Press Release
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, May 19, 2005: During 2005 the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago is celebrating 75 years of service in Chicago. The Society was founded by Swami Gnaneswarananda of the Ramakrishna Order in 1930. For many years the Vivekananda Vedanta Society was the only Hindu group in Chicago and carried on the work which was started by Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions in 1893. Under a succession of capable swamis, the Vivekananda Vedanta Society continued its work of spreading the ancient spiritual teachings of Hinduism. Swami Gnaneswarananda passed away in 1937, and Swami Vishwananda took charge. Under Swami Vishwananda the work gradually grew, and the Society was able to purchase a place of its own at 44 East Elm Street in 1955. When Swami Bhashyananda took charge in 1965, the Society quickly outgrew its home at Elm Street and relocated to its present location at 5423 S. Hyde Park Blvd. Swami Bhashyananda also purchased and developed the Vivekananda Monastery & Retreat in Ganges, Michigan. Swami Chidananda came to Chicago in 1991 and was appointed head of the center in 1993. Under his leadership the Society has purchased 15 acres of land in Homer Glen and is building the Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple to house its work in the future. As part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Vivekananda Vedanta Society will hold a conference on “Vedanta For The Global Village” at the Vivekananda Monastery & Retreat in Ganges, MI, June 24-26. 13 swamis of the Ramakrishna Order will participate in what will be one of the largest gatherings of swamis in America. For more information about the conference you can contact the Vivekananda Vedanta Society at (773) 363-0027 or send an email to info@vedantasociety-chicago.org.