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Swami Sivananda's two chief acting organizational disciples were [[Swami Chidananda]] and [[Swami Krishnananda]]. Swami Chidananda was appointed President of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1963 and served in this capacity until his death in 2008. Swami Krishnananda was appointed General Secretary of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1958 and served in this capacity until his death in 2001. Swami Krishnananda is widely regarded as one of the most important theologians and philosophers of the 20th century.<ref name=austin>Stephen Phillips Ph.D, Professor of Philosophy [http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/philosophy/faculty/shp9 University of Texas at Austin] Department of Philosophy [[University of Texas at Austin]]</ref><ref name=harvard>Francis Clooney Ph.D, Professor of Divinity and Comparative Theology [http://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty/clooney.cfm Harvard University] Divinity School [[Harvard Divinity School]]</ref>
Swami Sivananda's two chief acting organizational disciples were [[Swami Chidananda]] and [[Swami Krishnananda]]. Swami Chidananda was appointed President of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1963 and served in this capacity until his death in 2008. Swami Krishnananda was appointed General Secretary of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1958 and served in this capacity until his death in 2001. Swami Krishnananda is widely regarded as one of the most important theologians and philosophers of the 20th century.<ref name=austin>Stephen Phillips Ph.D, Professor of Philosophy [http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/philosophy/faculty/shp9 University of Texas at Austin] Department of Philosophy [[University of Texas at Austin]]</ref><ref name=harvard>Francis Clooney Ph.D, Professor of Divinity and Comparative Theology [http://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty/clooney.cfm Harvard University] Divinity School [[Harvard Divinity School]]</ref>
Other prominent disciples were [[Swami Venkatesananda]] (South Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, Australia), [[Swami Pranavananda]] (Malaysia) and [[Swami Sivananda Radha]] (Canada). Another prominent disciple was Sri Swami [[Sahajananda]] (South Africa), who was directed by Sri Swami Sivananda to establish the Divine Life Society of South Africa. [[Guru Chot]] (1900-1988) is a lesser know disciple who lived five years with Sivananda from early 1940s, prior to other much more well known disciples. Chot never had formal association with the Divine Life Society and spent his final years at his Bangkok ashram.
Other prominent disciples were [[Swami Venkatesananda]] (South Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, Australia), [[Swami Pranavananda]] (Malaysia) and [[Swami Sivananda Radha]] (Canada). Another prominent disciple was Sri Swami [[Sahajananda]] (South Africa), who was directed by Sri Swami Sivananda to establish the Divine Life Society of South Africa. [[Saint Chot]] (1900-1988) is a lesser know disciple who lived five years with Sivananda from early 1940s, prior to other much more well known disciples. Chot never had any formal association with the Divine Life Society and spent his final years at his Bangkok ashram.


;Disciples who went on to grow new organisations
;Disciples who went on to grow new organisations

Revision as of 14:04, 30 May 2011

Krishnananda and Sivananda (right), circa 1945
Swami Sivananda
Personal
Born
Kuppuswami

(1887-09-08)8 September 1887
Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India
Died14 July 1963(1963-07-14) (aged 75)
Rishikesh
Organization
PhilosophyYoga of Synthesis
Senior posting
GuruSwami Vishwananda Saraswati

Swami Sivananda Saraswati (September 8, 1887—July 14, 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a well-known proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of the later part of his life near Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.

He is the founder of The Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books[1] on yoga, vedanta and a variety of other subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, the location of the headquarters of The Divine Life Society (DLS), on the bank of the Ganges at Shivanandanagar, at a distance of 3 kilometres from Rishikesh.[2][3][4]

Sivananda Yoga, the yoga form propagated by him, are now spread in many parts of the world through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, but these centres are not affiliated with Swami Sivananda's original ashrams which are run by the Divine Life Society.

Early life

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Sivananda was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, India, as the third son to his parents on 8 September 1887.[5] As a child he was very active and promising in academics and gymnastics. He attended medical school in Tanjore, where he excelled. He ran a medical journal called Ambrosia during this period. Upon graduation he practiced medicine and worked as a doctor in Malaya for ten years, with a reputation for waiving his fee for poor patients needing treatment.[5] Over time, a sense that medicine was healing on a superficial level grew in him,[5] urging him to look elsewhere to fill the void, and in 1923 he left Malaya and returned to India to pursue a spiritual quest.

Initiation

Upon his return to India in 1924 he visited Varanasi, Nashik, and then Rishikesh, where he met his guru, Swami Vishwananda Saraswati. It was Vishwananda who initiated him into the Sannyas order and gave him his monastic name.[5] However, since Sivananda spent only a few hours with Swami Vishwananda, the full Viraja Homa ceremonies were performed later [needs date] by Swami Vishnudevananda, the Mahant of Sri Kailas Ashram .[5] After initiation, Sivananda settled in Rishikesh and immersed himself in intense spiritual practices. Sivananda performed austerities for many years but he also continued to help the sick. With some money from his insurance policy that had matured, he started a charitable dispensary at Lakshman Jhula in 1927, serving pilgrims, holy men and the poor using his medical expertise.

Travels

After a few years, Sivananda went on an extensive pilgrimage and traveled the length and breadth of India to meditate at holy shrines and study with spiritual teachers throughout India. During this Parivrajaka (wandering monk) life, Sivananda visited important places of pilgrimage in the south, including Rameshvaram.[5] He conducted Sankirtan and delivered lectures during his travels. He visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and met Maharishi Suddhananda Bharati. At the Ramana ashram, he had the Darshan of Ramana Maharshi on Maharshi's birthday.[6] He sang bhajans and danced in ecstasy with Maharshi's bhaktas. He also went on pilgrimages to various places in northern India including Kedarnath and Badrinath. He visited Kailash-Manasarovar in 1931.

Foundations

Sivananda Kutir at Sivananda Ghat, and Sivananda Ashram above, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh

During Sivananda's stay in Rishikesh and his travels around India, many came to him for guidance in the spiritual path. He permitted some of them to live near him and instructed them. Sivananda asked his students take copies of his short articles and send them for publication. Over time, large numbers of people started coming to him and his circle started growing.

Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society in 1936 on the banks of the Ganges River. The free distribution of spiritual literature drew a steady flow of disciples to the Swami, such as Swami Satyananda Saraswati, founder of Satyananda Yoga.

In 1945, Swami Sivananda created the Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy, and organized the All-world Religions Federation. He established the All-world Sadhus Federation in 1947 and Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy in 1948. He called his yoga the Yoga of Synthesis.

Disciples

Interiors of the Sivananda Samadhi temple, Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh

Swami Sivananda's two chief acting organizational disciples were Swami Chidananda and Swami Krishnananda. Swami Chidananda was appointed President of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1963 and served in this capacity until his death in 2008. Swami Krishnananda was appointed General Secretary of the Divine Life Society by Swami Sivananda in 1958 and served in this capacity until his death in 2001. Swami Krishnananda is widely regarded as one of the most important theologians and philosophers of the 20th century.[7][8]

Other prominent disciples were Swami Venkatesananda (South Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, Australia), Swami Pranavananda (Malaysia) and Swami Sivananda Radha (Canada). Another prominent disciple was Sri Swami Sahajananda (South Africa), who was directed by Sri Swami Sivananda to establish the Divine Life Society of South Africa. Saint Chot (1900-1988) is a lesser know disciple who lived five years with Sivananda from early 1940s, prior to other much more well known disciples. Chot never had any formal association with the Divine Life Society and spent his final years at his Bangkok ashram.

Disciples who went on to grow new organisations

Authorship

A prolific author, Swami Sivananda wrote 296 books on a variety of subjects: metaphysics, yoga, religion, western philosophy, psychology, eschatology, fine arts, ethics, education, health, sayings, poems, epistles, autobiography, biography, stories, dramas, messages, lectures, dialogues, essays and anthology.[9] Yet his books emphasized the practical application of yoga philosophy over mere theoretical knowledge. He was known to have said "An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory. Practice Yoga, Religion and Philosophy in daily life and attain Self-realization."[10]

Philosophy

Brahman or the Absolute soul is the only and reality. Every thing in the universe ultimately submerges within that Brahma. Mortal death is not the end, rather it is an episode in worldly life. The light of pure wisdom let the Life, jiva to realize the shape of the Brahma, the supreme soul. But the fire of desire and passion burns the potency, mind and organs of a man.[11]. The world and the ego are unreal. This universe is nothing but a diversity of Maya. Mind alone is the universe. World is nothing but mind manifesting as such only through the potency of Brahman.Those who are without Atmic enquiry will see as real this world which is nothing but the nature of sankalpa. Sankalpa alone manifests itself as jiva, Ishvara and the Universe. This universe as universe ever is not. There is no world in the three periods of time. All things though appearing different are no other than Brahmic light, in short, world static means Brahman. Brahman in motion is world.

Death

Swami Sivananda died on 14 July 1963 in his Kutir on the bank of the Ganges, in Shivanandanagar.[6]

Bibliography

  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1946). Siva-Gita: an epistolary autobiography. The Sivananda Publication League. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1950). Principal Upanishads: with text, meaning notes and commentary. Yoga Vedanta Forest University, Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.); Patañjali (1950). Raja Yoga: theory and practice. Yoga Vedanta Forest University, Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1953). Inspiring songs and kirtans. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1956). Music as yoga. The Yoga-Vedanta Forest University for the Sivananda Mahasamsthanam. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1956). Yoga of synthesis. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1957). Story of my tour. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.); Sivananda-Kumudini Devi (1960). Sivananda's letters ro Sivananda-Kumudini Devi. Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1962). Lord Siva and his worship. Yoga-Vedanta forest academy, Divine life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1966). Yoga practice, for developing and increasing physical, mental and spiritual powers. D.B. Taraporevala Sons. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1970). Fourteen lessons in raja yoga. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1970). Inspiring songs and sayings. The Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1970). Yoga Vedanta dictionary. Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1971). Kundalini yoga. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1971). The science of pranayama. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1973). Ten upanishads: with notes and commentary 8th ed. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1978). Sivananda vani: the cream of Sri Swami Sivananda's immortal, practical instructions on the yoga of synthesis in his own handwriting. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Swami Sivananda (1979). Practice of yoga. The Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1980). Autobiography of Swami Sivananda. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1981). Japa Yoga: a comprehnsive treatise on mantra-sastra. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1981). Science of Yoga: Raja yoga ; Jnana yoga ; Concentration and meditation. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1982). Moksha gita. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1983). Samadhi yoga. The Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1984). Yoga samhita. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (1985). The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: Sanskrit text, English translation, and commentary. Divine Life Society. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami.) (1985). Karma yoga. Divine Life Society. ISBN 9780949027054. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1 January 1987). Bhakti yoga. Divine Life Society, Fremantle Branch. ISBN 9780949027085. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Sivananda (Swami) (1996). Lord Shanmukha and his worship. Divine Life Society. ISBN 9788170521150. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Swami Sivananda (December 2005). Raja Yoga. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 9781425359829. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  • Downloadable Books by Swami Sivananda Divine Life Society

Notes

  1. ^ Sivananda Om Site
  2. ^ Divine Life Society Britannica.com
  3. ^ Divine Life Society Divine enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement, by Lise McKean. University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN 0226560090. Page 164=165.
  4. ^ Swami Shivananda Religion and anthropology: a critical introduction, by Brian Morris. Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 0521852412. Page 144.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Autobiography of Swami Sivananda
  6. ^ a b His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj
  7. ^ Stephen Phillips Ph.D, Professor of Philosophy University of Texas at Austin Department of Philosophy University of Texas at Austin
  8. ^ Francis Clooney Ph.D, Professor of Divinity and Comparative Theology Harvard University Divinity School Harvard Divinity School
  9. ^ Complete Works of Swami Sivananda
  10. ^ See 'Sadhana Tattva': http://www.dlshq.org/download/allsiva.htm#_VPID_122
  11. ^ Sree Shivananda-lahari, Vachanika, verse-6

Further reading

  • Sivananda and the Divine Life Society: A Paradigm of the "secularism," "puritanism" and "cultural Dissimulation" of a Neo-Hindu Religious Society, by Robert John Fornaro. Published by Syracuse University, 1969.
  • From man to God-man: the inspiring life-story of Swami Sivananda, by N. Ananthanarayanan. Published by Indian Publ. Trading Corp., 1970.
  • Swami Sivananda and the Divine Life Society: An Illustration of Revitalization Movement, by Satish Chandra Gyan. Published by s.n, 1979.
  • Life and Works of Swami Sivananda, by Sivananda, Divine Life Society (W.A.). Fremantle Branch. Published by Divine Life Society, Fremantle Branch, 1985. ISBN 0949027049.
  • Sivananda: Biography of a Modern Sage, by Swami Venkatesananda. Published by Divine Life Society, 1985. ISBN 0949027014. Online

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