Programme

• To gain an in-depth knowledge of Vedanta through the study of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and other essential Vedantic texts
• To acquire clarity about the spiritual path and the spiritual practices (sadhanas)

Medium of Teaching: English
Duration: Two-semester residential programme spanning over one year. Semester 1 – 16 October 2024 (Kojagiri Purnima) to 14 April 2025 (Vishu) Semester break – 15 April 2025 to 30 April 2025 Semester 2 – 1 May 2025 to 20 September 2025
Day of Commencement:16 October 2024 (Kojagiri Purnima)

For course donation and queries, contact: Phone: +919207711142 / +919207711077 / +919207711135 Email: vsc@chinfo.org

The course will have a limited number of seats and the admission will be based on an interview. Interested participants can download and fill up the application form.

Option 1 – Send the hardcopies with relevant documents to: Manager Chinmaya International Foundation Adi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad Ernakulam – 682313, Kerala, India Phone: +91 92077 11135 / Email: manager@chinfo.org

Option 2 – Scan and send the soft copy of the filled application form to: vsc@chinfo.org

Last date of sending in the completed Application Form is 31th July, 2024.

Mukhya Acharya – Pujya Swami Swaroopananda

In an era rife with scepticism and confusion about matters spiritual, Swami Swaroopananda is a rare voice that blends authenticity with accessibility; theory with self-practice; logic with heart. As a child, he heard many religious stories from his grandmother, tales from the great Indian epics and the lives of saints, and verses from the Guru Granth Sahib. These stories suddenly came to life, acquiring new meaning and depth, when as an adolescent he encountered the preeminent Master of Vedanta, Swami Chinmayananda. His heart completely moved and inspired, in 1984 Swami Swaroopananda gave up his family’s thriving business to undergo intensive training under Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai. He was initiated into the monastic order in 1992 by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. Since then, he has touched thousands of lives across the world, and his tremendous work in bringing out the essential wisdom and underlying unity of all religions has garnered him a place among the vanguards of self-development philosophy. He was formerly the Regional Head of Chinmaya Mission Australia, United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa and Far East, and presently Chancellor of the Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth Trust (University for Sanskrit and Indic Traditions) and Chairman of the Chinmaya International Residential School in Coimbatore, South India. In January 2017, Swami Swaroopananda was bestowed by Swami Tejomayananda the privilege to serve as the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission.

Resident Acharya – Swami Sharadananda

Swami Sharadananda Sarasvati, is a polyglot with expertise in Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy (Yoga and Advaita Vedanta) with an in-depth understanding of ritualistic and cultural traditions. A post-graduate in Advaita Vedanta, he secured a first rank at the All India level, and was awarded a gold medal from the prestigious Sanskrit university, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi. He had assisted Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda as the Sanskrit Acharya in the 13th Batch of the Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai. A year after this batch, he became the Acharya for the Purohit Course (batch of 2010) at Chinmaya Gardens, Coimbatore. He was also appointed as Upa-acharya for the 15th Sandeepany Vedanta Course (Batch of 2013) where he gave the students an excellent grounding in Sanskrit and Vedic Chanting. He was also the Acharya of the two-year residential Vedanta Course in Malayalam (2018 – 2020) at Kerala Sandeepany, Adi Sankara Nilayam. He is also a member of the Academic Council of Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (CVV).

Upa-acharya – Br. Ved Chaitanya

Brahmachari Ved Chaitanya, presently serving at Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), Kerala, is a skilled orator in English, Hindi, and Marathi. Hailing from a devoted Chinmaya Family deeply involved in the Chinmaya movement, he drew inspiration from revered Swamins like Pujya Swami Purushottamananda and Swami Siddheshananda. A distinguished scholar with an Engineering degree from Pune University, Vedji worked in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) before joining the two years’ residential Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya under the guidance of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda and the tutelage of Swami Advayananda and Swami Sharadananda. On completion of the course, he received the Brahmacharya diksha on Ganesh Chaturthi in 2013. Holding a post-graduate degree in MA Sanskrit from Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth and presently pursuing his Ph.D., Vedji embodies youthful dynamism coupled with genuine wisdom. Personally, Vedji exudes cheerfulness and kindness, endearing himself to everyone, from youngsters to adults.

The purpose of the residential Vedanta Sadhaka Course is to provide an ideal opportunity for all the sincere seekers to learn Vedanta.In this course spanning two semesters within a one-year duration, students withdraw fully from worldly life and follow a disciplined schedule of classes and activities in an ashram setting to promote learning, reflection and contemplation.

Through the entire duration of this intensive residential course, the Acharyas closely observe and monitor the progress and development of the sadhakas. Sadhakas are expected to live a life of discipline in the gurukula. The daily schedule includes the study of Vedanta and Sanskrit, Vedic chanting, Meditation, Bhajans, and Satsangs.

Sadhakas will be methodically guided through the wisdom of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Prakarana-granthas of Vedanta, authored by Adi Sankaracharya, Swami Vidyaranya and other saints. Texts unveiling the practice of Bhakti like Ramayana and Bhagavatam will also be studied. They will also learn to read and write in Devanagari and the basics of Sanskrit grammar.

The program will be structured into two semesters as follows:

Semester 1:

• Duration: 16 October 2024 to 14 April 2025
• Certification: Certification in Advaita Vedanta

Semester Break: 15 April 2025 to 30 April 2025

Students have the option to either return home during the break or choose to stay at the campus facility by paying a nominal fee.

Semester 2:

• Duration: 1 May 2025 to 20 September 2025
• Certification: PG Diploma/Diploma in Advaita Vedanta

All applicants will be considered for and admitted into Semester 1 of Vedanta Sadhaka Course only. Admission to Semester 2 of Vedanta Sadhaka Course will be determined through mutual decision, taking into account the discretion of the Acharya, sadhaka-readiness, and the sadhaka’s expressed interest to pursue further.

• Single accomodation (option of non-AC and AC)
• Simple sattvic vegetarian food
• Textbooks

• Sufficient clothes (suitable for ashram wear)
• Essential medicines (can be purchased as need be)
• Stationery (notebooks etc. can be purchased as required)

Ashram Discipline
Attending all classes is mandatory with no exceptions. Apart from classes, the sadhakas are expected to study, reflect and contemplate on the teachings. The sublime atmosphere of Adi Sankara Nilayam, the maternal birth-home of Sri Adi Sankaracharya, enables the seeker to turn inward effortlessly. All the sadhakas are expected to follow the instructions of the Acharyas and adhere to the ashram discipline.

Dress Code
Sadhakas are to attire themselves in clothing suitable for an ashram atmosphere. Women: Saree or Salwar Kameez Men: Pants or Dhoti and Kurta or shirts. No shorts or inappropriate western wear.