The Chinmaya Mahasamadhi Aradhana Family Camp is an auspicious time when Chinmaya families from across North America gather to celebrate the glory and vision of Swami Chinmayananda. The 2024 Mahasamadhi Aradhana camp is very special as it will occur during the 108th Birth Year of Swami Chinmayananda. Swami Chinmayananda is the embodiment of Infinite Bliss (Ānandam), Enthusiasm (Utsāham), and Sweetness (Madhuram). Let’s revel in His glory and experience Chinmaya Mahima.
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center,
North Bethesda, MD 20852
This is a residential camp. Everyone is expected to stay in the hotel. The registration fee includes lodging and boarding for the duration of the camp. Parking is included for people driving to the venue.
There are 3 accessible airports to the venue.
Participants need to arrange their own transportation from and to the airport. Hotel is also within walking distance from the metro station, North Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line. The Dulles Airport and Ronald Reagan Airport are both connected to the hotel via the metro.
Guided by
Swami Swaroopananda
Swami Swaroopananda is the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission. The mantle of this important responsibility draped his shoulders from 19 January 2017, when Swami Tejomayananda passed on the baton to him. He chairs Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT), the apex governing body of Chinmaya Mission Centres and Trusts the world over. He is the Chancellor of Chinmaya University (Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth) and Chairman of Chinmaya International Residential School in Coimbatore, one of the most well-respected and well-performing residential schools of India.
Swami Shantananda
Swami Shantananda is the resident Swamiji of Chinmaya Mission in New Jersey and the President of Chinmaya Mission West, which oversees all centers in the USA. He also guides Chinmaya Ganapati Center in Minneapolis.
Swami Shantanandaji is well known for his unparalleled devotion to Lord Krishna and for his absolute devotion to his Guru, Swami Chinmayanandaji.
Swami Dheerananda
Swami Dheerananda is an ardent devotee and disciple of Swami Chinmayananda. He was placed as the Resident Swamiji in Chinmaya Mission Washington Regional Center (CMWRC) by Swami Chinmayananda in the year 1989. Swami Dheerananda is the last disciple directly initiated into Sannyasa by Swami Chinmayananda, receiving Sannyasa Diksha on May 23, 1993. Today, he oversees and guides the activities of CMWRC. Under Swamiji’s leadership CMWRC has grown from one chapter and a handful of families to five chapters and more than a thousand families across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Swami Ishwarananda
Swami Ishwarananda is the resident Swamiji at Chinmaya Mission Los Angeles and guiding Swamiji of Chinmaya Mission Seattle. Swamiji is presently one of the Directors of Chinmaya Mission West (CMW) which oversees the activities in North America. An accomplished master of Vedanta philosophy, Swamiji explains the universality of spiritual teachings in a simplified manner for audiences to grasp and for seekers to implement teachings in day-to-day living.
Swami Siddhananda
Swami Siddhananda, a graduate of Kerala University, joined Chinmaya Mission in 1972 at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, and studied Vedanta under Swami Chinmayananda. He was fortunate to meet Gurudev in his youth. He served at the Chinmaya Mission Chennai for many years and at the Chinmaya International Foundation Cochin for a few years. He has inspired generations of youngsters through his love and dynamic active association with the Chinmaya Yuva Kendra and worked with them on many spiritual and social projects in Chennai, India. Swamiji is the resident Acharya at Chinmaya Mission “Kedar” at Langhorne and has been in charge of Chinmaya Mission West Publications Division for the last several years.
Today, he is the man behind the success of revitalizing the sales of Chinmaya Publications in the West. Swamiji regularly conducts Satsangh, Camps, and many youth/Bala Vihar classes in Tri-State areas and also visits the Chinmaya Mission West centers. He is an artist and a singer. He has composed many Bhajans and has released CD albums. Hari Om Smaran, Shivoham, and Sivam Sivakaram Shantam are the most famous among them.
Swamini Radhikananda
Swamini Radhikananda (of Chinmaya Mission, New Jersey), formerly known as Brahmacharini Arpita, received sannyasa initiation from Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda on Mahashivaratri day, February 17th, 2015. In 1987, she joined the two-year Vedanta course at ‘Sandeepany Sadhananalaya,’ in Mumbai, India, under the blessed guidance of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda. Since 1989, she has served at several CM centers in the U.S., most recently in St. Augustine, Florida, from 2004 to 2021 before coming to New Jersey.
Besides conducting Vedanta classes and assisting at Bala Vihar children’s Camps, she has participated in numerous Interfaith programs and presentations on “Understanding Hinduism” to university Comparative Religion classes. She presently assists at the Chinmaya Vrindavan center in Cranbury, NJ, and feels a special calling to bring the life-transforming vision of Vedanta to the Western community via Gita classes at local Yoga studios and other venues. She considers this service through Chinmaya Mission to be her greatest joy and privilege!
Swami Aparajitananda
Swami Aparajitananda in his poorvaashram, was an Electronics and Communication Engineer. After working in Bangalore as a lecturer in an Engineering College for five years, he resigned from the job to study the Indian scriptures in depth. After undergoing an intense training in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya at Mumbai for two years, Swamiji
joined Chinmaya Mission as a full time Acharya. In the year 2018, on the Maha Shivaratri day, Swamiji was given Sannyasa Deeksha. Swamiji has served the Mission centres of Karnataka in Bangalore, Mysore and Shimoga. Right now, he is serving the Chicago Chinmaya mission.
Swami Prakashananda
Resident Spiritual Head Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago
During His tenure as a young college student at the York University of Toronto, a fortuitous meeting occurred when Swami Prakashananda attended lectures on Hindu Philosophy conducted by none other than our Pūjya Gurudev Swami Chinmayānanda. Swami Prakashananda recently completed a tour of the Caribbean teaching Sri Ram Charit Manas.
Swami Sharanananda
Swami Sharanananda hails from Puri in Orissa. Inspired by Pujya Gurudev H.H. Swami Chinmayanandji, he joined the two-year brahmachari training course in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, in 1986. Because of Swamiji’s dedication to Pujya Gurudev and his selfless service to Chinmaya Mission Chicago, the center has thrived and expanded to serve the spiritual needs of many neighboring communities.
Brahmacharini Shubhani Chaitanya
Brni. Shubhani Chaitanya is a disciple of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. Born in Manila, bred in New York, and built-in Bharat, she has grown through Chinmaya Mission as a Bala Vihar child, a dynamic CHYK (Chinmaya Yuva Kendra), and now a Brahmacharini posted in Chinmaya Mission New York.
Brahmacharini Stuti Chaitanya
Brahmacharini Stuti Chaitanya has been exposed to scriptural teaching since her formative years. Her family actively participated in the spiritual engagements at the local community Mandir, and frequently conducted satsaṅga-s throughout the country.
Brahmachari Hari Chaitanya
Br. Hari Chaitanya was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Brahmachari Hari Chaitanya has been associated with CMDFW since he was a Kindergartener at Chinmaya Saaket. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Texas at Dallas and was an active member of CHYK Dallas. He is now posted in the Dallas center.
Brahmachari Soham Chaitanya
Brahmachari Soham Chaitanya was born in a spiritual family devoted to the Chinmaya Mission. The opportunity to listen to satsangs from various Swamins and Brahmacharins introduced him to spirituality from a very young age. Listening to the Bhagavad Gita discourses by Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji and Ramayana discourses by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji brought him to Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai. He completed the 17th Vedanta Course under Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji’s guidance and Pujya Swami Bodhatmanandaji’s tutelage. Sohamji presently serves at Chinmaya Mission Center in San Jose, CA.
Vilasini Balakrishnan
Vilasiniji served as Pujya Gurudev’s personal secretary for many years and currently serves on the Boards of Chinmaya Mission West and CMWRC. She was instrumental in launching the Hindu chaplaincy certificate course through CVV and conducting popular Vedanta retreats nationwide.
Vivek Gupta
Recognized as a singular voice among contemporary spiritual teachers, Vivek Ji invites people of all ages to pursue lives of purpose and independent joy. Over the last fifteen years, Vivekji’s unique blend of formal monastic training with the hard-earned wisdom of life experience has made philosophy relevant and reachable across cultures and generations.
Brahmacharini Akalka
Brni. Akalka was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then in San Diego, California. In 2013, she arrived in Trinidad and Tobago to attend the 2013 Residential Vedanta Course under Resident Acharya Swami Prakashananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago.
Upon completing her studies, Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda posted her to serve in Trinidad and Tobago. Under the guidance of Swami Prakashanandaji, she taught Sanskrit during the 2016-2018 Residential Vedanta Course batch of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago and in the IV and VI Youth Empowerment (YEP) Courses conducted by CHYK West under Swami Sarveshanandaji.
She now serves the Mission in various endeavors, including teaching Sanskrit in the Chinmaya Vidyālaya, conducting Satsangs and study classes.
Brni. Akalka ji is currently serving at Chinmaya Ramdoot since September 16th, 2021.
Registration Fees:
Registration fee includes room charges (including taxes), camp materials, snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the duration of the camp.
Parking is included if you are driving to the venue.
| Registration Categories(includes hotel room accommodation) | Early Bird Rates (till | Regular Rates(From 04/18/2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Family/SIngle Room Occupancy | Lodging: Room charges $960 Camp Fees: Add Each Adult – $950 Add Each Elderly (75+) – $650 Add Each CHYK – $650 Add Each BV Child – $150 | Lodging: Room charges $1200 Camp Fees: Add Each Adult – $1125 Add Each Eldery (75+)- $750 Add Each CHYK – $750 Add Each BV Child – $350 |
| Shared Room Occupancy(Double Adult Occupancy) | Room Charges $480 and Camp Fees $950 | Room Charges $600 and Camp Fees $1125 |
| Shared Room Occupancy(Double Elderly Occupancy) | Room Charges $480 and Camp Fees $650 | Room Charges $600 and Camp Fees $750 |
| Shared Room Occupancy(Double CHYK Occupancy) | Room Charges $480 and Camp Fees $650 | Room Charges $600 and Camp Fees $750 |
| Shared Room Occupancy(Quad CHYK Occupancy) | Room Charges $240 and Camp Fees $650 | Room Changes $300 and Camp Fees $750 |
** Tax Deduction Information – 50% of the Camp Fees are tax deductible. Hotel Room Charges are not tax deductible.
Definitions for Registration Categories:
- Family Room – All members of a family stay in the same room. Also, you can choose this option for adult, senior or CHYK individual attendees who do not want to share the room. The maximum room occupancy is 4 people. If you need to book more than one room, you need to register for each room separately.
- Shared Room – Option for an adult or CHYK willing to share the room with others who they may not know (you can specify the preference for roommates on next page). You will be registering only one adult or CHYK with this option.
- Age Groups:
- Elderly (75+) – Born on or before September 1, 1949
- Adults (31-74) – Born between September 1, 1949 and August 31, 1994
- CHYK (18-30) – Born between September 1, 1994 and August 31, 2006
- BV Child (4-17) – Born between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2020
- Children 3 and below – born after September 1, 2020
- They will attend for free with their parents but will not be allowed in any discourses. Please let us know if you will need babysitting arrangements. These will be available to those who reserve it (additional cost may apply).
Cancellations & Refunds:
- All requests for cancellations and refund must be sent via email to msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org
- Full refund for cancellations until April 30, 2024.
- May 1 – June 30, 2024: 50% refund for each adult/senior/CHYK and a full refund for the accompanying child.
- From July 1, 2024, onward, no cancellation is allowed; all payments, including child registration, will be forfeited.
- We will process your cancellation request as soon as possible.
- During the camp dates of July 29th to August 3rd, hotel accommodation (for 5 nights) is included in the registration fees.
- If you would like to extend your stay to enjoy the DC area further, special accommodation rates will be available a few days before and after the camp. Please book additional dates directly with the hotel
Nearby Things to do around the Camp Venue:
Following attractions are easily accessible via Metro.
- Washington Monument
- United States Capitol
- The White House
- Library of Congress
- Lincoln Memorial
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- World War II Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Offering bhiksha is an act of reverence, worship and an expression of gratitude. During the bhiksha, families will have time to revel in the blessed presence of Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji and interact with Swamiji in a relaxed atmosphere.
Offer Bhiksha to Swami Swaroopananda
Bhiksha Categories – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
$501.00 per Bhiksha Offerring
(Limited Spots Available)
Become A Sponsor for 31st Chinmaya Mahasamadhi Camp
It is a great privilege and opportunity to pay homage to Pujya Gurudev and His mission by being a sponsor. Various sponsorships are available as detailed below.
Major Sponsorship Categories
Pramukh Yajamān
$27,001.00
Includes
Camp Registration for Four
One or Two Hotel Rooms
Special Momento
Join for One Bhiksha with Swami Swaroopananda
Special Reserved Seating at all events
Satsang with Swami Dheerananda (one evening)
Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda (donors and sponsors)
Saha Yajamān
$21,001.00– Maximum 5
Includes
Camp Registration for Two
One Hotel Room
Special Momento
Join for One Bhiksha with Swami Swaroopananda
Special Reserved Seating at all events
Satsang with Swami Dheerananda (one evening)
Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda (donors and sponsors)
ĀRĀDHANA Day Puja YAJAMĀN
$21,001.00
Includes
Camp Registration for Two
One Hotel Room
Special Momento
Join for One Bhiksha with Swami Swaroopananda
Special Reserved Seating at all events
Satsang with Swami Dheerananda (one evening)
Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda (donors and sponsors)
Dainik Yajamān
$5401
Includes
Special Reserved Seating for all events
Satsang with Swami Dheerananda (one evening)
Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda (donors and sponsors)
Sponsor for Swami/
Swamini/
Brahmacharin
$2501
Includes
Special Reserved Seating at all events
Satsang with Swami /Swamini/ Brahmacharin/ Brahmachari whom you sponsor
Anna Kshetra Sponsorship
| Sponsorship Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Anna Kshetra Yajaman Sponsor Includes Registration Fee waived for 1 Registrant Satsang with Swami Dheerananda(one evening) Special Reserved Seating at all events Opportunity to Lead Chapter 15 chanting at all lunch and dinners Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda(donors and sponsors) | $15,001 |
| Anna Kshetra Saha Yajaman Sponsor Includes Satsang with Swami Dheerananda(one evening) Special Reserved Seating at all events Opportunity to Join at Chapter 15 chanting at all dinners Group Satsang with Swami Swaroopananda(donors and sponsors) | $7501 |
| Chinmaya Anna kshetra Sponsor Offered to honor a departed loved one, to celebrate , a birthday , anniversary, or any special occasion. Sponsor One Lunch or Dinner | $1001 |
Other Sponsorships
| Sponsorship Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pushpaka(Sponsor flower for one day between July 30th – Aug 2nd) | $251 |
| Arati(performed three times a day after each lecture) | $101/per Ara-ti |
“If one offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully accept that article offered by the pure-minded with devotion.”
The Bhagavad Geeta | Chapter 9, Verse 26
Donation/Gurudakshina
Make an offering as a token of gratitude to the Gurus.
(Select Swami Swaroopananda Gurudakshina from the drop down)
For inquiries, email us at msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org
Please email us at msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org for any questions not answered below.
It may be due to the auto population of phone numbers in your browser. Clear the phone number and type it in manually. Do not use auto-fill done by the browser.
We use Paypal as the Credit Card Payment Processor but it is not necessary for you to have a Paypal account to pay by Credit Card. You also need not login to your Paypal account to pay by credit card.
Below are the steps for paying by Credit Card
- Click “Click here to Pay” on the Terms & Conditions page.
- On the next page, click “Donate/Pay” to see payment options.
- Users with a PayPal account will see payment options as defined in PayPal. It will also have an option to Add a debit or credit card.
- If you do not have a PayPal account, you will see the page below. Valid Email or mobile number is required to complete the payment with a Credit or Debit Card. One time password will be sent to validate email or mobile number.
- After that you will see the page below to enter the Credit Card details and complete the Payment.
Please use the link provided in the confirmation email to check the status of your registration. The status page will show details of your registration and balance to be paid. You can click the ‘Donate/Pay’ button to go to the Payment screen and follow the steps for Credit Card payment.
Installment Payment option is available if you choose to pay by Check. Members can mail the check in up to three equal (more or less) installments payable by April 30th, 2023. For example, if your payment due is $2860, you may consider your installments as $955, $955 and $950. You could also pay in two installments of $1430. You may send all the checks (some post dated) together, so you do not have to mail multiple times. We will deposit those checks after the dates you have mentioned on the checks. The installment payment option is available until the end of early bird registration date (i.e., 03/03/2024).
Please make the checks payable to “CMWRC“, write “MSC 2024, Family ID: <>” in the memo and mail the check/s to Prakash Soman, Treasurer CMWRC, 6541 South Street, Falls Church, VA-22042.
When Family Occupancy is selected, please make sure the correct number of family members are specified by using appropriate dropdown selection for each category of members in your family. Based on the total number, the next page will capture the details for all the members of the family.
Please send a note to msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org. We will add the person/s to your registration if the room capacity allows. After that, you can pay the balance. Please see the answer above for how to pay your balance.
We will try to accommodate CYHKs with CHYKs and adults/elderly with adults/elderly.
If your friend has not yet registered, please have them add your name as the requested roommate. If both have registered, please send a note to msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org
The family registration is restricted for up to 4 people. The main reason for the restriction is that the rooms only have full/double size beds (not queen or king size). The hotel does not provide rollaway beds and rooms are not big. Please visit the Hotel Web Site for details of room and bed sizes.
Two double/full size beds may not be enough for a family of 5. If you have small children and believe you may be able to fit your family in one room and would like to register, please contact msc2024registration@chinmayadc.org