The 17th Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Pujya Swami Sahajananda was observed at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills on Tuesday, 10 December 2024. A morning Sadhana programme was held from 6am until 6.25am, after which devotees had Darshan at Sahaja Kutir, Pujya Swamiji’s sacred room and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. Hundreds of devotees, well-wishers and donors attended Ganga Arati which commenced at 5pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, reading of two letters from Sri Swami Sivananda to Pujya Swamiji, a DVD entitled, Memories of a Divine Sage, and a Mahasamadhi Anniversary address. 

Sri Gurudev wrote several letters to Pujya Swamiji, who filed these meticulously. These letters have now been published by Divine Life Society of South Africa in a series entitled, Priceless Jewels. Excerpts of two of the letters which were read at the Satsang, indicative of the Master’s encouragement to Pujya Swamiji, and his love and praise for Pujya Swamiji, are reproduced herewith. In the letter dated 3 October 1953, the Master wrote:
 “Thy kind and loving flowers to hand. Grateful thanks. How kind you are! Your posters are doing wonderful awakening!

Proceed upon the path of Yoga gradually and steadily. Nothing can be achieved overnight. Steady practice will surely bestow great blessings in the long run.

Spiritual life is practical from the beginning to end. The love for the ideal should be single-minded and whole-hearted. Self-control and Self-realisation is the message of Indian sages.

Dedicate all your actions to God and you can escape from the contamination of evil. Feel that God is ever with you and always work in the company of God.

Turn inward the energy and interest which had long been devoted to external pursuits and through this energy discover the soul, uncover the divine knowledge within, which has been covered or enveloped by ignorance.

May the Divine Flame grow brighter and brighter in you! May you enjoy the bliss of the eternal!”

On 6 March 1961, Sri Swami Sivananda in his letter to Sri Swami Sahajananda wrote:

“The South African branch, Durban is making wonderful progress in all spheres, publications, buildings, etc.

Very shortly there will be another duplicate of the headquarters in every respect. The will of the Lord is working through you to work out a grand plan in the near future.

I get glorious accounts of your activities from different quarters very frequently. Also, visitors to the Ashram from Africa endorse the views conveyed through letters.

I am glad that your financial condition is getting sound. It is very essential for steady progress and dynamic work.

In spite of hardships now and then in your personal Sadhana you are able to balance yourself. It is Divine Grace and Kripa. Never shall anyone engaged in good work ever have a fall. The Lord protects His devotees like the mother who protects her newborn babe.

Draw strength, power and inspiration from meditation. Wear the armour of Viveka-Vairagya. Rest peacefully in the Self.

May Lord bless you, all your members and all your works and bring them to glorious success!”

The DVD entitled, Memories of a Divine Sage, contained a beautiful address by Pujya Swamiji as well as his salient messages, filmed at the Guru Purnima Satsang on 27 July 2003. Pujya Swamiji encouraged all to sign the pledge forms and do their spiritual practices, so as to get spiritual progress and bliss. He said, “We have to concentrate on God and we will get the peace that we want”. Pujya Swamiji spoke about the glory of renunciation and faith, and mentioned appropriate anecdotes. He further advised, “So try to follow all the rules and keep God’s Name always on your lips, and try to attend all the functions, Ganga Arati and so on”. He thanked all devotees, both householders and renunciants for their exemplary work, and also alluded to the enormous impact of Sri Gurudev’s literature, namely the Peace Series on the South African community.

Amongst the messages by Pujya Swamiji in the DVD, were: 

• “Do not be discouraged even if you suffer repeated failures”, 
• “Ram Nam will be your strength and solace at all times”, 
• “Only when one gives happiness to others, can one expect happiness in return”, 
• “Everything regarding our Master’s mission in this country, has been ordained by the Master himself. Even now he is controlling and looking after everything”, 
• “If one has faith and devotion to the Master, one can easily note his Grace”, 
• “So valuable is the dissemination of spiritual knowledge, it is the highest service that one can render, because it can take people to God, which is the goal of this human birth”, and
• “When God protects, nothing can happen. Being always calm and unaffected by criticisms, insults, setbacks, trials, etc. is one of the best forms of giving – to repay our debt of gratitude to our Master…”.

Professor Vimolan Mudaly, in a Mahasamadhi address, paid rich tribute to one of the greatest of spiritual sons of South Africa, and arguably, the world. Excerpts from the address appear below:

“South Africans and the world alike would never know how fortunate we were when on the 10th of July 1925 there appeared in a little country town called Estcourt, a baby named Vijayaragaveloo Srinivasan Naidoo. We were not there, but the heavens must have reverberated with so much joy. The name "Vijayaragaveloo" is a combination of several components that demonstrates the earliest signs of Swamiji’s divine nature. When one looks at the onomatology of Swamiji’s name, Vijaya, Raga and Veloo, we note that Vijayaragaveloo could be interpreted as one who, like Siva or Vishnu, is victorious, here and hereafter, in establishing harmony and emotional expression among devotees and mankind in general, just like the divine power of Lord Muruga's Vel”.

Referring to Sri Gurudev’s accolades on Pujya Swamiji’s Sannyas initiation, and to Pujya Swamiji’s supreme sacrifice, Guru Bhakti and love for the Master, Prof Mudaly said, “On the 10th of April 1956, Swamiji became Swami Sahajananda. That was the day Swami Sivananda extended an invitation to all of us to become his devotees. What an ideal conduit Swamiji was, is, and will always be! On this day in 1956, Gurudev described how the Devas rained flowers down on earth. Swamiji attained the highest state of Samadhi at such an early stage, and there was no need to continue with such rigorous tapas. But for us, Swamiji sacrificed his physical-self so that we too may progress on the spiritual path. This is a wonderful time for us to engage in deep reflective practice. Our salvation will come through our own practice and mountains of Guru’s Grace. Gurudev’s Name and Mission are far greater than our own lives, our fame, our own fortunes. To Swamiji, Gurudev always came first. his Guru Bhakti was unquestionable and can be equated to the love that Lord Hanuman had for Lord Rama. Who Swamiji was, we may never know, but we do know that he was indeed a supreme being that traversed this earth, and we were so, so fortunate to have been in his midst. Gurudev and Swamiji must always be placed first”.

The following is a poignant pointer to our roles and responsibilities in perpetuating Pujya Swamiji’s legacies as espoused by Prof Mudaly: “The epitome of humility, the angel of compassion, the personification of loyalty, the embodiment of love and devotion, the quintessence of selfless dedication, and the incarnation of complete surrender and obedience to his Master! These are the inherent qualities that Swamiji taught and these are the qualities we must develop. Swamiji came to teach, to guide, to lead our souls to a higher place. We resist through our attitudes and our actions. This is important. A Guru’s legacy is dependent on the devotees he leaves behind to continue his work. Gurudev had so many. Let us each introspect and become a champion for Swamiji’s mission. Gurudev’s name and Swamiji’s name must come before our desires and needs. That is our surrender”.

Pujya Swamiji left his mortal body 17 years ago. His shining light, leadership, unflinching dedication and Guru Bhakti, are cornerstones which should guide us in our spiritual quest. We should remember that the Guru is the bridge to the divine. Sri Gurudev said, "A true disciple seeks not to measure the Guru’s wisdom but to absorb it fully”. Let us all, through devotion and unconditional Guru Bhakti to the Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji, aspire to and tread the path of Bhakti, self-transformation, and achieve spiritual growth and liberation.