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Over 250 devotees, donors, well-wishers, members of the public and representatives of sister organisations attended Divine Life Society of South Africa’s first Centenary Celebrations’ Sivananda Tour held in Howick.  Havan commenced at 9am and Satsang was from 10am to 12.30pm. A complimentary copy of the booklet Glory of Hinduism, and a recently published booklet with a selection of Kirtans and Bhajans, were distributed.

Senior male devotees and community members participated in the Havan conducted by three of the Society’s pundits. The soulful and mellifluous chants of sacred Mantras, created a deeply spiritual ambience in the peaceful and quiet suburb of Howick West. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans and Bhajans sung by both Divine Life Society of South Africa and the All-Souls’ Seva Association of Howick, a Ramayana recital, a message from the Society, a talk on “Sri Swami Sivananda on Hinduism, the importance of Sadhana, meditation, prayer and benefits of Satsang”, a group dance, guided meditation and an overview of the benefits of Mantra chanting.

The message from the Society provided an insight into the life, legacy and teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s enormous work in promoting Hinduism in South Africa, and the work of Divine Life Society of South Africa and its service activities over the past 75 years. The message also encouraged all to engage in spiritual practices, and to attend Satsangs in their areas, so that we may be equipped to face the challenges of life and understand the fundamental tenets of Hinduism or Sanathan Dharma. The talk also gave pertinent advice on the importance of repeating the Divine Name and Mantra chanting. This is evident in, “In the midst of the very hectic lives that we lead, we encourage you to choose any one Mantra that you may have an affinity for, and chant it day and night. A short Mantra like Om Sri Ram Jay Ram Jaya Jaya Ram Om, or Om Namasivaya may be repeated. Children can be taught this Mantra as well. It should be chanted before going to bed and on awakening. Learn the Om Tryambakam Mantra and teach it to your children. It is a powerful Mantra that will protect you from danger. We also encourage you to recite the Sri Hanuman Chalisa which has tremendous power and benefits”. 

The talk, “Sri Swami Sivananda on Hinduism, importance of Sadhana, meditation, prayer and benefits of Satsang”, encapsulated some of the Master’s important cardinal teachings. The following gems from the talk give credence to this statement. In respect of Hinduism, Sri N. Ananthanarayanan, in the book, From Man to Godman, said, “By teaching and by personal example, he made it plain that there was no easy road to Moksha or liberation, no short-cut to God. The laborious way was the only way. It was the way of service and love, of abstraction and meditation, of dispassion and discrimination”.   On Sadhana, the Master said, “Stern self-discipline is absolutely essential…. The spiritual path is rugged, thorny, and precipitous. The thorns must be weeded out with patience and perseverance. Some of the thorns are internal; some are external. Lust, greed, wrath, delusion and vanity are internal thorns. The company of evil-minded persons is the worst of all the external thorns. Therefore, shun evil company ruthlessly”. He gives the following advice on meditation, “Meditation is keeping up an unceasing flow of God-consciousness. All worldly thoughts are shut out from the mind. It is filled or saturated with divine thoughts, divine glory and the Divine Presence…... It helps meditation a great deal and makes the approach to God easier”. Some of the benefits of meditation according to Sri Swami Sivananda are: it takes us to God, enhances focus, concentration and intellect, increases feelings of compassion, empathy and kindness, supports personal and spiritual growth, and reduces stress. Meditation is an important aspect of spiritual practice. 

In the continuation of the Master’s cardinal teachings, Sri Swami Sivananda said the following on prayer, “Prayer can reach a realm where reason dares not enter. It can take you to the spiritual realm or kingdom of God. It frees the devotee from the fear of death. It brings him nearer to God and makes him feel his essential, immortal and blissful nature”. He emphasizes that the power of prayer is indescribable and that, “Sincere devotees only realise its usefulness and splendour….. Do not argue about the efficacy of prayer. You will be deluded”. Apt to the occasion and relevant to all in the congregation was the advice the Master gave on the benefits of Satsang. Sri Swami Sivananda explained that Satsang is the easiest and quickest means to change the minds of worldly persons towards the spiritual path and take us towards God; that Satsang elevates the mind and fills it with Sattva or purity, and forces one to lead a divine life. Satsang is the greatest of all purifiers and illuminators of man. 

The beautifully choreographed Shiva Tandav Dance by the spiritual darlings of our Estcourt Branch was executed with devotion, grace, precision and elegance. The session on guided meditation gave on overview of meditation techniques and the importance of meditation in spiritual practices. The information on Mantra chanting was intended to encourage the congregation to choose a Mantra and repeat it constantly for peace, protection and spiritual growth and in daily life. 

The All-Souls’ Seva Association is complimented on an excellent Centenary Celebrations' function. The Society acknowledges with deep gratitude their work, diligence, dedication and commitment in ensuring that the messages of Sri Swami Sivananda, Divine Life and our glorious Hindu Dharma go out to the community of Howick.   The extent that the organisers went to in organising the function, bearing the cost of services, getting sponsorships, arranging all aspects of the Havan, Satsang, cooking, catering, hall décor, medical services and community involvement, are hallmarks of true commitment and cooperation. May Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji bless the organisers and the community of Howick abundantly.

We pray that the Divine Grace and blessings of Sri Swami Sivananda, Pujya Swami Sahajananda and Ganga Mata be upon all for their good health, long life, peace, happiness, prosperity and protection.

Divine Life Society of South Africa observed the auspicious Varalakshmi Vratam on Friday, 16 August 2024 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm, followed by Satsang. The programme comprised Kirtans and Bhajans, an audio recording of the Lakshmi Arati and a reading from Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

The Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda says that the Vedas describe Mother Lakshmi as the Goddess of riches, and that God now manifests in the form of wealth. Mother Lakshmi provides us with both material and spiritual wealth. On the spiritual path, we pray to Mother Lakshmi for the divine spiritual wealth of God. The Master adds that Mother Lakshmi also gives joy, makes life on earth bearable, and that without Her, life on earth would be a journey of pain and suffering. This is evident in the reading from Hindu Fasts and Festivals, when the Master says, “Mother Lakshmi not only bestows wealth and all sorts of material prosperity, but also imparts divine wisdom to all Her devotees. She is Vidya Shakti. She introduces Her devotees to Her Lord. She recommends them to Her Lord for their salvation.

“She is the power of Lord Narayana, who is also known as Lord Vishnu or Lord Hari. Narayana is the Lord’s aspect of preservation. He is the embodiment of Shuddha Sattwa. Lakshmi is His causal body. She is Maya, the illusory power of Nature. She protects the whole world with Her protecting power, and deludes everyone with Her veiling power. She Herself as Vidya Lakshmi enlightens the spiritual aspirant. Beauty, Grace, a picturesque scenery or a charming landscape, modesty, love, prosperity, music, the five elements and their combinations, the internal organs, mind, Prana, intellect – all these are Her manifestations.

“Without the Grace and blessings of Lakshmi even Sannyasins cannot engage in the work of propaganda or preaching or run their institutions. They are in fact more in need of Her Grace than the householders, because they have to do intense, dynamic work for the humanweal. Sri Shankara worshipped Devi, Lakshmi and Saraswati for the attainment of success in his work. All the great prophets and divine messengers who have done great spiritual work in the past, were devotees of Mother Lakshmi, Devi and Saraswati”.

Both our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda impressed upon devotees to aspire for higher qualities, beyond material pursuits. The Master has given us relevant instructions through his cardinal teachings of “Serve, love, give, purify, meditate and realise”. Sri Swami Sivananda explains that the higher nature of the Mother is really spiritual wealth – a pure heart, sweetness of manners, behaviour, speech and service to the Guru. We should therefore pray to Mother Lakshmi to grant us all divine spiritual wealth instead of material gifts and wealth. 

In the article, “Worship of the Divine Mother”, Sri Swami Sivananda says, “Lakshmi does not mean more material wealth like gold, cattle, etc. All kinds of prosperity, glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, greatness, come under the Grace of Goddess Lakshmi. Sri Appayya Dikshitar calls even final liberation as ‘Moksha-Samrajya Lakshmi’. Hence worship of Lakshmi means the worship of Divinity, the power that dissolves multiplicity in unity. The worship of Devi is therefore the explanation of the entire process of spiritual Sadhana in all its aspects”.

May Mother Lakshmii bless us all with spiritual illumination, material and spiritual wealth.