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Why chant Gīta?
Swami Pujya Guruji Tejomananda gives a beautiful answer in this video.
Swami Chinmayananda, dedicated his life to spreading the eternal wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. Recognising the importance of introducing these teachings early in life, he initiated the Chinmaya Gita Chanting Competition (CGCC) – a unique endeavour to instill the values of the Bhagavad Gita through the sacred practice of chanting
What began as a Bala Vihar initiative has blossomed into a cherished global tradition. The CGCC is now a central activity of Chinmaya Mission Centres worldwide, welcoming children, youth and adults alike – all united by love for the Bhagavad Gita.
Gīta Chanting Challenge
The Gīta Chanting program began as a Bala Vihar activity that has now expanded to include the participation of all age groups. Gurudev envisioned the chanting competitions as a doorway to life-long friendship with the Gita, kindling a progressive journey from chanting to studying to learning to living the Gita.
The Gīta Chanting Challenge for this year will be conducted on March 1, 2026. (There will not be any mid-year challenge).
Participants chant individually in front of a moderating panel.
The Rules and Judges’ Scoring Rubric may been downloaded here.
Notes
- Participants are required to chant from memory.
- Verbal prompting may be given by JUDGES ONLY
- As per the Chinmaya Mission west rules, there will strictly be NO SECOND PROMPTING. In order to encourage participants to chant all verses that they have learned, judges will give a second prompt when asked. However, the verses chanted after second prompt will NOT be considered towards the final score.
- Marks will be deducted for mistakes – Refer to “Pronunciations” section of Evaluation criteria manual.
- It has been observed that most participants are chanting all the assigned verses for their grade, In those scenarios, the pronunciation/confidence/diction play the major role in the final scores and determining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place recipients.
- To avoid conflict of interest: Judges/GITA teacher(s) are excluded from competition.
- They can participate in the chanting session, but won’t be scored.
- Judges do NOT evaluate members of their own family.
Syllabus 2025-26
This year, we will be collectively learning bhakti-yogaḥ, the twelvth chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
Teaching Schedule
• Bhagavad Gita chanting will be taught as part of the assembly 3-3.30 pm
• Gita Chanting extra practice classes will be held from 4.45-5.15 pm
Bhagavad Gita teachers
Assembly: Niranjan Jayanth
Junior (grades PreK-2): Sharada Madduru
Intermediate (grades 3-6): Sreekant Pasumurthy
Senior (grades 7-12): Anita Iyer
Adults: Jayanthy Jayanth
Gita Challenge
This year there will be only 1 Gita Challenge on March 1, 2026.
Verses for Evaluation 2025-26 – coming soon
Gīta Challenge Resources
Chapter 12
Lyrics/Chanting Videos
| English and Sanskrit side-by-side | View/download |
| Sanskrit | View/download |
| English | View/download |
| Reference Video | View More |
| Reference Audio | Coming soon |
Vocabulary Lists:
| Shishu, Bharadwaj, Prahlada, Dhruva | View/download |
| Sandeepany, Vashista | View/download |
| Vyasa, Shankara, Chinmaya, Tapovanam, Adults | View/download |
Instructional Videos:
Sanskrit Chanting Primer Video (Provided by Chinmaya Vrindavan Cranbury)
Additional Resources from Chinmaya Mission West:
CMW Gita Chanting Webpage
Samashti Gita Chanting
On occasion of Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav – the 75th anniversary of the Chinmaya Mission – there will be a Samashti chanting on Zoom from all centers of Gīta Chapter 15.
Please visit the Amrit Mahotsav page for details regarding Samashti Gita Chanting Programs.
Chapter 15 Lyrics/Chanting Videos
| English and Sanskrit side-by-side | View/download |
| Sanskrit | View/download |
| English | View/download |
Gita Panchamrit
Pujya Guruji and Pujya Swami Swaroopananda ji have selected 5 verses from Bhagavad Gita for every one to memorize. These select verses encompass the essence of teaching of the Bhagavad Gītā.
| English and Sanskrit side-by-side | View/download |
| More Information | View |
| CCMT Reference Audio – Solo chanting | View |