Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!

Namaste!

Early Days of Ashram Life
by Sri Swami Chidananda

In the early forties Gurudev used to come to the upper side of the Ashram for an evening walk. It was a sight to see him coming up in the summer evenings. He loved to be on the banks of Gangaji. The breeze blowing over the waters is cool like an air-conditioner’s breeze. After leaving the Kutir he used to come to the office first. It was at the present Post Office. He used to enter the office from the Ganga side, step in and sit in a small sofa immediately to the left hand side of the door. When I first came here in May 1943, there used to be only one person in the office, Brahmachari Poornabodh Chaitanya, belonging to the Avadhoot Parampara of Lord Dattatreya. He was not yet fully initiated (He entered Sannyasa on Sivaratri, in 1947 and became Swami Poornabodhendra.). He would always be in the office when Gurudev came. He was so short that if he stood by the side of Gurudev, he would perhaps come up to Gurudev’s waist only. He was a jack of all the trades. He was the cashier and the typist as well.

The visitors had to sit on the floor. There would be a little table between them and Gurudev. There was a cloth which covered the table and went down reaching the floor. Gurudev never allowed anyone to touch his feet. I have seen persistent Punjabi ladies put their hands inside the cloth and try to touch his feet. But Gurudev would retract his feet as far as possible.

In Rishikesh, the summer is terribly hot and the winter terribly cold. In the summer, Gurudev’s morning office hours were 6.00 to 7.30 a.m., before it became hot. Before that he used to finish his bath in Gangaji and all other morning routine. He was a tall figure with a stick and a very thin borderless Dhoti and a small Muradabadi towel (Gamchha) to hold the Dhoti in place. He used to tie it on the Dhoti because he had a very rubbery type of body and belly. There would be another Gamchha on his shoulder. Like that only he used to come and sit in the office. Someone had to keep fanning him otherwise he would perspire profusely. Latest by 8.00 a.m. he used to go back to his Kutir. Now we wonder how he could live in that Kutir. By 9.00 a.m. one could not step out of it without sandals, because the Kutir veranda was a bare open cement platform open to sky without any roof or covering. If it rained, the platform became drenched and if there was sunshine, it became burning hot. His Sevak was living in the first room. So Gurudev would come down the steps, go round the platform and then enter his Kutir, go inside and close the door. Thereafter, no one, not even his Sevak could enter his Kutir until he would unbolt the door, open it and say O…m…, O…m… There was no bell even.

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September 8^th is the 139^th Birthday Anniversary of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Swami Sivananda: Saint, Sage And Godman
by Sri Swami Chidananda

Worshipful Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj has brought about a spiritual awakening and resurgence of moral and ethical values throughout the world by his very inspiring writings consisting of more than three hundred books. He is literally a world teacher. He has written on every aspect of philosophy and Sadhana. He has written for everyone. The all-comprehensive vastness of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji’s writings makes an aspirant to ask, ‘What is his vision? What is his most important message? What are his most important teachings?’

Gurudev preached only those things which he himself had practised most diligently over a long period. So the best way to find answers to these basic questions is to study his life and personality. Those were the most blessed persons who had the good fortune of staying in the Sivananda Ashram as disciples during his lifetime. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, President, The Divine Life Society, had that good fortune for two decades and is, therefore, the most appropriate authority to dilate upon these questions. In these talks, he has brought out the inherent salient teachings from Gurudev’s life and thrown light on Gurudev’s vision, his real message and his most important teachings. These talks were given in Gurudev’s Samadhi Shrine from 26th July to 10th August, 1987.

This book will prove to be an invaluable treasure for all sincere seekers, Sadhakas and householders and inspire them to tread on righteous living and to strive for the goal of life, God-realisation.

For more information, please see: Swami Sivananda: Saint, Sage And Godman

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"The Guru is considered as a replica of God, and he reflects within himself the power of the cosmos. He is a miniature universe, and so even to see him is like beholding the whole universe, and the magnetic power that emanates from him is actually arising from the entire cosmos. That's why people go near him. Even to look at him is enough for them. Even to see him is a great blessing. He is not to be considered as a human being. He looks like a human being physically, but his mind is centred in the universal Reality, so he absorbs the energy of the cosmos, and whoever sits near him also will be benefited by that energy. Even to see a Guru, and sit near the Guru, and hear a few words from the Guru is considered as a great blessing. Otherwise, why would people flock to Gurus unnecessarily? There is some benefit." – Swami Krishnananda

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