Fulfilling a Divine Prompting: The Commentary That Was Meant to Be
Swami Chinmayananda, a name synonymous with the revival of Vedanta in modern times, once visited Bhagavan Nityananda at Ganeshpuri. On one such occasion, Bhagavan—whose ways are ever beyond conventional understanding—posed a simple yet profound question to Swamiji: whether he would offer a commentary on the Chidaksha Geeta, drawing upon his vast knowledge of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedantic tradition.
Swamiji, deeply moved by the request, cherished the idea. However, the demands of his mission and his global responsibilities left him unable to pursue this divine prompting. Yet, in 1962, Swamiji did pen the introduction to Voice of the Self—a compilation of selected aphorisms from Chidaksha Geeta by Shri M. P. Pandit of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. In it, Swamiji made a rare and powerful affirmation:
“His intimate devotees need not now feel His absence because the Voice of the Self is Swami Nityananda—the Unmanifest.”
In these few words, he conveyed a profound truth: Chidaksha Geeta is not merely a collection of spiritual sayings—it is Bhagavan Nityananda Himself speaking through the infinite space of consciousness.
Today, by Bhagavan’s inscrutable will, the seed sown in Swamiji’s heart finds expression through Shri Vinodji, who belongs to the very spiritual lineage of Swami Chinmayananda. Deeply grounded in Advaita Vedanta, Upanishadic wisdom, and the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Vinodji has undertaken what is perhaps the first comprehensive commentary on the Chidaksha Geeta through the lens of classical Vedanta.
This is no small task. The Chidaksha Geeta, though deceptively simple in language, hides within it the depths of a realised Avadhūta’s experience—non-linear, paradoxical, and luminous. To interpret it in the idiom of Vedanta, without losing its mystic intensity, requires not only scriptural clarity but also inner intuition, both of which Shri Vinodji brings forth with devotion and discrimination. They are on the YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@walkingwithbaba
This work makes Bhagavan Nityananda’s teachings accessible to sādhakas, seekers, and scholars alike. It bridges the apparent gap between the esoteric utterances of a silent mystic and the analytical clarity of Vedantic tradition. It is a gift to all those who yearn to enter the subtle world of Chidakasha—the inner space of consciousness where truth shines without duality.
May this commentary serve as a guiding light for generations to come, and may the grace of Bhagavan Nityananda, Swami Chinmayananda, and the great Vedantic Rishis continue to uplift and awaken all sincere seekers.
— Dr Gopalkrishna Shenoy
Shri Vinod Bhat has shared his journey on:
