Installation of Bhuvaneshvari Devi Temple and Inauguration of Chinmaya Bhuvanam Ashram (Chinmaya Mission’s Brisbane Centre for Vedantic Studies promoting Knowledge, Devotion and Service)
On Saturday the 26th of July 2025, a spiritual seed planted by His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, on his visit to Brisbane in 1991 finally took fruit.
Chinmaya Mission Brisbane was a hive of activity as devotees, guests and friends celebrated the inauguration of Chinmaya Bhuvanam, the Mission’s newest Australian Ashram, at 8 Julie Road, Ellen Grove. Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji (Pujya Swamiji}, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission presided over the joyous event.
The auspicious day began with a traditional Puma Kumbha welcome for Pujya Swamiji, Swami Shrikaranandaji, Spiritual teacher for Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide Region, Swami Aprokshanandaji, resident teacher for Perth and Brahmacharini Vasudhaji from Melbourne. The Sthapana ceremony for the installation of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi, the presiding deity at the Ashram, commenced with invoking the blessings of Sri Ganesha, Vastu pooja and Navagraha Pooja. Thereafter, Nethronmeelanam (opening of the eyes) ceremony, performed by Pujya Swamiji accompanied by the chanting of auspicious vedic mantras completed the installation and consecration of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi.
The inauguration was graced by the attendance of Federal MP and speaker the right honorable Milton Dick; the Consul General of India, Honorable Neetu Bhagota; Federal MP, the Honorable Margi Nightingale and leaders from a wide cross section of local Hindu religious and cultural associations. Perhaps the happiest guests were the builders, Tom Tokich of Ahrens and Simon McGuire Project Manager. They witnessed the unique purpose-built structure they had worked on for months transform into a sacred spiritual hub, alive with colour, beauty and joyous cultural activity.
All those gathered were spell-bound, captivated by the mesmerizing beauty of the glistening marble murti of Mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi. In this form she is indeed Maha Tripurasundari, the loveliest, Tripuramohini, the enchantress, and Tiruparapalini, the protector of the three worlds. Following the completion of the Sthapana ceremony, Devi Puja was performed by devotees worshipping Bhuvaneshwari Devi was with flower$, fruits and naivedyam.
Thereafter, Pujya Swamiji addressed the devotees and guests noting that a cherished dream had come to fruition. He thanked the donors and the army of workers and devotees for their dedicated seva in making Chinmaya Bhuvanam, Centre for Vedantic Studies, a reality. Emphasizing that understanding the knowledge of the Self is what leads to peace, love and harmony in the world, Pujya Swamiji noted that the study of the scriptures and Vedanta are essential for understanding one’s own true Self. Understanding one’s true Self leads naturally to understanding the purpose of life and to embracing a greater vision leading to a life·that is filled with happiness and is productive to the whole society, to the nation and to the world. It was with this noble objective that Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayanandaji, designed various programs for all age groups, from the ‘womb to the tomb’ and beyond, Chinmaya Mission offers programs from garba samskara (Pre-natal) through Shishu Vihar (0-4 years), Bala Vihar (Primary school), Yuva Kendra (Teens & Youth), Adult study groups and Vanaprastha groups for senior citizens, all of which nourish and foster both spiritual development and serve as a pathway to leading a productive life. Chinmaya Bhuvanam, Centre for Vedantic learning through knowledge, devotion and service will offer all of these programs.
Pujya Swamiji explained that Bhuvanan means the entire universe and Bhuvaneshwari Devi means goddess or ‘mother of the universe’. He explained that just as our own home can be called a home only wtien there is true love for everyone, and mother epitomizes that love, so we have invoked Bhuvaneswari Devi as the Divine Mother to bless our Centre, our homes, our city and our nation.
With the completion of the Sthaphana of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, Pujya Swamiji said that the Divine Mother is now present in Chinmaya Bhuvanam endowed with all love and all power to bestow upon all seekers, the knowledge of all sciences and the greatest of all sciences, the science of Knowledge of the Self. Pujya Swamiji said that Goddess Bhuvaneshwari with Her blessing hands represented Her ever readiness to remove all our fears and bestow boons. She also held an Ankush (goad) and a Pasha (rope) in her hands to signify that She is the devotee’s saviour to rescue them from the ocean of transmigration, the ocean of change and uncertainty. The Ankush (goad) signified that She is the all-powerful Mother who reins in our haughtiness and ego. Just as our own mother is the controller of our home, the Divine Mother holds the Ankush (goad) in her hand to guide and lead us in the right path. Pujya Swamiji concluded by invoking Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi and the Guru Parampara to always bless, guide and uplift everyone from the world of sorrow, change and uncertainty and guide us to our inherent nature of Sat Chit Ananda – infinite, eternal and blissful Self. The morning’s program concluded with special Aarati songs for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and Chinmaya Bhuvanam composed by Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji.
The Aarati can be downloaded through the QR code below:
The Inauguration programme concluded with prasad -a delicious feast all home-cooked and prepared with love by many mothers. Pujya Swamiji also had a satsang in the evening at the Chinmaya Bhuvanam ashram and outlined the contribution the Centre would make through its activities. He implored all to uphold Sanatana. Dharma and Bharatiya culture with pride by following it earnestly and enabling the future generations also to follow the path. Pujya Swamiji noted that many ancient cultures across the world had perished but the Bharatiya culture, the eternal Sanatana Dharma, is the only culture that has stood the test of time. It was only due to upholding the Bharatiya culture, respecting our Gurus, saints and sages and following the tradition and path of knowledge chalked out by them that this was possible. It is imperative For the true seekers of knowledge, Pujya Swamiji said that the Divine Mother, Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, is ever willing to bless them, guide them in the path of Dharma and protect them. Just as our own mother keeps showering us with love, protects us from all dangers and guides us in the right path so also Goddess Bhuvaneshvari, the Divine Mother, is the combination Durga, Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati ready to answer all our earnest prayers, set us on the right path and bestow on us true knowledge, abundance and love. And for that all we need to do is invoke Her earnestly and with dedication.
Pujya Swamiji, invited the audience, devotees, sevaks and sevikas to keep their devotion ever fresh by visiting Goddess Bhuvaneshvari, the Divine Mother of the entire universe at the aptly named Brisbane Ashram -CHINMAYA BHUVANAM -as often as possible and engage in spiritual learning and seva, and to inspire as many others as possible.
In concluding his talk, Pujya Swamiji reminded all that the year 2026 is the 75th anniversary of the Chinmaya Mission and a grand celebratory event, Sammelan, is planned to be held at Bharat Mantapam in New Delhi, India, from October 23rd to October 25th, 2026. Pujya Swamiji invited all the devotees, sevaks and sevikas to attend the event and assist with organizing.
Pujya Swamiji noted that, these days, not many people know even one verse of the Bhagavad Geeta -the ultimate manual for self-unfoldment -and, with that in mind, he had put together 5 verses from the holy text and aptly named it Gita Panchamrit. Pujya Swamiji implored all to learn this Gita Panchamrit, apply it in our daily lives and spread it out to maximum number of people.
The Gita Panchamrit can be downloaded through the QR code below.
The inauguration of Chinmaya Bhuvanam and the installation of Mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi provide a beautiful sacred space for Hindus in Brisbane as well as an opportunity for all seekers, regardless of background and religion, to grow spiritually as part of a community dedicated to knowledge, devotion and service.
Join Chinmaya Mission Brisbane to make a positive difference in your life and to those around you! Visit our website https://www.chinmaya.com.au/pages/brisbane-centre.
—Sevak Anantharaman
In Your Service
At His Feet
