The most auspicious Varalakshmi Vratam was observed at all Sivanandashrams. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised a reading, Kirtans, Bhajans and the Lakshmi Arati.

In the reading from Yoga Lessons for Children by Sri Swami Sivananda, the Master extolled the characteristics and glory of Mother Lakshmi. He said, “The Vedas describe Mother Lakshmi as the Goddess of riches. God manifests in the form of wealth. There is material as well as spiritual wealth. Mother Lakshmi provides us with both, but some think of Her as a symbol of material wealth only. It is true that She will grant us this if we desire. But we should pray to Her for something lasting, something more precious and worthwhile – it is spiritual wealth of God. Mother Lakshmi also gives joy. She makes life on earth bearable. Without Her, life on earth would be a journey of pain and suffering”. 

In respect of Her Divine qualities, the Master said, "She appears to the world as a Goddess of peace. When we pray to Her, there is peace in the universe – peace among nations and mankind, and freedom from conflicts and wars. The Divine Mother takes care of the welfare of Her children and blesses the world with good health”.

Sri Swami Sivananda said that every home is the dwelling-place of Mother Lakshmi, and that at sunset, when the lamps are lit, we pray to Her and ask Her to bless our homes. To earn the blessings of Mother Lakshmi we have to pay attention to three important aspects of our lives at home. These are cleanliness, hospitality and charity. If we practise these virtues, we will obtain the Grace of Mother Lakshmi in abundance and will never suffer from any want. He explained further, “The Mother is pleased with a home that is spotlessly clean. She blesses such homes with Her sweet Presence. She is not present in homes that are kept untidy and unkempt. So, we should learn to take very great care of the material things which she represents and has given us”.

The esoteric meaning of Mother Lakshmi’s grandeur, is encapsulated in, “Mother Lakshmi is depicted in pictures as being richly dressed. She wears ornaments of gold. The elephant seen at Her side represents pomp and grandeur. She stands on a lotus and holds two lotus flowers in full bloom, representing fullness in all aspects, both material and spiritual.  This theme is further enunciated in, “The higher nature of the Mother is really spiritual wealth – a pure heart, sweetness of manners, behaviour and speech, service to the Guru, etc. Pray to Mother Lakshmi to grant you the divine spiritual wealth instead of material things. You will then enjoy everlasting peace and happiness”.

The Lakshmi Arati that was sung is a devotional hymn praising Maa Lakshmi and expresses deep reverence to Her as the beloved of Lord Vishnu and as the source of happiness, prosperity, virtues and spiritual blessings. The Arati praises Mother Lakshmi’s radiant and beautiful form and recalls Her emergence during the churning of the cosmic ocean. She is described as the bestower of wealth, nourishment, success and fulfilment, while Her Grace brings auspiciousness to the home and removes fear and anxiety.

An important message of the Lakshmi Arati is that true prosperity is not merely material wealth. Where Mother Lakshmi’s Grace is present, there should also be righteousness, good qualities, peace, contentment and devotion. The devotee therefore seeks Her blessings not only for financial well-being but for a harmonious and virtuous life. Singing the Arati with faith and devotion will cultivate gratitude, positivity, peace of mind, prosperity and spiritual strength. Ultimately, it is a prayer that Divine Grace may illuminate our homes, purify our hearts and enable us to use our blessings for the welfare and service of others.

May the Master’s potent description of Mother Lakshmi as a Goddess of peace, resonate boldly today, more than ever. May Her blessings permeate our lives in all respects. May our Master’s assurance that the Divine Mother takes care of the welfare of Her children and blesses the world with good health, peace and prosperity, also find resonance in each of us. 

The Mahasamadhi Anniversary Satsang was held on Friday, 7 August 2026 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised a reading, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, Kirtans and Bhajans. 

The reading entitled, The Great Soul Enters the Cosmic - Sri Swami Sivananda attains Mahasamadhi, extracted from Path to God-Realization, published by Divine Life Society of South Africa, Durban, Vol. XII. September-October 1963, records the final days of a life dedicated to spiritual service and the upliftment of humanity. Sri Gurudev had been unwell since 25 June 1963, when signs of physical disability became apparent. Specialists were summoned from Delhi, Lucknow and Dehradun, while continuous medical care was provided. Despite his age, diabetes and physical debility, his recovery initially appeared remarkable. By early July, he was strong enough to sit on the veranda of his Kutir facing the Ganga, where devotees were permitted to receive his Darshan. 

The attending physicians considered his recovery “almost amazing”, and he regained his ability to speak and enquire about devotees. On 10 July, he blessed some devotees, wishing them “health, long life, peace and prosperity and divine blessedness”. As late as 12 July, his condition remained good and devotees rejoiced at reports of his steady improvement. However, on 13 July his condition deteriorated unexpectedly. Despite medical attention, his temperature rose, breathing became difficult and his condition rapidly worsened. The article poignantly observes, "Providence had already decided otherwise". Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj, the revered spiritual Master and founder of the Divine Life Society, entered Mahasamadhi at 11.15pm on Sunday, 14 July 1963, in his Kutir on the banks of the Ganga at Sivanandanagar, in the Himalayan foothills – a great loss not only to devotees and India, but the world at large. He left;behind an enduring legacy of spiritual wisdom, service and devotion.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message focused on faith and self-surrender which are pre-requisites on the spiritual path. He said that “Everything belongs to God” and that whenever calamity strikes, the effect will not be great if we realise this. He also said that “God realisation is tremendous, it is stupendous”, for which we have to pay the full price. Pain, sorrow and anxiety should not assail us. Pujya Swamiji related his own fear when he was to be initiated into the Holy Order of Sannyas. However, Sri Gurudev brought about an instant transformation and he became courageous, saying, “Gurudev infused that power in me”. On another occasion there was a fire in the paper room at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Pujya Swamiji had no fear. The damage caused by the fire was minimal. He alluded to a book, The Last Great Mysteries of the World in the Ashram library, that taught him about the important virtue of dispassion. He advised that we should all go through trials without fear, and that we are all in a marvellous period for our spiritual progress.

Sri Swami Sivananda’s life was, and still is, a beacon of divine light, selfless service and boundless love. As we commemorate his 63rd Mahasamadhi, we are reminded that a great Master never truly leaves us. His immortal teachings, his dynamic legacy through his writings, work, Ashrams and countless devotees, and the profound work and wisdom shared by Pujya Swami Sahajananda, continue to guide our footsteps. May we have unconditional faith and self-surrender, and give our all to the Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji, and walk the path of righteousness, Dharma and truth with courage and conviction, knowing that Sri Gurudev's and Pujya Swamiji’s Grace watch over and inspires all seekers of Truth.

The most auspicious Guru Purnima was observed on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. There was a morning Sadhana programme at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, commencing at 6am. Ganga Arati at Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC), commenced at 3.45pm followed by Satsang at 4.30pm. Akhanda Chanting took place at both Ashrams.

The Satsang programme comprised Sri Swami Sivananda’s Guru Purnima message, two audio messages of Sri Swami Sahajananda, a message from the Society, a dance, and melodious Kirtans and Bhajans. 

Sri Swami Sivananda’s Guru Purnima Message extracted from Hindu Fasts and Festivals written by Sri Swami Sivananda, captured the significance of Guru Purnima and its observance. The Master said, “The full moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August) is the extremely auspicious and holy day of Guru Purnima. On this day, sacred to the memory of the great sage, Bhagavan Sri Vyasa, Sannyasins settle at some place to study and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma Sutras composed by Maharishi Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic philosophical study and investigation. Sri Vyasa has rendered unforgettable service to humanity for all times by editing the four Vedas and writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata… In honour of this divine personage, spiritual aspirants perform Vyasa Puja on this day, and disciples worship their spiritual preceptors. Saints, monks and men of God are honoured and entertained by acts of charity by the householders with deep faith and sincerity. 

“…Spiritual aspirants seriously begin to put into actual practice all the theory and philosophy that have been stored up in them through systematic and patient study. They commence or resolve to intensify with all earnestness, their practical spiritual Sadhana right from this day. 

“This day of worship of one's preceptor is a day of pure joy to the sincere spiritual aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering their reverent homage to the beloved Guru, aspirants await this occasion with eagerness and devotion. It is the Guru alone that breaks the binding cords of attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly existence.

“The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, to shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his glory and message”.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message on Guru Purnima highlighted the sacred Guru-disciple relationship, when he said that it is only in India that you find this peculiar Guru-Parampara relationship. He contrasted this with the Desert Fathers, who attained spiritual realisation but did not pass their wisdom to disciples. He explained that “our scriptures are never tired of singing the glory of our Gurus”, and affirmed that a true Guru can bestow illumination upon a worthy disciple instantly. Describing this divine bond, he said, “The great relationship between the Guru and disciple is something marvellous, something wonderful, something that cannot be described in words. It is our tradition...our Gurus are very great…you can never understand the internal state of a God-realised saint. Drawing from the lives of Lord Buddha who performed intense Tapas, our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Mother Mirra, Pujya Swamiji illustrated the transformative power of devotion, humility and surrender. He said that Sri Aurobindo attained illumination after sitting with a Guru who was “not an enlightened person”, while Mother Mirra demonstrated complete discipleship because “she completely surrendered to him” (Sri Aurobindo). Pujya Swamiji also said that the Guru can do anything in an instant because of his Sadhana and Divine powers, inspiring us to have firm faith and surrender completely to the Guru.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s second audio message, rich with spiritual insight, centred on his unwavering devotion to Sri Gurudev and the transforming power of the Guru’s grace. He remarked that if he were to write a book, it would be titled, The Mysteries and Marvels of the Guru’s Grace, explaining that the Master had chosen him as an ideal “specimen” through whom his divine marvels could be demonstrated. Acknowledging the Guru’s complete guidance, he said, “Whatever came, came from Gurudev”. Recalling his request for Sannyas, he noted Sri Gurudev’s caution: “Sannyas is made of sterner stuff”. Reflecting on an apparent academic setback when he did not perform as well as he expected to in the matriculation examination, he said, “What appeared as a great tragedy then was a great blessing”, revealing his total surrender to the Guru’s will. He also recounted discovering the book, Practice of Karma Yoga, in a Vedic Bookshop in Durban. This book inspired his search for his Guru, and his steadfast faith in Sri Gurudev.

The message from the Board of Management paid tribute to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, Pujya Swami Sahajananda, donors, devotees and well-wishers. The Society’s update highlighted the remarkable growth of its spiritual, educational and humanitarian activities through the Grace of Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji. Since 1974, 716 projects have been completed, including assistance to Hindu organisations and temples, while 12 051 learners graduated from the Society’s sewing schools. The Society’s printing presses, described as its heart, has distributed more than one million spiritual books over the past decade, especially to young people, helping to instil ethical and spiritual values. Sivananda Ghat continues to provide solace and dignity to grieving families, with 38 271 ash immersions and 10 004 Shraddha rituals conducted to date. Alongside these initiatives, regular Satsangs, prayer services, health clinics, grocery hamper distribution, and the maintenance of Ashrams and centres continue to uplift communities. Devotees were encouraged to regard service as a privilege, strengthen their daily Sadhana, and renew their dedication through fresh spiritual resolves. Echoing this call, Pujya Swami Sahajananda reminded seekers, “If you want God then everything will come right”. The report concluded by expressing heartfelt gratitude to devotees, donors and volunteers whose selfless service sustains the Mission, and with Sri Gurudev’s reassuring message that whatever has happened, is happening, or will happen, is “by the will of God and… for the best,” inspiring faith, peace and unwavering trust in the Divine.

A delightful dance, a dedication to Lord Siva, performed by Deveshni Mudaly, was executed with finesse, professionalism and beauty, adding to the divinity of the Satsang.

As the sacred vibrations of Guru Purnima continue to resonate in our hearts, may we renew our commitment to walk the path illuminated by the Guru with unwavering faith, humility and devotion. Sri Swami Sivananda reminds us, "The Guru is the dispeller of darkness and ignorance”, while Pujya Swami Sahajananda continually urged devotees to live lives of selfless service, harmony and steadfast loyalty to the Guru's teachings. May this blessed occasion inspire us to deepen our spiritual practices, cultivate love and unity, and become instruments of peace and compassion. By living the ideals of the Guru, we not only transform ourselves but also contribute to the upliftment of humanity. 

May the Grace of Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda ever guide, protect and inspire us on the path of Divine Life.