the gathering...
...which was attended by YSS devotees, their families and friends.
Swamiji speaks on the importance of Kriya Yoga.
Devotees watching Swamiji's talk in the overflow pandal.
Swamiji explains developing the right attitude in facing life's challenges.
Around 800 devotees attend the event.
After the satsanga, Swamiji personally greets attendees...
...and gives prasad to them.
Visit to Hyderabad for participating in YSS Sangam 2023
Following his visit to Yogoda Satsanga Math Ranchi, Swami Chidanandaji arrived in Hyderabad on February 10th, 2023, for participating in the YSS Sangam 2023 which was held at Kanha Shanti Vanam. He shared wisdom pearls from Guruji’s teachings on how to navigate through life’s challenges and also led the participants in a special 3-hour group meditation. On February 16th, Swamiji gave a closing satsanga in which he inspired devotees how to take the Sangam experience with them.
Please enjoy a few photos of the event below.
Swami Chidanandaji receives a warm welcome from devotees upon his arrival at the event venue.
Swamiji greets Sangam participants at the event venue and also those joining online from all over the world during the opening programme.
Swamiji's enlightening talk in the main hall.
Devotees participate in group practice of the Energization Exercises.
Swami Chidanandaji leads all Sangam participants into a 3-hour group meditation which was live-streamed also.
Section of devotees meditating.
Swamiji greets volunteers serving at YSS Bookstall...
...and Kriya Registration counter.
Closing Satsanga by Swamiji...
...in which he shares insights on how to carry the Sangam experience home.
Devotees representing YSS and SRF thank Swamiji for the wonderful sangam.
Swamiji greets devotees...
...as he walks down the aisle after the closing satsanga.
Participants bid farewell to Swamiji with a joyous expectation of seeing him again.
Please click on the button below to view all the events which were live-streamed during the sangam.
Satsanga by Swami Chidanandaji at YSS Ranchi Ashram
Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of YSS/SRF, held a satsanga on February 5 at the YSS Ranchi ashram that was attended by around 800 YSS/SRF devotees, friends, and family members. Swamiji also led the assemblage in a guided meditation, and he personally greeted and gave prasad to the attendees as they departed.
On February 5, 2023, Swami Chidanandaji gave an inspirational satsanga with a guided meditation.
Swamiji starts the programme with lighting of the lamp...
and then delivers a satsanga.
Around 800 people including sannyasis and sannyasinis from other ashrams in Ranchi and various dignitaries participate in the satsanga.
Swamiji speaks on maintaining enthusiasm on the spiritual path…
and then leads the assemblage into an affirmation…
and a guided meditation.
Swamiji greets a sannyasini from Matrika Ashram…
and sannyasis from Adwait Swarup Ashram, Ranchi.
Devotees come forward to greet Swamiji and get his blessings.
Swami Chidanandaji personally blesses…
and gives prasad to the attendees after the satsanga.
Swamiji blesses the little ones of Children Satsanga.
A happy and joyous face after meeting the President of YSS/SRF.
Dedication of New Facilities At Yogoda Satsanga Educational Campus — Jagannathpur (Ranchi)
Swami Chidanandaji, revered president and spiritual head of YSS/SRF, dedicated the new facilities at Yogoda Satsanga Educational Campus in Jagannathpur, Ranchi, on January 29, in a memorable event attended by the dignitaries from Ranchi educational community, YSS monastics and devotees, faculty members and students of the YSS educational institutions. The function was attended by 1,100 people and also included a short video presentation showcasing more than a hundred years of history of the institution.
These state-of-the-art facilities were designed according to ancient Gurukul principles that Paramahansa Yoganandaji applied in his original school, such as studying in close proximity to nature. They include classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium, and an administration building. This modern school campus will be used by the students from the economically underprivileged section of society.
View below a few photos from the inaugural function.
Swami Chidanandaji is welcomed by the students.
Swamiji leads the gathering in a prayer.
He then unveils the plaque of the new Multi-Purpose Hall.
Swami Chidanandaji presents Guruji’s picture to one of the devotee donors.
Swami Chidanandaji address the gathering.
Swami Chidanandaji unveils the plaque of the new Yogoda Satsanga Vidyalaya complex.
Swami Chidanandaji takes a tour of the new school facility.
Swami Vasudevananda leads chanting before the inauguration.
Facade of the Multi-Purpose Hall.
Students sing Saraswati Vandana.
Swami Suddhananda, chairman of Yogoda Satsanga Educational Institutions, welcomes the guests.
Section of attendees.
Swami Vishwananda thanks the devotees who helped in the completion of the project.
Swami Smaranananda gives a vote of thanks.
View of the classroom clusters.
View of a classroom.
New administrative building of the school.
Visit to Ranchi
Swami Chidanandaji arrived at Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Math, Ranchi on the evening of January 24, 2023. Swamiji will be participating in various events during his stay in Ranchi. We are sharing here a few photos of his arrival.
Arrival in India
We are happy to share a few photos of Swamiji’s arrival at the Delhi airport and his welcome at YSS Noida ashram.
