` 100/- Annual

S I VA N A
MI N
A

SW

DA

Live to love all. Live to serve all. Live to realise the Truth.

134th Birth Anniversary

September 2021
 THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love!
Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.
Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
Thou art Satchidananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute).
Thou art the Indweller of all beings.

Grant us an understanding heart,

Equal vision, balanced mind,
Faith, devotion and wisdom.
Grant us inner spiritual strength
To resist temptations and to control the mind.
Free us from egoism, lust, greed, hatred, anger and jealousy.
Fill our hearts with divine virtues.

Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.

Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us ever remember Thee.
Let us ever sing Thy glories.
Let Thy Name be ever on our lips.
Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.

—Swami Sivananda

WAY TO BEATITUDE
You cannot attain nal beatitude by mastering a million
scriptures, by practising rigorous austerities. Brahman can be
realised when all Vasanas and Trishnas perish, when word ceases
and thought dies, when the veil of ignorance is rent asunder, when the
mind is absorbed in its Source, when the senses are curbed in toto,
when the Brahmakara Vritti rises, through constant Nididhyasana
and through the Grace of the Guru.
 THE DIVINE LIFE
Vol. LXXX SEPTEMBER 2021 No. 06

PRASNOPANISHAD
PANCHAMA PRASNA (QUESTION V)
SATYAKAMA AND PIPPALADA

{Vòmo _mÌm _¥Ë`w_Ë`… à`wº$m AÝ`moÝ`gº$m AZ{dà`wº$m…Ÿ&

{H«$`mgw ~mømä`ÝVa_Ü`_mgw gå`Šà`wº$mgw Z H$ånVo k…Ÿ&&6Ÿ&&
The three Matras when employed separately are
mortal; but (when they are) connected with one another,
they are not wrongly employed. (When they are) properly
employed, in all the internal, external and middle
functions, the knower trembles not.

3
4 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

‘hmJwédU©‘mV¥H$mñVmoÌ‘²
MAHAGURU-VARNA-MATRIKASTOTRAM
Jnana Bhaskara Mahamahopadhyaya Sri S. Gopala Sastri

ao ao ^{º${dd{O©Vm: IbOZm: ! ‘m ¶mV e¡bmpÝVH$‘²

{Z˶mZÝXHw$Q>raH$ÝXa‘wIo nmno^{dÐmdU: &
Jdm©‘f©‘wImZ² ‘¥JmZ² àe‘¶Z² Jå^radrjmoë~U:
XþY©f©: Ib‘X©Zmo@Ì ¶{VemXÿ©bmo {h {dH«$sS>{V &&35&&
O Impious and unrighteous Ones! Don't go near the mountain.
A tiger in the form of a saint dwells in the cave of Ananda Kutir, who
drives off the elephants of sins, vanquishes the beasts of pride and
anger, whose look is majestic and dreadful, who is unconquerable
and who punishes the wicked.
{d{eï>^{º$ ñda‘w»¶dU©H«$‘mZwgma§ J«{WVm JwUmT>çm &
{d{MÌd¥Îmm ñVw{Vê$n‘mbm g‘{n©Vo¶§ JwénmXnX²‘o &&36&&
The oral garland in the form of this Stotra glorifying Sri
Gurudev, composed with great devotion in the sequence of the seven
cases (grammatical), vowels and consonants, describing virtues and
various incidents (metres), is devotedly offered at His lotus feet.
kmZ^mñH$aXmgoZ JwénmXmãOaoUwZm&
g‘{n©V{‘X§ ñVmo̧ nR>Vm‘ñVw ^ì¶X‘² &&37&&
Let this Stotra worshipfully dedicated by a devotee, the Jnana
Bhaskara, who is a particle of dust at the feet of Sri Gurudev, give all
prosperity to those who chant it with devotion.
SEPTEMBER 2021 SRI SIVANANDA STUTI 5

lr {edmZÝX ñVw{V
SRI SIVANANDA STUTI
Sri Swami Krishnananda
{h‘m{ÐàmoÎmw“m‘ag{bbgmam‘¥V‘¶m&
OJÝ‘mVm J“m dh{V ¶V EZmohþVdhm&
‘hmXþ:IÜdmÝVméU G {fdamo ^m{V OJV:
{edmZÝX: ñdm‘r Ob{YöX¶mo OrdVw {Ma‘²&&1&&

Where the world-mother Ganga, with her immortal waters

owing from the heaven through the lofty Himalayas, rushes forth
like a re destroying all sins, there shines the supreme sage who is a
sun to the darkness of the great sorrow of the world! May that
Sivananda, the Swami, possessed of a heart wide like the ocean, live
long!

XXm{V àrUm{V k CéH$aUmo ܶm¶{V ‘w{Z-

X©¶m{gÝYw: ñdmË‘mo{XVgwI{Z‘½Ýmmo@{IbJwé:&
¸${MX²~mbmo am‘: ¸${MX{n ¶wdm d¥Õ{YfU:
{edmZÝX: ñdm‘r Ob{YöX¶mo OrdVw {Ma‘²&&2&&
He gives, loves, knows and meditates. He is the source of
wonderful divine activity. He is a Muni. He is an ocean of mercy. He is
merged in the joy derived form his own Self. He is the Guru of all.
Sometimes he is like a child. Sometimes he is very pleasing.
Sometimes he looks like a youth and at other times like a mature
brained person. May that Sivananda the Swami, possessed of a
heart wide like the ocean, live long!
6 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

‘hmË‘m g§Ý¶ñV{ÛV¶‘{Vg{ƒËgwIKZ:
namÛ¡V~«÷må~w{Y ^¥X‘¥VÎdmZw^dYr:&
OJÛÝÚ: ñdm‘r O¶Vw na‘mZÝX‘w{XV:
{edmZÝX: ñdm‘r Ob{YöX¶mo OrdVw {Ma‘²&&3&&
He, the great soul, has renounced the sense of duality and
has immersed himself in the Mass of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss.
He oats in the ocean of the Supreme Non-Dual Brahman. He has
no thought except of the immortal Experience. May that Swami
rejoicing in the Supreme Bliss, praised by all, triumph! May
Sivananda, the Swami, possessed of a heart wide like the ocean,
live long!

namo ¶moJr ¶moJÜdOna‘h§gmo {dO¶Vo

{ed: emÝVmo@Û¡V: à‘w{XVg‘ñVmË‘dXZ:&
Ahmoam̧ bmoH$moÕaUöX¶mo ¶mo@‘¥VnWo
{edmZÝX: ñdm‘r Ob{YöX¶mo OrdVw {Ma‘²&&4&&

There glories the supreme great Yogi, with Yoga as his

support, the Paramahamsa who is blessed, peaceful and non-
dual, who brings joy to all through his smiling face! Day and night,
he engages himself in lifting up the world towards the path to
immortality. May Sivananda, the Swami, possessed of a heart
wide like the ocean, live long!
Birthday Message

SELF-REALISATION

Children of Light!
Behind this world-show, behind these physical
phenomena, behind these names and forms, behind the
feelings, thoughts, emotions and sentiments, there dwells the
silent witness, thy immortal friend and real well-wisher, the
Purusha or World-teacher, the unseen Governor or Master, the
unknown Yogi, the invisible Power or consciousness or hidden
Sage. That is the only permanent Reality and living Truth. This
is Brahman or the Supreme Being or the Absolute. That is
Taken from DL 1943

7
Atma. That is Self. The goal of human life is to realise the Reality
behind the changing phenomena. The summum bonum of
human aspiration is to attain Self-realisation. Self-realisation
alone can break the bonds of Karma. Self-realisation alone can
make you absolutely free and independent. Trust not your
body, mind and the senses. Have inner spiritual life. Attain
knowledge of the Self through steady devotion and discipline.
Drink the nectar of immortality, quench the ames of Samsar
and allay the tortures, miseries and sorrows.
Friends! Is there not a higher mission in life besides eating,
sleeping and talking? Is there not any higher form of eternal bliss
than these transitory and illusory pleasures? Is there not a more
dignied life than the sensual life? How insecure is our existence
in this earth-plane with various kinds of fear? How painful is this
mundane life? Should we not attempt diligently now to reach a
place—the Immortal Abode, your original sweet home of pristine
purity and divine splendour—where there is eternal sunshine,
absolute security, perfect peace and where there is neither
disease nor death nor war?
Come, come, become a Yogi. Come out of your narrow
holes or ruts. Crush all sorts of superstitions. Aim high. To
become an advocate or a doctor or an engineer or a professor is
the height of your ambition! Can this give you freedom? Can
this give you eternal bliss? Can this give you everlasting peace?
Can this make you immortal? Do you not like to attain
perfection or immortality? Do you not wish to achieve the
summum bonum of existence—Kaivalya or
independence—Atma Swarajya? Then come, struggle for
higher things. Be bold. Look not back. March forward. Enquire
"Who am I?" Hear, reect, meditate and realise the Atmic
splendour!
OM is Satchidananda. OM is Innity. OM is Eternity. OM
is Immortality. Sing OM. Chant OM. Feel OM.

8
SEPTEMBER 2021 SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE 9

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
Sri Swami Sivananda
1. Some persons take a fancy to with others, if you cultivate mental
question the existence of God. poise, emotional balance, goodwill
Existence of God is not dependent on towards all, if you expect less and try
intellectual conviction. Even if you to give more, if you think of yourself
doubt about God's existence, you less and think of others more, you will
cannot deny it. Even if you deny all surely nd the way to peace.
forms of existence, you continue to 2. Even this will pass away.
exist, and admit to yourself your Keep this motto always in mind. You
existence. It is existence, the life- have to be emotionally and spiritually
principle that sustains all. This mature and strong-minded. Be bold.
sustaining principle is God. Human Be brave. You cannot achieve
mind cannot conceive of It in Its true anything without hope. Be full of hope
state. Therefore, one has to ascribe to for the good. Be sprightly. Be a little
It names and forms such as the more interested in things around
various deities. Absence of a particular yourself. Be active and never resort to
concept of God need not be a form of self-pity. Life has no mercy for the
denial of God. Everybody wants kind- weak. In strength lies happiness. In
ness, sympathy, affection. Everybody determination lies progress. In effort
wants to be happy. God is mercy, love, lies success. Cheer up, and lead a good
happiness. God is the fragrance in life. A good life is a godly life. A good life
owers, warmth in sunrays. God is assures happiness.
truth. Everybody wants truth, 3. You should experience more
whether one resorts to it or not. No one peace and happiness during
likes to be deceived. Why should one meditation. There should be a
worry about the existence of God? permeating sense of well-being. The
Lead a good life, and be at peace with mind should be unrufed, and one-
yourself and with others. If you tread pointed. These are the marks of
the straight path, and live amicably progress in meditation.

Taken from D.L. 1959

10 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

4. The most important of all, desires, attachment, and evil

spiritual practices should nd their qualities. Moksha is fruition of holy
practical materialization in one's daily aspiration, blossoming of virtues,
life, i.e., in the form of thought, be- balance of mind, and spiritual
haviour, action. You could easily spot happiness. When this is attained,
a spiritual aspirant by the way he through spiritual enlightenment,
behaves, talks, and lives, especially complete desirelessness and
his private life. One cannot be exhaustion of Karmas, one merges
spiritual at heart and yet worldly in the Absolute.
outside. Spirituality is a living 8. I will detail some of the main
experience. factors in judging one's spiritual
5. It is not that one nds Yogis attainments. There should be inner
only in the mountains. They could be happiness and spiritual fullment.
found in busy cities as well, leading a The mind should not run after
normal life of mundane activity. worldly objects. It should be more
They do their duties as instru- steady and one-pointed. There
ments of God without expectation should be unrufed peace and inner
of reward or binding attachment. harmony. The most fundamental of
Find happiness in the divine path, all, one should be continuously
which is open to all, in every steadfast on the path of truth, one
condition of life. should be completely devoid of
6. The Lord is the best judge. anger, hatred, attachment and
Accept His will. Even this will pass selshness. The mind must be
away. Everything that exists in this perfectly balanced in all conditions.
world must pass away some day. Life The effects of distress or worldly
is full of inner happiness and animation should be conspicuous by
fullment if one turns one's mind their insignicance. If you do not
more and more towards God. Blessed nd a measure of these qualities,
are they that have suffered, for they spirituality has failed to have its
shall nd happiness in the divine. effect.
7. Moksha in the relative (From Sri Swami Sivananda's
plane is freedom from mundane replies to letters of spiritual aspirants)
SEPTEMBER 2021 SWAMI SIVANANDA'S MORAL AND SPIRITUAL ... 11

SWAMI SIVANANDA'S MORAL AND

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE FOR HUMANITY
Sri Swami Chidananda
The leading Lights of of higher, nobler aspiration and a
Bharatavarsha from time loftier seeking after the attainment of
immemorial have ever striven to guide sublime, eternal values. They have
the stream of spiritual life along the dedicated their lives to the task of
lines of Dharma towards a endowing the human being with a
progressive realisation of integral loftier vision, inspiring and enthusing
perfection. Dharma supports man's him to earnestly endeavour for the
life here on earth. Dharma bestows achievement of ethical and spiritual
prosperity. Dharma brings all-round perfection, which is the true and
fullment of man's aspiration here. worthwhile goal of human life. A truly
Finally, Dharma becomes the means and inspiringly representative of this
for the attainment of the great goal of unforgettable galaxy of blessed
life, of Supreme Freedom or Moksha. awakeners of humanity in this
The renement of the human material-minded twentieth century is
nature and the gradual evolution of the sagely Swami Sivananda of
the human consciousness, from its Rishikesh.
state of grossness and impurity into To bring about the recognition
an ideal state of purity, goodness and and an acceptance of the spiritual
Divine Perfection, has been the life's purpose of man's life, to reinstate the
endeavour of numerous great souls moral law and a consciousness of
who have adorned this hierarchy of moral values in all spheres of human
men of living wisdom through activity, to guide modern men and
succeeding generations. Their women of both hemispheres, through
idealism has not been otherworldly. a life of practical idealism towards a
They have striven for the harmonious and integral unfoldment,
transformation of man's life here on and to admonish, exhort and urge
earth from a state of animalistic quest them to live in willing conformity with
after the constant appeasement of his universal ethical standards— such is
lower sensual appetites unto a state the noble task being carried out by

Taken from DL 1969

NOTE: This article was written during the lifetime of Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.
12 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

this saintly man of wisdom. He has through a decade of intense penance

dedicated himself completely to the and meditation, Swami Sivananda
above task. Swami Sivananda and his rose to the role of an awakener and a
mission have been ceaselessly doing leader at the juncture when the
this noble work for more than thirty- inevitable reaction of this sudden
ve years. His work is dynamic. boom came with the equally sudden
Ceaselessly and tirelessly this holy Wall Street crash and its aftermath. It
man of God has kept himself at this left the whole world bewildered. And
sublime Mission, until a gradual in the years that have followed, the
revolution has been brought about in world has never had a chance to
the outlook on life, sense of values recover from its bewilderment and
and attitudes and ideals of countless nd its moorings. For, there followed
thousands of sincere men and women the disastrous Second World War on
literally all over the world. a global scale, that has now given
Swami Sivananda is a unique place to the even more torturous and
phenomenon in many ways. Stepping nightmarish cold war, which is
into this eld of spiritual life, at what stiing all people in its ruthless grip.
is undeniably a turning point in the During all these years this one
near history of early twentieth man, more than anyone else, has
century, the period immediately after sustained the spirit of humanity with
the conclusion of the First World War his heartening and rousing message
and the tremendous boom that of strong positivism, intense spiritual
followed it, Swami Sivananda saw optimism, hope and active endeavour
before him a world suddenly released to spiritual attainment. Though living
from strife and tension, plunge into his simple life in his quiet Ashram
an unrestrained round of “eat, drink retreat, nestling on the slope of the
and be merry”. The intoxication of Himalayan foothills, he has yet
prosperity and the glitter of gold and entered into the life-stream of
silver made people everywhere to humanity the world over. The force of
shelve higher idealism and immerse his teachings, the inspiration of his
themselves in the pursuit of material idealistic life and the magnetic
acquisition and a life of sense- inuence of his powerful personality
satisfaction. have come to be felt as a living
Filled with the strange inward transforming presence in the lives of
power of the Divine, a result of his men and women of this century. His
Spiritual Illumination attained presence is felt as a saving-grace and
SEPTEMBER 2021 SWAMI SIVANANDA'S MORAL AND SPIRITUAL ... 13

a redeeming power in their frustrated of the chaotic, unethical activities.

lives, racked by the uncertainties and When truthfulness, selessness,
insecurity of this precarious post- honesty, purity, moral rectitude, etc.,
atom period. seem to be fast vanishing from
The people of today's world, human society, the gentle and
people in all walks of life, high and persuasive, but insistent and
low, nd in Swami Sivananda a persistent message of this towering
humane philosopher, a man though man of wisdom has replanted them in
uncommon, yet possessed of a fund of the life of man through his simple,
common-sense, sympathy and deep universal concept of Divine Life.
understanding of not only their Swami Sivananda's entire
inward spiritual problems and philosophy and outlook is based upon
intricate mental conicts, but also of his direct spiritual realisation and the
their simple practical daily difculties resultant deep and unshakable belief
as well as the intimate personal in the Supreme Almighty that governs
problems of their everyday life. Being and guides man's life here. This
guided by him, in private as well as Supreme Presence is to him the most
public affairs, men of eminence, tremendous fact of life. A vibrant
leaders and administrators and living faith in this Divine Presence
persons holding high positions and pervades all his life and enters into
carrying heavy responsibilities, have each and every thought and action
acquired a new vision and learnt a therein. His contact with IT is vital
simple technique of harmonising the and perennial and is unhampered by
claims of the world of matter, in which his perception of and his
they live, with the eternal inner call of participation in the normal affairs of
their essential, higher, spiritual men and things of this outside world
nature, the unfoldment and of matter. This is because, to him the
perfection of which is the great task whole world stands transgured as a
man is here to achieve. grand manifestation, a glorious and
By coming into contact with visible expression of the Divine
this spiritual luminary, even hard Substance, into which he has
matter-of-fact men of action, have perfectly entered and with which he
had light thrown upon the affairs of has perfectly integrated his own
their lives and the secret revealed to being. No wonder then that the Light
them of adhering to the path of virtue and the Wisdom that owed forth
and righteousness even in the midst from him were the power and the
14 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

illumining quality of the Divine Such has been the exemplary

Source with which he ever lives in Sannyasa life of our holy Gurudev
unbroken inner union. Sivanandaji Maharaj and such is the
His Holiness' act of signicance of his Tyaga done full
renunication and Sannyasa, done three and a half decades ago. The
thirty-ve years ago, has served giving up of his secular life has come
during these years as an to mean the bestowal of a lofty new
incontrovertible proof positive that Divine Life to countless people in this
this ancient tradition of holy present age of restlessness and
Bharatavarsha, that this ancient warfare. His renunciation or
heritage received from our by-gone Sannyasa has been a blessedness,
seers and sages is not a negative not merely to him as the renouncer,
lapsing into a selsh and careless but a blessedness to countless
quiescence (as it is sometimes thousands who have come into
thoughtlessly misconstrued) or an contact with his teachings.
unfeeling retreat from realities; but, The cultural genius of
on the contrary, it is an utmost Bharatavarsha, her wonderous
positive step, pregnant with the heritage of Yoga and Vedanta and the
possibilities of unlimited human ideals of Sanatana Dharma received a
welfare and containing within it the tremendous llip and became infused
seeds of seless service of the most with a new life through the life and
glorious type. It is a step by which teachings of Sri Swami Sivanandaji
man breaks out through the barriers Maharaj. To those who could perceive
of his little, limited and narrow life of it, it is an act according to the Divine
selshness and attachments and Plan.
soars high into the empyrean of world May the world respond to his
consciousness, cosmic love and Divine Life message! May the Master's
vision of world oneness. It transports radiant life and teachings inspire one
him into the eld of world service or and all! May this birthday anniversary
Loka Seva. This is the dynamic mark the dawn of a new day in the life
structure of genuine renunciation of modern man, wherein the spirit of
and true Sannyasa. It is vibrant with seless service and self-giving may
love and compassion, dynamic with replace that of greed and selshness
worshipful service and divinely and bring happiness and joy into the
pervaded by Karma Yoga in the spirit lives of all humanity!
of the gospel of the Bhagavad Gita. Hari Om Tat Sat!
SEPTEMBER 2021 SIVANANDA'S VISION OF DIVINE LIFE 15

SIVANANDA'S VISION OF DIVINE LIFE

Sri Swami Krishnananda
(Extempore talk given on the difculties are not expressed in
inaugural day of the 30th All-India Sanskrit or Hindi or English, or any
Divine Life Conference, held at known human tongue. There is an
Shivanandanagar on the 28th of agonising welling up of a controlling
September, 1979) organisation from within us which is a
This is the rst session of the language by itself, and each one of you
Divine Life Conference which may try to nd a little time to think
inaugurates the proceedings to be over this mysterious aspect of the life
conducted for three days, from now of each one of us. Our personal
onwards. Many of you, or perhaps all language is not anything that is
of you, might have attended similar known to the world. We do not speak
conferences at different times in many in any known human tongue to our
places in this country. And you must own selves, and our sorrows are not
all be having some idea as to what a expressible in English, Sanskrit, Hindi
conference would be or has to be. It is or any language. Therefore, if any
the Divine Life Conference and enterprise or project along the line of
naturally ideas of such conferences, divine living is to be vitally connected
get associated with living a religious with the redress of human sorrow, it
life, pursuit of the way of the Spirit, the has to be expressed in a language
art of divine living and the like, which which is acceptable to the human
are our concepts of the aims and sentiments. Thus it is that we nd that
objectives of conferences of this type. we have not been able to strike a
And conferences come and rapprochement between our own
conferences go and we go on in the personal lives and the congregational
same way as we were, due to peculiar life that we live in the world.
difculties which speak from within us This conference, especially that
in a language in which conferences are which is held here this time, in my
not addressed. The discourses are opinion, has a special signicance of
spoken in one language, but our its own. It has a distinctiveness from
problems are expressed from within ordinary Satsangas or the prayer-
us in a different language. Our meetings, the worships that we

Taken from DL 1980

16 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

conduct in which we pour forth our student of the Bhagavad-Gita or that

feelings to God the Almighty as our you are a devotee of God may be worth
Maker and the Maker of all things. If I its while, genuine no doubt, but your
am right, this conference has the knowledge of the circumstances of the
specic purpose of evoking the world may be very poor due to which
dormant powers in responsible the strength that you have in yourself
representatives of divine living who may not be upto the mark.
are gathered here in the cause of a If you read the Ramayana of
noble and exalted purpose which Valmiki or Tulasidas or read the
includes the good of the individual as Mahabharata, or epics of this type,
well as the good of society. We have a you will nd that the counter-forces to
double purpose in holding these divine aims were terric and the epics
conferences – to do good, in the way in like the Ramayana and the
which it has to be done for the Mahabharata are great examples
wellbeing of mankind, and to prepare before us to demonstrate that these
ourselves for this arduous task. The opposing forces were not of a mean
spreading of the gospel of divine life is nature. They were strong enough. The
possible only from a source which strength of counter-forces arises due
lives a divine life and we all may be to a conviction which goes deep into
under the impression that we are the soul of the person or the group of
divine-lifers. We belong to Divine Life people concerned and the force
Society Branches, we do Japa and becomes inseparable from the soul of
prayer, we read scriptures and we the person. The strength of the enemy
believe that God exists. We also or the strength of anything that is
believe that God is a great power. The invincible, lies in the union of the
belief in God with which we associate conviction of that person or the
ourselves somehow or the other, may organisation of persons remaining
make us feel that we are thoroughly inseparable from their souls. The
religious people and spiritual more your conviction becomes a part
stalwarts. But the world today of your soul, the more is your strength
requires a new weapon to launch forth to implement it and the strength does
the energy of divine living. Unless we not lie in the practice of any religion in
are fully equipped with the power of an ofcial sense. Your energies, your
counter-forces in this world, our powers, your capacities are not in the
efforts would not be of much avail. length of time which you have spent in
Your imagination that you are a the study of the Gita, or the rolling of
SEPTEMBER 2021 SIVANANDA'S VISION OF DIVINE LIFE 17

the beads. But your strength depends or the other, with a kind of secret
upon the extent to which your concept afliation of ourselves with material
or notion of divinity has been driven powers. We are not wholly
into the bottom of your soul. Today the nonmaterial. Materialism does not
counter-force can be called mean the doctrine of Epicurus or
materialism. It is not anything else but Charvakas. We may not be paying any
this. The strong opponent of the divine tribute to Charvaka or the materialist
power is called the material power. philosophers of ancient Greece etc.,
That which goads you to hold Divine but we may be materialists in a
Life Conferences and sets your minds different sense, and which is a more
thinking along these lines of important sense. Materialism is a
conferences of religion and belief that life is impossible without
spirituality, all these are stimulated by depending on something outside us.
the presence of material powers. If Now, if we have such a belief, we are
they do not exist, these conferences certainly materialists. Who amongst
would not be necessary. us can have the guts to feel from the
Now, we, who are all seated bottom of oneself that one can live
here, may be under the impression independently, totally, without
that we are religious people or hanging on external powers which are
spiritual seekers, not materialists of certainly material? You cannot hang
course. But, I may have to tell you on material powers as your support,
that, to come to a conclusion, whether unless you believe in the reality of
we are materialists or not, is not an those forces; and one who believes it is
easy affair. Because, we have to know a materialist. And we can judge for
rst of all, what materialism means, to ourselves whether we are all
come to a decision as to whether we materialists or something else.
are that or something else. There has Now this peculiar, subtle entry
been a perpetual harassment we have of an unbecoming circumstance into
been experiencing in our lives, in spite our personal lives, has been the woe
of our religion and so-called and the sorrow of every one of us.
spirituality. This harassment comes Unless you are able to diagnose the
from material forces, I have mentioned inner structure of your own
to you already. Now these troubles in psychological life in a very honest and
us, in our personal lives and in our sincere manner, believing that you are
society, should be identied somehow doing this analysis in the face of God,
18 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

in the Presence of the Almighty, in the been the way of our living. We have a
court of the Universal Judge of the social and political religion, to put it in
cosmos, not having a subtle difdence a proper way, which we have been
caused by an unfortunate feeling following in our outward life; but we
simultaneously that God may not be have a secret materialistic living in our
seeing you,—I am sure that we have a own hearts. Because, it is not true that
subtle feeling of that type also in we are always working through our
us—you cannot be happy. Who knows souls. We work through the body and
that we cannot hide certain aspects of through the senses. We have a great
our life from the Omniscience of the affection for the friends of the senses
Divine Eye. We are not fully convinced and the body and though it is true that
about the Existence of God, and Divine the soul can take care of us, if we
Life Conferences merely of a social entirely depend on it, we are not in a
type will not cut ice before the position to lay full trust in it. The trust
problems of human nature, unless in God or the trust in soul cannot arise
you dear friends seated here, though so easily, because of the suspicion
very small in number compared to the that our wishes may not be fullled by
large population of the humanity, are such a kind of total surrender to the
able to gird up your loins in the cause Self or what you call God. We have
of God and not have a subtle immediate requirements, and these
afliation, as a fth columnist, with immediate requirements are of such a
material powers also and I have pressing nature that we have a
already told you what these material suspicion whether that wish, that
forces are. requirement, can be fullled by a
Friends, I will tell you once remote so-called creator. This is the
again, it is not easy to love God and we truth of things and you will see, if you
should not have any kind of foolhardy touch your own hearts, that this is a
notion that we are already that. If we fact and you cannot deny it. And,
had been that, we would not be considering the whole situation in this
shedding tears. The problem is that, light, I should appeal to you all, as
we have not been able to convince followers of the great path, laid before
ourselves as to the supremacy of God's you by Worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami
existence. What to speak of our Sivanandaji Maharaj, that you are not
learning and our philosophies and our going to be merely members or
religions! The religion of God has not delegates of conferences, but you are
SEPTEMBER 2021 SIVANANDA'S VISION OF DIVINE LIFE 19

going to be representatives of divine ostensible commentary on the gospel

power. Your very existence is a divine of Divine Life. Again I have to reiterate
living and it is a Divine Life Society. that you are not expected merely to
The Divine Life Society is not look at your watch and just feel the
any kind of social organisation; it is time when you have to get up for your
not a show of buildings, gardens or lunch and for another session of the
motor-cars, equipments and ying delegates' meeting etc., as if it is a kind
planes. It is an ardent fervour that you of business, as a kind of transaction or
feel within you and I have heard with something that you have to do and
my own ears Sri Gurudev Swami then forget it. Not so is religion. Not so
Sivanandaji Maharaj telling us in a is Divine Life. Divine Life is not
small Satsanga that every devotee of something that you have to do and
God is a Branch of the Divine Life then forget it. As a matter of fact, it is
Society. It is not in Orissa, it is not in not something that you have to do at
Lucknow, it is not in New York. It is in all. It is a thing that has to be yourself.
the heart of every searcher or seeker of And Divine living is living; underline
the truth of things. A person who really the word living. It is not a mere
leads a truly religious life, is a Branch external expression or demonstration
of the Divine Life Society, which does of a social character so that you may
not mean Hinduism or any kind of receive encomiums or certicates from
religion in the commonly accepted people. To be conscious, that you are
character of denomination. It was the in the presence of God perpetually,
imperative emphasis of the Founder of would be a true divine living. And you
the Divine Life Society that Divine Life can know very well what would be your
is not Hinduism and in a sense it is not feelings and attitudes, if you are
even religion, if you are associating always to be awfully conscious of your
religion with a cult, or a creed or a faith proximity to the great Creator of the
or anything that has to abrogate Universe. There is no need to expatiate
something other than itself. It is an all- on this theme. If you are to be in the
embracing, absorbing, oceanic parent, presence of the Creator and then to
which is ready to redeem anything think and feel and act, what would be
that requires succour and which the type of your thinking and feeling
establishes an inward friendship with and acting? But, if you think and feel
creation as a whole. The life of Swami and act today, in your public life or
Sivanandaji Maharaj himself was an private life, in a manner which would
20 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

be different from the way in which you Sivanandaji Maharaj, would be to live
would be conducting yourself in the as he lived and to think as he thought.
presence of God, you cannot regard Very few of us will be in a position to
yourself as a religious person, or a think as he thought. That large-
spiritual seeker. And that would not be heartedness which is uncanny and
Divine Life. The very conviction of your unveiled in a personality of his type,
being a true divine-lifer in the light in very few of us can have. We are born
which I have tried to place it before business people, which means to say,
you, would create a surge of we always like to take things and go on
satisfaction from inside. You would be calculating how much has come. This
an unbounded source of happiness kind of economic and arithmetic
even if you are absolutely alone in a striking of balance sheet from one side
corner of this earth and you would not only and not from other side,
be seeking a friend to speak to. You considering only the income and
would not be requiring an audience to coming in and not the duties that you
address yourself. You would be owe to creation, would not be the
immensely feeling a ood of joy within characteristic of a true disciple of Sri
you, on account of an indescribable Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.
immanence and proximity of We, a few blessed souls here,
something which is invisible and you had the occasion to live with him
will be feeling it. physically for a considerable number
I think I am trying to voice forth of years. And we really feel like
the feelings of Sri Gurudev. Again I try shedding tears, if we even think of
to hammer these ideas on your minds, him, not because he gave us bread and
that unless you are god-men and butter and jam to eat or gave us
divine souls and not merely business anything comfortable in the material
people or people interested only in sense of the term, but because he
transaction, give-and-take, if your demonstrated before us a possibility of
idea is rooted in mere human and living in the presence of God by an
social relationships, minus that example which he set before
integrating and inundating power of himself,—an art which human beings
God, that would not be a proper are not usually acquainted with. God
respect that you pay to the great is the greatest giver. He takes the least,
Founder of the Divine Life Society. To perhaps He takes nothing. And, in my
be true disciples of this great Miracle of humble opinion, Sri Swami
this Modern Age, Revered Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj was a replica of
SEPTEMBER 2021 SIVANANDA'S VISION OF DIVINE LIFE 21

this oceanic ood of giving. Again let one individual to the status of God-
each one of you seated here think for consciousness, the Divine Life Society
yourself, within yourself, dive into yourself, would have done a great service and
go into your feelings, your souls and see to the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy
what extent you have been able to would have served its purpose. It is not
appreciate and live by this great gospel and quantity that we seek, it is quality. We
the practical living of Sri Gurudev. If your may not be thousands in number, we
soul turns a deaf ear to this inward may be very few, we may be two
spiritual gospel of the great founder, you hundred; it does not matter. We do not
would not be a true disciple or even a require even two hundred. We require
devotee of God. We have rst of all to one, and if that one has the inner
remember that we do not live by bread soul-force which has the strength to
alone and the greed for money, the greed declare that it can stand on his own
for physical comfort and the greed for legs, and it can draw sustenance from
social approbation has to be shed as an the ve elements, from the sun and the
accretion, that has grown unfortunately moon and the stars, Sri Gurudev
upon our souls, as a cancer that has grown would be immensely pleased. The
upon the body, and it has to be shed world that is, the creation that is
immediately and this is not easy, unless before us is itself our support, and God
you train yourselves. is our support. And God is never dead;
We have started recently a small He is never away from us. And if our
campus called the Yoga-Vedanta connection with Him be spiritual,
Forest Academy only to bring into our which means to say indivisible, then
own memories and mind, this divine the help that comes from Him is
message of Sri Gurudev. The perpetual. And so it comes without
intention is not to teach something asking. If this gospel can be planted in
technical, historical, academic or our hearts, even in the heart of a
philosophical. The idea is very single person here, God will be
simple, very humble and very immensely satised, and the blessings
insignicant, if you would like to call of Sri Gurudev will be abundant. I
it. And its insignicance lies in the have spoken all this with an intense
fact that it does not seek any kind of feeling for the grand aim for which Sri
propaganda in the eyes of the social Gurudev lived and the purpose for
public, but it seeks the recognition in which I believe God has created this
the great eye of God, the Almighty. And world itself. Hari Om Tat Sat.
if you can succeed in rousing up even (To be continued)
22 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

SWAMI KRISHNANANDA — AS I SEE HIM

Sri Swami Yagnavalkyananda
It was 16th May, 1952 when I by Calcutta University.” Before I
had the privilege to have the Darshan could speak anything, he joined
of Revered Gurudev and Swami hands and said “Om.” This literally
Krishnanandaji, in the Hall which is meant I should leave.
now a Book-Stall. He was talking on In 1959, Swami Chidanandaji
Upanishads. About 20 people were then General Secretary was deputed
there. I sat down. In about a few to U.S.A. and Swami Krishnanandaji
minutes, his lecture was over. I saw was appointed as General Secretary.
Swamiji just like a boy and from a Temperamentally, he is a person who
distance, you could count his ribs. does not like to mix with people and
He, straight, left for his room have random talks, but as General
upstairs. In those days, he would Secretary, he had to meet number of
hardly move out of his room, so even people, discuss various items and
if you move about in Ashram, you this activity exposed the latent
would hardly see him. quality of administration. He
On several visits, I had no managed and led the Ashram into
chance to have his Darshan, because development in various directions.
our visit was in connection with the He has to keep himself very busy
Eye Camp. After about two years, I because Ashram has expanded and
felt I should read something about with expansion his work also
Indian Philosophy. So one day, I went expands. The characteristics of his
to Swamiji's room. The room was like character are very clean and clear in
a bookstall. He was sitting on the cot, his talks and writings. That has
bare bodied, books all around. I helped greatly in the development of
requested, “I want to study Ashram. I would cite one small
something about Indian Philosophy, incident. Once, about eight army
what should I read?” He replied, ofcers and myself were sitting in
'Introduction to Indian Philosophy' Gurudev's Kutiya. In the meantime,
by Chatterjee & Banerjee—published Swamiji came for signature. He was
Taken from Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj's 60th Birthday Souvenir.
BIRTH CENTENARY YEAR OF SRI SWAMI KRISHNANANDAJI MAHARAJ
SEPTEMBER 2021 SWAMI KRISHNANANDA — AS I SEE HIM 23

standing near the door. Gurudev and above, he being a spiritual wizard,
said, “Krishnanandaji, tell these he has become a practical man — quite
people what is Divine Life in ten polished. His language appears to be
minutes.” Without any preparation tough to understand for an ordinary
and hesitation, like a tape recorder man. When he starts his lecture, a ow
his speech started. He completed in of Ganga comes out from him
ten minutes and left. After he left, continuously. I think he is second to
Gurudev told those ofcers, “He is none except Dr. Radhakrishnan, whom
the rebirth of Shankaracharya.” I have heard in Mumbai.
D uring all these years of The essential qualities of an
management, he never allowed his ideal Sannyasi are Punctuality,
spiritual activities to be slowed down. Discipline and Self-Control—all these
Books after books have been coming qualities are visible in every cell of his
from his pen. We could see that over body.

A Jivanmukta is not a whimsical man. He is not bound by the

rules of Sastra or society. And yet, he will not deviate from Dharma. All
that he does will be in strict accordance with the scriptures or sacred
books. He spontaneously does only what is good. An expert dancer
never makes a false step. So is a Jivanmukta when he works.
The sage works without effort, without agency, without egoism,
attachment and desire. Like a child, his conduct is neither good nor evil.
The Jivanmukta acts only like a child. The sense of right and
wrong will be natural in him independently of scriptural teachings. He
has destroyed all egoism. He is above Karma, and Karmas cannot touch
him. He may, for the instruction of the world, perform works or refrain
from forbidden acts.
The Jivanmukta does not care for public criticism. He keeps a cool
mind even when he is assaulted. He blesses those who persecute him.
He beholds only his own Self everywhere.
His mark or characteristic is an internal mental state. It cannot be
perceived or detected by others. The Lord uses him for His divine work.
Swami Sivananda
24 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

MERE WORDS OR MYSTIC FORMULAE?

Sri Swami Venkatesananda
What a wealth of spiritual directed straight at my heart.
wisdom our Gurudev Sri Swami For, in that heart dwelt
Sivanandaji Maharaj poured into our inordinate desire for worldly
hearts on the night of 26th December enjoyments; it was severely injured by
1954! It was not the celebration of one these aming words from the sage's
man's birthday; time will reveal that it lips. If Satan himself had created a
was the glorious birthday of human being out of his own image, the
thousands of aspirants who would result could not have been better than
have the rare good fortune of reading I. The triple gates to hell (lust, anger
the sage's stirring speech that night. and greed) were all of them ajar to
For, animals would also be 'born' as receive me; but from the fourth side Sri
men, men as supermen and Swami Sivananda's divine hand was
supermen as gods, if only they pulling me up and away, restraining
devoutly study every word uttered by me from entering the hell. Where even
the sage and act up to it. That way the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu could have
day was blessed indeed! been defeated, my Gurudev has
Never has the sage wasted a succeeded! I am a breathing miracle of
word. His are not mere words, but Sivananda.
mystic formulae that penetrate the Then, in the same year, I
deepest recesses of man's heart and attended the Christmas Sadhana
there work wonders! Week, at the Ashram. I don't remember
"Don't give her the Sari she asks much about what took place during
for; she will not look at you from today. those seven days of my stay here. On
Such is the love you pine for?" — these the last day when I was about to return
were the rst words of soul-elevating to Delhi, I expressed my admiration of
Upadesh I received from H. H. Sri the Ashram atmosphere. Like a
Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj; though thunderbolt came Gurudev's words:
they were addressed to a friend along "Stay here then! I have built it only for
with whom I had gone to the Delhi you all." The longing for sense-
Railway Station in 1944 to meet His pleasures was so great in me that even
Holiness who was then proceeding to these words (and the mighty sage's
Bombay to record some of his songs on Satsankalpa) could not immediately
the gramophone, I felt they were shafts affect me. But Gurudev had succeeded
Taken from 'Life of Swami Venkatesananda'
BIRTH CENTENARY YEAR OF SRI SWAMI VENKATESANANDAJI MAHARAJ
SEPTEMBER 2021 MERE WORDS OR MYSTIC FORMULAE? 25

in raising a counterforce. His reactions were different:

How I joined the Ashram "When I hear that Parthasarathy was
scarcely eight months later is a nicely beaten with shoes and he
miracle! No one who had been laughed, then alone will I give you
acquainted with me in Delhi, Calcutta Sannyas." By God's Supreme Mercy,
or Madras and my sensuous nature, soon opportunities presented
could have helped expressing themselves where I could attempt to
abhorrence at the very idea that I could cultivate this virtue. It was not easy.
be allowed to enter the Holy City of Because the sinful heart was sensitive,
Rishikesh, much less the highly too. And my uncontrollable temper
spiritual atmosphere of an Ashram. would rise even against well merited
Yet, Gurudev needed only such souls reprimand.
for reclamation. Gurudev's compassionate heart
During the rst weeks of my stay would not wait until his condition was
at the Ashram, I earned undeserved fullled before granting the boon. On
praise for my love of seclusion: but the 12th September 1947, in
little did these great ones realise that I commemoration of his Birthday
was literally ashamed to look at the Diamond Jubilee, he out of his
pure, holy and saintly faces that supreme compassion, brushing aside
encountered me everywhere in this all objections, initiated me along with
holiest place on earth, and preferred to eleven other resplendent highly
chew my cud in privacy. But Gurudev evolved souls, into the Holy Order of
would not allow this, either! Sannyas.
"What will you gain if you go on Worldliness might be hidden in
typing like this all day and night? It is the holy garb, but it is certainly not
not for that you have come here. You washed out of the inner personality
must do Japa, meditation and except by the Waters of Divine
Svadhyaya; you must get up at 4 a.m. Knowledge. The garb Sri Gurudev
and conduct Sadhana classes. Then bestowed upon me certainly protected
you will evolve nicely!" He threw me me from further deterioration; but the
into a cauldron of trial and temptations inner unregenerate nature persisted,
– there to be boiled into a pulp to enable though to a lesser extent. Moreover,
him to mould me as he liked. So there I there is this additional hurdle that a
was literally caught up in hot waters neophyte has to face in an atmosphere
where I least expected them, and of holiness: he is apt to recline and
throwing up my hands in abject relax, in the complacency of having
despair, I prayed to Gurudev to protect renounced Maya. One ne morning
me with the robes of a monk! came Gurudev's stern warning: "Do
26 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

not think that just because you have said: "Avoid this; and then you will
come to Rishikesh, you have gone have more time for work and Sadhana."
above Maya. The realm of Maya does Even when the holiness of the
not end with the other bank of the atmosphere, the kindness of the other
Chandra-Bhaga. Even on the summit highly evolved Sadhaks of the Ashram
of Mount Kailash, you will nd the and Gurudev's watchful mercy, again
same Maya, the same currents of and again prevented my inner
Raga-Dvesha operating. Beware!" Well, worldliness from manifesting itself in
that alerted me to a certain extent. But its own crude form, I found that it had
Gurudev was quick in pointing out the its own modications and appeared in
positive way: "Here I have created for mysterious ways! There arose, for
you the best eld for quick evolution. instance, inordinate ambition – for this
Do Japa on the Ganges bank. Go to the or for that, it does not matter. Bubbling
Mandir and attend the Pujas. Go to the enthusiasm often resulted in uncalled-
Bhajan hall and do Kirtan. Work, work for interference in the affairs of others.
and work! Serve the sick. Study the This in turn resulted in disharmony
books in the Library. Do not join with and restlessness. Gurudev must have
the tall-talkers and gossip mongers. If been silently watching for an
you are to evolve, you will have to guard opportunity to correct his child. How
yourself against all these. If you do not, patient and loving he is! When an
then even here you will continue to be opportunity did present itself,
the same man." Gurudev remarked in a very mild and
One day three people were loving manner: "Don't interfere in the
sitting on a verandah in the Ashram affairs of others. This tendency to
and talking. It was past midday. interfere is innate in man. If you are
Gurudev was coming towards the ofce intent on your own progress, you
for distributing his sacred Prasad: in should not interfere in the affairs of
those days he himself used to take a others." And thereby he wrought
round of the Ashram at noon another miracle.
distributing fruits, curd, butter etc. to By all this, I do not claim that the
the inmates. The embarrassed sores of viciousness have been
disciples hurriedly stood up. With a completely healed. Gurudev's
mischievous smile in his eyes, compassion and His Divine Words
Gurudev remarked: "When three which have been to me more than
people sit together. . ." and looked at Mystic Formulae have denitely been
all. They blinked. He himself completed able to achieve great wonders and
the sentence, "they talk ill of the fourth much transformation. Often have I
man." Then after giving the Prasad, he wondered if this Almighty in human
SEPTEMBER 2021 MERE WORDS OR MYSTIC FORMULAE? 27

form could not have said: "Be thou upon them all as divine personages –
healed of worldliness and arise walking divinities upon earth; and to
victorious as a divine being!" and thus continue to serve Gurudev as an
divinised me entirely. He could have, insignicant speck of dust ever
however base I was. In fact, he did say aspiring for a corner of Gurudev's
once: "I will give you whatever you shoes. Even if birth after birth, I live to
want." He said it while handing me serve as Gurudev's slave, I cannot
sweet Prasad; but the Divine Light in repay the debt I owe to Gurudev for this
his eyes had a different message. It was supreme gift of his Flaming Words of
as though at that moment had I Divine Light. I can never express the
brought myself to ask for Moksha, he indebtedness when I remember what
would have bestowed it upon me then Gurudev said on a signicant
and there. But I didn't; and that too I occasion, when all but his Almighty
consider was his miracle. If many great Will would have thrown me down the
vicious traits still persist in me, I steep precipice of a great downfall: "For
consider that even that is his will. For it the past twenty-four hours at least, I
is the presence of these in me that have been constantly thinking of your
enable me to appreciate truly the welfare." What an ocean of compassion
spiritual greatness of the other He is! To the Light of His Words, I bow
disciples of Sri Gurudev and to look in all humility and reverence!

Bhakti is easier than any other way of approach to God. In Jnana

and Yoga, there is the risk of a fall. In the path of devotion, there is no risk
as the devotee receives full support and help from God.
Those who tread the path of Jnana and Yoga are liable to become
proud of their powers and wisdom. Bhaktas are humble. Humility is the
foundation of Bhakti Yoga.
Jnana Yoga is the Yoga of wisdom. It is the path of analysis and
rejection. It is the path of endless negation. This is a very difcult path.
Raja Yoga also is difcult. It is like stilling the waves of the ocean.
You will have to still all the thought-waves. Karma Yoga also is difcult. It
is like climbing to the highest peak. You need tremendous will-power.
Bhakti Yoga alone is easy. The Lord is stretching His hands to lift you up
from the mire of Samsara. You will have to grasp His hand rmly. But,
one thing is absolutely essential here. You should not have any other
thought than that of God and God alone.
Swami Sivananda
28 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

THE SELF OF SIVA

Sri Swami Sivananda-Krishnananda
R e v e r e d S w a m i Sri Swamiji Maharaj. It is not Swami
Venkatesanandaji is the self of my Venkatesananda of a human stature
Gurudev! The whole world is indebted who has been accomplishing the task
to you, for the blessed ones like your of a radiator or a gramophone record of
noble self sanctify our earth from time Sri Swamiji Maharaj. Again, it is not
to time: Tirthikurvanti tirthani (They Swami Venkatesananda who can be
impart sanctity to places of given the honour of being the voice of
pilgrimage). All talk about such a noble Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. Is it right
soul like you in terms of praise as a if we say that what Lord Ganesha was
Yogi or a great person will be a poor to the great Vyasa in recording his
estimate of the sublime and supreme immortal work, or what blessed
achievements that you have made, Ananda was to keep the torch of
because one who has become identical Buddha's illumination eternally
with the divinity becomes immanent as kindled – that Swami Venkatesananda
well as transcendent. is to the great mission of the
Verily, you have become philosopher-saint Swami Sivananda
identical with Sri Swami Sivananda Sarasvati? To judge and analyse the
Sarasvati. It will be sheer injustice to relative phenomenon of Swami
say that you are a very great Sannyasi, Venkatesananda's life and work in
serving the Guru at his feet and terms of a servant and an ardent
sharing in his glorious mission. The disciple and an efcient instrument
fact is that you have no longer will be to underestimate his true
maintained or reserved your individual position and value.
identity as a Sevak or a Sannyasi or as Then what exactly is the
a self-controlled Yogi. Every aspect of p e r s o n a l i t y o f S w a m i
your life, every thought of your mind Venkatesananda? He has become
and every work that proceeds from identical with Swamiji Maharaj. He is
your hands is that of Sri Swamiji beyond the limiting functions of time,
Maharaj. It is not Swami space and causation. His mission or
Venkatesananda as a separate entity his achievements are his clock,
in the capacity of a disciple or a servant calendar, etc. Every moment of his life
that is working out the divine plan of is lived in tune with Sri Swamiji's
Taken from 'Life of Swami Venkatesananda'
BIRTH CENTENARY YEAR OF SRI SWAMI VENKATESANANDAJI MAHARAJ
SEPTEMBER 2021 THE SELF OF SIVA 29

mission, and there arises no need to Gurudev's holy sermon. He is not

say that he has all his senses under merely the Voice of Sivananda, for this
control, because he has no senses of will be to charge him with imitation; he
his own. Just as we have in the is Siva himself. It is in this spirit that
Upanishad the illustration of salt we, the members of Siva's home of
dissolved in water; and the father asks: fraternity, introspect on the life and
"Which part of the water, say my son, is work of Swami Venkatesananda and
not saltish?" and the son replies: on his philosophy. The Blessed One
"Father, every part of the water is said at his last moment to Ananda:
saltish and not a drop of it is "Beloved Ananda, I have told you what
unsaltish." Yes, every part, may it be I should: you are the light, life and the
physical or spiritual, is Sri Swamiji's path. Blessed Ananda, you have to
immanence. Those blessed ones who cover this long distance by yourself."
feel by virtue of the knowledge of the Swami Venkatesananda
Supreme, “we shall become the embodies in himself this independent
Supreme!” rightly and justly value and spirit of evolution. The long and weary
examine the life of Swami journey of existence on this earth, he
Venkatesananda. It is not because feels, he has to cover independently,
Swami Venkatesananda eats what we but nevertheless, he is ever conscious
eat or wears what is worn by every of the pains, sorrow and turmoils of the
common man – not for that Swami existence. He has transcended the
Venkatesananda is loved by all. It is for plane of discursive consciousness
the mere fact that his entire where we mortals are, and has become
personality has become identical and one with the all-blissful Saint Siva.
is in a state of merger with our revered Then the philosophy of Siva has
Gurudev, the Divinity incarnate, that become his philosophy, the religion of
we see in him no other than our Siva is his religion and the mission of
Gurudev. Siva is his mission. He is the material
Wherever the ailing body of Siva as well as the efcient cause for
moved, there moved Swami effecting the spiritual awakening in the
Venkatesananda; wherever the hearth and home of mankind. He has
healthy Gurudev went, he went with no philosophy independent of that of
him too. How can a body remain in Siva; he has no existence independent
parts at two different places? The of Siva, who is his own self.
symphony of Swamiji's divine music But in this relative plane, the
plays in Venkatesanandaji's ngers parts of the Cosmic Being play in a
and he sounds the rhythm of mysterious manner. In the drama of
30 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

life, He plays the part of a king and a It is our rare privilege to have
servant, great and small, the saint and participated in these sacred
the sinner, of Guru and disciple. Even celebrations, not merely to eulogise a
as it is said: "My dear son, He is Prana personality, but to meditate upon true
when He breathes; He is ear when He spirituality, divinity, personied in the
hears; He is mind when He thinks, and form of Swami Venkatesananda, the
so on." These are but names due to His self of Sri Gurudev.
functions; but people do not realise It is our prayer to Swami
that the description is ever incomplete. Venkatesanandaji to grace us with his
The Self of Siva has penetrated into the choicest and profound blessings, so that
entire body of Venkatesananda, up to we too may become one with our
his nails' ends. Gurudev in form, knowledge and spirit.

You cannot know Brahman or the Absolute through the nite

instrument, intellect. The intellect draws its power and light from
its source, Brahman, the Supreme Soul. Intellect can only know
the nature and attributes, colour, form, etc., of sense-objects. But,
it cannot know the knower. Intellectual understanding of the
nature of Brahman, mere study of Upanishads or theoretical
knowledge of Brahman, cannot give you Self-realisation or
Freedom. The intellect and senses must cease functioning. The ego
must merge in the ocean of bliss. The individual soul must fuse in
the Supreme Soul. Then alone the aspirant attains Salvation.
Brahman or the Absolute cannot be reached just as one
reaches a village. The village is outside oneself; but Brahman is
omnipresent. He is everywhere. He is your own innermost Self or
Atman. The mind melts in Brahman. The individual soul becomes
one with the Supreme Soul or the Absolute, just as the drop
becomes one with the ocean.
Swami Sivananda
SEPTEMBER 2021 LORD'S NAME IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH 31

LORD'S NAME IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH

AND A PASSPORT TO VAIKUNTHA
Sri Swami Gurusharanananda
10th September, 1955 us. Karma-Yoga removes Mal or
Today the Sivananda Dramatic impurities, Upasana destroys
Association enacted a drama on Vikshepa or oscillation of the mind,
'Ishwara Bhakti', and at the conclusion and meditation on the Mahavakyas
of the drama, Swamiji ascended the removes Avarana or the veil. The fruits
platform, thanked the audience and of Karma-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Raja-
the dramatists, did Kirtans, and Yoga and Jnana-Yoga are all attained
distributed to all the actors who took by merely repeating the Lord's Names.
part in the dramas certicates Repetition of the Names of the Lord will
conferring on them various titles. transform you into divine beings”.
Referring to the efcacy of imparting Referring to the dramatic actors,
spiritual truths through the medium of Swamiji said, “These people have been
dramas, Swamiji said, “There is a living practically without food for the
peculiar and tremendous inuence last three days. They have forgotten
when spiritual truths are given in the everything and are working day and
form of dramas; people are ready to night for the dramas. Yet they are not
receive the truths and get themselves weak. Their voice is loud and powerful.
transformed into divinity. Our ancient That is due to their repeating the
Rishis gave spiritual truths in the form Names, 'Narayan, Narayan'”.
of stories and dramas so that people 11th SEPTEMBER, 1955
would easily receive them”. DRAMATIC ORGANISATIONS
Praising the repetition of the SHOULD POPULARISE NAMA-
Lord's Names, Swamiji said, “You all SANKIRTAN
have now repeated the Lord's Name. If While Swamiji was in the ofce,
one repeats the Lord's Name, at once Dr. Ramjas, who organised the dramas
he will enter Vaikuntha. We all will which were enacted in the Ashram on
surely enter Vaikuntha. We shall have the 8th, 9th and 10th September, came
to remain here for some time more, to the ofce, accompanied by his party
because some work has to be done by of dramatists, to take leave of Swamiji.
Taken from Sivananda Day-to-Day
32 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

Then Swamiji said to him, and Swamiji's above mentioned

“There should be more Kirtans. suggestion to Dr. Ramjas reveal
Buffoons should also do Kirtans Swamiji's wish that dramatic
immediately after their humour is organizations should popularise Nama-
over”. Dr. Ramjas agreed to follow Sankirtan among the masses, (1) by
Swamiji's instructions. It may be conducting Nama-Sankirtan en-masse
mentioned here that during the previous during the intervals between every two
night's drama, Swamiji did Nama- scenes and (2) by making the actors
Kirtan at the end of each of the rst few themselves do more of Nama-Kirtans,
scenes, and all the assembled people either as forming a part of, or over and
joined Swamiji in his Kirtans. This fact, above their actual part in the drama.

The Name of God, chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or

unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, is sure to give the desired result. Just
as burning quality is natural to and inherent in re, so also, the power of
destroying sins with their very root and branch, and bringing the aspirant
into blissful union with the Lord through Bhava-samadhi, is natural to and
inherent in the Name of God.
The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through
reasoning and intellect. It can be experienced or realised only through
devotion, faith, and constant repetition of the Name.
Pingala was a Ganika or prostitute. She obtained a parrot, as a lovely
present from a thief. The parrot was trained to utter the Name 'Sri Rama, Sri
Rama'. Pingala knew nothing of Rama-Nama. She heard the sound Rama,
Rama through the mouth of the parrot. It was very melodious and
charming. Pingala was very much attracted. She xed her mind on the
Rama-Nama uttered by the parrot, and mysteriously entered into Bhava-
samadhi, union with Rama.
Ajamila was a righteous Brahmin in the beginning. He fell in love with
a low-caste girl and committed many atrocious crimes. It was at the time of
death that he uttered the name of his son Narayana, and there came the
messengers of Lord Narayana Himself to his rescue, and Ajamila was
released from this world for ever.
The greatest of sinners can attain God-realisation through the
blessings of the Name. Nothing is impossible to be achieved through God's
Name. The Lord's Name is all-powerful.
Swami Sivananda
SEPTEMBER 2021 LET GO YET BE FULLY ENGAGED 33

LET GO YET BE FULLY ENGAGED

Sri Swami Atmaswarupananda
Pujya Swami Chidanandaji used We become fully engaged by
to frequently use the expression, “the taking full responsibility for our life.
art and science of the spiritual life.” By We don't blame anyone else, neither
that he wanted us to understand that God nor others, for our fate. On the
the spiritual life may be fundamentally other hand, we let go by constantly
simple, but it is not simplistic. It is, in surrendering everything to God,
fact, the greatest challenge we can face. saying everything is happening by His
It takes everything we have got, all our will. How is it possible to reconcile
faculties. The Gita says that yoga is these two? From a human point of
skill in action. It requires, as Gurudev view, it seems to be impossible, and
said, Head, Heart and Hand. almost no one can accomplish it. But
Why is this? It is because it then, if we work at it hard enough, we
demands of us a skill that we normally gradually begin to understand that
don't have. And that is, that we are the reconciliation comes about when
meant to let go, and, at the same time, we come to grips with the fundamental
we are meant to be fully engaged. If we truths of Vedanta.
let go, if we surrender to God, it is Vedanta says that Brahman
difcult for us to take full responsibility alone is without a second, which
for what we are doing. Somehow, we means, in the words of the
think that we are meant to leave at least mahavakya, the great sentence, that
part of it for God. On the other hand, if we are all That. In other words, the
we are fully engaged, we are concerned letting go is letting go of any sense of
about results. It is almost impossible separation or ego, any sense of a
for us to totally let go. We are not able to separate 'I' that is doing. Being fully
combine the two successfully. engaged involves the recognition
Lord Krishna teaches that we that we are nothing except that One
must do our duty, yet not be concerned alone, which is ever active in all
with the results. In the West, generally elds of Its creation. To be an
speaking, seekers are able to very integrated part of God's creation, we
successfully engage in life, but it is very have to be as active as He is in all the
difcult for them to know how to rest of His creation.
surrender and let go. In the East, It is thus through surrender and
generally speaking, seekers are artists trust that we resolve our dilemma of
at letting go, but not always are they letting go and yet being fully engaged.
skilled at being fully engaged. The We live a day at a time doing what is
purpose of all our spiritual experiences there to be done. We are fully engaged,
and activities is to teach us the art and yet letting go of personal doership,
science of letting go and yet being fully knowing ourselves to be an integral
engaged. part of the Whole.
STUDENTS' SUCCESS IN LIFE
WILL CULTURE
Glorious Immortal Atman,
He who is attempting to
develop the will should always try
and keep a cool head. He should
have a balanced mind under all
conditions. He will have to
train and discipline the mind.
The man who has a balanced
mind and a strong will gets
sanguine success in all his
undertakings.
Unrufed state of the
mind, poise, cheerfulness,
inner strength, capacity to
turn out difcult works,
success in all undertakings,
power to inuence people, a
magnetic and dynamic
personality, fearlessness, etc.,
are some of the signs and
symptoms that indicate that
one's will is growing.
Swami Sivananda

34
 CULTIVATION OF VIRTUES
FIRMNESS
Firmness is steadiness, resoluteness, determination,
constancy.
Firmness enables a man to overcome obstacles and
difculties very easily. A man of rmness is not easily moved or
disturbed. He is unshaken by anything. He is courageous.
A man of rmness always attains success in all undertakings.
You must have rmness both in suffering and exertion. Then
alone will you attain greatness and victory.
Firmness is indeed a noble quality, but it must be guided by
knowledge. Otherwise, it becomes rashness or obstinacy.
Swami Sivananda

ERADICATION OF VICES
EVIL COMPANY
The effects of evil company are highly disastrous. The mind is
lled with bad ideas by contact with evil companions. The little faith
in God and scriptures also vanishes. A man is known by the
company he keeps. Birds of the same feather ock together. These
are all proverbs or wise maxims. They are quite true.
The company of those who speak lies, who commit adultery,
theft, cheating, double dealing, who indulge in idle-talks,
backbiting, tale-bearing, who have no faith in God and in the
scriptures etc., should be strictly avoided.
Swami Sivananda

35
 MAYURASANA
(Peacock posture)
Technique: Kneel on the oor with the knees slightly apart
and the toes resting on the ground. Bend the body forward, join the
arms together and rest the palms on the oor, with the two little
ngers touching each other, and all the ngers pointing to the feet.
Keep the arms rm, bent at the elbows. Let the forearms be kept
close together.
Slowly bend forward and rest the abdomen on the elbows, and
the chest on the upper part of the
arms. Stretch the legs back one
by one, and keep them together,
stiff. Exhale and stretch your
body, raising and keeping the
legs straight. Secure balance and
further stretch out the body
parallel to the ground, and
remain in the pose as long as you
can comfortably. Retain the
posture for a few seconds to start
with. Gradually, increase the
duration to two or three minutes with normal breathing. To release
the pose, rst lower the head and then the legs. Then, place the
knees by the side of the hands and thereafter release the position of
the hands. Lie at on the oor and relax in Shavasana.
You would notice that your balance and the duration of stay in
the Asana, increase as your wrists gradually gain strength.
Note: Beginners may nd it difcult to maintain the balance
when they raise the feet off the ground. Sometimes, they may have a
fall forwards and may cause hurt to their nose. To avoid this, a
cushion may be kept in front. When there is any difculty to keep

36
the balance, try to slip on the sides. In the nal position, the head,
trunk, legs and feet will be in one straight line, parallel to the ground.
Benets: Besides strengthening the forearms, elbows and
wrists, this Asana removes various abdominal diseases. It
increases digestive power and tones up the stomach, kidneys and
spleen. It is specially benecial to those suffering from diabetes.
Proper circulation of fresh blood is effected into the internal organs
of the abdominal region.
Swami Chidananda

SITALI
(Cooling Pranayama)
Technique: Sit in any one of the postures. Open the mouth and
form the lips into `O' shape. Protrude the
tongue like a tube. Draw in the air through
the tongue tube. Fill the lungs with fresh and
cool air as much as possible. After
inhalation, withdraw the tongue and close
the mouth. Lower your head and touch the
collar bone with the chin during retention
of breath. Exhale slowly through both the
nostrils after bringing your head erect.
Practise this daily ten to fteen times.
Benets: This Pranayama cools the
system, soothes the eyes and ears and
puries the blood. It quenches thirst and appeases hunger. It cures
chronic dyspepsia (indigestion), inammation of the spleen, various
chronic skin diseases, low fever, biliousness and phlegm disorders.
Swami Chidananda

37
38 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

Celebration of 58th Punyatithi Aradhana Day of

Sadgurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
at the Headquarters Ashram

drVmÝVg§gmaJXm{X©VmZm§ doXmÝV~moYm¡fYXmZXrj‘² &

dÝXmé‘ÝXma‘‘ÝXH$s{Vª dÝXo {edmZÝX‘hm‘wZrÝБ² &&
Salutations and prostrations to the great saint Sivananda
who is ever engaged in giving medicine of Vedantic knowledge
to those aficted by the dire disease of Samsara, who is divine
wish-fullling tree for his devotees and whose glorious fame
radiates all around the world.
SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWS & REPORTS 39

The sacred day of Fifty Eighth Punyatithi Aradhana of Sadgurudev

Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj was observed with great sanctity and
devoutness on 2nd August 2021 at the Headquarters Ashram. The
programme commenced at 5 a.m. with Brahmamuhurta prayers and
40 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

meditation followed by the brief message of H.H. Sri Swami

Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj.
In the forenoon session, ceremonial worship with Laksharchana to
the chant of 'Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya' was offered to the sacred
Padukas of Worshipful Gurudev in the holy Samadhi Shrine. Sannyasis,
Brahmacharis and Sadhaks of the Ashram performed Puja and Archana
with deep devotion, prayerfulness and profound faith in the divine
presence of the Holy Master. The celebration concluded with Arati and
distribution of Prasad. Two books of Sri Gurudev were also released on
this auspicious occasion during the night Satsang.

May the blessings of Lord Almighty and Sadgurudev

Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj be upon all.
SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWS & REPORTS 41

SEVA THROUGH SIVANANDA HOME

‘Sivananda Home is a Centre for the loving care of the destitute and the
dying people who are found by the roadside, with no one to care for: the people
who are home-less, temporary or permanent, fell sick, got lost or were
abandoned''.
(Swami Chidananda)

One day this month, Sivananda Home was informed about a Sadhu Baba
who was lying in the neighbourhood, not able to get up. Once he was admitted, it
was discovered that he had a fresh head injury at the backside of his scalp. It
was covered with a temporary lthy bandage and was still bleeding. After
cleaning and dressing, he had his meal, and was put to rest in the segregated
area for new patients. During the course of the day though, his speech became
slurred, his movements uncontrolled and his consciousness slipped down. In
the evening time he was taken to a local clinic for emergency check-up, and
investigations as per advice of the consulting Doctor were done. Being under
observation, supervised medicine intake, continuation of cleaning and dressing
of the wound, his condition improved rapidly. After a week, his normal speech
came back and he mentioned how he had a fall, whereafter he did not remember
much and had lost his orientation. Every year he used to visit the Holy places of
Badrinath and Kedarnath, from Rishikesh, by foot; hailing from a small village
in Uttar Pradesh, where he had left his hearth and home, to take up the life of a
wandering Sannyasin. By the grace of Gurudev, he could be discharged after
full recovery, as per his wish, to continue his journey of life.
Amputation of two ngers was done this month for the young patient with
her infectious and gangrenous ngers and she recovered gradually as well.
Post-operative check-up as per instruction of the surgeon was done and
recovery went on smoothly and steadily.
One of the female patients of the Leprosy Colony was referred to a
Hospital in Rishikesh for investigation of a lump in her breast. A period of pain,
anxiety and tension about the outcome and reports of the many investigations
followed, praying to God for calm, enduring and recuperation, during this
difcult time in her life.
Om Sri Satgurudevaya Namah.
“Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms. Let us serve Thee in all
these names and forms. Let us ever remember Thee. Let us ever sing Thy glories.
Let Thy Name be ever on our lips. Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.”
Swami Sivananda
 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
REGARDING DONATIONS
Due to administrative reasons, and also to simplify the existing
complex accounting system, it has been decided in the 'Board of
th
Management' Meeting held on 10 March 2021 and subsequently in the
'Board of Trustees' Meeting held on 11th March 2021 that any donations to
The Divine Life Society will be received only under the following 'Heads of
Accounts' with effect from 1st April 2021: –
General Donation
1. Ashram General Donation
2. Annakshetra
3. Medical Relief

Corpus Donation
Sivananda Ashram Corpus (Mooldhan) Fund
Therefore, devotees are requested to send donations to the above
mentioned account heads only.
Further, it is hereby conveyed to all the devotees and well wishers of the
Ashram that

Ÿ The income from the ASHRAM GENERAL DONATION shall cater to all
the spiritual, religious as well as charitable activities of the Divine Life
Society viz. care for the homeless and destitute through Sivananda
Home, serving leprosy patients through Leprosy Relief Work, providing
educational aid for poor students, running of Yoga Vedanta Forest
Academy, printing of free literature, dissemination of spiritual
knowledge, worship in Ashram temples, maintenance of the Ashram
and Goshala, conducting regular religious and spiritual activities of the
Ashram and also to any other spiritual, religious or charitable activities
taken up by the Society from time to time.
Ÿ The donations for the MEDICAL RELIEF shall be utilised towards the
treatment of sick and needy patients at Sivananda Charitable Hospital
and also towards other medical relief works undertaken by the Society.
Ÿ Similarly, Interest income generated from SIVANANDA ASHRAM
CORPUS (MOOLDHAN) FUND shall be utilised towards all the
activities (spiritual, religious as well as charitable) of the Society.
Ÿ It is to be noted that the Society is not dispensing with any of its
42
 activities; it will continue to conduct its regular Ashram activities and
Charitable activities as usual, though the 'Heads of Accounts' to receive
donations have been reduced.
Ÿ Donations towards the Divine Life Society may be made through 'Online
Donation Facility' by accessing directly to the web address
https://donations.sivanandaonline.org or by clicking the 'Online
Donation' link provided in our website www. sivanandaonline.org.
Ÿ Donations can also be sent through cheque/D.D. /E.M.O. drawn in
favour of 'The Divine Life Society', Shivanandanagar, Uttarakhand,
payable at Rishikesh. A covering letter mentioning the purpose of
donation, Post Mail Address, Phone No., Email Id and PAN should
accompany the same.
Ÿ Further, devotees are informed that Puja in Ashram temples shall be
done free of cost for all those who would like to perform Puja in their
name or in their family members' name. They may do so by sending a
written request well in advance with requisite details either by email or
letter addressed to the General Secretary or the President.
Ÿ There is no change in guidelines regarding Remittance towards Fee for
Membership, Admission, Life Membership, Patronship, Branch
Afliation and SPL advances as well.

MEMBERSHIP FEE AND BRANCH AFFILIATION FEE OF

THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS
SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192, Uttarakhand
1. New Membership Fee* ` 150/-
Admission Fee . . . . . . ` 50/-
Membership Fee . . . .. ` 100/-
2. Membership Renewal Fee (Yearly) ` 100/-
3. New Branch Opening Fee** ` 1,000/-
Admission Fee . . . . . ` 500/-
Afliation Fee . . . . . . ` 500/-
4. Branch Afliation Renewal Fee (Yearly) ` 500/-
* Application for Membership should be sent with Photo Identity and
Residential proof of the Applicant.
** Prior written permission has to be obtained from the Headquarters for
opening a New Branch.
ð Kindly send Membership Fee and Branch Afliation Fee by Cheque or by
DD payable at any Bank in Rishikesh.
43
44 THE DIVINE LIFE SEPTEMBER 2021

REPORTS FROM THE D.L.S. BRANCHES

INLAND BRANCHES Thursdays. Monthly Jayanti
Badhiausta: The Branch ceremonies were held on 8th and
celebrated Guru Purnima on 24th 24th with Paduka Puja, Archana,
July with Paduka Puja, Bhajan, Bhajan and Kirtan.
Kirtan and discourse on Guru Khurdha Road (Odisha):
Sishya relation. This was The Branch continued daily Puja
concluded with distribution of and online Satsang with Gita Path,
booklets, medicines and clothes for chanting of Hanuman Chalisa,
needy people. Bhajan and Kirtan. Guru Purnima
Bargarh (Odisha): The was celebrated on 24th July with
Branch conducted daily Puja, Paduka Puja, Bhajan and Kirtan.
Rudrabhishek on Mondays and Lucknow (U.P.): During the
Guru Paduka Puja on Thursdays. Covid pandemic, the Branch
Guru Purnima was celebrated on conducted online Satsang on 11th
24th July with Paduka Puja and July. Guru Purnima was
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa. celebrated on 24th with Paduka
Chandapur (Odisha): Daily Puja, Bhajan, Mantra Japa and
Puja, weekly Satsang on Saturdays, Swadhyaya etc. Besides this,
Guru Paduka Puja on Thursdays Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa
and mobile Satsang on 8th and 24th was done for speedy recovery of
of every month were the regular Covid patients.
programmes of the Branch. Mysore (Karnataka): Guru
Sundarakanda Parayan was done Purnima on 24th July and
on 16th July. Special Satsangs were Punyatithi Aradhana day of
arranged on 5th, 22nd and 28th at Sadgurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji
the residence of devotees. Maharaj on 2nd August were
Chhatrapur (Odisha): The celebrated by the Branch with
Branch had weekly Satsang on Paduka Puja, Abhishekam,
SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWS & REPORTS 45

Bhajans and talk on Importance of Visakha Rural Branch

Guru in one's life. (A.P.): The Branch had daily Puja
Rourkela (Odisha): Weekly and Abhishekam. Birth
Satsang on Thursdays and Sundays Anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami
was continued with Paduka Puja, Devanandaji Maharaj on 21st June
Bhajan, Kirtan, Archana and and the auspicious day of Guru
Purnima on 24th July were
recitation of Vishnu Sahasranam.
celebrated with Paduka Puja, Japa,
Guru Purnima was celebrated by the
Dhyana and discourses. It was
Branch on 24th July.
concluded with Narayan Seva.

SPECIAL ARADHANA CONCESSION

FROM 1st JULY 2021 to 30th SEPTEMBER 2021

DISCOUNT ON PUBLICATIONS (BOOKS ONLY):

20% ON ORDERS UPTO `300/-
30% ON ORDERS UPTO `1000/-
35% ON ORDERS ABOVE `1000/-
40% ON ORDERS ABOVE `25000/-
PACKING AND FORWARDING CHARGES EXTRA

DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY,

THE SIVANANDA PUBLICATION LEAGUE
SHIVANANDANAGAR, DISTT. TEHRI-GARHWAL,
UTTARAKHAND - 249201, INDIA
PHONE: (91)-135-2434780, 2431190
Email: [email protected]
For Catalogue and online purchase please visit
www.dlsbooks.org
 AVAILABLE BOOKS ON YOGA, PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
By H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj Inspiring Stories ................................................ 170/-
In the Hours of Communion .............................. 65/-
Adhyatma Yoga ................................................ ` 125/- Isavasya Upanishad .......................................... 30/-
Ananda Gita .................................................... 60/- Inspiring Songs & Kirtans ................................. 130/-
Ananda Lahari ................................................. 40/- Japa Yoga ......................................................... 120/-
Analects of Swami Sivananda ........................... 55/- Jivanmukta Gita ............................................... 75/-
Autobiography of Swami Sivananda .................. 110/- Jnana Yoga ....................................................... 120/-
All About Hinduism .......................................... 255/- Karmas and Diseases ........................................ 20/-
Bazaar Drugs ................................................... 60/- Kathopanishad .................................................. 75/-
Beauties of Ramayana ...................................... 120/- Kenopanishad ................................................... 40/-
Bhagavad Gita (One Act Play) ........................... 35/- Kingly Science and Kingly Secret ....................... 165/-
Bhagavadgita Explained ................................... 55/- Know Thyself ..................................................... 65/-
Bhagavadgita (Text & Commentary) .................. 110/- *Kalau Keshavkirtanat ......................................... 300/-
Bhagavadgita (Text, Word-to-Word Meaning, Life and Teachings of Lord Jesus ....................... 80/-
Translation and Commentary) (H.B.) ................ 500/- Light, Power and Wisdom .................................. 55/-
” ” (P.B.) ........................ 490/- Lives of Saints.................................................... 375/-
Bhagavad Gita (Translation only) ..................... 65/- Lord Krishna, His Lilas and Teachings ............... 170/-
Bhakti and Sankirtan ...................................... 150/- Lord Siva and His Worship ................................ 155/-
Bliss Divine ..................................................... 395/- Maha Yoga ........................................................ 20/-
Blood Pressure—Its Cause and Cure ............... 65/- May I Answer That ............................................ 125/
Brahmacharya Drama ..................................... 40/- Mind—Its Mysteries and Control ....................... 325/-
Brahma Sutras ............................................... 375/- Meditation Know How .......................................... 185/-
Brahma Vidya Vilas ........................................ 75/- Meditation on Om ............................................. 60/-
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ............................ 325/- Moral and Spiritual Regeneration....................... 75/-
Come Along, Let's Play .................................... 80/- Mother Ganga ................................................... 70/-
Concentration and Meditation ........................ 285/- Moksha Gita ..................................................... 55/-
Conquest of Mind ........................................... 330/- Mandukya Upanishad ....................................... 35/-
Daily Meditations ........................................... 95/- Music as Yoga ................................................... 80/-
Daily Readings ............................................... 115/- Nectar Drops ..................................................... 40/-
Dhyana Yoga .................................................. 155/- Narada Bhakti Sutras ........................................ 100/-
Dialogues from the Upanishads ...................... 100/- Parables of Sivananda ....................................... 75/-
Divine life for Children ................................... 90/- Passion and Anger ............................................. 20/-
Divine Life (A Drama)...................................... 25/- Pearls of Wisdom ............................................... 55/-
Divine Nectar ................................................. 230/- Philosophy and Signicance of Idol Worship ...... 25/-
Easy Path to God-Realisation ......................... 75/- Philosophical Stories .......................................... 65/-
Easy Steps to Yoga.......................................... U.P. Philosophy and Yoga in Poems ........................... 25/-
Elixir Divine ................................................... 35/- Philosophy of Life ............................................... 35/-
Essays in Philosophy ...................................... 75/- Philosophy of Dreams ........................................ 50/-
Essence of Bhakti Yoga .................................. 110/- Pocket Prayer Book ............................................ 35/-
Essence of Gita in Poems ............................... 35/- Pocket Spiritual Gems ........................................ 35/-
Essence of Principal Upanishads..................... 105/- Practical lessons in Yoga ................................... 120/-
Essence of Ramayana .................................... 110/- Practice of Ayurveda .......................................... 180/-
Essence of Vedanta ........................................ 165/- Practice of Bhakti Yoga ....................................... 305/-
Ethics of Bhagavad Gita.................................. 125/- Practice of Brahmacharya ................................... 140/-
Ethical Teachings ........................................... 105/- Practice of Karma Yoga ...................................... 150/-
Every Man’s Yoga ........................................... 160/- Practice of Nature Cure ...................................... 210/-
First Lessons in Vedanta ................................ 100/- Practice of Vedanta ............................................ 145/-
Fourteen Lessons on Raja Yoga ...................... 55/- Practice of Yoga .................................................. 215/-
Gems of Prayers ............................................. 70/- Precepts for Practice .......................................... 125/-
Glorious Vision (A Pictorial Guide) .................. 650/- Pushpanjali ........................................................ 35/-
God Exists ..................................................... 60/- Radha’s Prem ..................................................... U.P./-
God-Realisation ............................................. 60/- Raja Yoga ........................................................... 140/-
Gurudev Sivananda (Pictorial)........................ 250/- Revelation .......................................................... 130/-
Guru Bhakti Yoga ......................................... 100/- Religious Education ........................................... 65/-
Guru Tattwa ................................................. 50/- Sadhana ............................................................ 630/-
Hatha Yoga ................................................... 120/- Sadhana Chatushtaya ....................................... 45/-
Health and Diet ............................................ 120/- Saint Alavandar or The King's Quest of God ...... 40/-
Health and Happiness................................... 130/- Sarvagita Sara .................................................. 100/-
Heart of Sivananda ....................................... 115/- Satsanga and Swadhyaya ................................. 45/-
Health and Hygiene ...................................... 190/- Samadhi Yoga .................................................. 310/-
Himalaya Jyoti ............................................. 35/- Self-Knowledge .................................................. 190/-
Hindu Gods and Goddesses ......................... 100/- Science of Reality .............................................. 60/-
Hindu Fasts and Festivals ............................ 85/- Self-Realisation .................................................. 85/-
Home Nursing .............................................. 75/- Sermonettes of Sw. Sivananda ........................... 130-
Home Remedies ........................................... 125/- Sivananda-Gita (Last printed in 1946) ................ 65/-
How to Become Rich .................................... 30/- Sixty-three Nayanar Saints ................................. 85/-
How to Cultivate Virtues and Eradicate Vices .... 180/- Spiritual Experiences ............................................ 135/-
How to Get Sound Sleep ..................... 75/- Spiritual Lessons .................................................. 115/-
How to Live Hundred Years ............................... 70/- Stories from Yoga Vasishtha ................................. 110/-
Illumination ...................................................... 60/- Student's Success in Life ...................................... 55/-
Illuminating Teachings of Swami Sivananda ...... 75/- Stories from Mahabharata..................................... 180/-

46
 Sureways for Success in Life ................................. 260/- Swami Sivananda—Saint, Sage and Godman ....... 205/-
Svara Yoga ........................................................... 75/- The Quintessence of the Upanishads ................... 50/-
*Sw. Sivananda - His Life in Pictures..................... 75/- The Role of Celibacy in the Spiritual Life .............. 25/-
Spiritual Treasure ................................................ 55/- The Divine Destination ........................................ 120/-
Spiritual Aspiration & Practice ............................ 115/- The Truth That Liberates ..................................... 35/-
Tantra Yoga, Nada Yoga and Kriya Yoga ............... 145/- *The All-Embracing Heart .................................... 100/-
Ten Upanishads ................................................... 165/- Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions .............. 80/-
The Devi Mahatmya ............................................. 120/- Verses Addressed to the Mind .............................. 155/-
The Divine Treasure of Swami Sivananda ............. 25/- Walk in This Light ............................................... 140/-
The Glorious Immortal Atman .............................. 50/- *Worshipful Homage ............................................ 500/-
The Science of Pranayama .................................... 70/- By Swami Krishnananda
Thought Power ..................................................... 85/- A Brief Outline of Sadhana .................................. 60/-
Thus Illumines Swami Sivananda.......................... 20/- Ascent of the Spirit .............................................. U.P.
Triple Yoga ........................................................... 95/- Chhandogya Upanishad........................................ 100/-
Total Thinking ...................................................... 110/- Commentary on the Bhagavadgita ....................... 485/-
Unity of Religions ................................................. 80/- Commentary on the Kathopanishad ..................... 145/-
Universal Moral Lessons ...................................... 45/- Commentary on the Mundaka Upanishad ............ 95/-
Upanishad Drama ............................................... 90/- Commentary on the Panchadasi (Vol - II) ............. 210/-
Upanishads for Busy People ................................ 40/- Epic of Consciousness ......................................... 20/-
Vairagya Mala ..................................................... 20/- Essays in Life and Eternity .................................. 50/-
Vedanta for Beginners ......................................... 55/- Interior Pilgrimage ............................................... 75/-
Voice of the Himalayas ......................................... 185/- Mundaka Upanishad ........................................... 40/-
Waves of Bliss ..................................................... 75/- Philosophy of Bhagavadgita.................................. 130/-
Waves of Ganga ................................................... 70/- Philosophy of Religion .......................................... 50/-
Wisdom in Humour ............................................. 70/- Realisation of the Absolute ................................... 125/-
Wisdom Sparks.................................................... 70/- Religion and Social Values ................................... 50/-
World Peace ........................................................ 120/- Resurgent Culture ............................................... 20/-
What Becomes of the Soul after Death ................. 150/- Self-Realisation, Its Meaning and Method ............ 45/-
Yoga and Realisation ........................................... 120/- Sri Swami Sivananda and His Mission ................. 45/-
Studies in Comparative Philosophy....................... U.P.
Yoga Asanas ........................................................ 85/-
Sessions with Ashram Residents .......................... 300/-
Yoga for West ...................................................... 35/-
The Attainment of the Innite .............................. 50/-
Yoga in Daily Life ................................................. 75/- The Development of Religious Consciousness ...... 85/-
Yoga Vedanta Dictionary ...................................... 70/- The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad .......................... 250/-
Yoga Question & Answers ...................................... 95/- The Heart and Soul of Spiritual Practice .............. 150/-
Yoga Vedanta Sutras ............................................ 90/- The Mighty God-Man of our Age ........................... 75/-
By Swami Chidananda The Tree of Life .................................................... 60/-
The Vision of Life ................................................. 85/-
A Guide to Noble Living......................................... 55/- The Yoga of Meditation ........................................ 70/-
An Instrument of Thy Peace.................................. 265/- The Universality of Being ..................................... 100/-
Awake, Realise Your Divinity ................................ 195/- Ture Spiritual Living II.......................................... 135/-
*Autobiography (Swami Chidananda) ................... 150/- The Glory of God .................................................. 90/-
Bliss is Within ...................................................... 95/- The Spiritual Import of the Mahabharata and
*Chidanandam (The Joy of Knowing Him) ............. 300/- The Bhagavad Gita 190/-
*Cosmic Benefactor .............................................. 300/- The Struggle for Perfection ................................... 35/-
Ego ...................................................................... 20/- Yoga as a Universal Science ................................. 65/-
Essentials of the Higher Values of Life .................. 65/- Yoga, Meditation and Japa Sadhana .................... 30/-
Eternal Messages ................................................. 45/- Your Questions Answered..................................... U.P.
Forest Academy Lectures on Yoga ......................... 325/- Others
Gita Vision ........................................................... 20/- Bhajan Kirtan in Gurudev's Kutir ........................ 60/-
God As Mother ..................................................... 85/- Ekadasa Upanishadah ........................................ 140/-
Guidelines to Illumination .................................... 120/- From Man to God-Man (N. Ananthanarayanan) .... 170/-
Lectures on Raja Yoga .......................................... 80/- Greatness Amidst Us ........................................... 40/-
Life ....................................................................... 25/- Guru Gita (Swami Narayanananda) ..................... 95/-
Light-Fountain ..................................................... 80/- I Live to Serve ...................................................... 25/-
Liberation Is Possible! ........................................... 30/- *Memories of Swami Chidananda ........................ 250/-
Miracles of Sivananda .......................................... 80/-
Light on the Yoga Way of Life ................................ 30/-
Sivananda Day-To-Day ........................................ 85/-
Manache Shlok ..................................................... 30/- Sivananda: Poet, Philosopher and Saint
Message of Swami Chidananda to Mankind .......... 45/- (Dr. Savitri Asopa) .................................. 70/-
New Beginning ..................................................... 45/- Sivananda: Raja Yoga (Vol-4) .............................. 355/-
Path Beyond Sorrow ............................................. 155/- Sivananda: Bhakti Yoga (Vol-5) ........................... 175/-
Philosophy, Psychology & practice of Yoga ............ 160/- Sivananda: Vedanta (Jnana Yoga)......................... 230/-
Path to Blessedness ............................................. 105/- Sivananda: The Darling of Children
Ponder These Truths ............................................ 245/- Sw. Sivananda-Hridayananda.............................. 30/-
Practical Guide to Yoga ........................................ 50/- Sw. Sivananda Chitrakatha .................................. 45/-
Renunciation—A Life of Surrender and Trust......... 25/- Sivananda Integral Yoga ................................... 65/-
Seek the Beyond ................................................... 300/- The Holy Stream .................................................. 185/-
*Souvenir ............................................................. 200/- This Monk from India .......................................... 125/-
Swami Chidananda Talks in South Africa ............. 135/- Yoga Divine.......................................................... 60/-
Swami Sivananda our Loving Awakener ................ 80/- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ....................................... 70/-

For Direct Orders: The Divine Life Society, Shivanandanagar—249 192, Uttarakhand, India.
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NEW EDITION

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Seventh Edition: 2021

YmaUm Am¡a ܶmZ

Pages: 304 Price: ` 210/-
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LESSONS ON
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Pages: 240 Price: ` 170/-

Third Edition: 2021

48
 TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS
By H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
1. BRAHMA-MUHURTA: Get up at 4 a.m. daily. motion or manifestation—Vibhuti. Veerya is
This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely all power. Veerya is all money. Veerya is the
favourable for meditation on God. essence of life, thought and intelligence.
2. ASANA: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha 9. PRAYER SLOKAS: Get by heart some prayer
Asana for Japa and meditation for half an Slokas, Stotras and repeat them as soon as
hour, facing the east or the north. Increase you sit in the Asana before starting Japa or
the period gradually to three hours. Do meditation. This will elevate the mind
Sirshasana and Sarvangasana for keeping quickly.
up Brahmacharya and health. Take light 10. SATSANGA: Have Satsanga. Give up bad
physical exercises as walking, etc., regularly. company, smoking, meat and alcoholic
Do twenty Pranayamas. liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil
3. JAPA: Repeat any Mantra as pure Om or Om habits.
Namo Narayanaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om 11. FAST ON EKADASI: Fast on Ekadasi or live
Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om on milk and fruits only.
Saravanabhavaya Namah, Sita Ram, Sri 12. JAPA MALA: Have a Japa Mala (rosary)
Ram, Hari Om, or Gayatri, according to your round your neck or in your pocket or
taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 underneath your pillow at night.
times daily. 13. MOUNA: Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for
4. DIETETIC DISCIPLINE: Take Sattvic food, a couple of hours daily.
Suddha Ahara. Give up chillies, tamarind,
14. SPEAK THE TRUTH: Speak the truth at all
garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard,
cost. Speak a little. Speak sweetly.
asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet
15. PLAIN LIVING: Reduce your wants. If you
(Mitahara). Do not overload the stomach.
Give up those things which the mind likes have four shirts, reduce the number to three
best for a fortnight in a year. Eat simple food. or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Avoid
Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food unnecessary worry. Have plain living and
as medicine to keep the life going. Eating for high thinking.
enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a 16. NEVER HURT ANYBODY: Never hurt
month. You must be able to live on rice, Dhal anybody (Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah).
and bread without any Chutni. Do not ask Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness)
for extra salt for Dhal and sugar for tea, and Daya (compassion).
coffee or milk. 17. DO NOT DEPEND UPON SERVANTS: Do not
5. MEDITATION-ROOM: Have a separate depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the
meditation-room under lock and key. highest of all virtues.
6. CHARITY: Do charity regularly, every 18. SELF-ANALYSIS: Think of the mistakes you
month, or even daily according to your have committed during the course of the day,
means, say six Paisa per rupee. just before retiring to bed (self-analysis).
7. SVADHYAYA: Study systematically the Gita, Keep daily diary and self-correction register.
the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, Sri Vishnu- Do not brood over past mistakes.
Sahasranama, Lalita-Sahasranama, Aditya 19. FULFIL DUTIES: Remember that death is
Hridaya, the Upanishads or the Yoga awaiting you at every moment. Never fail to
Vasishtha, the Bible, the Zend Avesta, the full your duties. Have pure conduct
Koran, the Tripitakas, the Granth Sahib, (Sadachara).
etc., from half an hour to one hour daily and 20. SURRENDER TO GOD: Think of God as
have Suddha Vichara. soon as you wake up and just before you go
8. BRAHMACHARYA: Preserve the vital force to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to
(Veerya) very, very carefully. Veerya is God in God (Sharanagati).

Om Santih Santih Santih!

This is the essence of all spiritual Sadhanas. This will lead you to Moksha. All these Niyamas or
spiritual canons must be rigidly observed. You must not give leniency to the mind.
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Printed and Published by Swami Advaitananda on behalf of “The Divine Life Trust Society” at the Yoga-Vedanta
Forest Academy Press, P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192, Dt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, and Published from
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