The Day of Descent of Divine Grace was observed on Saturday, 1 March 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Ganga Arati commenced at 4pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Pujya Swamiji’s audio message and a reading on the significance of the occasion.

 About this auspicious day, Pujya Swamiji wrote: “I myself had the Grace of our Divine Master when an unusual power of his descended in me. It happened on 1st March this year (2007). When the power descended there was a little disturbance in the beginning but within a few days it settled down. Now there is no change in the descent of the power. I could not believe that the Master would grant me such Divine Grace, a Grace that I do not deserve. If devotees saw my attitude some five years ago and my attitude now, they would be quite surprised that such a tremendous change could take place”.

The following is the transcript of the reading from “Conversations with Gurudev” from Guidance in Daily Life, compiled by Pujya Swamiji and published in 1998. It depicts the profound conversation between Sri Gurudev and his ideal Disciple, Pujya Swami Sahajananda: 

“Swamiji: Gurudev, when we ask for material things you fulfil our wishes quickly, even without thinking, like Lord Siva. But when we ask for spiritual transformation, you are very hard on us, Gurudev. Again, like Lord Siva sitting with His closed eyes on the Himalayas, you seem to ignore us.

Gurudev: This is because spiritual treasures are valuable and more lasting. They are not like things that perish.

Swamiji: Gurudev, you remarked to one of our devotees who came to you from South Africa, ‘I know when to give and what to give’. Your Divine Grace works in mysterious ways, Gurudev. It is unpredictable, especially when it comes to spiritual transformation.

Gurudev: Yes, the mystery of Divine Grace can only be understood through Divine Grace.

Swamiji: Gurudev, parts of my nature resisted transformation for many years. I was in despair and always had a lurking fear that it will never be possible, because I had heard that even some great spiritual personalities did not achieve a complete transformation of their external nature. They did not achieve the integral transformation as described in your books and teachings, that is, a transformation amidst all the distracting and frustrating situations of daily life.

Gurudev: Such a radical transformation is possible only through the Guru’s Grace.

Swamiji: I can well believe it, Gurudev. No amount of vows and resolutions helped me to overcome some of my cardinal defects. When I gave up every effort and felt helpless, your Divine Grace manifested. Gurudev, I woke up one morning with the distinct feeling that I was a changed being, that some great power of yours had descended upon me and was effecting the transformation. Gurudev, when I realised what was happening, tears of gratitude began pouring for several weeks, as I felt I was not worthy to receive such Grace. I marveled to note with what precision and perfection your power was working. The higher knowledge seemed to be descending in me.

      From time to time, you were giving me a formula to repeat, together with my Mantra, so that what you were giving could be stabilised. Gurudev, the distracting external conditions did not change a bit. The attitude of those around me was the same. But the miracle I noticed was that it was I who was changing.

     Gurudev, kindly permit me to add something more. Over the years I knew all along that those around me were all your own forms, and that their frustrating actions were meant to help me in my spiritual progress. However, this intellectual acceptance did not help me much, Gurudev. But when your divine power descended upon me, the positive results were at once noticeable.

Gurudev: Yes, that is how Divine Grace works. Its ways are mysterious. It will work according to its own way and not the way you want. Perfect faith and self-surrender will allow it to work unhindered.

Swamiji: Gurudev, I regret to state that as the months went by, I found that sometimes I was losing the marvelous gifts that you were so graciously bestowing upon me, even though I was so unworthy of it. At such times I would feel extremely downcast and think that death would be preferable than to lose what you were giving. Gurudev, I also found that Divine Grace or Guru's Grace is not only difficult to get, but once got, it is even more difficult to maintain.

Gurudev: Yes, such precious spiritual gifts need special care and vigilance to protect them.

Swamiji: Gurudev, thanks to your boundless love and compassion, the transformation became more stabilised after about three years. This you made possible through the formulae that you gave me to repeat from time to time. Still, Gurudev, I need your Grace and protection at every step to keep vigilant at all times.

     Gurudev: Yes, my Grace shall be ever with you”.

 Pujya Swamiji’s audio message focused on the importance of regular attendance at Satsangs and the importance of practice rather that theoretical knowledge. Pujya Swamiji said that Sri Gurudev didn’t give Pujya Swamiji any lecturing skills, or he would have been touring the world, lecturing, He said that discrimination is lacking today amongst devotees, and that people work mechanically without thinking. He used the following analogies to exemplify this point: a person placing ripe fruit on the kitchen rack and green tomatoes in the fridge, instead of vice versa, and the example of the devotee who made twelve trips to the shop to buy twelve eggs. When the Guru asked the disciple to do many things simultaneously, he brought several people when the Guru needed a doctor. Amongst these people were a doctor and also grave-diggers in case the Guru died. We often blame others except ourselves. We must have dispassion in all that we do, and we must make the effort to change ourselves, and not others. 

 The Day of Descent of Divine Grace is an apt example of Pujya Swamiji’s unconditional loyalty to Sri Gurudev, his yearning for spiritual growth, deep Sadhana and finally, illumination. It is important that earnest seekers cherish these traits, and learn from Pujya Swamiji’s Guru Bhakti, discipline and dedicated service, for our own spiritual growth and self-transformation. 

On this most auspicious day we thank Pujya Swamiji for his supreme sacrifice and dedication. Every cell of Pujya Swamiji’s sacred body, every drop of his pure blood was consecrated towards moulding us and preparing us for God-realisation, either in this birth or in the births to come. We express our eternal gratitude to Pujya Swamiji.