Aaadi Sankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam
Balakrishna Menon (Balan) was born in Ernakulam, Kerala in a devout Hindu noble family called "Poothampalli" of Makia Awwa and Kuttan Menon. Upon his birth, his father called for an astrologer, who stated that Balan's birth was an auspicious one, and that he was destined for greatness. He graduated from Madras University in 1939 and went on to do graduate study in English literature from Lucknow University ].  [edit] Initiation and disciple hood  Swami Chinmayananda on the day of his Sannyas initiation, standing on the right of Guru Swami Sivananda and other disciples, Feb 25, 1949, Maha Shivratri Day, Rishikesh.  Balan entered the field of journalism, and worked for The National Herald, where he felt he could influence political, economic and social reform in India. While working at the Herald, he went to meet Swami Sivananda at Ananda Kutir, Swami Sivananda's ashram in Rishikesh as he planned to write an article critical of Hindu monks, but instead his life was changed forever and he became interested in the Hindu spiritual path. Balakrishna Menon took sanyas deeksha(monkhood) from Swami Sivananda on Mahashivratri day in February, 25, 1949 , and was thus given the name Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati - the one who is saturated in Bliss and pure Consciousness. He stayed at Sivanada Ashram, Rishikesh for several years, and subsequently Swami Sivananda saw further potential in Swami Chinmayananda and sent him to study under a guru in the Himalayas - Swami Tapovan Maharaj under whom he studied for the following years.   Swami Tapovan Maharaj was known for his rigid teaching style, to the point where he told Swami Chinmayananda that he would only say everything once, and at anytime he would ask questions to him. Even with these extreme terms, Swami Chinmayananda stayed with Tapovan maharaj until the very end of 8 years. Being a journalist at heart, Swami Chinmayananda wanted to make this pure knowledge available to all people of all backgrounds, even though Tapovan Maharaj had initially advised against it. Through gentle suasion and a promise that he would, as the Ganga, take the knowledge to the plains for the benefit of all Indians, with Tapovan Maharaj's blessings, he left the Himalayas in 1952, to teach the world the knowledge of Vedanta.