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The Day of Descent of Divine Grace was observed on Saturday, 1 March 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Ganga Arati commenced at 4pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Pujya Swamiji’s audio message and a reading on the significance of the occasion.

 About this auspicious day, Pujya Swamiji wrote: “I myself had the Grace of our Divine Master when an unusual power of his descended in me. It happened on 1st March this year (2007). When the power descended there was a little disturbance in the beginning but within a few days it settled down. Now there is no change in the descent of the power. I could not believe that the Master would grant me such Divine Grace, a Grace that I do not deserve. If devotees saw my attitude some five years ago and my attitude now, they would be quite surprised that such a tremendous change could take place”.

The following is the transcript of the reading from “Conversations with Gurudev” from Guidance in Daily Life, compiled by Pujya Swamiji and published in 1998. It depicts the profound conversation between Sri Gurudev and his ideal Disciple, Pujya Swami Sahajananda: 

“Swamiji: Gurudev, when we ask for material things you fulfil our wishes quickly, even without thinking, like Lord Siva. But when we ask for spiritual transformation, you are very hard on us, Gurudev. Again, like Lord Siva sitting with His closed eyes on the Himalayas, you seem to ignore us.

Gurudev: This is because spiritual treasures are valuable and more lasting. They are not like things that perish.

Swamiji: Gurudev, you remarked to one of our devotees who came to you from South Africa, ‘I know when to give and what to give’. Your Divine Grace works in mysterious ways, Gurudev. It is unpredictable, especially when it comes to spiritual transformation.

Gurudev: Yes, the mystery of Divine Grace can only be understood through Divine Grace.

Swamiji: Gurudev, parts of my nature resisted transformation for many years. I was in despair and always had a lurking fear that it will never be possible, because I had heard that even some great spiritual personalities did not achieve a complete transformation of their external nature. They did not achieve the integral transformation as described in your books and teachings, that is, a transformation amidst all the distracting and frustrating situations of daily life.

Gurudev: Such a radical transformation is possible only through the Guru’s Grace.

Swamiji: I can well believe it, Gurudev. No amount of vows and resolutions helped me to overcome some of my cardinal defects. When I gave up every effort and felt helpless, your Divine Grace manifested. Gurudev, I woke up one morning with the distinct feeling that I was a changed being, that some great power of yours had descended upon me and was effecting the transformation. Gurudev, when I realised what was happening, tears of gratitude began pouring for several weeks, as I felt I was not worthy to receive such Grace. I marveled to note with what precision and perfection your power was working. The higher knowledge seemed to be descending in me.

      From time to time, you were giving me a formula to repeat, together with my Mantra, so that what you were giving could be stabilised. Gurudev, the distracting external conditions did not change a bit. The attitude of those around me was the same. But the miracle I noticed was that it was I who was changing.

     Gurudev, kindly permit me to add something more. Over the years I knew all along that those around me were all your own forms, and that their frustrating actions were meant to help me in my spiritual progress. However, this intellectual acceptance did not help me much, Gurudev. But when your divine power descended upon me, the positive results were at once noticeable.

Gurudev: Yes, that is how Divine Grace works. Its ways are mysterious. It will work according to its own way and not the way you want. Perfect faith and self-surrender will allow it to work unhindered.

Swamiji: Gurudev, I regret to state that as the months went by, I found that sometimes I was losing the marvelous gifts that you were so graciously bestowing upon me, even though I was so unworthy of it. At such times I would feel extremely downcast and think that death would be preferable than to lose what you were giving. Gurudev, I also found that Divine Grace or Guru's Grace is not only difficult to get, but once got, it is even more difficult to maintain.

Gurudev: Yes, such precious spiritual gifts need special care and vigilance to protect them.

Swamiji: Gurudev, thanks to your boundless love and compassion, the transformation became more stabilised after about three years. This you made possible through the formulae that you gave me to repeat from time to time. Still, Gurudev, I need your Grace and protection at every step to keep vigilant at all times.

     Gurudev: Yes, my Grace shall be ever with you”.

 Pujya Swamiji’s audio message focused on the importance of regular attendance at Satsangs and the importance of practice rather that theoretical knowledge. Pujya Swamiji said that Sri Gurudev didn’t give Pujya Swamiji any lecturing skills, or he would have been touring the world, lecturing, He said that discrimination is lacking today amongst devotees, and that people work mechanically without thinking. He used the following analogies to exemplify this point: a person placing ripe fruit on the kitchen rack and green tomatoes in the fridge, instead of vice versa, and the example of the devotee who made twelve trips to the shop to buy twelve eggs. When the Guru asked the disciple to do many things simultaneously, he brought several people when the Guru needed a doctor. Amongst these people were a doctor and also grave-diggers in case the Guru died. We often blame others except ourselves. We must have dispassion in all that we do, and we must make the effort to change ourselves, and not others. 

 The Day of Descent of Divine Grace is an apt example of Pujya Swamiji’s unconditional loyalty to Sri Gurudev, his yearning for spiritual growth, deep Sadhana and finally, illumination. It is important that earnest seekers cherish these traits, and learn from Pujya Swamiji’s Guru Bhakti, discipline and dedicated service, for our own spiritual growth and self-transformation. 

On this most auspicious day we thank Pujya Swamiji for his supreme sacrifice and dedication. Every cell of Pujya Swamiji’s sacred body, every drop of his pure blood was consecrated towards moulding us and preparing us for God-realisation, either in this birth or in the births to come. We express our eternal gratitude to Pujya Swamiji.

The auspicious Mahasivaratri was celebrated at all Sivanandashrams on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm, followed by the Mahasivaratri Satsang which concluded the next morning at 5am. The multi-faceted programme, which catered for all, comprised readings, Kirtans, Bhajans, musical items, guest artistes, videos, offerings at the shrine and chanting of the sacred Om Namah Sivaya Mantra while circumambulating the Ganga Rani pool. The four Praharas were intensely spiritual and nurtured the spiritual aspirations of devotees, many of whom stayed until the closure.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message on the Power of Namasivaya (Parts 1 and 2) featured in both the First and Fourth Praharas. These recordings by Pujya Swamiji, in which he related the account of an American devotee, Sharon Brown, whose amazing experience exemplified the power of the most sacred Om Namah Sivaya Mantra. Sharon had aplastic anaemia (a disease that attacks the bone marrow). In desperation, she sought Divine help and was advised by a devotee of Swami Muktananda of New York to chant the Om Namah Sivaya Mantra. The mere mention of the Mantra instilled miraculous, curative waves in her. On simply hearing the Mantra even once, Sharon experienced extraordinary exhilaration. The Mantra and the world appeared as one, and the fear of death faded by the power of its repetition. At one point, she felt that cancer came to her as a blessing so as to bring her into contact with the Mantra. She said that through the chanting of the Om Namah Sivaya Mantra, poison can be turned into nectar. Sharon experienced innate peace, bliss and courage during the illness as well as during the operation that was performed on her. To her, the Mantra was a “living form of God” and the “supreme truth”. The audio recording was an excellent example of the power and potency of the sacred Om Namah Sivaya Mantra.

The First Prahara also comprised a track of the video, Wisdom of Sivananda on the power of prayer which portrayed Sri Swami Sivananda’s deep love and reverence for Lord Siva. Guest artiste Kashmira Bhajan, is a student of the Kala Darshan, Institute of Classical Indian Dance and Music, under tutelage of Guru Sri Manesh Maharaj. Her offering, a Kathak Dance to the cosmic dancer, Lord Nataraj, was both inspirational and deeply spiritual. Dhivya Chetty, a young emerging artist, passionately explores various musical forms, including vocals, tabla, keyboards, and violin. She was accompanied by her father who has performed alongside many local and international musicians.

The reading from Glory of Sivaratri from Lord Siva and His Worship by Sri Swami Sivananda, captured the essence of Mahasivaratri. Sri Gurudev said, ‘Sivaratri’ means ‘night of Lord Siva’. The important features of this religious function are rigid fasting for twenty-four hours and vigil throughout the night. Every true devotee of Lord Siva spends the night of Sivaratri in deep meditation, keeps vigil and observes fast. The worship of Lord Siva consists in offering flowers, Bilva leaves and other gifts on the Linga which is a symbol of Lord Siva, and bathing it with milk, honey, butter, ghee, rose- water, etc.

 “When creation had been completed, Siva and Parvati had been living on the top of Kailas. Parvati asked; “O venerable Lord, which of the many rituals observed in ‘Thy honour doth please Thee most?’ Lord Siva replied: ‘The thirteenth night of the new moon, Krishna Paksha, in the month of Phalguna (February-March) is known as Sivaratri, and is My most favourable Tithi. My devotee gives Me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths, and offerings of flowers, sweets, incense, etc’.”

The First Prahara concluded with the recital of the Ganesha Arati – Jay Ganesha Deva, chanting of the Om Namah Sivaya Mantra and offerings. 

The Second Prahara was resplendent with an array of soul-elevating items. Extracts from Sivananda’s Gospel of Divine Life, highlighted the Master’s deep love for Lord Siva, as is indicative in the following excerpt, entitled The Master’s Worship, “It was the Viswanath Mandir Pratishtha Anniversary Day. A programme of worship was being conducted in the temple. Several aspirants and Sadhus were sitting inside the temple, worshipping the Lord with flowers and bael leaves. The Shiva Lingam was fully covered with a thick shawl of flowers. The Master was circumambulating the temple. As he appeared at the threshold of the shrine, one of the aspirants offered him some flowers and bael leaves with which to worship the Lord. As the Sannyasin outside was going on with his recitation of the Mantras, the Master also joined the devotees in offering flowers to the Lord. This went on for some minutes. In a mood of complete self-forgetfulness, the Master now turned to the Sadhus and aspirants sitting around the Lingam and began worshipping them with the flowers intended for the Lord. There seemed to be not a trace in his eyes or face indicating his recognition of who exactly the individuals were. The eyes seemed to gaze on, but only he could say what he saw”.

The story of Kancha Prabhu, portrays the mundaneness and mysteriousness of attachment and human nature. Instances of this description can be found even today. Those who are ever watchful can see clearly the folly of clinging to mundane things. The story reveals that one cannot take even a single material possession from this world when life departs. 

Srimathi Siddharthiya Pillay, a classically-trained Bharathanatyam dancer, presented a dance based on a Malayalam song praising Lord Siva, wherein she depicted the worship of Lord Siva by a gathering of women in the wilderness of the forest and the Lord's manifestation to his devotees.  Sri Thiru Solly Pillay, founder of Agni-swaram, a group of highly talented musicians, accompanied by the well-known Tansen Nepaul, performed with passion, devotion and intense Bhakti. The songs by Sri Gurudev, a video entitled, Lord Shiva visits Baby Krishna, and singing of melodious Thevarams also featured in this Prahara The readings of Nayanar Saints and the Story of Kannappa Nayanar, An Ode to Arunachala and singing of Arunachala Verses, complemented the Second Prahara as well. The An Ode to Arunachala, the Akshara Mana Malai is an inspired poetical composition by Sri Ramana Maharishi. It is an exceptional outpouring of devotion for the Lord of Arunachala in which the Maharishi assumes the role of a lover (seeker) seeking her beloved (the Supreme Being). It is said that anyone who recites the work with devotion will merge with Lord Arunachaleshwara and attain salvation, the goal of human existence. Melodious Kirtans and Bhajans added to the divine and spiritual ambience of the Second Prahara, which concluded with the Siva Arati, chanting and offerings. 

In the Third Prahara, the Lilas of Lord Shiva were aptly portrayed in the inspiring story, Old Drum, New Palace, an audio recording by devotees of the Society. Jay Udith and troupe of Jai Ho Satsang made their love offerings through melodious Kirtans and Bhajans. A video, Lord Rama sings on Sivaratri, Pujya Swamiji’s audio Kirtans and Bhajans, a video on the Om Namah Shiva Series, and a reading of the story, Chipak Mahadev complemented the Third Prahara. The story Chipak Mahadev, brought to the fore, Lord Siva’s miraculous and mysterious powers bestowed upon ardent devotees. The Prahara concluded with the Sivananda Arati, chanting and offerings.

The Fourth and final Prahara comprised Pujya Swamiji’s audio message (Part 2), recounting the American devotee, Sharon Brown’s experiences and the power of the Om Namah Sivaya Mantra, a video on the Vishnu Puran, recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa, Ram Bhajan, and an open-time when devotees were given the opportunity to sing Kirtans and Bhajans. The Fourth Prahara brought the Mahasivaratri celebrations to a great spiritual end with the final chanting, offerings and Arati at 5am.

The Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, extols the virtues and powers of Lord Siva, in the following advice to aspirants:

“Blessed Aspirants,

Lord Siva is the God of Love. His Grace is boundless. He is the Saviour and Guru. He is the Beloved of Uma. He is Satyam, Sivam, Subham, Sundaram, Kantam. He is the Supreme Light that shines in your heart.

Meditate on His Form. Hear His Lilas. Repeat His Mantra ‘Om Namah Sivaya’. Study Siva Purana. Do His worship daily. Behold Him in all names and forms. He will bless you with His Vision”.

As we celebrate another Mahasivaratri, let us reflect, introspect and dive deep into the spiritual realms of our own beings. The importance of the worship of Lord Siva and the popularity and auspiciousness of Mahasivaratri throughout the world cannot be over emphasised. Its glory is ineffable. 

 May the blessings of Lord Siva, Gurudev, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda be upon us all

Divine Life Society of South Africa launched the 41-Day Recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa, 11 times daily, on Monday, 3 March 2025. The recital will end on the most auspicious Sri Hanuman Jayanti on 12 April 2025. The final recital will be followed by a Havan.

Both Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swami Sahajananda advocated and recommended the recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa for protection, safety, mental and emotional stability, welfare and peace in the world. The glory of Sri Hanuman, His prowess and indomitable presence will last for posterity. Sri Gurudev said, “The world has not yet seen and will not see in future also a mighty hero like Sri Hanuman. During His life He worked wonders and exhibited superhuman feats of strength and valour. He has left behind Him a Name which, as long as the world lasts, will continue wielding a great influence over the minds of millions of people.

“Where Hanuman is, there are Sri Rama and Sri Sita, and wherever Sri Rama and Sri Sita are praised and their deeds recited, there Hanuman is”.

The Sri Hanuman Chalisa Launch Satsang on 3 March 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, commenced with Ganga Arati at 5.30pm. Signed pledges by devotees were offered at the shrine on this day. The Satsang Programme comprised Invocation, a reading of the Rules for the 41-Day Sri Hanuman Chalisa Recital, and the recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa 11 times. The rules which appear in the Divine Life Society of South Africa Prayer Book, are enumerated below and are useful to anyone who wishes to do this Vrat.

1. The Sri Hanuman Chalisa should be repeated regularly for 41 days, either in the morning or in the evening. 

2. Have a bath and wear clean clothes. 

3. Sit in any comfortable posture in front of a picture of Sri Hanuman. 

4. Keep some fruit as Prasad in a little tray. 

5. Keep 11 flowers in another small tray. 

6. First commence repeating some Guru Mantras.

7. After the repetition of the Guru Mantras, commence the Sri Hanuman Chalisa from “Sri Guru Charana Sarojaraja…”

8. Complete the repetition till the end, until “Hridaya Basahu Sura Bhoop Sita Ram”. This is one repetition. 

9. On completion of the repetition once, offer one flower to Sri Hanuman. 

10. Do the repetition 11 times at each sitting. Each time a repetition is completed, offer one flower. In this way offer all the 11 flowers. 

11. After the completion 11 times at one sitting, repeat some Shanti Mantras, prostrate and get up. 

12. The fruit can be distributed to all as Prasad. 

13. While sitting in the posture, do not change it or look around. Keep the eyes closed and concentrate on the picture of Sri Hanuman, or concentrate on his picture with eyes open. 

14. On completion of the Mantra 11 times for 41 days, perform Havan with the help of a qualified pundit, and do some Puja in a Hanuman temple with the guidance of a priest. 

15. You can also do poor feeding or some charity on completion of the Yajna. 

16. Women undergoing the monthly cleansing process should not repeat the Mantra during this period. 

“Hanuman ranks first amongst the heroes of the world. His heroic deeds, wonderful exploits and marvellous feats of strength and bravery cannot be adequately described. His sense of duty was extremely laudable. He had great skill in all military tactics and methods of warfare. His crossing the sea of thirty miles in one leap and lifting the crest of a mountain in the palm of the hand, his carrying of the brothers on his shoulders from the nether world to Lanka are all astounding, superhuman feats which baffle human description”. Sri Swami Sivananda

May the blessings of Sri Hanuman envelope our lives, so that we may tread the path of righteousness, love, Bhakti, truth, devotion and perennial love for the Lord.