Our Acaryas
Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty and Acarya Smt. Darshana NanavatyThe Dedicated Pioneers Of Chinmaya Mission Houston
Since 1982, Sri Gaurang Nanavaty and Smt. Darshana Nanavaty have enriched the Houston community with the treasured scriptural knowledge of Vedanta. Their most revered Guru, Pujya Gurudeva Swami Chinmayananda, conferred the title of “Acarya” on the devoted couple in 1983. The beloved Acaryas of Chinmaya Mission Houston are also affectionately addressed as “Uncle” and “Aunty” by their expanding Chinmaya family.
As early as in 1979, the Nanavatys, inspired by Gurudeva, gave up their professional careers and immersed themselves in an intense study of the Hindu scriptures during the Vedanta Course at Piercy, California. After that, their commitment to the Vedantic path of life took deep roots in Houston. In more than three decades since 1982, their loving guidance has grown to nourish the scriptural learning and cultural growth of almost a thousand families.
While their selfless work makes their love for the community visible, it is a matter of happy pride to the Houston community that our Acaryas of Houston were recently honored and highlighted among the “Jewels of Gujarat” – in a 2014 Silver Jubilee publication (by Maneesh Media) featuring 80 eminent Gujarati personalities selected from fourteen countries.
Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle
Every Sunday, in two sessions, Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle conducts satsangas for adults and parents of the Chinmaya Bala Vihar children. His discourses on a wide range of Vedantic texts, from the Bhagavad Gita to the Upanishads, encourage reflection and contemplation while catering to seekers at all levels of experience. He also guides many Study Groups on the other days of the week to make Vedanta applicable in daily life. With a deep sense of caring alongside a framework of discipline, Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle can make an audience smile and think about many facets of both secular and spiritual life. He travels to various Chinmaya Mission locations in the US, Canada, and overseas to share the wisdom of Vedanta.
Known for his organizational skills, Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty is also a respected trustee of Chinmaya Viswavidyapeeth, an upcoming University for Sanskrit and Indic Traditions, the newest venture of Chinmaya Mission in India. He continues to serve as one of the Directors on the Chinmaya Mission West Board since 1982 when Pujya Gurudeva appointed him.