NEWS AND REPORTS

NEWS FROM THE HEADQUARTERS 

SEVA THROUGH SIVANANDA HOME 

Sivananda Home has been the instrument of The Divine Life Society Headquarters to serve the needy and the poor people, those who require medical treatment, but have no means, no human support, no shelter, no attendant and those who are rejected by the society. 

Though Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is completely curable, even after a full-term course of multi-drug therapy, many a patient has to live the rest of his or her life with irreversible deformities and handicaps, loss of sensation, no feeling of pain when an ulcer appears and therefore having no urge to seek medical advice or treatment at that point. One of the reasons is most of the leprosy patients admitted in Sivananda Home came already in a stage when the nerves of the fingers, toes, eyes and legs were irrevocably damaged, leading to complete blindness, loss of fingers, drop-foot and chronic ulcers of hand and feet. A patient suffering from leprosy does not feel, for example, the heat of a glass filled with tea, and one moment of forgetfulness can cause severe burning wounds, since the reflex to withdraw comes forth only from the sensation of pain. This month four new patients with Hansen’s disease were admitted and treated in the Home; another two Leprosy patients were discharged and their treatment was continued through OPD. 

Sivananda Home provides the regular MDT medication, besides health education, exercises, hydrotherapy to prevent sores, consultation and treatment from an eye specialist or surgeon if required, cleaning and dressing of the wounds and supervised distribution of medicines. 

The physical part is only one aspect of the disease. Throughout the centuries, people diagnosed with leprosy are being looked down upon, cast away, abandoned, burned, humiliated, and separated from what is called the normal society. This stigma is a heavy and unimaginable load and has left a deep scar in the heart of each and every person who is suffering from this illness, which is often so obvious and visible. 

May the good and compassionate Lord be with each and everyone, nearby and far-off, who is feeling alone and dismayed, down, troubled or hurt! Om Namah Sivaya. 

“All nature wear one angry frown
To crush you out—still know my soul,
You are Divine. March on and on,
Nor right nor left but to the goal!”
(Swami Vivekananda) 

 

“Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Serve the sick. This is Divine Life.”         —Swami Sivananda 

 

HEADQUARTERS CELEBRATES MAHASIVARATRI 

In the evening of 5th March, 2008, the Maha Sivaratri Pooja commenced at the sacred temple of Lord Viswanath and concluded next day at 4 a.m. For 5 days from 1st March the resident Sadhaks and visitors of the Ashram did Japa of the Panchakshara Mantra “Om Namah Sivaya” daily. Also Havan was performed in the Yagnasala for the peace of the world. 

The day’s programme commenced at 5 a.m. with prayer and meditation. Immediately after that there was Prabhatpheri where all Sadhaks and visitors of the Ashram went around Muni-Ki-Reti singing the “Om Namah Sivaya” Mantra from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m., there was continuous chanting of the Panchakshara Mantra by the devotees in the Viswanath Mandir. 

At 8.00 p.m. a grand Abhisheka to Lord Siva was commenced with various articles, viz., milk, curd, ghee, honey, fruit juice, Vibhuti, Ganga water, etc., to the chanting of Rudram and Chamakam from the Yajur Veda. 

All the devotees participated individually in the Abhisheka as well as in Archana throughout the night. Simultaneously there was Bhajan and Kirtan in chorus by the devotees in the Mandir premises. After Archana and Arati the sacred Prasad specially prepared for the holy occasion was distributed at the Annapurna Dining Hall in the early morning. 

THE 58TH BASIC YOGA-VEDANTA COURSE 

The 58th Basic Yoga-Vedanta Course of the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was inaugurated on Saturday, 1st March, 2008, in which 40 students from 14 states had joined. After the invocatory prayer, all those present were welcomed by the Registrar of the Academy and they were all introduced. H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President and H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, The Divine Life Society Headquarters graced the function. H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj lighted the Deepa as a token of the commencement of the course. 

H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj welcomed the students to Worshipful Gurudev’s Ashram and told them that nothing happens without God’s Will. They are also here because He willed it like this. Swamiji said that he sat at the holy feet of the two great Masters––Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and His Holiness Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj and learned all what he knows. Giving an example, he said, when we sit in the Sun, every ray penetrates our body and it gets revitalised. Similarly when we sit at the holy feet of great Masters, we partake their nature. Swamiji gave a brief account, right from his arrival in the Ashram in 1953, his stay in the artificial cave below Sri Dattatreya Temple situated in the forest area which was infested with innumerable scorpions, snakes and wild animals in those days, about his first meeting with His Holiness Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj and Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. The way Swamiji described it, was quite interesting, inspiring and educative. Swamiji said that the students are fortunate to be here on the holy banks of Ganga and advised them to be regular in their studies and Sadhana. Meditation will make their mind calm but when the Pranic energy is wasted the mind gets disturbed. They should go from here as transformed persons and try to make other people happy. They should give to others as much as possible and should not expect anything from others. Swamiji concluded his talk by blessing the students. 

H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj told the students that it is very difficult to get an opportunity to be at the holy banks of Mother Ganga, in this Punya Bhoomi. It is due to their meritorious actions. They should try to make themselves free from all worries here. By joining Basic Yoga-Vedanta Course, they will get rid of many wrong notions about themselves, the world and God. Here they will get learning, being and experience simultaneously. Swamiji advised them to give full attention to the course, take notes in the class and avoid eating outside the Ashram in order to keep themselves healthy. By practising Yogasanas, their body will become more flexible and healthy and they will look younger than before. They should be like a honey bee and should try to gain the maximum from the Course. Bhagavan Vyasa has said in the Mahabharata that the essence of the eighteen Puranas is that doing good to others is Punya and giving pain to others is Papa. Therefore, they should Be Good and Do Good. The purpose of this Course is to make them feel oneness and share peace and harmony with others. Swamiji concluded his talk by invoking the blessings of Worshipful Gurudev upon them. 

After Saraswati Puja and Prasad distribution, the function came to a close. 

CULTURAL TOUR OF H.H. SRI SWAMI NIRLIPTANANDAJI MAHARAJ 

H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, The Divine Life Society Headquarters, undertook a cultural tour in India during December 2007 and January 2008, upon requests of the D.L.S. Branches, devotees and others. 

The Zonal Divine Life Coordination Committee, Southern Zone, Orissa and the local devotees had organised the 2nd State Level Youth Camp and the 10th Zonal D.L.S. Conference at Chandipadar, Dist. Ganjam in Orissa, in the premises of Sanjaya Memorial Institute of Technology (Degree Engineering College), from 28th December 2007 to 1st January 2008. Upon their request Swamiji attended the Youth Camp and the Zonal D.L.S. Conference during the entire period and presided over them. Revered Sri Dibya Singha Deb, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri, was the Chief Guest and Revered Sri Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Honourable Union Minister of State for Rural Development attended as the Special Guest. This was also attended by Revered Babaji Chaitanya Charan Das of Puri, Revered Sri Swami Sivananda-Gurusevanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Sivachidanandaji, Prof. Hrudananda Ray, Revered Sri Swami Dharmaprakashanandaji, Revered Babaji Kishori Charan Das and other saints and dignitaries. About 600 youths and more than 1000 delegates from different D.L.S. Branches participated in the programmes. The Programmes were very well organised and there was lively participation from the youths and the devotees. Swamiji attended all the sessions and addressed the gathering on different subjects like Swami Sivananda and Sadhana, Japa, Meditation, Prayer, Swami Chidananda and Sadhana, Necessity for Spiritual Sadhana, Role of Divine Life Society in Building An Ideal Society, etc. The Youth Camp and the Conference were a grand success, provided great inspiration to the participants and brought them immense benefit. 

On 2nd and 3rd January Swamiji participated in the concluding function of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of D.L.S. South Balanda Branch of Angul District. The Branch was established on 3rd January 1983 and they had year-long programmes to celebrate completion of its 25 year with various types of spiritual activities. On 3rd they celebrated the Branch Inauguration Day. Swamiji gave discourses in the various sessions on both the days. Devotees from nearby D.L.S. Branches had also attended the functions. 

D.L.S. Karatali Branch of Ganjam District had held the District Sadhana Day on 6th January, with the participation of devotees from 10 nearby Branches. Swamiji attended the Sadhana programme and gave a discourse for the devotees present. In the afternoon Swamiji visited D.L.S. Rajanapalli Branch and inaugurated the newly constructed Branch building. Swamiji also attended the Satsanga arranged for the occasion and addressed the devotees. At both these places there was very big congregation of devotees. Then Swamiji visited D.L.S. Chatrapur Branch where a special Satsanga had been arranged in connection with his visit. The devotees had attended the Satsanga in large number and with great interest. Swamiji gave a discourse on importance of Spiritual Sadhana and Satsanga. 

From 7th to 9th January Swamiji visited Chidananda Hermitage Shanti Ashram, Baliguali. There was the usual monthly Sadhana Shibir, under Sadhana Ganga Programme, held from 8th to 12th, this time for the devotees of Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj Districts. Swamiji attended the Sadhana Shibir on 8th and 9th and gave talks for the participating Sadhaks. 

Thereafter Swamiji proceeded to Chhatisgarh State. On 10 January Swamiji visited Ghatpadamur and Gumergunda. From 11th to 14th Swamiji attended the Chhatisgarh state Divine Life Society Conference and Yoga Sadhana Shibir organised by the D.L.S. Gumergunda Branch in Connection with the 15th Punyatithi Aradhana of Brahmaleen Swami Sadaprema- nandaji Mayaraj of Gumergunda. Swamiji spoke in the different sessions which covered the entire day on all the days. On 14th there was the Anniversary of Mahasamadhi of Sri Swami Sadapremanandaji Maharaj with programmes for the whole day which were attended by Swamiji. A very large number of devotees, particularly tribals from the interior localities participated in the programmes in thousands. The functions were very grand and went a long way in giving inspiration, peace, happiness and joy to the devotees. Revered Sri Swami Visuddhanandaji, the President of Gumergunda Ashram and Revered Sri Swami Sivadasanandaji the Secretary, had taken a lot of pains to organise the programmes which were arranged very nicely. During the stay there Swamiji also visited Teknar and the Ashram there which does very good social service in the locality and met the inmates. 

On 15th January Swamiji visited D.L.S. Ghatpadamur (Jagadalpur) Branch and gave a discourse in the public Satsanga arranged. On 16th Swamiji proceeded to Chapka and visited Bihari Das Ashram. Swamiji addressed the devotees gathered. There was a Satsanga programme at Siva Mandir in Kopabeda near Kondagaon where previously Brahmaleen Sri Swami Devatma- nandaji Maharaj was staying and regularly conducting Satsanga for the devotees. Swamiji gave a talk in the Satsanga which was attended by a large number of devotees. 

Swamiji visited Bhilai on 17th January and attended the public Satsanga organised by D.L.S. Bhilainagar Branch at the local Jagannath Temple. Swamiji gave a spiritual discourse in the Satsanga. Then Swamiji proceeded to Nandini- nagar and visited the D.L.S. Branch. He also addressed the devotees in the Satsanga arranged in the Branch. On the same day there was also a public Satsanga organised by D.L.S. Raipur Branch at Raipur. Swamiji attended the Satsanga, met the devotees and gave a discourse. 

D.L.S. West Bengal had organised the annual Sadhana Shibir at Hamirgachhi from 19th to 23rd January. For this Swamiji visited West Bengal and attended the Sadhana Shibir. Devotees from West Bengal, Orissa, and some other states joined the Sadhana Shibir. Swamiji attended all the sessions on all the days, namely the morning prayer, forenoon and afternoon sessions, and addressed the Sadhaks. The Sadhana Shibir was very well organised and was conducted in a very peaceful and elevating atmosphere and it was of great benefit to the participants. 

At the request of some local devotees Swamiji visited Ranaghat and Chakda on the 26th January. He gave a discourse at the Satsanga arranged by the devotees at Chakda. 

Then Swamiji proceeded to Baliguali Ashram in Orissa. On 28th January at Puri Swamiji attended the function for installation of the statue of Guru Maa Bhavamayee Paramahamsa (Founder-President of Dibyadham Yogashram) and sacred Pratistha of Bhagavan Sri Gopalji at Dibyadham Yogashram. This was also attended by Pujya Baba Chaitanya Charan Das Maharaj and Pujya Sri Dibya Singh Deb, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri. Mataji was an old devotee of Worshipful Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and she had Darshan of Gurudev and had his blessings in Rishikesh Sivananda Ashram. Swamiji addressed the large number of devotees present for the occasion. 

Barbil Branch of Divine Life Society had organised a 3-day Zonal Sadhana Shibir form 31st January to 2nd February at Barbil. Swamiji attended and presided over the Sadhana Shibir. This was also attended by Revered Sri Swami Dharmaprakashanandaji, Sri Swami Aseema- nandaji, Sri Swami Devabhaktanandaji, Sri Swami Jnanaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Vijnananandaji, Sri Swami Sivaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Anandaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Sthitaprajnanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Videhananda Mataji, Revered Yogacharya Sri Laxmikanta Rathji, Revered Sri Biswa Mohan Patnaikji, etc. Swamiji gave discourses to Sadhaks in all the sessions. Swamiji also addressed the school students and the ladies in the sessions exclusively devoted to them which were attended in very large numbers and the programmes were of great inspiration and benefit for them. The Sadhana Shibir was very well organised and was a grand success. 

CULTURAL TOUR OF H.H. SRI SWAMI PADMANABHANANDAJI MAHARAJ 

Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj under invitation from the Gujar Divya Jivan Sangh Samiti attended a 3 days’ Sadhana Shibir held at the holy Dakore town in Gujarat. The Shibir was organised by the Divine Life Society Branches in Gujarat and about 400 delegates from all parts of Gujarat attended the Retreat programme. The programmes included, besides the early morning prayers, meditation, Hatha Yoga, Prabhatpheri, special lecturers on “Shastra Avalokan”, “Srimad Bhagavata” and “Gurudev’s Mission” in the various sessions. Sri Swamiji spoke in all the sessions on the topics and Gurudev’s vision. Swamiji also visited the Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidya nagar, Gujarat to deliver a lecture on education and spirituality under the auspices of Pujya Motaji Education Extension Chair. Swamiji gave the talk on traditional learning in Gurukula and its beneficial effect in the life on Students. 

CULTURAL TOUR OF SRI SWAMI YOGASWARUPANANDAJI MAHARAJ
TO PATTAMADAI 

Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji, Vice-President, Divine Life Society Headquarters, visited Holy Pattamadai, the sacred birth place of Guru Bhagawan H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj on 21st March 2008 evening to attend the meeting of the Swami Sivananda Memorial Trust on the next day. Revered Swamiji presided over the meeting on 22nd March 2008 forenoon and conducted the deliberations of Swami Sivananda Memorial Trust. At 4.30 p.m. on the same day Revered Swamiji Maharaj addressed the staff of Swami Sivananda Centenary Charitable Hospital, Pattamadai and informed that their service of the sick tantamount to Puja of the Lord. Revered Swamiji then proceeded to the birth house and the Holy Shrine of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and conducted Puja. At 6.30 p.m. Swamiji addressed the members of the Pattamadai D.L.S. Branch and congratulated them for their association with the Divine Life Movement in the sacred Janma Bhumi of Worshipful Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. 

On the following day 23rd March Sri Swamiji opened a new Branch at Kuniyoor village at 10 a.m. He then went to Athala Nallur, a nearby village and worshipped holy Tamraparani River there. He then proceeded to Kallidai Kurichi town panchayat. He was accorded a grand welcome at Agathiar Temple and the adjoining Kalyana Mandapam with Poorna Kumbham. About 400 persons attended the Satsanga arranged by the Kallidai Kurichi Divine Life Society Branch, and heard attentively Swamiji’s discourse about the three Gunas that sway the man in his day-to-day life. 

In the afternoon at 4.30 p.m. Swamiji went to Divine Life Society Branch at Gopala- samudram and explained the efficacy of both Maha Mantra and Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra to the devoted audience. Thereafter, Swamiji attended the Satsanga at Kokkarakulam in Tirunelveli corporation area. Swamiji addressed the members of the newly formed Kokkarakulam Branch informing the efficacy of Japa Yoga. 

ACTIVITIES OF H.H. SRI SWAMI SHIVAPREMANANDAJI MAHARAJ 

The Rector and President of the Sivananda Yoga-Vedanta Centres in Buenos Aires, Monte- video and Santiago, H.H. Sri Swami Shivaprema- nandaji Maharaj, was invited by Sri Swami Pareshanandaji Maharaj, President of the Ramakrishna Mission in Buenos Aires, to preside over the anniversary celebration of H.H. Sri Swami Vivekananda at the end of January 2008. Swamiji did so with great respect, and spoke eloquently on the pioneering work of the great Swamiji at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago at the end of 1893 and in many other cities in the U.S.A. 

The President of the Vedanta Society in New York, Sri Swami Tathagatanandaji Maharaj wrote his appreciation and expressed his best wishes for the success of Swamiji’s work. He is the supervisor of the Ramakrishna Mission in Buenos Aires. 

In addition to his work in South America, Sri Swami Shivapremanandaji Maharaj is the Patron of the Wholistic Trust in England along with the Duchess of Richmond, which does charitable work and promotes interfaith dialogue. In February and March 2008, at the Montevideo Centre Swamiji gave a series of lectures on The Common Spiritual Ideals of the East and the West. 

At Swamiji’s three Centres Satsanga is conducted as it is done at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh. At the Sivananda Yoga-Vedanta Centres in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Santiago four Asana and Pranayama classes are conducted every day on the average by instructors trained by Swamiji. 

In Buenos Aires the Sivananda Yoga- Vedanta Centre supports a Children’s Hospital, and in Montevideo a Training School for the Deaf and Mute. The three Centres are organised as Charitable Trusts like the Divine Life Trust Society in Rishikesh. 

INAUGURAL FUNCTION OF THE NEW BUILDING AT THE SIVANANDA ASHRAM, CHANDIGARH BRANCH, THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY 

At the invitation of the Chandigarh Branch, H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, The Divine Life Society Headquarters, visited Chandigarh along with other saints on the eve of the inauguration function of the new three storeyed building of the Branch organised on March 8, 2008. The inaugural function commenced with the Prabhatpheri in the morning and the worship of the Holy Sandals of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj in the forenoon. The proceedings of the function came to a climax when H.H. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj addressed the audience from his residence at Dehradun on telephone for about ten minutes. His amplified voice was heard by the audience in total silence. Blessing the Branch for its successful effort to construct a new building Swamiji said that he was inaugurating it at the spiritual level and wished that the Branch in its new building formed the nucleus of other D.L.S. Branches of the region comprising Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. However, the building was formally inaugurated by H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj. He and several other saints, who were present on that occasion, addressed the audience. 

The inaugural function was followed by a one-day Conference titled “Divine Life––What, Why and How” on March 9, 2008. The Conference began with an early morning meditation session followed by a Yogasana class. The keynote speech was delivered by Sri Swami Ramarajyamji Maharaj. The other persons who spoke at the Conference were: Sri Swami Advaitanandaji Maharaj, Sri Swami Premanandaji Maharaj of Uttarkashi, Sri Swami Vaikunthanandaji, Sri Swami Devabhaktanandaji, Sri Swami Dharmanishtha- nandaji and Prof. Vasudev Randev. The Conference concluded with a valedictory speech by H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj. 

The representatives of the D.L.S. Branches in Ambala, Panchkula, Kalka, Ladwa, Rewari, Naziakhera, Patiala, Nabha and Ludhiana and the devotees from Kanpur, Uttarkashi, Ferozepore, Moga, Amritsar, Jammu, Yamunanagar, Jalandhar, etc., as well as several spiritual speakers participated in the inaugural function and the Conference. 

AN ANNOUNCEMENT 

Sri Ved Prakash Grover of Jaipur, Rajasthan, who is related to this institution since 1966 and present Registrar of Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy, the Divine Life Society, Shivanandanagar, is now a permanent resident of Sivananda Ashram. He has been initiated into the holy order of Sannyas on 5th March, 2008, on the sacred occasion of Mahasivaratri, by Sri Swami Shanmukhanandaji Maharaj with the consent of Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, President of the Divine Life Society. Immediately after Sannyasa Deeksha Ceremony Swami Yoga Vedantanandaji had Darshan of Poojya Swamiji in Dehradun and personally received Upadesha. 

His monastic name is Swami Yoga Vedantananda Saraswati and he will continue to serve as Registrar of the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy.

—The Divine Life Society

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