Acharya Darshana Nanavaty Memorial Fund

Acharya Gaurang Nanavaty and Acharya Darshana Nanavaty founded Chinmaya Mission Houston (CMH) in 1982 after completing a rigorous two-and-a-half-year Vedanta residential course in Piercy, California.
From that beginning, Acharya Darshana Auntie dedicated herself to teaching Hindu scriptures to children. She believed passionately in the importance of engaging children early to help them become responsible citizens of the world. With her calm and nurturing demeanor, she transformed the Bala Vihar program from a small gathering in 1982 to an organized initiative serving nearly 1,000 students and supported by over 80 dedicated teachers.
Under the blessings of Pujya Gurudeva and the encouragement of Swami Tejomayananda, the future global head of Chinmaya Mission, Acharya Darshana Auntie developed the Bala Vihar curriculum textbooks for every grade from PreK to 12. These resources reflect her unwavering commitment to making Hindu scriptures accessible and relevant to children at all stages of their learning.
Acharya Darshana Auntie’s devotion to children extended to publishing a variety of prayer books, including “Shlokathon,” “Prarthana Piyusha,” and “My Prayer Book,” which complement the Bala Vihar curriculum. She also authored “Bon Voyage,” a children’s book filled with simple yet profound spiritual messages.
Recognizing the need for young adults to continue their spiritual journey after graduating from Bala Vihar, Acharya Darshana Auntie created mobile apps like “Gita 365,” “Vedanta Daily,” “Upanisad Daily,” and “Gita Chanting.” These apps, featuring 3- to 5-minute audio clips, allow users to engage with spiritual content at their convenience and have gained popularity among audiences of all ages worldwide.
Over her 40-year journey, Acharya Darshana Nanavaty dedicated herself to developing teaching materials, training teachers, and writing and directing plays that convey scriptural messages. Her contributions to the spiritual upliftment of children globally are truly immeasurable.
In recognition of her profound impact, Chinmaya Mission Houston has established the “Acharya Darshana Nanavaty Memorial Fund.” This fund honors her legacy and supports deserving children through scholarships and other resources to aid their spiritual growth.
If you wish to support the Acharya Darshana Nanavaty Memorial Fund, please visit the “Donations” section of the CMH website. Thank you for your generosity.