Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya
Established in 1949 by Sri Swami Sivananda
On the occasion of the 73rd Anniversary of Divine Life Society of South Africa, on Tuesday, 18 October 2022, devotees paid tribute to the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, who founded the Society in 1949. Special tribute was paid to Pujya Swami Sahajananda for implementing the Master's instructions to the letter and for his love, and spiritual, moral and ethical training of devotees. The Society's phenomenal success in all its endeavours, must be attributed to the boundless Grace of our Master, and Pujya Swamiji's steadfast loyalty and obedience to our Master.
Divine Life Society of S.A. celebrated Navaratri from Monday, 26 September 2022, and concluded with Vijaya Dasami on Wednesday, 5 October. The programme over the 10 days consisted of melodious Bhajans and Kirtans in adoration and worship of the Divine Mother, readings and poems.
Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda states in the book, Hindu Fasts & Festivals, "Outwardly, the nine-day worship of the Mother is a celebration of triumph. This celebration of nine days is offered to the Mother for Her successful struggle with the formidable demons led by Mahishasura. But to the sincere spiritual aspirant, the particular division of Navaratri into sets of three days, in order to adore different aspects of the Supreme Goddess, has a very sublime, yet thoroughly practical truth to reveal. In its cosmic aspect, it epitomises the stages of the evolution of man into God, from Jivahood (the state of individual life) to Sivahood (the state of union with God). In its individual import, it shows the course that his spiritual practice should take.
DIVINE MASTER'S 135TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY (08 SEPTEMBER 2022)
8 September is a significant date for the Divine Life Society as it marks the Birth Anniversary of the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. This year (2022) marks his 135th Birth Anniversary. Our programme commenced at 5am, with the chanting of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa 11 times, as this marked the culmination of the 41-day Vrata launched on Saturday, 30 July 2022. In the afternoon, a special Havan Ceremony saw the closure of this important Sadhana.
On Wednesday, 31 August, 2022, Divine Life Society of S.A. celebrated online and at our Ashrams, one of the most popular Hindu Festivals, Sri Ganesha Chaturthi, being the Birthday of the Lord.
Hindus strongly affirm that Sri Ganesha is the Power that removes obstacles by the force of Knowledge. Sri Ganesha, among other things, is the Devata of spiritual Knowledge. Sages say that because Lord Ganesha removes all the obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success, He is called Vigna Vinayaka. Referring to Lord Ganesha, the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram told one of the disciples, "Turn to Him and He will give you the right inspiration!"