Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!

Namaste!

A Great Master and a Perfect Disciple
by Sri Swami Vimalananda

To write something about Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj is not easy. To understand a God-man, one has to rise to that level, and then only can one understand him. Only an Einstein can understand another Einstein. Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj said, “Swami Chidananda is a born Siddha.” Probably, only Gurudev could understand him.

Despite all human limitations, I shall make a humble attempt to share with you some reflections about Swamiji and the memories and impressions that I treasure, thanks to my blessed association with him for more than fifty years. As early as 1953, I saw his greatness, even before I knew him. I’d like to record here my first glimpse of both Revered Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj and Satgurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

I arrived at Haridwar in December 1953. Everything was strange to me. The weather, the food, people, the language and the environment — everything was very new. Before I started my journey, I had heard that the Himalayas abound with caves, where sages and saints dwell, immersed in deep tapas (austerities) and surviving only on roots, herbs and fruits. This was my concept of the Himalayas!

After some wandering, I found by chance an artificial cave which was not very far from Sivananda Ashram. This protection from wind and cold was a real gift from God. I thanked him and began to live in that cave. I spent about 7-8 years there, as in those days there was an acute dearth of accommodation in the Ashram.

Two weeks after my arrival, I had my first glimpse of Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj. At that time he was the General Secretary of the Ashram. At the very first darshan, in 1953, I felt that he was a man of God. The same day Swamiji took me to the office and graciously introduced me to worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

Gurudev turned to me and said, “Stick to this place and serve Swami Chidanandaji. You will attain everything.” I kept my promise to Gurudev and remained with worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj until the last day of his life.

Source

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September 24th is the 106^th Birthday Anniversary of Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj.

 

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Chidanandam: The Joy of Knowing Him
 

With great joy we place before the devotees of Sri Gurudev H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and all well wishers of the Divine Life Society this Souvenir. It is being released on the holy occasion of the first Punya Tithi Aradhana of Param Pujya Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, on the 18th of August 2009.

Since the Mahasamadhi, the Headquarters and various Branches of the Divine Life Society have been organizing Swami Chidananda Memorial Lectures at different places in India and abroad. These lectures reveal that although Pujya Swamiji Maharaj left his physical body, he continues to live more vibrantly in the hearts and memories of people all over the world.

As Valmiki has said:

Yavat sthasyanti girayah saritascha maheetale,
Tavad Ramayana katha lokeshu pracharishyati. (I-ii-36-37)

(The theme of the Ramayana will continue to be popular on earth, as long as mountains and rivers exist.)

Pujya Swamiji Maharaj was a devotee of Sri Rama and lived like Sri Rama, upholding dharma in his life, teachings and mission. He loved one and all and had concern and respect for all life. He was unique and universal. He will also, as Valmiki has predicted in the Ramayana, remain evergreen in the memories of the devotees all over the world as long as the sun and the moon shine. In this Souvenir we have made a humble effort to bring out some of the thoughts of veneration, sublime emotions and love expressed by a few as a tribute to this God-Man.

For more information, please see: Chidanandam: The Joy of Knowing Him

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We are currently having a Special Aradhana Concession on all our publications from 1st July 2022 to 30th September 2022. The discounts on publications are as follows:

20% on Orders Upto Rs. 300/-
30% on Orders Upto Rs. 1,000/-
35% on Orders Above Rs. 1,000/-
40% on Orders Above Rs. 25,000/-

40% Special Discount on the following Pictorial Volumes of Worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji and Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji:

1. ES8 Glorious Vision                Rs. 650
2. ES4 Gurudev Sivananda        Rs. 250 
3. EC70 Ultimate Journey           Rs. 500
4. EC71 Divine Vision                 Rs. 300

Please visit our online bookstore for further details.

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“When you closely follow Swami Chidananda’s lectures, you will find that all the Upanishadic wisdom is brought out in them, though he has not studied the Upanishads and does not even want to study them. He brings Upanishads from his heart. He is any embodiment of the Brahma Sutras and the Gita. I have found out of-late that whenever he talks on Bhakti, and Nishkamya Karma, he always ends in Vedanta. That shows that if you are earnest in Sadhana and deeply devoted to God, Vedanta or knowledge of the Brahma Sutras come by itself.” - Gurudev Swami Sivananda

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