The Swami Sahajananda Community Centre in Forderville, Estcourt was the venue for the launch of Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s Birth Centenary Celebrations on Sunday, 26 February 2025. The event was hosted by the Society’s Estcourt Branch. The day’s programme commenced at 8am with Havan, followed by breakfast. A special “Lamp Lighting Ceremony” commenced at 9.15am, followed by Ganga Arati at 9.30am and Satsang at 10am. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, a message from the Society, cultural items, an address by the Mayor of Umtshezi Municipality, the release of a special brochure and a dance item.
The precincts of the Gayatri Mandir and the Sri Swami Sahajananda Community Centre were enveloped in the soulful Mantra chants of the sacred Havan. Representatives of various local Hindu organisations participated in the Havan, which set the tone and created an appropriate ambience for the auspicious launch of Pujya Swamiji’s Birth Centenary Celebrations in Estcourt, the town of Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s birth. Coincidentally, Pujya Swamiji’s 100th birth anniversary this year coincides with the sacred Sri Guru Purnima on 10 July 2025. Indeed, a celestial alignment of great importance and relevance to devotees.
The lighting of 100 diyas (lamps), with the rendition of the Sivananda Arati, was both symbolic and a memorable moment. The audience witnessed, in rapt attention, a unique happening, which signified the presence of divinity, knowledge, wisdom, purity and perfection – all that Pujya Swamiji embodied and personified.
Pujya Swamiji’s audio message gave succinct instructions for self-transformation. He explained that Sri Gurudev taught that we should see divinity in animate and inanimate objects also. Pujya Swamiji said, “However difficult it is, we should try to see God, not only in the forms that are living and moving, but also in inert forms”. He explained that we should see goodness in all and spread positivity, rather than hatred and negativity. If there is hatred and animosity, then it is indicative of something being wrong in one’s Sadhana. We must change our angle of vision for spiritual growth. When one complained to Sri Gurudev, Sri Aurobindo and Sri Swami Yogananda, they all asked the complainant to introspect and make an effort to change. They emphasised self-transformation and did not call in the other person. The message was pregnant with a deep and profound spiritual message for inner reflection, deep self-transformation and Sadhana for spiritual growth.
The message from Divine Life Society of South Africa provided a succinct insight into Pujya Swamiji’s life and legacies, his contributions to the spiritual, social, poverty-alleviation, and educational welfare of all, as well as his humanitarian contributions and initiatives. The focus of the message was on our roles and responsibilities, in order to sustain Pujya Swamiji’s legacies. The following excerpts from the message find resonance in this regard.
“Today, we are all beneficiaries of this immense spiritual legacy if we choose to embrace it. The keys to accessing this wealth are faith, obedience, loyalty, devotion, and a strong desire for spiritual growth. To honour a great soul like Pujya Swamiji, we must practise his teachings, chief amongst which are unconditional self-surrender and obedience. He taught that perfect obedience equates to perfect self-surrender, and that it surpasses mere reverence. By adhering to simple principles in our daily lives, be it at home, on the road, or at work, we can enhance our existence. He emphasised that ‘Obedience is the most important law of life’, urging us to observe health rules, road traffic rules, the rules of establishments and institutions, and to reflect on our daily shortcomings.
“Our Divine Master's writings will guide us on this journey. Merely associating with a saint or an ashram is insufficient; we must embody the values taught by our Master, namely serve, love, give, purify and meditate, and live a Divine Life prioritising God. Pujya Swamiji exemplified faith and self-surrender, a theme captured in his first book published in 1996. The title is, Faith and Self-Surrender. … Pujya Swamiji revealed that the insights within came directly from Sri Gurudev as he typed the script without drafts. This booklet promises inspiration for all readers amid life's challenges”.
The Spiritual Darlings’ cultural item, “Pujya Swamiji Says”, comprised enactments of some of Pujya Swamiji’s simple, child-like, yet potent messages that appealed to children and adults. This item was concluded with a musical rendition highlighting the Divine Personality of Pujya Swamiji, the ideal disciple of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda.
We were fortunate that the sacred launch programme took place within the period of the Maha Kumbha Mela. In observance of this, a delightful and symbolic dance traced the origin of Mother Ganga and Her physical route throughout India, and finally to South Africa, brought here by the grace of Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji. Lord Buddha, Sri Swami Sivananda and Paramhansa Sri Ramakrishna too are honoured for they served Ganga Mata as she Graced Bodhgaya, Rishikesh and Calcutta with Her presence. In the dance item, Pujya Swami Sahajananda, who was compared to King Bhagirath by Sri Swami Sivananda in 1955, is acknowledged for bringing Ganga Rani to South Africa. Knowing how Ganga Mata willingly left Her heavenly abode to save the sons of King Sagar, Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji, wanted to save all of us, their own children. They therefore, convinced Ganga Rani to extend Herself from the heavenly Himalayan peaks of Rishikesh to Southern Africa. The dance re-lives Ganga Rani’s journey from heaven, through the various Ashrams in India, to South Africa. Executed in a professional and entertaining manner, the colourful item added to the divinity and sanctity of the occasion.
The Mayor of Umtshezi, the Honourable Mr Lymon Shelembe, in his address, reflected on his association with Pujya Swami Sahajananda, who built the Sivananda Celukuphiwa School in 2002. He indicated that learners took their lessons under trees prior to Pujya Swamiji’s magnanimous gift to the community. The school has subsequently excelled, having created the foundation for several doctors, engineers and teachers. He recalled that when he was seriously ill, Pujya Swamiji sent him Agnihotra ash, to which he attributed his miraculous recovery. The mayor’s reverence and admiration for Pujya Swamiji were overtly evident in his address.
Of great significance in the Satsang programme was the release of our Centenary Brochure, Sri Swami Sivananda’s Ideal Disciple, a 64-page book, encapsulating the life and legacy of Sri Swami Sivananda and Sri Swami Sahajananda. The message read at the release ceremony, was an apt account of Pujya Swamiji’s greatness, humility and unconditional devotion to our Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. The following excerpts of the message pay credence to this theme.
“One of the forms of our Divine Master’s Grace in this country is beloved Pujya Swami Sahajananda. This Grace manifested and continues to manifest at every step of our inner journey. This will become apparent as you go through the pages of the 100th Birth Anniversary Brochure. You will feel the Grace flowing through every word and every act of Pujya Swamiji’s matchless surrender to the Divine Master. One can only turn to our Divine Master and say: ‘Lord, at every step, we thank Thee for Thy Golden Grace of bequeathing beloved Pujya Swamiji to us’. And that is the story of the life of Pujya Swami Sahajananda, that is the story of Divine Life Society of South Africa, and more poignantly, that is the story of the inner journey of all his devotees.
“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 and spiritual aura.
“This publication highlights the life and teachings of Pujya Swamiji, his Guru Bhakti and his total surrender to his Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda. We trust that the articles in this brochure will inspire us to grow in our surrender to the Master and kindle a deep spiritual yearning for the Divine. One can see from the initiatives outlined in the brochure that Pujya Swamiji, as Spiritual Head of Divine Life Society of South Africa, was steadfastly focused on spiritual transformation and realisation, not only for Himself, but also for all devotees and seekers. Every ounce of his energy, every drop of his blood, every thought, every feeling and every sensation, every fibre of his being, went towards the achievement of that goal. We owe him a deep debt of gratitude for this shower of Divine Grace and for making manifest in this country the spiritual writings and vision of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda".
The launch of Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s Birth Centenary in his home-town of Estcourt was a fitting tribute to this gentle spiritual giant of South Africa. What is the significance of this great occasion for us, you and I? The following words from the brochure release message find resonance, and are a stark reminder to us all: “That we celebrate Pujya Swamiji’s 100th Birth Anniversary this year, and that we will be celebrating many more of his birthdays in future, makes us reminisce, and take cognisance of our own spiritual growth, our commitment to the Mission, our Guru Bhakti and our responsibility towards sustaining Pujya Swamiji’s legacy beyond his centenary celebrations. We can do these by practising Sri Gurudev’s and Pujya Swamiji’s teachings, by increasing our Sadhana, serving the Society unflinchingly. What else? We should study the messages diligently. Precious spiritual jewels are contained in these messages. After a concentrated study let us dive deep within. All the saints and sages tell us that inside each one of us, there is a wealth beyond measure. Let us find that wealth and emulate Pujya Swamiji by enjoying the stupendous peace of God”
