Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!

Namaste!

Sages—A Great Need For Moral And Spiritual Guidance
by Sri Swami Chidananda

(Message given on the 80th Birth Anniversary of Swami Sivananda)

We may say that the saints and sages of this country are, though past from the physical point of view, still living in a cosmic form in and through every true son and daughter of Bharatavarsha who has imbibed and drawn into himself or herself some part of the fundamentals of our culture. For the pattern of the daily life of every individual is undeniably dominated by the high idealism set up for emulation by the Sant-Parampara from the age of the Upanishads right up to this twentieth century. Every true Indian has in himself some element of these saintly qualities, developed and demonstrated by the saints when they lived and moved upon the Indian scene and handed down to us a permanent heritage through their lives and mission.

The innermost core, the very life breath of India’s cultural genius consists of her spiritual idealism. The life ethical or Dharma and the direct experience of divine perfection or Aparokshanubhuti are like her ingoing and outgoing breath. They are the twin beats of the innermost heart of this country. The vital Indian genius did not conceive of this idealism as being theoretical, but meant it to be the very basis of the active life of its people. It was to pervade and control all their life’s activities. The social structure and the pattern of the individual’s life were so conceived as to make this the dominant note in practical living. Hence we have the declaration that Dharma supports man’s life on earth. Dharma bestows prosperity and brings all-round fulfillment of man’s aspiration here. Finally, Dharma becomes the means for the attainment of the great goal of life, namely supreme freedom or Moksha. Such is the concept of the Purushartha Chatushtaya - Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. The supreme spiritual ideal which is to be life’s culmination is based upon Dharma actively practised in man’s day-to-day life.

The leading spiritual luminaries from time immemorial have ever striven to guide the stream of life along the lines of Dharma towards this progressive realisation of integral perfection. The refinement of human nature and the gradual evolution of human consciousness from its state of grossness and impurity into an ideal state of purity, goodness and divine perfection have been the endeavour of numerous great souls. Their idealism has not been other-worldly. They have striven for the transformation of man’s life here on earth from a state of animalistic quest after the constant appeasement of his lower sensual appetites into a state of higher and nobler aspiration and a loftier seeking of the attainment of the sublime eternal values. They have dedicated their lives to the task of endowing the human being with a loftier vision and inspiring him to earnestly endeavour the achievement of ethical and spiritual perfection, which is the true and worthwhile goal of life. One such true and inspiring representative of this unforgettable galaxy of blessed awakeners in this much disturbed age, the material-minded twentieth century, is the sagely Swami Sivananda, the saint of Ananda Kutir.

To bring about the recognition and an acceptance of the spiritual purpose of man’s life, to reinstate the moral law and a consciousness of moral values in all spheres of human activity, to guide modern men and women everywhere through a life of practical idealism towards a harmonious and integral unfoldment and to admonish, exhort and urge them to live in willing conformity with the universal ethical standards—such were the noble qualities and tasks carried out by this saintly man of wisdom. To this task he had dedicated himself. This noble work Swami Sivananda has been ceaselessly doing for the past more than thirty years. His work was dynamic. Tirelessly this holy man of God had kept himself at this sublime mission, until a gradual revolution has been brought about in the outlook, the sense of values, the attitude and ideals of countless sincere men and women the world over.

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September 8th is the 138^th Birthday Anniversary of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Swami Sivananda, Our Loving Awakener
By Swami Chidananda

These are a number of talks and messages on Gurudev Swami Sivananda by Swami Chidananda. The first twelve were given during Gurudev's lifetime and the following 13 after his Mahasamadhi.

They show Swami Chidananda's exemplary, totally dedicated discipleship during 65 years and his untiring zeal and conviction of spreading his Master's teachings and the message of Divine Life during his Presidency of 45 years. Whatever he elaborates on and propagates in his discourses, that Swamiji himself was the best example of.

We are sure that all who read this book will be inspired to follow more ardently in Gurudev's and Swami Chidananda's footsteps and lead the Divine Life to the best of their abilities.

For more information, please see: Swami Sivananda, Our Loving Awakener

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"Sri Gurudev was a Godman, to mention briefly. Some call such great beings Man-gods. All the gods are within them. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva was also called a Man-god. At times he could appear as a particular god, and at other times appear as another god. Sri Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj used to say to us, “Do you know who I am? I can be Vishnu, and I can be Rudra, both. Lovingly I will take care of all of you, protect you, love you, and caress you as your very father and mother. But I can be Rudra; I can turn you out, and I will not look at your face.” He could be highly creative like Brahma, protective like Vishnu, and dispassionate like Rudra." – Swami Krishnananda

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