WASHINGTON: The US army has appointed Pandit Shyam Maharaj of Chinmaya Mission as a full-time Hindu chaplain. Commissioned on May 13, Maharaj becomes only the second Hindu chaplain in US military history.
The announcement was made by Chinmaya Mission West (CMW), which has served as the Department of Defense’s sole recognized endorser of Hindu chaplains since 1997. Born in California to a family of Fijian heritage, Chaplain Maharaj’s path to the US army has been deeply rooted in spiritual training and academic rigor. Having studied Sanskrit, pujas, and devotional music under the guidance of his gurus from a young age, Maharaj later earned a Master of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology - bringing both a traditional and scholarly approach to his role.
With prior experience as a hospital and hospice chaplain, Maharaj brings a well-rounded pastoral approach to the Army - offering support not only to Hindu soldiers but also to personnel of all faith backgrounds.