Chitrabhanu, Gurudev Sri (1922– ) Jain
monk and teacher of ahimsa
Gurudev Sri Chitrabhanu is a very popular Jain
preacher and advocate of nonviolence as a way of
life. He was the first Jain master to leave India to
preach and lecture in the West. Gurudev Sri Chi-
trabhanu was born on July 26, 1922, in Rajasthan,
India. After an experience of spiritual awakening
at the age of 20, he became sensitive to questions
of the purpose and meaning of life. His search for
answers led him to the JAIN religion. For 28 years
he lived the life of a monk, the first five years in
silence. Through his practice, Chitrabhanu came
to the realization that the purpose of life is to be
liberated from attachment and desire. Leaving
the monastery with this wisdom, he promoted a
message of enlightenment and became known to
millions across India.
Chitrabhanu became an advocate of AHIMSA
(nonviolence) during the same period that
Mohandas Karamchand GANDHI pursued his
nonviolent struggle for Indian independence.
After the upsurge of violence afflicting the West-
ern world during the 1960s, Chitrabhanu made
a conscious decision to spread ahimsa around
the world. In 1970, he was invited to the Sec-
ond Spiritual Summit Conference in Geneva. He
became the first Jain master ever to travel to the
West, excusing himself from the doctrine that
Jains should travel only by foot. The following
year he attended the Third Spiritual Summit
Conference at Harvard Divinity School and lec-
tured at a number of universities in the eastern
United States. In 1974, he founded the Jain
Meditation International Center in the Ansonia
section of New York City.
The center follows the fundamental principles
of ahimsa, promoting the mission to create unity
within the diversity of humankind. Chitrabhanu
teaches that everyone must become his or her
own master, believing that the approach to peace
begins with oneself in everyday living. The mis-
sion of one’s life is to realize this inner mastery
and peace. The JAIN MEDITATION INTERNATIONAL
CENTER includes 67 centers across North America
as well as in England, Africa, Japan, and India.
Chitrabhanu has written over 25 books on
self-realization, liberation, and peace. He con-
tinues to give talks at various centers around the
world. Chitrabhanu and his wife, Pramoda, are
the main advisers for the Jain Meditation Interna-
tional Center.Further reading: Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu and
Leonard M. Marks, Realize What You Are: The Dynam-
ics of Jain Meditation (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1978);
Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu and Lyssa Miller, The Psy-
chology of Enlightenment: Meditations on the Seven Energy
Centers (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1979); Gurudev Shree
Chitrabhanu and Clare Rosenfield, The Philosophy
of Soul and Matter (New York: Jain Meditation Inter-
national Center, 1979); Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu
and Clare Rosenfield, Twelve Facets of Reality: The Jain
Path to Freedom (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1980); Clare
Rosenfield, Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu: A Man with a
Vision (Bombay: Divine Knowledge Society, n.d.).chitta See YOGA SUTRA.
Chittirai festival
The Chittirai festival that takes place in Tamil
Nadu state, in MADURAI and Alakar Kovil Temple
and points in between, is one of the largest South
Indian festivals. It takes place in the Sanskrit lunar
month of Chaitra (Tamil, Chittirai), correspond-
ing to April or May. It brings together the Shaivite
and the Vaishnavite (see SHAIVISM; VAISHNAVISM)
communities of the region in a single, two-part
celebration. Apparently, this larger festival is in fact
a combination of two festivals that once took place
a few weeks apart. The joining of the two into one
festival was the work of the Telegu king of Madurai
Tirumala Nayak (1623–59).
The Madurai part of the celebration tells the
tale of MINAKSHI, the goddess of Madurai, and her
marriage to Sundreshvara (Shiva). It is focused onK 112 Chitrabhanu, Gurudev Sri