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Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya

Sivananda DLS Divine Life Society of South Africa

Sivananda DLS

Established in 1949 by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read Online: Divine Life Magazine No. 130

CLICK HERE TO READ DIVINE LIFE MAGAZINE NO.130

Report: Maha Sivaratri 2022

Divine Life Society of S.A. celebrated Mahasivaratri online on Monday, 28 February 2022, commencing with Ganga Arati at 5.30pm and concluding the next morning at 5am. Befitting this sacred night, the programme was a veritable spiritual feast with a variety of presentations and devotional offerings to Lord Siva. Melodious Kirtans and Bhajans, performances and presentations by guest artistes, readings, poems, Sanskrit verses in praise of Lord Siva, sayings from our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda presented by Spiritual Darlings, audio recordings, videos, and chanting of the sacred Om Namah Sivaya Mantra featured on the programme.

The following audio message (in Yoga Lessons for Children) from our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, was used to introduce the festival and explain details of this event: "This sacred festival is observed in honour of Lord Siva. Sivaratri means the 'Night of Siva'. Devotees observe a strict fast on this day. Some do not take even a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Siva Linga is worshipped every three hours by bathing it first in milk, then with curd, then with ghee and, lastly, honey. The chanting of the Mantra of Lord Siva─ Om Namah Sivaya─ goes on without a stop, together with the offering of bael leaves".

New Year's Day Satsang

Divine Life Society of South Africa lovingly invites you to join us for our online New Year's Day & All Souls' Day Satsang. The Society makes a sincere and earnest appeal to all devotees to participate in the Satsang whilst in the comfort of their homes, so as to imbibe the rich and sacred benefits of Satsang.

There are 2 options to receive the online Satsang links. One is to subscribe to our YouTube channel, and the other is to join our WhatsApp group, where a programme and a link to the pre-recorded audio stream Satsang will be sent out just before Satsang time.

Report: Gita Jayanti - DLS Pietermaritzburg

This programme was coordinated by the Pietermaritzburg Branch of Divine Life Society of South Africa on Tuesday, 14 December, being the sacred Gita Jayanti Day. The function was livestreamed from Sivanandashram, Northdale and the recitation was done under the leadership and tutelage of Dr Muralidhar Panda, a Sanskrit scholar who was brought to this country by Pujya Swami Sahajananda to promote the study of the Sanskrit language.Devotees from Pietermaritzburg joined Dr Panda in the recitation.

Regarding Gita Jayanti, our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda has written the following, "The Gita Jayanti (birthdate of the Bhagavad Gita) is celebrated by the admirers and lovers of this unique book on the 11th day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Margaseersha according to the Hindu Almanac. It was the day on which the scripture was revealed to the world by Sanjaya.

"Glory, glory to the Gita, Glory to Lord Krishna who placed the Gita before men of this world to attain liberation! The teachings of the Gita are broad, universal, sublime. It has a message of solace, freedom, salvation, perfection and peace for all human beings. The study of the Gita alone is sufficient for daily Swadhyaya (scriptural study). Blessed is the man who studies the Gita daily! Twice blessed is he who lives in the spirit of the Gita! Thrice blessed is he who has realised the knowledge of the Gita or attained Self Knowledge! Om Tat Sat".

The programme commenced at 8am with Ganga Arati, followed by a short invocation. The recital of the sacred verses of the entire Bhagavad Gita was conducted from 8.15am to about 11.05am.The Havan, which commenced thereafter, radiated much-needed healing energy to the immediate environment and to the world at large.

Our sincere thanks to Dr Panda and devotees from Pietermaritzburg for taking this initiative to make this offering, for the long hours spent in preparation and for promoting peace and goodwill in the country and the world at large through the recitation of these sacred verses.