Devotion and Dedication Personified… – The Divine Life Society

Sri Swami Nirliptananda

This article is a chapter from the book Chidanandam: The Joy of Knowing ‘Him’.

My humble prostrations and salutations at the holy feet of most worshipful Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, whose spiritual presence indwells the hearts of all his sincere devotees and disciples. Our Param Pujya Swamiji Maharaj was a guiding light of the Divine Life Society for over half a century. When he was elected President by the Board of Trustees on August 18th 1963, he observed: “A burden has been taken up. It has to be carried.” And he shouldered the responsibility nobly as President until his last breath on 28th August 2008.

As a disciple, Swamiji’s devotion to his Guru Swami Sivanandaji was exemplary and supreme, and his dedication to the service of the Guru, his Mission and Organisation was phenomenal and total. Ever since he joined Sivananda Ashram in 1943, he served his Guru as the occasion demanded or as he was called upon to do. He looked upon service to the Mission as service of his Guru and he did it as devout worship. From 1948 he was the General Secretary for many years and when he was made President, he expressed: “My only prayer to Gurudev’s spirit is that I may be enabled to serve sincerely, work dutifully and live worthily. May he not withhold from this servant the grace of humility nor the talents of selflessness and dedication.” Swamiji’s life and work testify to the fact that his prayer was amply granted.

As Chairman of the Trust and President of the Divine Life Society, Swamiji presided over the meetings of the Board of Trustees and Board of Management and oversaw and guided all activities. In addition to the day-to-day affairs, he also initiated and headed special and important functions, like the Centenary Celebrations of Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj in 1987 and other such events. With his blessings and support Baliguali Ashram (The Chidananda Hermitage Shanti Ashram) near Puri in Orissa was established. It is the first and only wing of the Headquarters and gives inspiration to thousands of devotees as a centre of spiritual sadhana.

Gurudev had sent him to the West in 1959 and from that time onwards requests and invitations poured in from all over the world for his visit and darshan. Swamiji had to undertake frequent and sometimes long tours after he became President. This gave him the grand opportunity to spread the Teachings of his Master and to serve many eager and sincere devotees. Swamiji brought many people to the spiritual path. He was Guru, spiritual guide and preceptor to thousands of devotees in India and abroad and he conducted many spiritual retreats, sadhana sibirs and yoga camps. He gave personal spiritual guidance and did not hesitate to consider the secular problems, needs and difficulties of his devotees. The service he rendered to the cause of cultural and spiritual upliftment of humanity is immeasurable. He inspired people everywhere to work selflessly in the service of others, in the service of Gurudev’s Mission and for their own spiritual unfoldment.

Swamiji’s very life was a light upon the path. He was considered as one of the greatest saints of his time. Swami Chinmayananda described him as the living example of the ‘sthitaprajna’ of the Bhagavad Gita. With his compassion, his infinite kindness, his innate nature to do good to others and to help others, he taught by example. He never ceased to remind us that the goal of life is God-Realisation, that our innate nature is ever bliss and bliss alone and that our foremost duty in life is to become aware of what we already are through selfless service, sadhana and reflection. He spent his life blessing us, reminding us and showing us the way.

In the course of his tours, Swamiji visited all the States of India, touched most of the DLS Branches and met devotees freely. Because of the frequent and earnest requests from devotees of Orissa, starting in 1966 with his visit as President to the first All-Orissa DLS Conference, Swamiji came to Orissa not less than 58 times. As a result, Branch membership swelled to over 50,000, forming a strong base of the Divine Life Society in this State. The effect in other States was similar.

Swamiji’s tours abroad spread to all the continents and to many countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia. In the process, the Divine Life Society spread world-wide and more people from more countries came to know Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji’s message of divine life and what the Society stands for.

Swamiji attended and presided over all the All-India DLS Conferences and most of the State Level Conferences, organised by the respective Branches. The two Global International Conferences in Mumbai and Cuttack were his creation and brought together many thousands of devotees of the Divine Life Society from all over the world. On behalf of the Society, he also participated in many national and international Conferences and Parliaments of Religions and Peace, including the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1993. This was to mark the Centenary of the First Parliament of Religions held there in 1893 when the great Swami Vivekananda made such an indelible impression and the ancient wisdom of India started to spread in the West. At the 1993 Parliament, Swamiji received the great honour of being appointed Co-Chairman of all the delegates representing Hinduism.

Swamiji’s work as the President of the Divine Life Society also included fostering close relationships with several other spiritual organisations. He presided over and guided many samyama saptahas in Sri Sri Maa Anandamayi Ashrams; he functioned as the President of Shanti Ashram of Swami Omkar for 20 years and visited the Ashram yearly on Swami Omkar’s Jayanti; he kept in close contact with Anandashram of Papa Ramdas and attended many of their programes; he also took part in many functions of the Swami Narayan organisation, just to name a few. Everywhere Swamiji was hailed and revered as a great spiritual luminary and his radiant personality showered divine grace on all who were present.

Because of his direct initiative, inspiration and support some important institutions were established in the name of Swami Sivananda to render service to the public. Thus, have come into being the Swami Sivananda Centenary Charitable Hospital at Gurudev’s birthplace Pattamadai in Tamil Nadu, The Swami Sivananda Centenary Boys’ High School at Khandagiri at Bhubaneswar in Orissa, the Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute of Arts and Crafts in Delhi, etc. Swamiji also acted as President of these Institutions for many years.

Thus, the charismatic and dynamic stewardship of Param Pujya Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj has left a deep and lasting mark. The Society expanded tremendously, in area, in the number of Branches and in the number of devotees and followers. The teachings of Gurudev and the ideals of the Society have reached a larger section of humanity. All this was made possible through the ceaseless and untiring work of Param Pujya Swami Chidanandaji, which he did with the fullest application and total dedication, never caring in the least for his delicate health, his convenience or comfort.

We are all very, very fortunate to have come under the umbrella of his grace. Everything that he did, he did for our sake. With so much sincerity, out of his full heart, he has said: “I have come only to show the way, to show you the path. The real goal is to proceed towards God, to make your life divine!”

My humble salutations to Param Pujya Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj. May the blessings of the Almighty Lord, Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and Worshipful Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj ever be upon us all.

Hari Om Tat Sat.