IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
His Holiness Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj, a senior monk of the Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, has been elected as the chairman Of the Divine Life Trust Society and ex-officio President of the Divine Life Society with effect from 7th July 2019.
Swamiji Maharaj offers his reverential Prostrations at the lotus feet of Sadgurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. He submits his humble pranams and good wishes to each and every one associated with the Divine Life society, the great institution established by Sri Gurudev. He also seeks the blessings and guidance of the senior monks, Sadhaks, resident inmates and all the devotees and well wishers of the Ashram so that he may continue to serve Sri Gurudev’s Divine Mission more efficiently and dedicatedly.
Sri Swamiji was born in Channai and was known as Krishnamurthy in his pre-monastic life. After completing his education, he worked for a brief period. During that time, he read an abridged edition of mahabharata. After this reading, a desire to lead spiritual life in the Himalayan region arose in his heart. He left hearth and home and came to Rishikesh in 1964. But, to his much disappointment, he could hardly find thick and dense forests, thatched huts or snow-capped mountains, as he had envisaged in his mind. The grace of God brought him to Sivananda Ashram, the sacred abode of Sri Gurudev. He was 25 years old at that time.
Pujya Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj was glad to take Sri Krishnamurthy into his fold. Pujya Swamiji Maharaj asked Krishnamurthy to assist him with correspondence work in the morning hours and help Sri Swami Sharadanandaji Maharaj in the afternoons at the Sivananda Publication League. It was Sri Swami Sharadanandaji Maharaj who introduced him into the Science of Yoga and taught him Yogasanas and Pranayamas in a systematic way. In the evenings, he used to attend Bhagavad Gita classes conducted by Sri Swami Hridayananda Mataji.
Eventually, Sri Krishnamurthy started conducting Ashram’s Morning Prayer and Meditation Session from 4.30 to 5.30 and Yoga Classes from 6.00 to 7.00 at the Bhajan Hall. Later on, from the year 1966 to 1968, he received regular personal guidance from Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj on Yoga, Pranayama and other spiritual matters. His daily routine during the initial years in the Ashram was to conduct Morning Prayer and Meditation Session followed by Yoga classes, assist Pujya Sri Swami Krislananandaji Maharaj in the morning office hours, serve in the SPL in the afternoons and then attend Gita classes in the evenings. Over the years, he became an adept in the subjects of Yoga and Srimad Bhagavad Gita. He was initiated into the holy order of Sannyas by Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj on the Sivaratri Day of the year 1979 and was given the monastic name Swami Yogaswarupananda Saraswati.
In 1973, Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj deputed Swamiji to conduct Yoga classes for the IAS Trainees at the prestigious institute, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie. Before sending him for this noble Seva, Swamiji Maharaj called him and gave abundant blessings and also detailed guidance regarding conducting the Yoga classes, Swarmiji used to conduct 9 courses in a year, each course lasting for 3 weeks. This honorary Seva of Swamiji, done in the name of Sri Gurudev, continued for 30 years, i.e. till the yew 2003.
Revered Swami Hridayananda Mataji the direct disciple of Sri Gurudev, who had settled in Holland, invited Swamiji to visit Holland in 1983. With the blessings of Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, Swamiji embarked on his foreign tour. Pujya Swamiji Maharaj himself took him around and introduced him to various devotees and Centres in Europe and also guided him to conduct Satsang. Following that, Swamiji travelled extensively in the coming years and has been travelling regularly to many countries in Europe, South America, USA, Canada, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, etc to conduct Yoga classes, spiritual seminars and conferences and to give personal guidance to the devotees as well.
In the year 2002, Worshipful Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharij entrusted Swamiji with the new responsibilities by nominating him as a Trustee of the Divine Life Trust Society. In the following years, Annual General Body Meeting, Swamiji was formally elected as the Vice President of the Divine Life Society. Sri Swamiji continued this Seva till he became the President of the Divine Life Society.
Swamiji Maharaj once again seeks blessings of Sri Gurudev and conveys his heartiest greetings to all the devotees and members of the Divine Life Society.
May the divine grace of Lord Almighty and Sri Gurudev be upon all.
