I Live To Serve
A PROMISE AND A FULFILMENT
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Paperback: 32 pages
ISBN: NA
Book Dimensions: 7.0 x 4.8 x 0.05 inches
Shipping Weight: 30 grams
Intimate glimpses into
Gurudev Sivananda’s Last Days
*
How the Holy Master Lived
a Life of Unremitting Service
to the very End
Recorded by
N. Ananthanarayanan
Table of Contents
| The Universal Prayer (Back Cover) | |
| Dedication | 3 |
| Publishers’ Note | 4 |
| Prophecy That Became True | 5 |
| The Master Did Give Many Indications, But
The Devotees Didn’t Want To Believe |
6 |
| When Generous Gurudev Began To Tighten His Purse-String | 7 |
| The Transition From Pada-Puja To Paduka-Puja | 8 |
| The ‘Calendar’ Episode | 9 |
| How Much Have I Given? How Long Will It Run? | 9 |
| A Flood Of Inspiring Articles | 10 |
| A Statement And A Glance: Gurudev Gives One More Indication | 11 |
| The Last Satsang | 11 |
| “I May Be Ill, But I Cannot Stop My Work!” | 12 |
| The Holy Master’s Last Dictation | 12 |
| Gurudev Fondles A New Book From His Sick-Bed | 14 |
| Gurudev Displays Dual Consciousness | 15 |
| Swamiji Finds Out The Doctor’s Ruse | 16 |
| “Our Children! Our Children!!” | 17 |
| His Body Was Sick, But His Spirit Was Cheerful | 17 |
| The Master’s Mysterious Upadesh On Holy Guru Purnima | 18 |
| Gurudev’s Lasting Interest In The Welfare Of Each Individual Disciple |
19 |
| “Serve. Love. Give. Purify. Meditate. Realise.” | 20 |
| The Picture Of A Sage In Sahaja Samadhi | 20 |
| Gurudev’s Genteel Manners And Inborn Kindness Last Till His Last Breath |
21 |
| A Mystic Utterance | 22 |
| Swamiji Silently Enjoys A Nadasvaram Recital
. Wants His Thanks To Be Conveyed To The Artiste |
23 |
| Gurudev Receives The Union Health Minister | 23 |
| The Master’s Love For Ganga Darshan | 24 |
| The Last Written Words Of The Holy Master | 25 |
| Silk Saree For The Nurse | 25 |
| Swamiji’s Concern For The Ashram Workers | 26 |
| A Last, Lingering Look …. And Farewell To Ganga! | 26 |
| At Dead Of Night …. Gurudev Writes | 27 |
| Self-Consciousness Or Super-Consciousness? | 27 |
| He Knew His Condition Better Than All Doctors | 28 |
| Enough, Enough! | 28 |
| All Is Done …. For Once Let Me Relax | 29 |
| Love Unto The Last | 29 |
| “I Have Many Things To Do!” …. And So He Lives Even Today | 30 |
|
Give Me My Last Drink! |
31 |
Dedication
In Loving Memory
of the Most Holy One
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
When the Holy Master Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj discarded his physical sheath in July, 1963, letters came pouring in from devotees everywhere desiring us to convey to them details of Gurudev’s last days. At that time, preoccupied as we all were in the Ashram with diverse matters of immediate consequence, we could not meet the wishes of the devotees in full measure. We did publish details of Gurudev’s illness, the treatment given to him, his Mahasamadhi and the ceremonies which followed; but we could give only an outline of his last days.
Now we present in the following pages a more detailed account of the touching incidents which filled the Master’s life during the period immediately preceding his Mahasamadhi. Through a critical portrayal of these incidents, the author, an inmate of the Ashram, has vividly brought out many of the characteristic traits in Gurudev’s personality which captured the heart of his wide circle of devotees.
We have pleasure in releasing this small booklet in the New Year in hallowed memory of Gurudev.
Shivanandanagar,
January 5, 1965
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love!
Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.
Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
Thou art Satchidananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute).
Thou art the Indweller of all beings.
Grant us an understanding heart,
Equal vision, balanced mind,
Faith, devotion and wisdom.
Grant us inner spiritual strength
To resist temptations and to control the mind.
Free us from egoism, lust, greed, hatred, anger and jealousy.
Fill our hearts with divine virtues.
Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us ever remember Thee.
Let us ever sing Thy glories.
Let Thy Name be ever on our lips.
Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.
Swami Sivananda