Swami Sivananda guided Swami Chinmayananda “You want to master the scriptures, Go to Swami Tapovanam, the Great teacher from Kerala, your own home state.”
Swami Chinmayananda crossed the Ganga and proceeded to Brahmananda Ashram where Swami Tapovanam stayed a few months each spring. After greeting the Mahatma, he asked him whether it would be possible to study Vedanta under him. Swami Tapovanam replied that he would be willing to give classes; however it would be upto the student to take the treasures of the scripture and apply them in contemplation He said “I will only teach once. I will not repeat. If i ask you any question and you cannot answer, you will have to leave.” Swami Chinmayananda agreed. He in turn would ask so many questions and not allow Swami Tapovanam to move to the next topic, till he was clear about what was taught.
Swami Tapovanam told him that he could begin classes when they return to Uttarkashi before the Monsoon rains began.
Upon reaching Uttarkashi, Chinmaya was anxious to begin a Vedantic text but there was no hurrying Swami Tapovanam. “We will start next month after we go up to Gangotri. You contemplate on what you have already studied. Get those ideas clear before you add on more!”
Himavat Vibhooti Swami Tapovanam
“A God without a temple, a Veda without language was this master mind. He lived for sixty eight years, as a monumental expression of an ideal Vedantic teacher. Swami Tapovanji Maharaj was not a person. He was not just any historical entity, he was not a saint of the ordinary order, he was indeed a miracle and a great blessing for the society that he lived in our times. The glory of what the mission is doing is all his glory. He sat down in the verandah of his hut for 45 to 50 years, ever established in his own Self and expressing it in every movement of his. Everything of his was a glorification and a reflection of the Infinite Self in him.
Swami Tapovanji Maharaj is a presence, a light, a fragrance, a glow. As such, it is impossible to communicate it. A light, a joy is something to be experienced. The only way to communicate is that you also study the Gita and learn to live the righteous life and experience what Swami Tapovanam is. Invoke His grace, a very powerful one, to make you an adhikari for the study of the Upanishads and for help in meditation. Make use of Him - if you can.
Swami Tapovanam was an institution uncaused and he caused no cause. He came from nowhere, existed everywhere and ultimately went to be everywhere. Keep him in your heart and let him do the work and purify you.” - Swami Chinmayananda
About the statue of Tapovanji
On March 27, 1978, the statue of Swami Tapovanam was installed. Swami Chinmayananda desired that his guru should be present as a Guardian Angel to shower his blessings over the entire activities of Sandeepany Sadhanalaya.
"Ours is a great responsibility. We, his sishya-family have to see that He finds an ample field in our individual bosoms to express Himself. It is not sufficient that we evolve ourselves - we must learn to release Him to be visible here. It is a glorious chance now to take a sacred oath upon ourselves that we shall not rest contented until He is fulfilled. Hindu revival is the Tapovana Vratam.
At least we, who are his immediate disciples, must consider the full moon day of each month as a sacred day for fasting, study, prayer and deep meditation. Let us observe the Poornima day as a day for inspiration and self dedication till the Tapovana Vratam of Hindu Revival is accomplished!
I shall consider myself fulfilled if my life and work become my message of adoration and gratitude to my Teacher. Words can never gather Him in their embrace. Love alone can. Let us all adore Him and work for His fulfilment which is the goal of Chinmaya Mission.”