Sri Swami Sivananda

Sri Swami Sivananda’s 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations are being observed throughout the year by all branches of Divine Life Society of South Africa. Indeed, it was the Divine Master himself that founded the mission in this country in 1949 when he instructed Sri V. Srinivasen to open a branch of Divine Life Society in this country. Sri V Srinivasan, who was later initiated into Sannyas by Sri Gurudev as Sri Swami Sahajananda, obeyed and thus began the Saga of Divine Life Society of South Africa.

Sri Swami Sivananda, the well-known Master of the 20th century, was born on September 8, 1887 at Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, South India. He had a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Yoga and Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind. Though he was born in an orthodox family, Swami Sivananda was catholic in his approach to life. His passion for service drew him to the medical career, and he soon made his way to those parts of the world which needed his service most. Malaysia claimed him. He also commenced editing a health journal and wrote extensively on health matters. He discovered that what people needed most was right knowledge, and dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as his mission.

While in Malaysia, discrimination dawned in his mind, and he began reflecting: “Is there not a higher mission in life than the daily round of duties, eating and drinking? Is there no higher form of eternal peace and happiness than all these transitory and illusory pleasures? How very insecure is existence on this earth-plane, with all kinds of fears, worries, anxieties, diseases and disappointments. The world of names and forms is ever changing. Time is fleeting. All hopes of peace and happiness in this world end in pain, despair and sorrow.”

It was divine dispensation and God’s Grace upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind subsequently renounced his lucrative career in Malaysia and took to a life of renunciation to qualify himself to ministering to the soul of man. In 1924, he settled in Rishikesh, at the foot of the Himalayas, for the practice of Yoga. After several years of intense meditation and austerities he attained the goal of human life—God-realisation.

Over 250 books on Yoga, religion, philosophy and health flowed from his prolific pen. Today he has followers all over the world, belonging to all nationalities. To read his inspiring works is to drink at the fountain of wisdom supreme and grow spiritually to be immortal and eternally peaceful and blissful.

Swami Sivananda shed his mortal coil on 14 July 1963, leaving behind numerous followers all over the world to spread his great gospel of love and service.

To show gratitude and obeisance to the Divine Master for his ever-present Grace, Sri Gurudev’s 125th Birth Anniversary is being observed on a grand scale by the branches of the Society. To date, successful celebrations were observed by the Estcourt, Chatsworth and Gauteng branches. The highlight of the celebrations will be a 3 day conference to be held at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills and Sivananda International Cultural Centre, La Mercy from 7-9 September.