Our History

Sevaks and sevikas have been serving the Niagara Region through and with the teachings of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda since the late 1980s. Weekly classes were held from home to home until 1999 when Pujya Swami Tejomayananda created another chapter to Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

Classes for Bala Vihar, Yuva Kendra and Adults shifted to schools for the next few years. However in 2006, the Chinmaya Mission Niagara (CMN) committee felt the time had come to have their own home… and CMN moved ‘home’ in August of 2007! Pujya Swami Tejomayananda named the 16,000 sq. ft. facility as Chinmaya Dhara (Flow of Consciousness).

Just as there was demand for a centre in Niagara so too was there demand for a teacher. And the Guru-shishya-parampara has supplied the community with both. Born and raised in Niagara, Shri Vivek turned away from the ordinary pursuits of life and took up the extraordinary path within. Having studied Vedanta at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, India for over two years under the guidance of Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, Vivekji returned to Niagara to share this ancient wisdom with one and all.

Today, all activities are taking place at Dhara and are growing both in quality and quantity! Through Gita discourses and Vedanta discussions, Bala Vihar classes and celebrations, Bhagavan’s Puja and Bharata Natya, CMN’s volunteers continue to earnestly serve the community. And the regional community! CMN has established a chapter in London and is actively supporting the chapter in Cleveland.

Pujya Swami Tejomayananda has divinized Dhara at the Inauguration in 2009, the Murti Sthapana in 2010, a visit in 2011, a Jnana Yajna in 2013 and Satsanga in 2016.

Niagara has been fortunate to have many Chinmaya Mission Acharyas bless the centre and community with their presence and teachings over the years including our own Shri Vijay and Shrimati Madhu.