Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya
Established in 1949 by Sri Swami Sivananda
Youth Day in South Africa is a day on which South Africans honour the youth. Today, 16 June is a South African public holiday. There are Youth Day celebrations held country-wide to empower youth and all South Africans.
Divine Life Society of South Africa has been observing Youth Day for several years. The teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda, as well as his advice to youth, form an integral part of the Youth Day programmes.
In the book Enlightened Education, the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, says the following about youth: "The youth are the most precious treasure of the nation. Students are an important asset to the country, for leaders all over the land recognise that they are to guide the nation of tomorrow. The present generation of students are the potential leaders in all the different fields of national life of the future.
Divine Life Society of South Africa observed Sri Swami Sivananda's 60th Mahasamadhi Anniversary (according to the Sanskrit calendar) on 11 July 2023 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Pujya Swami Sahajananda's audio message, and a reading entitled, Miracles of Sivananda by Sri Swami Venkatesananda. There was Akhanda Chanting from 5am until 4pm.
The Master received hundreds of tributes and accolades. It is difficult to describe the contributions of Sri Swami Sivananda to the world, for his contributions are diverse, extensive, intensive, multi-faceted and spread across the world. Hundreds of tributes have been paid to the spiritual giant, Sri Swami Sivananda. Encyclopaedia.com describes the Master as follows: "One of the most influential modern Hindu spiritual teachers, whose most important contribution was the wedding of the traditional concept of Sannyas, the renounced life, with social service directed toward people in need".
Ninety-eight years ago, on 10 July 1925, a boy, V. Srinivasan was born in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal. Within a few decades, his indomitable will, tenacity and iron courage to spread his Divine Master's, Sri Swami Sivananda's teachings, saw a virtual Hindu renaissance in KwaZulu-Natal; perhaps a rare feat in Hindu spiritual history in this province, for the message of Sri Swami Sivananda, the message of Divine Life, has permeated almost every Hindu home in the province and beyond.
Sri Swami Sahajananda's silent dynamism, magnetic personality and contributions are again evident in Sri Swami Sivananda's words at Pujya Swamiji's farewell after his initiation into the holy order of Sannyas on 10 April 1956. The Master said, "Swami Sahajananda is styled as the spiritual king of South Africa, Durban. He is also called African Chota Guru. He does not want anything. He is a silent worker. He is a man of renunciation, Vairagya (dispassion) and meditation. He is a very good organiser. He talks little. You have never seen him talking. He thinks much and does much. Such a spiritual Yogi is he. His devotion to his teacher is unique. He has a pure heart. So let us pray for the health of this small Yogi, full of strength. One who can transform the materialistic intellect of the whole of South Africa; what tremendous purity, what tremendous Yogic power, what tremendous meditation, spiritual aura and selfless aura".
Divine Life Society of South Africa observed the most auspicious Sri Guru Purnima on Monday, 3 July 2023. There was a morning Sadhana Programme at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills from 6am until 6.25am, after which devotees paid obeisance by circumambulation of Sahaja Kutir and then visited the Sivananda Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. There was Akhanda Chanting at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills from 5am until 12 noon, and at Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC), La Mercy, from 12 noon until 4pm. Ganga Arati at Sivananda International Cultural Centre, commenced at 4pm followed by Satsang at 5pm. Hundreds of devotees from many parts of the country gathered at SICC and paid homage to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda on this sacred day, when the Guru is honoured.