Divine Life Society of South Africa celebrated its 75th Anniversary on Friday, 18 October 2024 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Sri Swami Sivananda, founder of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India, sent three letters to Sri V Srinivasan (later Sri Swami Sahajananda) to establish a Branch in South Africa. The first letter was sent on 18 October 1949, the second on 11 November 1949, and the third on 5 June 1951. Divine Life Society of South Africa thus celebrates its anniversary on 3 days. 

The Anniversary Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, a message from the Society and the reading of 2 letters by Sri Swami Sivananda to Pujya Swami Sahajananda. 

In the letter dated 17 October 1948, Sri Gurudev complimented Pujya Swamiji on a well-kept diary, and advised him to reduce his sleep gradually and get up at 4am daily. He said, “Observance of Mowna will give you abundant strength and energy. Fasting once a fortnight will keep you in good health, and there are many spiritual benefits also”. 

All the letters from Sri Gurudev to Pujya Swamiji were meticulously kept by Pujya Swamiji. These letters now appear in the Divine Life Society of South Africa series entitled Priceless Jewels. The letter below from Priceless Jewels, Vol 1, instructing Pujya Swamiji to open a Branch, was read at the Satsang.  

“18 October 1949

Sri Srinivasan

Durban

Beloved Immortal Self,

   Salutations and adorations. Thy kind letter of the 30th September.

   Thank you for the kind donation by the postal order.

   I am glad that you are regular in sadhan. Your pamphlet for free distribution (Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions) is very attractively printed. Print such pamphlets as often as circumstances permit and distribute them among aspirants hungering for God. It is the greatest service and will hasten your progress. I have sent you the Divine Life magazine for September and October. Hope you will be benefited by them. 

   May God bless you. 

Thy Own Self 

Sivananda

Handwritten:

Kindly start a branch of Divine Life Society there. 

I recognise you as the Secretary.

Sivananda”.

In Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, he recounted the Master’s role in establishing the Society in South Africa. Referring to the Master’s instruction to open a Branch in South Africa, and addressing the Master in the first person, he said, “If it succeeds, it’s your doing; if it fails, it’s all your doing”, indicative of Pujya Swamiji’s total obedience to the will of the Master. This is again evinced in, “Whatever we see here today, it is all your creation”. Pujya Swamiji narrated how Sri Gurudev asked him to purchase printing machinery and an additional 3 acres of land in addition to the 2 acres initially acquired at the present Sivanandashram site in Reservoir Hills, Durban. Pujya Swamiji’s total obedience, reliance upon and submission to Sri Gurudev’s will are again evident in, “How fortunate that I was, that I obeyed you. I would have had a downfall, because when you run away, you don’t know how you are going to fare. So, you kept on listening to me.  All compassionate and merciful that you are, you listened and listened, and at the end you admonished me and said, ‘don’t be rebellious’. This is the first time you got cross and you said that God has put you in the situation that is good for you”.

The message from the Society traced the history of the Society and its impact on countless lives. Excerpts are reproduced below. 

“Our Divine Life Society is unique in spiritual history, because it was founded by a spiritual Master who forced his disciple – in this case Swami Sahajananda, to obey Him and carry out His commands. We are not tired of reiterating that the formation, growth and present status of Divine life Society of South Africa are due entirely to the grace of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. Since its inception in 1949, Divine Life Society of South Africa has been a beacon of hope and spiritual guidance to countless devotees and under-privileged in this country. Under the leadership of Pujya Swami Sahajananda, the Society has flourished from humble beginnings into a vibrant community dedicated to the principles of Hindu Dharma. The teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda - centered upon love, compassion, discipline, and selfless service, have inspired us to uplift humanity through various initiatives, embodying the Society’s 6 canons of:  Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate and Realise”.

In respect of the Society’s Centenary Celebrations, the message focused upon the Sivananda Conference in June 2024, our Master’s Birth Anniversary celebrations in September 2024, and celebrations around the country. The message further acknowledged the enormous work of Pujya Swami Sahajananda in promoting spirituality, Hinduism, poverty-alleviation, our Yoga Camps, Satsangs, and in establishing the Sivananda Ghat, amongst other sterling contributions. The outstanding work done by our pioneers, devotees, well-wishers and donors was also acknowledged.  The congregation was advised as follows, “As we celebrate this 75-year journey, let us remember that our work is far from complete. Each one of us carries the torch of service that Swami Sivananda ignited. We are called to continue this legacy with renewed vigour and dedication. We have all received the good fortune of being born as children of our Divine Master and members of this great organisation. He placed us here in this country for reasons unknown to us. In Gurudev’s words, ‘God knows what is best for each individual. He has placed you in conditions and environments that are suitable for your evolution. Do not revolt. Do not rebel. Overcome difficulties one by one, through surrender to the Lord. All will disappear through His Grace. The mind tempts and deceives through imagination. Beware! Be cautious!’”.

The foundations built by Pujya Swami Sahajananda 75 years ago, still stand strong. All devotees revere this great, spiritual son of South Africa, who has made indelible impressions upon us all, and has impacted on countless individuals.  How can we repay Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji? The answer lies in the advice of the Master and Pujya Swamiji, urging us to increase our Sadhana. Further, the Master says, “All your efforts should be to further the cause, to find out ways and means of utilising the resources of the Ashram in the best possible manner so that the maximum good can be done to the world. You should identify yourself fully with the cause, then and then alone will you understand what Karma Yoga means.” 

We pray that all re-affirm their commitment and loyalty to Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji and this glorious institution on this auspicious occasion of the Society’s 75th Anniversary. Let us all work together in the same harmonious and focused way to ensure that Divine Life Society of South Africa, which has the best facilities in the world for our spiritual growth, continues to be a sanctuary for spiritual seekers, and a force for good in the world.

As part of the Society’s Centenary Celebrations, Satsangs are being conducted in all parts of the country to promote our glorious Hindu Dharma, the message of Divine Life and the teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda. Apart from Satsangs at our branches in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape, the Society has partnered with organisations in Howick, Kimberley, Port Shepstone and Newcastle for this purpose. The 15th programme in the 2024 celebrations, was hosted by the Shree Hanuman Sanathan Dharma Sabha Mandir on Sunday, 13 October 2024 at the Mandir in Albersville, Port Shepstone. The day’s programme comprised a Havan at 9am and Satsang at 10am.

Set along the banks of the uMzimkhulu River, the Mandir is a testimony to the diligence, commitment and Bhakti of the officials of the Mandir and the community. Its multifarious activities, namely observance of all religious festivals, Yoga classes, poor feeding and service activities are commendable. The large, life-size Murthi of Lord Hanuman commands pride of place, and the sacred shrines around the precincts of the Mandir resonate with divinity and spirituality.

The spiritual and soulful Havan created a beautiful ambience for the day’s events. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, talks, readings, guided meditation and messages glorifying God and Hinduism, and providing salient directives on leading a divine life and sustaining the legacies of our saints and sages. In welcoming the congregation, Sri Sam Lakhan, a trustee of the Mandir said that the Mandir was honoured to be hosting the Society’s Centenary Celebrations, and lauded the Society’s work and its ‘progressive’ approach. Smt Veena Lakhan, the chairperson of the Mandir, gave an overview of the Mandir’s programmes and activities. The Mandir engages in regular poor feeding, and an upcoming initiative is to provide grocery hampers to 60 deserving families. 

The essence and objective of the Centenary Celebrations was captured in the talk, “Sri Swami Sivananda on Hinduism, importance of Sadhana, chanting the Divine Name, meditation, prayer and benefits of Satsang”. These, together with other spiritual practices, are essential for spiritual growth, personal peace and happiness. 

The following poem by Sri Swami Sivananda glorifying Hinduism, has a potent and profound message, and shows his deep love for Hinduism: 

POWER OF HINDU DHARMA

Sri Swami Sivananda

The culture of Hinduism prevails,

Nothing can shake its greatness and root,

Hinduism is not a man-made religion,

It was not founded by any single person,

Like Islam and Christianity,

It is a product of the seers of the Vedas,

It was developed from age to age

By the teachings of Avataras, Rishis, Vedas,

The Upanishads, the Gita, and the Itihasas,

It will exist as long as the world lasts,

There is a peculiar, mysterious spiritual force

That is ingrained in the heart of every Hindu;

A Hindu will give up his life

But he will not give up his principles and Dharma;

He won’t be tempted by woman or wealth for conversion,

He would rather prefer death than conversion.

The talk also focused on the importance of Sadhana, which is any spiritual practice, for example, chanting of the Divine Name, attending Satsangs and prayer services, meditation, Japa or Karma Yoga, to name but a few. Sri Swami Sivananda advises us to be serious about our Sadhana or spiritual practices. He says, “Stern self-discipline is absolutely essential…. The spiritual path is rugged, thorny, and precipitous. The thorns must be weeded out with patience and perseverance. Some of the thorns are internal; some are external. Lust, greed, wrath, delusion and vanity are internal thorns”. Progress on the spiritual path through strict spiritual practices, stern discipline and love for God, says Sri Swami Sivananda, will make our lives blissful and joyful. 

In respect of the Divine Name, he advises as follows, “Chant the Divine Name in the temple, at home, at your workplace, while driving and at all times. Choose any Mantra”. He says, “O man, take refuge in the Divine Name. God and His Name are inseparable. Sing the Lord’s Name incessantly. Remember the Name of the Lord with every incoming and outgoing breath. In this age, repetition of the Divine Name is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to reach God and attain immortality and perennial joy”.  An added feature of the programme was the talk on the benefits of Mantra chanting, which complemented this topic.

A guided meditation session gave the congregation practical hints on meditation. This was reinforced by Sri Swami Sivananda’s explanation of the concept, its benefits and importance. He explained that meditation is fixing the mind on God, one’s chosen Deity, Guru or specific object, to achieve calmness of mind, inner peace and tranquillity, which assist in our quest for God. 

In his advice on the importance of prayer, Sri Swami Sivananda said, “Prayer can reach a realm where reason dares not enter. It can take you to the spiritual realm or kingdom of God. It frees the devotee from the fear of death. It brings him nearer to God and makes him feel his essential, immortal and blissful nature”. He says that “the power of Prayer is indescribable, and that sincere devotees only realise its usefulness and splendour”. He advises that one should not argue about the efficacy of prayer, and that we should pray and wait, and the rewards are sure to come. This is a very powerful assurance indeed!

The advice on Satsang was an apt conclusion to the talk, and captured the purpose of this gathering. Some of the benefits of Satsang are:

• It is the easiest and quickest means to take us towards God.
• Satsang elevates the mind and fills it with Sattva or purity. It forces one to lead a Divine Life. 
• The company of a saint or holy people helps eradicate undesirable, negative qualities and defects. Satsang is the greatest of all purifiers of man. 

Divine Life Society of South Africa thanks and extend congratulations to the Trustees and Committee of the Mandir on a well-organised celebration. We acknowledge with profound gratitude their hard work, diligence, dedication and commitment to ensuring that the message of our Sanatana Dharma and Divine Life go out to the community of Port Shepstone and surrounding towns. The extent that the Mandir went to in organising the function, bearing all costs, arranging all aspects of the Havan, Satsang, cooking, catering, décor, sound, other services and community involvement, are greatly appreciated. 

The distribution of our Master’s literature and teachings in Port Shepstone is helping to spread the message of Divine Life and our glorious Hindu Dharma, which we all need in this Kali Yoga. The bookstall, resplendent with Swami Sivananda’s books, CDs, picture frames and memorabilia, attracted interest.

The Sivananda Centenary Celebrations’ Tour is certainly achieving its objectives, as almost 9000 devotees, well-wishers, donors and members of the public have been exposed to the message of Divine Life, our glorious Hindu Dharma and the teachings and legacies of Sri Swami Sivananda, in 2024 alone. 

We wish all every success in their personal and collective Sadhana, and Sri Swami Sivananda’s and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s blessings, guidance and protection at all times.

Divine Life Society of South Africa celebrated Sri Ganesha Chaturthi at its Ashrams on Saturday 7, September 2024. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading, and recital of the Sri Ganesha Arati.

The reading from Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda aptly captures the essence of Sri Ganesha Chaturthi. Regarding the symbolic form of Lord Ganesha, Sri Swami Sivananda said, “Lord Ganesha is the first God. Riding a mouse (one of nature’s smallest creatures) and having the head of an elephant (the biggest of all animals), denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. It denotes the process of evolution also - the mouse gradually evolving into an elephant and eventually becoming a man. This is why Ganesha has a human body, an elephant’s head, and a mouse as His vehicle. This is the philosophy of His symbolic form”.                                                                                

Sri Swami Sivananda explains some of Lord Ganesha’s divine attributes, as follows, “The Vaishnavites also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name of Tumbikkai Alwar which means ‘the Divinity with the proboscis’ (the trunk of an elephant). Lord Ganesha’s two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power of love.

“He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays, He was proceeding from house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled - it had seen a snake and became frightened - with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.

“Witnessing this, the moon laughed heartily. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Ganesha greatly. So, he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day; if anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the only way he could be freed from the curse would be by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka Jewel. This story is quoted in the Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees! 

“Lord Ganesha and His brother, Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. The Lord decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and claimed victory”. Lord Shiva said that He could not give Lord Ganesha the prize as He did not go around the world.  Lord Ganesha’s response was that He had gone around His parents who represent the entire manifested universe. Thus, the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. 

The following lines from the Sri Ganesha Arati are indicative of Lord Ganesha’s nature, compassion and benevolence. “You have a single tusk. You are filled with compassion and You have four hands. You have a beautiful vermillion mark on Your forehead, And You ride on Your vahana (carrier) which is in the form of a mouse”. Regarding Lord Ganesha’s prowess, the verse says, “You bestow vision to the blind, and heal the leper. You bestow children to the barren woman, and wealth to the destitute”.

Sri Swami Sivananda advises that we all take fresh spiritual resolves on Sri Ganesha Chaturthi, and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all our undertakings, material and spiritual, and also aspire for spiritual illumination and liberation.

May Lord Ganesha’s Grace and Blessings be upon us all.

CLICK HERE TO READ DIVINE LIFE MAGAZINE NO.139

The nine-day celebration of the auspicious Navaratri, culminated in Vijaya Dasami, which was held on Saturday, 12 October 2024. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, Ganga Arati commenced at 4pm, followed by Satsang. The programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading on the significance of Vijaya Dasami, and the Tulsi Arati.

The following excerpts from the reading, extracted and summarised from Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda, give a succinct overview of the festival. “Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera. In Bengal the image of Devi is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. Processions with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities. In Sivanandashram, Rishikesh, on Vijaya Dasami all apirants en masse are given initiation of various Mantras, according to the tutelary Deities. Deserving aspirants are initiated into the holy order of Sannyas. Initiation in the study of the alphabet is imparted to the young children, and to the older chidren also! The learning of any science is begun on this highly auspicious Vijaya Dasami day. New students commence their lesssons in music, etc. During the morning Satsang, books which were worshipped on the ninth day are again worshipped, and a chapter from each of the principal scriptures, like the Gita, Brahma Sutras, Upanishads, Ramayana and Srimad Bhagavatam is recited. On Vijaya Dasami,  Kanya Puja is also performed. Nine girls below the age of 10 are worshipped as the embodiments of the Divine Mother. They are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new clothes.

“The mother of Durga (that is the wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Siva to visit her beloved mother for only nine days in the year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when Goddess Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kailas. This is the veiw of some devotees. 

“All who live away from home return during the Puja days. Mothers reunite with their sons and daughters, and wives with their husbands. The potter shows his skill in making images, the painter in drawing pictures, the songster in playing on his instrument, and the priest in reciting the sacred books. The Bengalis save money throughout the year only to spend everything during the Puja days. Cloth is freely distributed to the Brahmins. The women of Bengal welcome the Goddess with a mother’s love, and send away the image on the last day with every ceremony associated with a daughter’s departure to her husband’s home, and with motherly tears in her eyes. This signifies the parting of  Durga from her beloved mother.

“Devi fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights. This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Siva burnt Cupid with the fire of His ‘third eye’, Sri Ganesha playfully moulded a figure out of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it. This was the terrible demon, Bhandasura. He engaged himself in great penance and on account of it, obtained a boon from Lord Siva. With the help of that boon, he began harassing the worlds. The Divine Mother fought against him for nine nights - the demons have extraordinary strength during the night - and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, known as the Vijaya Dasami.

“The tenth day - Vijaya Dasami-marks the trium­phant victory of the soul in having attained freedom and liberation while living in this world, through the descent of divine knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswathi. The soul rests in its own Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman. This day celebrates victory and the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies aloft. Lo! I am He! I am He!

“It was on this day that Arjuna worshipped Devi before starting the battle against the Kauravas on the field of Kurukshetra.

“Sri Rama worshipped Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to invoke Her aid in the war. This was on the days preceding Vijaya Dasami. He fought and won through Her Grace”.

The reading aptly pointed out that, at times, religious observances and traditional worship have several meanings. Apart from being the adoration of the Divine, they commemorate stirring events in history and are deeply significant pointers and revealing guides to devotees. On an esoteric level, Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana. Let us therefore resolve to cut the ten internal heads, namely, passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness, thus giving credance to the celebration of Dussera.