Our online programme on Friday, 20 August 2021, commenced with Ganga Arati at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. In the book, Hindu Fasts and Festivals, our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, gives us the following explanation, "Lord Siva describes the glory of this Vrata in the Skanda Purana. It is performed by a woman whose husband is still living. Maha Lakshmi is the abode of auspiciousness, prosperity and wealth. This worship of Her is done to obtain good progeny, and for the health and long life of the husband.

"The Vrata is observed on the Friday immediately preceding the full moon day of the month of Sravan (August – September). After a purificatory bath, the lady should put on fresh, clean clothes and make a mandala with a drawing of a lotus upon it. A kalasha filled with rice and topped with fresh mango leaves, and a coconut and cloth are placed in the mandala. Mother Lakshmi is now invoked therein. Fresh grains are used in the worship as they convey the idea of growth and prosperity.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LIVE STREAM 

Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya! Om Namo Bhagavade Vasudevaya!

Sri Krishna Janmashtami, the sacred Birthday of Lord Krishna, was celebrated online by Divine Life Society of S.A. on Monday, 30 August 2021. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang, which concluded at midnight.

Bhagavan Sri Krishna was the Ishta Devata of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, who wrote the following in Lord Krishna & His Lilas: "Lord Krishna was the highest incarnation of the great Vishnu. He was the unique and crowning incarnation of all. He was the world teacher. He was the one Lord of love. His divine form holds the heart of India captive in chains, even today. The Bhagavata, the Mahabharata, the Vishnu Purana—all proclaim with one voice that there was none to match Sri Krishna in beauty and elegance of form in all three worlds."

The sacred Guru Purnima was celebrated online on Friday, 23 July 2021. The morning session ran from 6.00am to 6.25am and the evening programme from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

On this day, the beloved Guru is worshipped by spiritual aspirants all over the world. This day is also sacred to the memory of Sage Bhagawan Vyasa, who wrote the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata, one of the greatest spiritual teachers of mankind.

We pay respectful obeisance and gratitude to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, and Pujya Swami Sahajananda. We pay respectful obeisance and gratitude, too, to Sri Shankaracharya, from whose divine lineage our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda descended. Furthermore, we acknowledge with deep gratitude, the immeasurable contributions of all Brahma Vidya Gurus, as well as all saints and sages.

The sacred Mahasamadhi Anniversary of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda began via our online Satsang programme at 6am on 14 July 2021. Devotees paid homage to our Divine Master, in the comfort of their homes! The short morning session, with Ganga Arati & invocation concluded at 6.26am. In the evening, after Ganga Arati at 5.30pm, we had Satsang.

During the evening Satsang, the Board of Management of Divine Life Society of S.A. presented the following message, (adapted for the purpose of this report): "On 14 July 2021, we observed the 58th Mahasamadhi Anniversary of beloved Sri Gurudev, Sri Swami Sivananda, who left his mortal coil on 14 July 1963. He was born on 8 September 1887 and influenced the entire world with his deep and profound thoughts, including his 250 books. On this most auspicious occasion, we acknowledge with deep gratitude, our Divine Master's immeasurable legacy to the world, through his profound writings; Ashrams throughout the world; service activities and spiritual, moral and aesthetic guidance on Hinduism, Yoga and allied topics. Sri Gurudev's direct, godlike disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda, led Divine Life Society of South Africa with rare dedication, outstanding leadership and total Guru Bhakti for 58 glorious years. Today, Divine Life Society of South Africa is 72 years in existence, and it is rendering yeoman service through poverty alleviation projects, education, health care, youth development and education. Sivananda Ghat continues to act as a beacon light of Divine Life Society of South Africa, especially during this coronavirus pandemic, when families of the deceased find comfort and solace in disposing of the mortal remains of their beloved ones, in a dignified and ceremonious manner at the Sivananda Ghat. We salute our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda for his vision and our Spiritual Head, Sri Swami Sahajananda, without whom we would have been in a spiritual abyss.