Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!

Namaste!

My Experiences with Swami Chidananda
by Dr. Sanjay Gupta

How to describe an ocean of compassion, mercy, love and strength! Our beloved Swamiji Maharaj, our Sadgurudev, was all this and more. Every second of Swamiji’s life was flowing with Divine Consciousness. Every act was imbued with this feeling.

There are many episodes imprinted in my mind, and I want to share just a few.

We were doing eye surgeries in Uttarkashi. During this time Swamiji Maharaj came for his annual visit to Gangotri and stayed over in Uttarkashi. Early in the morning I heard a gentle knock on the door of the operating room. It was Swamiji Maharaj, asking if he could come in. Swamiji went straight to the end of the operating table and put his head on the feet of the poor old lady who was scheduled for the surgery. He thanked the Divine who had come in the form of this patient to give us an opportunity of serving the Divine. The patient, being blind due to total cataract in both eyes, was not aware of what was going on. Then Swamiji went to the head of the table and again put his head down and prayed for the patient!

The inauguration of the Swami Sivananda Centenary Charitable Hospital at Pattamadai took place on 25th December 1987, and Swamiji was the first patient to be seen. He was there at 7 o’clock, as the hospital door was to be opened at 8 a.m. He stood outside the hospital and insisted on making a show that he was first in the queue. If anybody came he would say, “Go behind me, because I am first.”  Then of course the hospital was opened and he came forward and went as the first person to the Registration Counter. He behaved just like any ordinary patient. He asked for the form, paid his one rupee as donation which he had kept carefully. The person at the counter filling the form asked, “What is your name?” He said, “Swami Chidananda” - “What is your father’s name?” “Swami Sivananda” replied Swamiji. “Place of residence?” “Divine Life Society, Rishikesh” - “Profession?” “Swami” and so on, he answered all the questions. After that he went to the outpatient department and sat on the bench. He refused to sit on a chair. He waited and kept on complaining like any other patient, “I am waiting for the doctor. Where is the doctor?” All the doctors were delayed, but I happened to be there and so I examined him. He sat across to me and talked just like any other patient. He said that he had suffered from backache for so many years and that he had been taking Ibrufine and other medication. After the consultation was over he wanted the OPD ticket to be kept carefully. It was the very first record and he wanted to be the very first person who showed himself in Gurudev’s Hospital. That was his bhava.

I had such a long association with Swamiji, but his real greatness I started to experience only in the last 2 or 3 years and that only by his grace. And I feel what I am experiencing is just a small part of it. He is much more than my experience!

Read online

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September 24th is the 108^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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SPECIAL ARADHANA CONCESSION

We are currently having a Special Aradhana Concession on all our publications from 1st July 2024 to 30th September 2024. 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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"Swamiji Maharaj never wasted a single moment in his life. He was always busy in serving others. He had truly imbibed the spirit of the teachings of Gurudev. That is why he could carry the light of knowledge from the lamp of Sivananda to every nook and corner of this world. He inspired thousands everywhere. While Gurudev was alive, he often deputed him to speak on his behalf, and each time people would write back, thanking Gurudev for sending such a perfect representative. Wherever he went, he was unanimously accepted as a saint." – Swami Vimalananda

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