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Home , Akshaya Tritiya, Naga Panchami, Pradosha, Pushpanjali, Rishi Panchami

SPIRITUAL CALENDAR 2021—2022 THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY, P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192, DISTT. TEHRI-GARHWAL, UTTARAKHAND,

2021 JULY APRIL 5 Mon Ekadasi 7 Wed Ekadasi 7 Wed 9 Fri Pradosha Puja 9 Fri 11/12 S/Mon Amavasya 10 Sat Amavasya 12 Mon Somavati Amavasya 20 Tue Harishayani Ekadasi 13 Tue ; Lunar New Year's Day; 21 Wed Chaturmasya Vasanta Begins; Begins; Pradosha Puja 14 Wed Mesha 23/24 F/Sat (4.41 a.m.) 24 Sat Sri Purnima; Sri 21 Wed Sri Ramanavami Puja; Sri Guru Puja 23 Fri Ekadasi 24 Sat Pradosha Puja AUGUST 25 Sun Mahaveer Jayanti 2 Mon 58th Anniversary of 26/27 M/Tue Purnima Punyatithi Aradhana of 27 Tue Purnima; Sri H.H. Sri Jayanti Sivanandaji Maharaj 4 Wed Ekadasi MAY 5 Thu Pradosha Puja 7 Fri Ekadasi; Sri 8 Sun Amavasya Vallabhacharya Jayanti 13 Fri Naga 8 Sat Pradosha Puja 15 Sun Jayanti; 11 Tue Amavasya 14 Fri Akshaya ; 18 Wed Ekadasi Jayanti 20 Fri Pradosha Puja 17 Mon Sri Adi Shankaracharya 21/22 S/Sun Purnima Jayanti 22 Sun Purnima; Raksha 18 Tue Sri Ramanujacharya Bandhan Jayanti; Sri Ganga Saptami 30 Mon Sri Jayanti 22 Sat Ekadasi 24 Mon Pradosha Puja SEPTEMBER 25 Tue Sri Narasimha Jayanti 2 Thu Ekadasi 26 Wed Purnima; Sri Buddha 4 Sat Pradosha Puja Jayanti 5 Sun 13th Anniversary of Punyatithi Aradhana of JUNE H.H. Sri Swami 1 Tue Anniversary of Chidanandaji Maharaj Diksha of H.H. Sri Swami 6/7 M/Tue Amavasya Sivanandaji Maharaj 7 Tue Amavasya 6 Sun Ekadasi 8 Wed 134th Birth Anniversary of 7 Mon Pradosha Puja H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj 9/10 W/Thu Amavasya 10 Fri Chaturthi 20 Sun Sri Ganga Dashahara 11 Sat Panchami 21 Mon Ekadasi (Nirjala) 17 Fri Ekadasi; Vamana Jayanti 22 Tue Pradosha Puja 18 Sat Pradosha Puja 24 Thu Purnima 19 Sun Ananta Chaturdasi

(Continued on Cover iii) THE DIVINE LIFE

Vol. LXXIX FEBRUARY 2021 No. 07

PRASNOPANISHAD CHATURTHA PRASNA (QUESTION IV) SAURYAYANI AND PIPPALADA na_odmja§ à{VnÚVo g `mo h d¡ VXÀN>m`_eara_bmo{hV§ ew^«_ja§ doX`Vo `ñVw gmoå` g gd©k… gdm} ^d{VŸ& VXof íbmoH$…Ÿ&&10Ÿ&& 10. Supreme, indestructible Being, he surely attains. Whoever, O beloved one, knows his Being, which is without shadow, without body, without colour, which is pure and indestructible, becomes omniscient and becomes all. There is this verse.

3 4 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 ‘hmJwédU©‘mV¥H$mñVmoÌ‘² MAHAGURU--MATRIKASTOTRAM Jnana Bhaskara Mahamahopadhyaya Sri S. Gopala Sastri ’$mbmjm§{K«gamoO¶w½‘eaU: ’$mbmoëëmgX²^y{V‘mZ² ’$ëJwݶwpÁPVbmbgmo ^dgwIo ^mñdm{ZdmoÚËà^:& ~ÝYÀNoXH$amo ~wYmXanamo ~w{ÕàH$fm}Ádb: ~¥ÝXmaʶ‘hmo{Z~ÕöX¶mo ~moܶmo JwéñgÁOZ¡:&&21&& 21. All noble-hearted people should know well our Gurudev, who has taken refuge at the lotus-feet of Lord Siva, whose forehead is adorned with holy ashes, who has renounced the desire for the petty worldly pleasures, who shines like the sun, who cuts asunder worldly knots, who greatly reveres the wise ones, who is endowed with brilliant intellect and who has intense devotion towards Lord Sri Krishna. ^º$mÝVpñV{‘amnZmoXnQw>dmJ² ^mgm adoñg{Þ^: {^jwd«mVg‘m{lVm§{K«H$‘bmo ^r‘m‘¶Üd§gH$:& ^y‘m{dï>‘ZmíM ^y[aH$éUmo ^¥Ë¶d«Oo g§g¥{V- ì¶mYo^}fO‘mV©~ÝYwa{¶ ^mo: ^³Ë¶m Jwé: goì¶Vm‘² &&22&& 22. O Men! Devoutly adore Sri Gurudev, whose wisdom- words dispel the inner darkness of his devotees, who is at par with the sun in radiance, whose sacred feet have been resorted to by the aspiring monks, who is the destroyer of dreadful diseases, whose mind is ever immersed in Parabrahma, who is very compassionate towards all the devotees, who is panacea to cure the illness of worldly transmigration and is a friend of the poor and distressed. (To be continued) FEBRUARY 2021 HEALTH IS ABOVE WEALTH 5

HEALTH IS ABOVE WEALTH Sri Swami Sivananda

U n n a t u r a l l i f e s h o r t e n s Health is above all gold and existence and leads to ill-health and innite wealth and treasure. It various sorts of diseases. Man goes enlarges the soul and opens all its astray from nature in order to gratify power to receive instructions and his perverted propensities and relish virtues. “This Atma cannot be passions. attained by a weak and unhealthy Disease is want of ease. When m a n ” . T h i s i s t h e e m p h a t i c all the organs perform their functions declaration of the . properly, when there is a feeling of Emerson says, “The rst wealth is ease and comfort, you are said to be health. Give me health and a day, I h e a l t h y . G o o d h e a l t h i s t h e will make the pomp of emperors foundation, not only of success in ridiculous.” He who has good health, business, but of successful living in has nothing more to wish for. He is general, and also of success in r e a l l y a b l e s s e d m a n . and spiritual pursuits. Ramalingaswami sings, “I want a life Health is a positive state. It is with health and without disease.” not simply negation of disease. A The rst requisite in life is good healthy man can turn out more physical and mental work. He can health. Health is a sine-qua-non to practise good meditation for a long every kind of enjoyment in life. time. A healthy man need not be Health depends upon . necessarily strong and robust. A A virtuous man enjoys long life and strong and robust man need not be good health. A wicked man is necessarily healthy. Health is a gift unhealthy. Maharshi says from Mother Nature or Lord, who is in his Yoga , “Span of life, the Power behind life. Health is your caste, enjoyment all depend upon birthright, but not disease. It is as one's own Karma.” Therefore, natural to be well as to be born. perform virtuous actions. Shun evil

Taken from DL 1945 6 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 deeds. Body, mind and spirit must be Sit in the sunshine for an hour healthy. Then only you can enjoy every day. Sunshine is a better tonic perfect health. Body, mind and spirit for the skin, hair, scalp. Diseases of constitute the whole man. There is the skin and scalp will disappear. intimate relation between body and Sunlight is nature's cheapest mind. Body is the mould prepared by m e d i c i n e . I t i s a p o w e r f u l the mind for its enjoyment. Spirit is disinfectant. Sunlight assists to the basis or substratum or source for supply the blood with Vitamin D and the body and mind. Mental health is enrich blood with calcium and iron. more vital than the physical health. The glorious sunshine carries health All diseases originate from mind rst into your body with its warming and and then affect the body. invigorating rays. The spring of loveliness ows Take scrupulous care to from health. Every joy that enlivens eliminate waste matter through the your heart comes from health. All bowels, kidneys, lungs and skin. ourish if they are healthy only. Then only you can be healthy. Wealth is useless if you have no Remain in the open air. Take a health. Best dishes cannot give you tumbler of water at night and in early joy if you suffer from colic and morning. This will ush the inside of dyspepsia. Children jump in joy only the body. Brisk friction with a towel if they are healthy. Therefore, try to d u r i n g b a t h w i l l r e m o v e t h e keep up good health by taking accumulation of dirt in the skin. recourse to natural means. Go to bed early. Sleep for six Sunshine, pure water, pure hours. Do not worry. Eat moderately. air, exercise, wholesome and healthy Masticate the food nicely. Sleep in diet and sound sleep or rest are the open air or with windows open. Avoid six fundamentals of life. Bask in the irritability. Control anger. Observe sunshine. Drink pure water. Breathe Brahmacharya. Talk little. Talk pure air. Take regular exercise in the sweetly. Be honest. Be sober. All morning. Take wholesome food. Have these will contribute to your keeping proper rest. You will become a good health. centenarian. FEBRUARY 2021 WEALTH MAKES A MAN LOSE HIS HEAD 7

WEALTH MAKES A MAN LOSE HIS HEAD Sri Swami Chidananda T o t h e t r u e c h i l d o f and burning for knowing and enjoying Bharatavarsha, who is the heir to communion with the Lord. Thus it is Sanatana , the entire life that the very birth in this great land is constitutes worship. All the varied believed by the Hindu to be a special activities of his physical life are privilege and a great opportunity for regarded by him in the light of a great attaining the goal of human life – worship of God, who is beyond names Realisation of Perfection, of Bliss and forms, but who is manifest as the Eternal and the Peace that passeth all world of names and forms, the understanding. Vishwarupa, the Virat. In this eternal These saints have been the worship, he takes every opportunity to living witnesses to the bliss and joy of perform this solemn act in a special, divine realisation. They have lled gloried and intense form. These are this land and its atmosphere with the great days of festivity, of religious spiritual vibrations and aura. They observances and the birthdays of the have shown by their wonderful lives various incarnations of God and the absolute vanity of this passing sincere devotees. physical world, they have been living Today is such a day, being exponents of the deepest truths that Jayanti, and we offer our lie enshrined within our holy devout worship and adoration to this scriptures. Bhaktas who have great manifestation of the Divine followed the Prema-Marga like the Light, Sri Tyagaraja Swami. Our saints , , Ekanath, motherland, Bharatavarsha, has been Ramdas, , Ramanand, Surdas, regarded as a Punya-, because the great lineage of Dasas or Servants among many reasons is the presence of God, Purandaradasa, the brilliant of such great saints, men of devotion lineage of the Alwars and — and realisation that have graced this all these have brought out through sacred land. Through all of history, we their lives the exalted declarations of will nd that there has not been a our , Upanishads, single period or a single part of this and . It may be stated that vast land, when there have not been Sri Tyagaraja Swami brought out saints, devotees or Godmen – some these great truths: souls athirst with the aspiration for 'Kalau Keshava Kirtanat' - In the realisation of the Innite, yearning Kaliyuga, one can attain God-

A Speech delivered on Sri Tyagaraja Jayanti Day. Published in DL 1964. This year, Tyagaraja Jayanti is being observed from January 29 to February 2, 2021 8 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 realisation through singing His how deliberately Tyagaraja Swami Divine Name and chose the life of Unchhavritti ‘Na karmana na prajaya dhanena (collecting foodgrain which is tyagenaike amritatwamanashuh' - scattered in places like elds, granary, Immortality is not attained through market-place etc.) for his mode of actions, progeny or wealth. It is living. This was not done out of attained only by sacrice. necessity. There was no need for Sri Tyagaraja Swami, besides Tyagaraja Swami even to stir out of his being the great master of the science of abode—so famous a master-musician music and melody, besides having and composer he was, that even kings composed innumerable soul-elevating were at his doors tempting him with compositions, he was a beacon light royal pomp and glory to come and about the life divine for all people and grace their palaces and be their Court- for all times to come. From his life, we singer and to compose verses in praise learn great lessons which no aspirant, of them. There was a king who asked no devotee and no seeker can afford to Tyagaraja Swami to compose a song forget. upon him. In reply, Sri Tyagaraja said What are they? in one of his compositions ‘Nidhisala There should be Nishtha, the Sugama’; 'Does wealth constitute real rm, absolute loyalty to the ideal. This happiness? Can it give the happiness ideal should not be theoretical, which God can give?' He said, “O Lord, intellectual or merely emotional, but I have not come here to compose songs practical. It is here that all of us fail. on this man whose status is but We may be very sincere, emotional, wealth.” and we may avow the most absolute Wealth makes a man lose his allegiance to the ideal; intellectually head. Dharma is lost where wealth we may be very fervent in this avowal, accumulates. The actions of wealthy but when it comes to practical life, we men are prone to be despicable in the nd that there is much to be desired extreme. It is devotion to the Lord that and much that is seriously lacking. is the real status of man. When this Our life has to be fullled and this real status is given to man, he becomes obstacle has to be overcome by a the possessor not of wealth, fame, aming life of Tyaga (renunciation), of power and pomp, but of the real and practical , practical sacrice great wealth of —'Padavini for the sake of the ideal. That is Sadbhakti' (real devotion to Thee, O brought out in the life of these great Lord), that bestows the real status. saints. Thus he has shown the value of Instances are many which bring devotion to us. Very clearly have all the these truths with great power in the saints said that the seeker must make lives of such saints. We have heard the Lord his real wealth. Divine Name FEBRUARY 2021 WEALTH MAKES A MAN LOSE HIS HEAD 9 is the real wealth, and one should we be worshipping them in the shun all material wealth that makes grandest possible manner, and we will one turn away from God. All the wealth be the heirs to these treasures. of the world Sri Tyagaraja shunned, Let us pray that we may also but he was rich with the wealth of become worthy followers of the great Tyaga (renunciation); therefore, he Sanatana Dharma, the great Path was called Tyagaraja. He possessed shown to us by the Vedas, by the the imperishable wealth of Tyaga. Upanishads, by the great Sages and When a man gives up everything, his Seers, Bhaktas and Bhagavatas. The heart is full. Paripurnata is his natural life and work of the great soul Sri domain. He becomes not only a Raja, Tyagaraja Swami are themselves rich but a Chakravarti, a Shahanshah. legacies left by the saint-poet to us. That is what Tyagaraja Swami most But man neglects to develop the inspiringly brought out in his actions. precious faculty of and Such saints regarded the world Vichara. Though he gets any number a s a b s o l u t e l y t r a n s i t o r y a n d of awakening knocks and frequent evanescent, life as impermanent and reminders from nature, he continues the body as 'Kshana-Bhangura' (like a to be the same man leading his bubble on the surface of water). They mundane existence. Despite Mother were lled with the faith that in the Prakriti's severest blows, he fails to Lord alone is all happiness to be found. learn a lesson and will neither awaken Saint Tukaram says that he asks for nor be transformed. n o t h i n g e l s e e x c e p t c o n s t a n t But it is not so with the true remembrance of the Lotus-Feet of the seekers, spiritual aspirants and Lord: “O Lord, all happiness, all joy, all Sadhakas. For, these are the men of bliss is there at Your feet!” The saints stuff, like that out of which saint therefore turned away from the Tyagaraja was made. Full well do they empirical world of eeting pleasures cultivate Viveka, , Vichara and pains and dedicated themselves to and the like in their inner being; even a a whole-souled seeking and devotion slight rousing impulse from any to the Supreme Being. It is this light of experience of life at once springs them Tyaga, of Nishtha, of Ananya-Bhakti, into wakefulness, and they turn from that these great ones have shown to the lure of the senses towards the call us. We should all strive our sincere of the Immortal. Thus do they walk in best to partake of the treasure they the exemplary foot-steps of Saint have bestowed upon us and make it Tyagaraja to whose memory we offer our own and glorify it still more in our our countless adorations upon this practical life of sincere struggle and auspicious day, Sri Tyagaraja Jayanti! successful realisation. Then alone will Hari Tat Sat! 10 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021

THE SATARUDRIYA OF THE Sri Swami Krishnananda

We celebrate the day and the the comprehensiveness of its approach night of Mahasivratri in honour of the and the profundity of the revelation great God whose majesty and glory is that is contained therein. described in ecstasy, especially in the N o o n e c a n r e c i t e t h e s e Adhyaya, or the Satarudriya, of Satarudriya without having the Veda. Every Siva temple has this one's sins cleansed at once from their very daily programme of worship and roots, if only one would have the leisure to the great Lord Siva with and the patience to go into the internal the recitation of the famous Veda connections and the suggestiveness that mantras known as the Satarudriya, is implied in these mantras. It is not a also known as Rudra Adhyaya, which prayer to one God or to any particular occurs in the Yajurveda. God. Satarudriya, the name of the hymn, It may well be said that these has several meanings: prayer to the wondrous Vedic hymns known as the hundred thousand , or to the Satarudriya are a sort of magnum opus Rudra appearing in a hundred thousand of spiritual ecstasy, an insight into forms, who is Siva at the same time. whose signicance and meaning Rudra yatte dakshinam mukham tena should make one's hair stand on end. mam pahi nityam (S.U. 4.21) is an oft- It is difcult to fathom the depth of the quoted prayer. The power of God is also revelation and the feeling of the sage or the terror of the human individual, while the rishi to whom these visions were at the same time it is the most benecent bequeathed by the Almighty. We have anywhere that can ever be. very few passages, prayers, hymns or Hence it is that the great Lord is often s t o t r a s i n r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e designated as Rudra-Siva, who has c o m p a r a b l e w i t h t h i s m i g h t y perpetually blended within His being the Satarudriya, wherein everything that aspects of creation, sustenance and we can conceive of in respect of God is transformation of all things. humanly portrayed in the language of One who recites these mantras spiritual intuition. Often it would of the Satarudriya is apt to feel that the appear that man is not supposed to person to whom these were revealed, understand its meaning, on account of who had this vision, was breaking up Discourse given on Sivaratri in 1980. FEBRUARY 2021 THE SATARUDRIYA OF THE YAJURVEDA 11 into pieces and his personality was language does not mean merely the scattered in various directions. He was letters or the combination of the dancing in the madness of divine letters, but a hidden cementing power possession. One who soulfully recites which gives the suggestion of meaning these mantras cannot afford to miss as latent in between the juxtaposition being possessed by this power of of the letters. ecstasy where the body, mind and Therefore, the sound symbol spirit are brought together in unison which is the is a compound of and forced to forge onward in the various elements that lose themselves direction of the directionless Absolute. in a fraternal embrace, as it were, to V e r y m y s t e r i o u s l y a n d form a single indivisibility—just as, to curiously, the mantra Namah Sivaya, give a very mundane example, when we which devotees have been chanting sip a cup of tea, there is not merely the today right from morning onwards, taste of , there is not merely the occurs in the middle of the Satarudriya taste of sugar, there is not merely the mantras of the Veda. Very few of the taste of tea leaves, but there is a blend normally accepted mantras occur in which is what is called the decoction. the Veda , but this occurs in Or, to give another example, when we the very middle of the Samhita. Namah taste a delicious dish, we do not merely shankaraya cha mayaskaraya cha taste the salt and the other ingredients namahsivaya cha sivataraya cha is the that constitute the dish. It is a new passage wherein the mantra Namah element altogether that crops up as a Sivaya occurs. compound. The same is the case with a This morning someone asked medical prescription; the components me, “What is this mantra? What is the lose their individualities and enter into rishi? What is the chhandas and what the formation of a new signicance, is the devata?” I tried to explain that which is the synthesis of the the mantra is a magazine of force. It is a ingredients. Hence, the beauty of hidden potency which is charged with language, the style of expression and a capacity which comes from various the signicance of literature are factors that go to constitute the elements that invisibly pervade the importance of the mantra. The mantra visible characters of the alphabet of does not necessarily mean merely the any language. letters which are juxtaposed to Such is the meaning of what is constitute the formula, just as known as the chhandas, or the metre 12 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 of a mantra. The metre, or the seen throughout the book which he chhandas, is the method of the has written, from the rst page to the bringing together of the letters of the last. When we read a powerful text, we mantra, by which they form a totality do not see merely the letters. We enter of energy and no more exist merely as into an ocean of thought-force, which letters; they melt themselves in the is conveyed through the symbols of maelstrom of what is known as the the letters which are visible on the mantra. In the Alankara , pages of the text. Likewise is the role which is a treatise on the rhetoric of that is played by the great master, or the language, descriptions rishi, to whom the mantra is are given of what are known as ganas. revealed in meditation. We do not This science has been lost in modern say that the mantra is created or times. Gana is the force that is behind written down or invented by a rishi. every letter and the signicance that According to accepted tradition, the it conveys when it is placed in a Vedas are not written-down texts. particular position. If a sloka, a verse, The author of the Veda is unknown. a formula or a hymn is to convey the The belief is that these mantras are required signicance or meaning, a eternal sound symbols, perpetually particular letter should come in the existing in the ether of the cosmos, beginning, a particular letter should never getting destroyed even during come in the middle, and so on. The the time of dissolution. Therefore, mantras are not haphazard chanting; there is no such thing as destruction they are scientically organised of the Vedas or destruction of the systems of sound formation. So much knowledge, as the Vedas are more may be said about the meaning of than just books. The idea is that the chhandas that is behind the mantras, subtle, etheric tanmatric symbols of whether Vaidika or Tantrika. f o r c e , w h i c h b e c o m e g r o s s l y There is also the rishi, or the m a n i f e s t i n t o s o u n d s y m b o l s author, we may say. We know what a u d i b l e t o t h e e a r s , a r e role the author's mind plays in the indestructible. They are ultimately meaning that is conveyed by a certain patterns of thought which textbook. The mind of the author become patterns of external sound pervades the entire book of which he symbols, grossening further into is the writer or the formulator. The letters which are written on a palm force of the author's thought is to be leaf or paper, etc. FEBRUARY 2021 THE SATARUDRIYA OF THE YAJURVEDA 13

Finally, the vibration alone particular manner. The great work The exists, and there is no substance. The L i f e D i v i n e b y S r i A u r o b i n d o Veda is not a solid book; it is not a immediately rouses our feelings, which visible substance; it is not a textbook. is in consonance with . It It is a symbol of the ethereal energy is the same with . pervading in the form of the potency The moment we hear the names of the which can transform itself into certain authors or the persons to whom the patterns of expression at given mantras were revealed, we are moments of time. Modern science, and suddenly stirred up into a spiritual modern thinkers on the basis of mood. Hence, there is a great point in modern science, have almost come to our being asked to remember the rishi the borderland of accepting this great when we recite the mantra, chant the truth which is revealed in the original formula or the symbol. science of India known as sphota vada, I a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d t h e the doctrine of sound. Bhartrihari chhandas. The components of the wrote a great book on ancient Sanskrit m a n t r a a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t . I grammar called Vakyapadiya, which mentioned what are known in Sanskrit goes deep into the signicance of rhetoric as the Gana Shastras. It is sphota. Much of it has been mentioned very difcult to explain these things. by Sankara and others in According to the science of Gana their commentaries on the Shastra, the letters of the mantra are Sutras. However, the point is that the arranged in a particular manner by the mantra is a super-sensible potency very power of the intuition of the sage. and a latency of energy, which is T h e y a r e n o t m a t h e m a t i c a l l y brought into contact with the mind of concocted or invented. the meditator. Then, above all these, there is We are also told that the mantra the devata, or the deity of the mantra, is revealed to the rishi. Remembering who is embodied in the sound of the the rishi gives us a blessing from that mantra. Just as the soul is embodied person. When we recite the mantra, we in this physical frame, just as the idea are supposed to remember the great of the artist is embodied in the painted person to whom it was revealed. For picture, just as the idea or the thought instance, when we refer to The of the architect is seen in the building Bhagavadgita by Swami Sivananda, or the structure designed by him, the the very name Sivananda thrills us in a will of the deity—the force and the 14 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 pattern of the form of the deity—is said sound like noise, but it is not noise. It to be visibly expressed in the vibrations is the pouring forth of the soul as it was that are produced while the mantra is revealed to that mastermind, the rishi. being recited. Experiments have been The Rudra Adhyaya is highly conducted, and it has been found that purifying. There are two or three when a mantra is chanted very occasions in the course of the hymns of intensely and soulfully, it can produce the Veda when superb electromagnetic waves in such velocity ecstasies are recorded. The Purusha that they can scatter sand particles Sukta is one such occasion. It occurs that are spread out in front of the almost in every one of the Samhitas— chanter, and these sand particles form in the , Yajurveda, , a pattern equivalent to, or at least A t h a r v a v e d a — w h e r e t h e approximate to, what is supposed to be i n c o m p r e h e n s i b i l i t y , t h e a l l - the form of the ishta devata, or the comprehensiveness and the might of deity of that mantra. t h e A l m i g h t y i s d e v a s t a t i n g l y Therefore, the great mantra described. And I may say that the Namah Sivaya that we are reciting Satarudriya is even more devastating. today, right from morning until the end It will make us dance in the ecstasy of of the puja tonight, is not a chant in the divine possession if we know what it ordinary sense. No mantra is to be tells us. Prostration to every blessed regarded as commonplace; it is sacred. thing! Whatever we can see, whatever It is not supposed to be chanted with we can hear, whatever we can touch, an unclean mouth—after eating and whatever we can think, feel and something without washing the teeth, understand is divine manifestation. etc. We are supposed to recite it in a God has spread Himself in this variety holy mood, in a spirit of dedication and of the unintelligible creation, which sanctity of aspiration, as if we are stuns even the highest rationality of seated in front of God Himself. the modern mind. The recitation of a The Rudra Adhyaya, to which I mantra, especially of the type of the referred earlier, will be recited several Satarudriya, is not merely an ordinary times during the course of the worship in the common meaning of the on this auspicious Sivaratri. But many term. It is our moving into the depths of of you will not know what they are the ocean of that comprehensive chanting. You will hear only some outlook which the mantra portrays in sound, some chant; that is all. It may front of us. FEBRUARY 2021 THE SATARUDRIYA OF THE YAJURVEDA 15

The Satarudriya consists of two putrah, children of the Immortal. We are sections, the Namaka and the heir-apparent to the resources, the Chamaka. In the Namaka, which is the reservoir of the riches of the Almighty preceding portion, namah occurs Himself. m a n y t i m e s : p r o s t r a t i o n s , Thus, the Chamaka portion p r o s t r a t i o n s , p r o s t r a t i o n s ; invokes everything into ourselves in a salutations, salutations, salutations; d i v i n e i n s i g h t i n t o t h e a l l - surrender, surrender, surrender. This comprehensiveness of God. We rst of prostration is expressed in an innite all surrender ourselves and become the very substance of God's Being way. Then comes the Chamaka: cha Itself, and then everything enters into me, cha me, cha me. “Everything is to us as rivers rush into the ocean. me; everything is to me; everything is Wondrous! Many a time I become mine.” There is nothing which is not indescribably thrilled even when ours here. “Everything may come to thinking of these Satarudriya me.” Everything has to come to us as it mantras. And so, on this auspicious has to come to God Himself. occasion, may I request you all to O n e o f t h e v e r s e s o f t h e bestow some thought upon these great Bhagavadgita says, āpūryamāṇam legacies left to us by our ancestors of achalapratiṣṭhaṁ samudram āpaḥ yore, the treasures which we are likely praviśanti yadvat, tadvat kāmā yaṁ to overlook in the humdrum activities praviśanti sarve sa śāntim āpnoti na of modern comforts and distractions. kāmakāmī (B.G. 2.70): “As rivers enter The Veda Samhitas are reservoirs of into ocean, everything enters into you.” all-force, all-power and all-meaning. We should not cry that we are paupers, As I mentioned, there are a few beggars in this world, as if we have occasions when such ecstasies are nothing, no friends, and are forlorn and revealed in the Veda Mantras. One is outcast. Everything is in our possession. the Purusha Sukta; and another is the Everything has to come to us when our Satarudriya, which occurs in the will is expressed. At the afrmation of a Taittiriya Samhita of the Yajurveda single thought, it has to materialise itself, and also in the Sukla Yajurveda. Another place where such majestic provided—a tremendous provision expressions can be found in the Vedas indeed, of course—provided that our is a sukta in the earlier portions of the thought is in unison with the Almighty's Rigveda, where the story of creation in will. So, everything shall come to us. If terms of the glory of the Sun-god is everything shall go to God, why should it described. Here occurs the oft-quoted not come to us? We are amritasaya famous verse, ekam sat viprā bahudhā 16 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 vadanti (Rigveda 1.164.146). “the One, w e h a v e , a n d w e a r e a l w a y s poets sing of in various ways.” In the complacent about our own selves, our Atharva Veda there is the Skambha egoistic personalities. Sukta, which is not well known. It is The truth is, we have to be something like the Purusha Sukta satised with every circumstance in where the rishi to whom the mantra which God has placed us, but we was revealed contemplates on the should always be dissatised with our miracle of creation, putting the own internal achievements. As the question to himself: “What is the Upanishad puts it, neti neti: “This is substance out of which this great not adequate; 'not this, not this' is the citadel of the cosmos has been Truth.” Any achievement of ours is created? What are the rafters? What is i n a d e q u a t e f o r t h e p u r p o s e , the wood that is used for building this ultimately. The soul is not going to be cosmos? What are the building satised with anything that is offered bricks?” etc. There are also other to it. Our soul is the innite reservoir of suktas in the Rigveda, such as the forces. It is compatible with God-Being Hiranyagarbha Sukta and the Itself. Therefore, the innite in us Visvakarma Sukta. cannot be satised with any nite May we have the blessedness offerings. Some little titbits and toys and the blessing of the mighty Rudra, seem to satisfy us occasionally; a Siva, the Great Lord whom we are wristwatch, a transistor, some sound, worshipping today, that He may bless colour and movement seem to be us with understanding—dhiyo yo naḥ satisfying to us. We are ignorant prachodayāt (Rigveda 3.62.10). We ask children, moving and groping in the f o r n o t h i n g f r o m G o d e x c e p t darkness of oblivion in this world. enlightenment, understanding, Thus, what we have to ask from the insight and comprehension. We do not want material prosperity or material Mighty Lord is the blessing of goods. There is no use in having enlightenment, knowledge and anything. We have to be something. wisdom. We ask nothing from God What we have is not important; what except God Himself. we are is important. A great saying of May we all gather our powers, Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is, “Be muster in our forces and bring satised with what you have, but be ourselves together into a concentrated dissatised with what you are.” But we attention of devotion to the great are the other way around. We seem to Almighty, whose glories are sung in the be satised with what we are, but we great Veda mantras, so that we may be are dissatised with what we have. We burnt and burnished in this austerity always complain about the goods that of spiritual attitude. May Lord Siva's we possess and the commodities that grace be upon us all! FEBRUARY 2021 DIVINE LIFE AS NATURAL LIFE 17

DIVINE LIFE AS NATURAL LIFE Sri Swami Venkatesananda T h e t h r e e w e e k s a t t h e His daily life was divine life. The Sivananda in Rishikesh supernatural was natural. His norm disappeared as if they were three was our goal. He emphasised again moments. Time has this sinister and again that the practice of Yoga in sense of humour: it is prolonged when daily life should be full of common you suffer and it is eeting when it is sense and wisdom, not cial and delightful. Hence, delight is always mechanical. The enemy of man is not s h o r t - l i v e d a n d b o r e d o m the world or some other entity outside interminable. himself, but his own self! Krishna has The Ashram has expanded said so in the – almost beyond imagination in recent Gurudev lived it and taught it again. years. It is very modern in its People take this self or the amenities and administration. The egoistic personality for granted, and spiritual atmosphere is sustained by then the worldly people endeavour to the Darshan and Satsang of H.H. embellish it and the spiritual Swami Chidanandaji and the aspirants struggle to destroy it. This inspiring discourses of Sri Swami is very much like a man who sees a Krishnanandaji, Shankaranandaji shadow on the wall trying to decorate a n d o t h e r s . S r i S w a m i it or destroy it. Neither of these is Madhavanandaji who presides over possible; and such ignorant struggle the daily Satsang asked me to speak sustains the delusion. Gurudev on several occasions. This was a good suggested that the problem should be opportunity to contemplate the divine tackled by turning towards the light life of Gurudev Swami Sivananda as and then turning this light on the the validation and illustration of his shadow itself! own unique teachings. This is done by a judicious In Gurudev, all the spiritual combination of Japa, prayer, study of practices blended into integral Yoga. scriptures, practice of Yoga, Taken from Unity in Diversity 18 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 and Pranayama, meditation and death. It was because Gurudev was Satsanga. With the aid of all these, constantly aware of this great truth one soon realises that this self, or the concerning death that he was free and egoistic personality is but a shadow fearless, the abode of virtue and the and that the light alone is real. When fountain of bliss. this light is turned onto one's daily The absence of distracting life, it is freed from selshness and undesirable qualities contributed to every type of activity of the self success in his life both in its secular (craving, greed, hate, attachment, and its sacred aspects. Since pride and all the rest of it). discipline had become natural to That was the reason why virtue him, he was regular in his work and was natural to Gurudev. There was in his Yoga practices. Such regularity no effort involved and hence it was c o n s e r v e s e n e r g y a n d h e n c e not articial and showy. He himself improves the quality of work and the was unaware of his virtue. It did not intensity of meditation. Gurudev appear to him to be special that evil often remarked that he did not was totally absent in him. encounter any obstacles in his Gurudev recommended to us meditation. Meditation had become the very key to the arising of virtue and natural, too. the cessation of evil: “Remember God; All this is made possible by the remember death.” The two go together. discovery of the truth: the Reality is It is because we have foolishly striven eternal and indivisible; the shadow is to keep death out of our life (as if this illusory and non-existent. This were possible!) that we suffer in this discovery is the fundamental spirit of life. The realisation that every moment Yoga, though it may be called of our life we are dying, instantly frees selessness in , self- us from the evil that destroys our surrender in Bhakti, self-control in peace and our happiness. Self- and Self-realisation in discipline becomes natural. That is . All these blended in why Yogic self-discipline is called Gurudev's life, his experiences and Yama: Yama also means the god of his teachings. FEBRUARY 2021 OM NAMAH SIVAYA 19

OM NAMAH SIVAYA Dr. Veena Sharma There were so many occasions He left. My conrmation came where the insight into events that were the next day! The rst thing I did was to unfold in the future seemed visible to to take leave and go to Rishikesh – to Swami Venkatesananda here and the Sivananda . At the now. It is not possible to narrate many. Rishikesh bus stand, I took a Tonga Only one or two small ones can be to go to the Ashrama where, very mentioned here. During one of his thoughtfully, one disciple of Swamiji sojourns in India, he was briey had been posted to wait for me at the visiting Delhi from Rishikesh. I went to reception gate. I wondered how long him with my usual dilemmas. "Come to she may have had to wait, as buses Rishikesh," he said. I explained I could did not always go by exact timings. not go now as I had just got a job, and I went to Rishikesh merely for during the probation period I could not his sake, not knowing what the take leave. I had to be conrmed before Ashrama would be like. Little did I I would be eligible for leave, etc. realise that Swamiji was placing me Probation would take at least six in the hands of great who m o n t h s t o e n d . D u r i n g o u r would be my guide when he was not conversation he repeated, "Come to physically present. The Ashrama was Rishikesh!" I wondered if he had not to become almost a second home to caught the gist of what I had said. I me. repeated it weakly. It was time for him An aunt of mine, who was to leave. As he was getting into the car, religiously inclined, had quite he again repeated his instruction categorically told me that I should ask about going to Rishikesh. I wondered if for Diksha and become an initiated he had not understood my problem disciple. I did not know how one and did not understand that the job asked a person to become one's Guru. was important for my day-to-day She said I should offer a Pada Puja survival. and ask for a Mantra. I, of course, Taken from 'When the Heart Listens' 20 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 hesitated and felt self-conscious. Yet the rst time, so did not know that soon after I reached the Ashrama, each person could go up and do that. one Sannyasi came to offer Pada Puja As I entered the shrine, to Swamiji. My purpose was fullled! Swamiji handed me a Bilva leaf and Hesitatingly, I asked for a Mantra asked me to place it on the . I after the Puja. Before I could stood there momentarily. "Come on, articulate clumsy words he asked if I come on," he said. Just as I bent had an Ishtadevata. I did not. I could down, a most beautiful Mala of not imagine that that would lead to a and Sphatika fell around most dramatic Diksha for me. my neck! I had never before seen The next day was Sivaratri. anyone throw a Mala that could so Being an unusual Swami, he took it exactly land around the neck of a upon himself to perform the rst Puja person – and that from a distance of a of the night. He asked me to come a few feet. It was magic! The whole bit early to the Visvanath Mandir. I place became radiant with light and reached there to nd Swamiji waiting joy. I could not feel a solid earth before a bare Lingam with three small under my feet. It was, as though I was bits of folded paper placed on it. He walking on a cloud. Everything in a s k e d m e t o c h o o s e o n e . Swamiji's presence turned playful – Wonderstruck I picked up one. He something to be enjoyed, lightly. The told me to keep it. I then went and sat folded slip of paper in my hand was to almost at the end of the row in the be my Mantra. aisle so that I could advantageously In time I came to realise that it watch the Puja. is not we who choose the Guru but Some time passed before one the Guru who chooses his disciples. authoritative and condent lady, also Being of limited knowledge, we from Delhi and a great friend of fumble through with some vague Swamiji, came up to me and in a unformulated desires and thoughts – stentorian voice told me to go and even if they be something like a desire make an offering of owers to the for a Guru. It is the Guru who gives Lingam. I was attending Sivaratri for them shape. FEBRUARY 2021 LOVE, TRUTH AND PURITY ARE GOD 21

LOVE, TRUTH AND PURITY ARE GOD Swami Gurusharanananda 28th February, 1957 name whenever you sign. Repeat your To a young man who was name, 'Raja Ram', 'Raja Ram'.” The taking leave of Swamiji after visitor smiled, and he had no reply to D a r s h a n , S w a m i j i g a v e t h e give. Bowing before Swamiji, he instruction, “Repeat the Lord's Name departed, probably impressed by when you are young. You will not be S w a m i j i ' s u n i q u e m e t h o d o f able to repeat His name in old age converting people by a few quick, when you are affected with paralysis unassuming, witty words of wisdom, and other diseases.” without entering into argumentations The visitor replied, “I feel that it with them or even without pointing is not necessary to repeat any directly the errors in their viewpoints. Mantras. I believe only in a life of right Swamiji scrupulously follows the conduct.” i n j u n c t i o n o f t h e G i t a — N a Swamiji promptly replied, “Yes, buddhibhedam janayet (One should lead a life of right conduct. Observe not unsettle another's faith), and A h i m s a , S a t y a m , a n d recognising in a sympathetic spirit Brahmacharya. or Love is the limitations of unenlightened God. Satyam (Truth) is God. Purity is people, Swamiji puts up with their God.” Soon Swamiji asked, “What is views joyously, and yet shows them your name?” t h e c o r r e c t v i s i o n i n a n “Raja Ram” replied the visitor. unostentatious, but effective manner, Then Swamiji said, “You like based on their own imperfect views, your name, is it not? You write your and without hurting their feelings.

Taken From Sivananda Day-to-Day 22 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021

BE AWARE OF YOUR AWARENESS Swami Atmaswarupananda W h e n P u j y a S w a m i spiritual practices in at all—our lives Chidanandaji used to come to the are so hectic. What are we to do? Samadhi Hall in the early morning, he We can do one thing. We can would address us with words such as remember the basic truth of the Radiant Immortal Atman or Blessed scriptures that or Pure Divinities, and sometimes he would add Awareness alone is without a second. the words, “who are practising the yoga W e c a n r e m e m b e r t h a t , t h a t o f t h e i r c h o i c e . ” G u r u d e v t o o automatically means that we are That, acknowledged all and wrote which in turn means that who we think books on them. However, his preference we are is just a thought in our minds, was for what he called the yoga of not our reality. synthesis. He said that as human We are That which is present at beings we are head, heart and hand. All this moment saying my ego. We are should be employed in an integral way That which says, my body, my yoga, in our journey towards God. That which is aware that we are very There is both a negative and a busy. Therefore, when we think we are positive reason for this. If we are the body and mind and ego, we can naturally devotional, but ignore our remember That which is aware, not in i n t e l l e c t , w e m a y h a v e m a n y some future time and place, but is experiences, but we won't understand aware here, now, at this very moment. their full implication. Whereas, if we As frequently as we can during the day, exclusively use our intellect, we may we can rest there. have a very deep understanding of the Gurudev urged us to offer spiritual life, but unless our heart is in everything to God. If we can do nothing it, we are apt to become what Gurudev else, rst thing in the morning and last described as dry Vedantins or lip thing in the evening, we can offer Vedantins. everything to God, especially including On the other hand, from a our idea that we are the body and mind. positive point of view, if we will engage We empty ourselves so that God can ll our mind in analysis and enquiry, us. As Gurudev used to quote: “Empty engage our heart in devotion, our will in thyself and I will ll thee.” We can offer everything to God meditation and our hand in service, we morning and evening, and add to that bring all our faculties into our search, whatever other spiritual practices we into our dedication to the goal. But can. But no matter what we do, it is then, someone may complain, perhaps emptying ourselves of our false ideas that was well enough for Gurudev's day, and being aware of that awareness that but now we are lucky if we can get any is always present that is essential. STUDENTS' SUCCESS IN LIFE Blessed Immortal Selves! Practice of Karma Yoga does not demand that you should possess enormous wealth. You can serve with your mind and body if you do not have money to spend. If you nd a poor sick man lying on the road-side, give him some water or milk to drink. Cheer him up with encouraging words. Put him in a vehicle and take him to the nearest hospital. God is more pleased with such sort of service for the poor and helpless people than with the service done by rich people with pomp and vanity. If anyone is suffering from acute pain in any part of the body, at once shampoo the affected part very gently. If you see a man or an animal with severe bleeding on the road, do not run hither and thither to get a small piece of cloth for bandaging. At once tear out a piece from your cloth or Dhoti or shirt, however costly it may be, and use it for bandaging. This is real Karma Yoga. This is a test to gauge your heart. How many of you have done such noble service? Whenever your neighbour or 23 any poor man suffers from any disease, get medicine for him from the hospital. Nurse him carefully. Wash his clothes, bed-pan, plates, etc. You will get high elevation of mind and intense inspiration. Acts of this kind will help you in developing all divine qualities, such as, kindness, mercy and love and will eradicate Ghrina or disgust and jealousy and will transmute you to the status of divinity. —Swami Sivananda

CULTIVATION OF VIRTUES CONTENTMENT Contentment is the best tonic. It is the best medicine. It gives best health and peace of mind. Happiness consists, not in possessing much but in being content with what you possess. If you are not contented with what you have, you will not be contented with what you like to have. Contentment is a celestial ambrosia or nectar. It cools the re of greed. A contented man is one who does not long after what he has not possessed; and enjoys what he has in right manner. He is quite satised with whatsoever he gets. A contented man is never poor. The discontented man is never rich. Be always contented with what happens. Know that what God chooses is better than what you choose. O man! Lead a life of perfect contentment and be happy for ever. —Swami Sivananda

ERADICATION OF VICES CARELESSNESS AND FORGETFULNESS Carelessness and forgetfulness are two other evil qualities that

24 stand in the way of success of man. A careless man cannot do any work in a neat and proper manner. Application and tenacity are unknown to a careless and forgetful man. There is lack of attention in him. He loses his key, shoes, umbrella and fountain pen daily. He cannot produce papers and records to the ofce at the proper moment. Follow the lessons in memory-culture and you can have a good memory within a short time. You will have to develop a strong desire to remove these qualities and develop their opposites. This is important. Then alone the will and the subconscious mind will do the work for you. —Swami Sivananda

BHUJANGASANA Technique: Lie prone on the ground with your forehead touching the ground. Place the palms down, on the oor below the shoulders. Keep the elbows close to the body. Keep the knees together. Extend the toes back, pointing them to the rear. Pressing the palms hard against the oor, inhale and slowly raise the upper part of the body. Draw the head far back feeling the vertebrae bend one by one, until t h e b o d y f r o m t h e n a v e l downwards alone touches the oor. Feel that the entire weight of the body is resting on the legs and hip (rear end of the spine). No weight of the body should be on the palms. Retain the pose as long as possible (from 20 to 30 seconds). Concentrate on the abdomen and the rear end of the spine. Slowly lower the body and exhale. Release the entire body to rest on the oor and relax with deep breathing. Repeat the posture three times.

25 Finally, relax in Makarasana. Benets: This tones up the spine and expands the chest. It also helps to set right minor spinal disorders. The abdominal and back m u s c l e s g e t t h e m s e l v e s w e l l stretched, thereby effecting proper circulation of blood into the regions of the spinal column, stomach and back. It helps to increase the body-heat, promotes good appetite, removes constipation and increases the digestive power. This Asana specially renders the spine supple and elastic. This means providing of good health, vitality and juvenility to the individual. This Asana is particularly helpful for ladies in toning up the ovaries and uterus. —Swami Chidananda

SITALI (Cooling Pranayama) Technique: Sit in any one of the postures. Open the mouth and form the lips into 'O' shape. Protrude the tongue like a tube. Draw in the air through the tongue tube. Fill the lungs with fresh and cool air as much as possible. After inhalation, withdraw the tongue and close the mouth. Lower your head and touch the collar bone with the chin during retention of breath. Exhale slowly through both the nostrils after bringing your head erect. Practise this daily ten to fteen times. Benets: This Pranayama cools the system, soothes the eyes and ears and es the blood. It quenches thirst and appeases hunger. It cures chronic dyspepsia (indigestion), inammation of the spleen, various chronic skin diseases, low fever, biliousness and phlegm disorders. —Swami Chidananda 26 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS & REPORTS 27

SEVA THROUGH SIVANANDA HOME ‘Sivananda Home is a Centre for the loving care of the destitute and the dying people who are found by the roadside, with no one to care for: the people who are home-less, temporary or permanent, fell sick, got lost or were abandoned’. (Swami Chidananda) The winter with its cold nights and shivering mornings, brings its own challenges to the physical and mental health of many. One of them an inward patient, a with a history of lung TB and angina – TB for which he got completely treated in Sivananda Home, and angina for which he needs to be under life-long medication. His angina exaggerated together with infection of the lungs, causing breathlessness, dizziness and chest pain. After the physician was consulted, he is now stabilized and under bed-rest, with oxygen administration and increase of the medication. Many of the inward patients have a complicated medical history, which makes their condition utterly vulnerable for any change of weather, any change in activity or diet. Even when the lung tuberculosis is declared completely cured, the tissue remains fragile and prone to any common infection. Regarding another patient with congested lung infection, diabetes and leprosy, the on-line consultation of a physician was arranged for, and the condition of the patient improved day by day. In the same way is the inuence of weather on the mental condition of many residents. Like the cold causing inner shivering, cough and cold, pain up to the joints and bones, but not wanting to stay inside the ward, restlessness all over, fever but not being able to express; refusing to stay in the bed when needed, or not wanting to come out when the weather is nice and sunny…. Habits die hard for each and everyone. Where one has been subjected for years and years to the regime of survival of the ttest, with suspicion, depression and anxiety as one's closest allies, one does not easily give in, and faith in and receptivity for any new situation will grow only with time. Trust and patience are needed, besides the guidance 28 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021 and supervised administration of the prescribed medicines by the Psychiatrist. Whatever be the condition though, one thing is for sure, and that is, Gurudev's unfailing Presence is always there, ever here, guiding, consoling and comforting, each step of the way. Jai Gurudev! Jai Sivananda! Om Sri Sadgurudevaya Namah. “Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms. Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms. Let us ever remember Thee. Let us ever sing Thy glories. Let Thy Name be ever on our lips. Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.” —Swami Sivananda

In the practice of Nishkamya Karma Yoga, there is no loss of effort. There is no harm. There is no transgression also. Even a little of this knowledge, even a little practice can protect you from great fear of birth and death with its concomitant evils. You will doubtless reap the fruits in this path of Karma Yoga, viz., Jnana. There is no uncertainty here. Matter is indestructible. Energy is indestructible. Even a little practice with the right mental attitude will purify the Chitta. The Samskaras of virtuous actions are imbedded in the Chitta. They are also indestructible. They are real, valuable assets for you. They will prevent you from doing wrong actions. They will goad you to do seless actions. They will push you on to the goal. Seless works will prepare the ground of Antahkarana for the reception of the seed of Jnana. The path of Karma Yoga eventually leads to the attainment of innite bliss of the Self. —Swami Sivananda

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MEMBERSHIP FEE AND BRANCH AFFILIATION FEE OF THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192, Uttarakhand 1. New Membership Fee* ` 150/- Admission Fee ...... ` 50/- Membership Fee . . . .. ` 100/- 2. Membership Renewal Fee (Yearly) ` 100/- 3. New Branch Opening Fee** ` 1,000/- Admission Fee . . . . . ` 500/- Afliation Fee ...... ` 500/- 4. Branch Afliation Renewal Fee (Yearly) ` 500/- * Application for Membership should be sent with Photo Identity and Residential proof of the Applicant. ** Prior written permission has to be obtained from the Headquarters for opening a New Branch. ð Kindly send Membership Fee and Branch Afliation Fee by Cheque or by DD payable at any Bank in Rishikesh.

29 30 THE DIVINE LIFE FEBRUARY 2021

REPORTS FROM THE D.L.S. BRANCHES

INLAND BRANCHES N a n d i n i n a g a r Bhimkand (): The (Chattisgarh): The Branch had Branch conducted daily daily morning prayers with Gita Puja and weekly Satsang on Path and chanting of Hanuman Sundays. Gita Jayanti was Chalisa, and in the evening, celebrated on 25th December S a t s a n g w i t h P a r a y a n o f with Gita . Vishnusahasranam. There was C h a t r a p u r ( O d i s h a ) : Mahamantra on 3rd During the Kartika Month, December. Besides this, weekly Ramcharit Manas Parayan was Satsang was held on Thursdays. conducted by the Branch from Gita Jayanti was celebrated on 1st to 30th November. Besides 2 5 t h w i t h r e c i t a t i o n o f this, daily Puja and weekly Bhagavad Gita and Prayers for S a t s a n g o n T h u r s d a y s world peace. continued regularly. Monthly Nayagarh (Odisha): The Jayanti ceremonies were held Branch celebrated Gita Jayanti on 8th and 24th of every month on 25th December with Gita Path with Paduka Puja. and Archana. Weekly Satsang Gandhinagar (): The was continued on Wednesdays. Branch continued free online Yoga Rourkela (Odisha): Daily classes including Pranayama and Yoga class and weekly Satsang meditation. About 1100 members on Thursdays and Sundays have been registered throughout continued with Paduka Puja, India and abroad. Archana and chanting of FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS & REPORTS 31

Vishnusahasranam etc. Special Thursdays, Swadhyaya on Satsang was arranged on 13th Saturdays and weekly Satsang December at the residence of a on Sundays were continued by devotee. Gita Jayanti was the Branch. Gita Jayanti was celebrated on 25th. celebrated on 25th December. Sambalpur (Odisha): S u n a b e d a ( O d i s h a ) : Daily Puja, weekly Satsang on Weekly Satsang was held on Sundays, Narayan on Thursdays and Sundays with M o n d a y s , S u n d a r a k a n d a Paduka Puja, , Kirtan and Parayan on second Saturday, Swadhyaya, and Matri Satsangs Paduka Puja on 8th and 24th of on Wednesdays and Saturdays. every month were the regular Ekadasis were observed with programmes of the Branch. On 1st recitation of Sahasranam January, New Year was observed and there was Sundarakanda with Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Parayan on Sankranti day. Japa for world peace. On the Kartika Purnami was observed s a c r e d o c c a s i o n o f B i r t h on 30th November. Centenary Celebration of H.H. Sri Visakha Rural Branch Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj, (A.P.): The Branch had daily the Branch has participated in the Puja, and Abhishekam on Likhita Japa of “Om Namo Mondays. Special Satsangs Bhagavate Sivanandaya”. were held on 6th and 30th S t e e l T o w n s h i p - December, with , Rourkela (Odisha): Free Yoga chanting of Hanuman Chalisa and Music classes on Mondays, and talks on various spiritual G u r u P a d u k a P u j a o n topics. AV AILABLE BOOKS ON YOGA, PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION By H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj Inspiring Stories ...... 170/- In the Hours of Communion ...... 65/- Adhyatma Yoga ...... ` 125/- Isavasya Upanishad ...... 30/- Ananda Gita ...... 60/- Inspiring Songs & ...... 130/- Ananda Lahari ...... 40/- Japa Yoga ...... 120/- Analects of Swami Sivananda ...... 55/- Jivanmukta Gita ...... 75/- Autobiography of Swami Sivananda ...... 110/- Jnana Yoga ...... 120/- All About Hinduism ...... 255/- and Diseases ...... 20/- Bazaar Drugs ...... 60/- Kathopanishad ...... 75/- Beauties of ...... 120/- Kenopanishad ...... 40/- Bhagavad Gita (One Act Play) ...... 35/- Kingly Science and Kingly Secret ...... 165/- Bhagavadgita Explained ...... 55/- Know Thyself ...... 65/- Bhagavadgita (Text & Commentary) ...... 110/- *Kalau Keshavkirtanat ...... 300/- Bhagavadgita (Text, Word-to-Word Meaning, Life and Teachings of Lord Jesus ...... 80/- Translation and Commentary) (H.B.) ...... 500/- Light, Power and Wisdom ...... 55/- ” ” (P.B.) ...... 490/- Lives of Saints...... 375/- Bhagavad Gita (Translation only) ...... 65/- Lord Krishna, His Lilas and Teachings ...... 170/- Bhakti and Sankirtan ...... 150/- Lord Siva and His Worship ...... 155/- Bliss Divine ...... 480/- Maha Yoga ...... 20/- Blood Pressure—Its Cause and Cure ...... 65/- May I Answer That ...... 125/ Brahmacharya Drama ...... 40/- Mind—Its Mysteries and Control ...... 325/- Brahma Sutras ...... 375/- Meditation Know How ...... 185/- Brahma Vidya Vilas ...... 75/- Meditation on Om ...... 60/- ...... 325/- Moral and Spiritual Regeneration...... 75/- Come Along, Let's Play ...... 80/- Mother Ganga ...... 70/- Concentration and Meditation ...... 285/- Gita ...... 55/- Conquest of Mind ...... 330/- ...... 35/- Daily Meditations ...... 95/- Music as Yoga ...... 80/- Daily Readings ...... 95/- Nectar Drops ...... 40/- Dhyana Yoga ...... 125/- Narada Bhakti Sutras ...... 100/- Dialogues from the Upanishads ...... 100/- Parables of Sivananda ...... 75/- Divine life for Children ...... 90/- Passion and Anger ...... 20/- Divine Life (A Drama)...... 25/- Pearls of Wisdom ...... 55/- Divine Nectar ...... 230/- Philosophy and Signicance of Idol Worship ...... 25/- Easy Path to God-Realisation ...... 75/- Philosophical Stories ...... 65/- Easy Steps to Yoga...... U.P. Philosophy and Yoga in Poems ...... 25/- Elixir Divine ...... 35/- Philosophy of Life ...... 35/- Essays in Philosophy ...... 75/- Philosophy of Dreams ...... 50/- Essence of ...... 110/- Pocket Prayer Book ...... 35/- Essence of Gita in Poems ...... 35/- Pocket Spiritual Gems ...... 35/- Essence of Principal Upanishads...... 105/- Practical lessons in Yoga ...... 120/- Essence of Ramayana ...... 110/- Practice of ...... 180/- Essence of ...... 165/- Practice of Bhakti Yoga ...... 305/- Ethics of Bhagavad Gita...... 125/- Practice of Brahmacharya ...... 125/- Ethical Teachings ...... 105/- Practice of Karma Yoga ...... 150/- Every Man’s Yoga ...... 160/- Practice of Nature Cure ...... 210/- First Lessons in Vedanta ...... 100/- Practice of Vedanta ...... 145/- Fourteen Lessons on Raja Yoga ...... 55/- Practice of Yoga ...... 215/- Gems of Prayers ...... 70/- Precepts for Practice ...... 125/- Glorious Vision (A Pictorial Guide) ...... 650/- ...... 35/- God Exists ...... 60/- ’s Prem ...... U.P./- God-Realisation ...... 60/- Raja Yoga ...... 140/- Gurudev Sivananda (Pictorial)...... 250/- Revelation ...... 130/- Guru Bhakti Yoga ...... 100/- Religious Education ...... 65/- Guru Tattwa ...... 50/- Sadhana ...... 630/- ...... 120/- Sadhana Chatushtaya ...... 45/- Health and Diet ...... 120/- Saint Alavandar or The King's Quest of God ...... 40/- Health and Happiness...... 130/- Sarvagita Sara ...... 100/- Heart of Sivananda ...... 115/- Satsanga and Swadhyaya ...... 45/- Health and Hygiene ...... 190/- Samadhi Yoga ...... 310/- Himalaya Jyoti ...... 35/- Self-Knowledge ...... 155/- Hindu Gods and Goddesses ...... 100/- Science of Reality ...... 60/- Hindu Fasts and Festivals ...... 85/- Self-Realisation ...... 85/- Home Nursing ...... 75/- Sermonettes of Sw. Sivananda ...... 130- Home Remedies ...... 125/- Sivananda-Gita (Last printed in 1946) ...... 65/- How to Become Rich ...... 30/- Sixty-three Nayanar Saints ...... 85/- How to Cultivate Virtues and Eradicate Vices .... 180/- Spiritual Experiences ...... 135/- How to Get Sound Sleep ...... 70/- Spiritual Lessons ...... 115/- How to Live Hundred Years ...... 70/- Stories from Yoga ...... 110/- Illumination ...... 60/- Student's Success in Life ...... 55/- Illuminating Teachings of Swami Sivananda ...... 75/- Stories from ...... 180/- 32 Sureways for Success in Life ...... 260/- Swami Sivananda—Saint, Sage and Godman ...... 205/- Svara Yoga ...... 75/- The Quintessence of the Upanishads ...... 50/- *Sw. Sivananda - His Life in Pictures...... 75/- The Role of Celibacy in the Spiritual Life ...... 25/- Spiritual Treasure ...... 55/- The Divine Destination ...... 120/- Spiritual Aspiration & Practice ...... 115/- The Truth That Liberates ...... 35/- Yoga, Nada Yoga and Kriya Yoga ...... 145/- *The All-Embracing Heart ...... 100/- Ten Upanishads ...... 165/- Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions ...... 80/- The Mahatmya ...... 120/- Verses Addressed to the Mind ...... 155/- The Divine Treasure of Swami Sivananda ...... 25/- Walk in This Light ...... 140/- The Glorious Immortal Atman ...... 50/- *Worshipful Homage ...... 500/- The Science of Pranayama ...... 70/- By Swami Krishnananda Thought Power ...... 85/- A Brief Outline of Sadhana ...... 60/- Thus Illumines Swami Sivananda...... 20/- Ascent of the Spirit ...... U.P. Triple Yoga ...... 95/- Chhandogya Upanishad...... 100/- Total Thinking ...... 110/- Commentary on the Bhagavadgita ...... 485/- Unity of Religions ...... 80/- Commentary on the Kathopanishad ...... 145/- Universal Moral Lessons ...... 45/- Commentary on the ...... 95/- Upanishad Drama ...... 90/- Commentary on the (Vol - II) ...... 210/- Upanishads for Busy People ...... 40/- Epic of Consciousness ...... 20/- Vairagya Mala ...... 20/- Essays in Life and Eternity ...... 50/- Vedanta for Beginners ...... 55/- Interior Pilgrimage ...... 75/- Voice of the ...... 185/- Mundaka Upanishad ...... 40/- Waves of Bliss ...... 75/- Philosophy of Bhagavadgita...... 130/- Waves of Ganga ...... 70/- Philosophy of Religion ...... 50/- Wisdom in Humour ...... 70/- Realisation of the Absolute ...... 125/- Wisdom Sparks...... 70/- Religion and Social Values ...... 50/- World Peace ...... 120/- Resurgent Culture ...... 20/- What Becomes of the Soul after Death ...... 150/- Self-Realisation, Its Meaning and Method ...... 45/- Yoga and Realisation ...... 120/- Sri Swami Sivananda and His Mission ...... 45/- Yoga Asanas ...... 85/- Studies in Comparative Philosophy...... U.P. Sessions with Ashram Residents ...... 300/- Yoga for West ...... 35/- The Attainment of the Innite ...... 50/- Yoga in Daily Life ...... 75/- The Development of Religious Consciousness ...... 85/- Yoga Vedanta Dictionary ...... 70/- The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ...... 250/- Yoga Question & Answers ...... 95/- The Heart and Soul of Spiritual Practice ...... 150/- Yoga Vedanta Sutras ...... 90/- The Mighty God-Man of our Age ...... 75/- By Swami Chidananda The Tree of Life ...... 60/- The Vision of Life ...... 85/- A Guide to Noble Living...... 55/- The Yoga of Meditation ...... 70/- An Instrument of Thy Peace...... 265/- The Universality of Being ...... 100/- Awake, Realise Your Divinity ...... 195/- Ture Spiritual Living II...... 135/- *Autobiography (Swami Chidananda) ...... 150/- The Glory of God ...... 90/- Bilss is Within ...... 95/- The Spiritual Import of the Mahabharata and *Chidanandam (The Joy of Knowing Him) ...... 300/- The Bhagavad Gita 190/- *Cosmic Benefactor ...... 300/- The Struggle for Perfection ...... 35/- Ego ...... 20/- Yoga as a Universal Science ...... 65/- Essentials of the Higher Values of Life ...... 65/- Yoga, Meditation and Japa Sadhana ...... 30/- Eternal Messages ...... 45/- Your Questions Answered...... U.P. Forest Academy Lectures on Yoga ...... 325/- Others Gita Vision ...... 20/- Bhajan Kirtan in Gurudev's Kutir ...... 60/- God As Mother ...... 85/- Ekadasa Upanishadah ...... 140/- Guidelines to Illumination ...... 120/- From Man to God-Man (N. Ananthanarayanan) .... 170/- Lectures on Raja Yoga ...... 80/- Greatness Amidst Us ...... 40/- Life ...... 25/- Guru Gita (Swami Narayanananda) ...... 95/- Light-Fountain ...... 80/- I Live to Serve ...... 25/- Liberation Is Possible! ...... 30/- *Memories of Swami Chidananda ...... 250/- Light on the Yoga Way of Life ...... 30/- Miracles of Sivananda ...... 80/- Sivananda Day-To-Day ...... 85/- Manache Shlok ...... 30/- Sivananda: Poet, Philosopher and Saint Message of Swami Chidananda to Mankind ...... 45/- (Dr. Savitri Asopa) ...... 70/- New Beginning ...... 45/- Sivananda: Raja Yoga (Vol-4) ...... 355/- Path Beyond Sorrow ...... 155/- Sivananda: Bhakti Yoga (Vol-5) ...... 175/- Philosophy, Psychology & practice of Yoga ...... 160/- Sivananda Vedanta (Jnana Yoga)...... 230/- Path to Blessedness ...... 105/- Sivananda: The Darling of Children Ponder These Truths ...... 245/- Sw. Sivananda-Hridayananda...... 30/- Practical Guide to Yoga ...... 50/- Sw. Sivananda Chitrakatha ...... 45/- Renunciation—A Life of Surrender and Trust...... 25/- Sivananda Integral Yoga ...... 65/- Seek the Beyond ...... 300/- The Holy Stream ...... 185/- *Souvenir ...... 200/- This Monk from India ...... 125/- Swami Chidananda Talks in South Africa ...... 135/- Yoga Divine...... 60/- Swami Sivananda our Loving Awakener ...... 80/- ...... 70/-

For Direct Orders: The Divine Life Society, Shivanandanagar—249 192, Uttarakhand, India. For online orders and Catalogue visit: dlsbooks.org

*No Discount on the Star-marked Books 33 NEW RELEASE! SPIRITUAL STORIES

Pages: 216 Price: ` 150/- First Edition: 1958 | Second Edition: 2021

Stories and parables by Sadgurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj to impart the moral and spiritual knowledge in the most interesting way.

First Edition 1961 Second Edition 2021

Part - I Pages: 312 Price: ` 215/- Part - II Pages: 328 Price: ` 225/- INSPIRING TALKS OF GURUDEV SIVANANDA (PART I and II) Precious pearls of wisdom gathered by Sri Swami Venkatesanandaji Maharaj as they fell from the sacred lips of Sri Gurudev from March 1948 to July 1950. 34 (Continued from Cover ii)

20 Mon Purnima; Mahalaya (Pitri 18 Sat Sri Dattatreya Jayanti; ) Begins Purnima 19 Sun Purnima OCTOBER 24 Fri Eve 25 Sat Christmas Day 2 Sat ; Ekadasi 30 Thu Ekadasi 4 Mon Pradosha Puja 31 Fri 78th Anniversary of 6 Wed Amavasya; Mahalaya (Pitri Pratishtha Mahotsava of Paksha) ends Sri Vishwanatha Mandir at 7 Thu Navaratri Puja begins Sivananda Ashram; 12 Tue Avahana Pradosha Puja 13 Wed Sri Ashtami 14 Thu Sri Mahanavami; Sri 2022 Navaratri Puja Concludes JANUARY 15 Fri Vijaya Dashami 16 Sat Ekadasi 2 Sun Amavasya 18 Mon Pradosha Puja 13 Thu Ekadasi 20 Wed Purnima; Maharshi 14 Fri Makara Sankranti Jayanti ( Punyakala 29 Fri Sri Radha Jayanti 8.49 p.m.) 15 Sat Pradosha Puja NOVEMBER 17 Mon Purnima 26 Wed 1 Mon Ekadasi 28 Fri Ekadasi 2 Tue Pradosha Puja 29 Sat Pradosha Puja 3 Wed Chaturdasi 31 Mon Amavasya 4 Thu Deepavali; Amavasya 5 Fri ; Gow FEBRUARY Puja; Sri Bali Puja 10 Wed Skanda 1 Tue Amavasya 12 Fri Gopashtami; 20th 5 Sat Sri Vasanta Panchami Anniversary of Punyatithi 8 Tue ; Bhishma Aradhana of H.H. Sri Swami Ashtami Krishnanandaji Maharaj 12 Sat Ekadasi 15 Mon Ekadasi; Tulasi Puja 14 Mon Pradosha Puja 16 Tue Pradosha Puja; 16 Wed Purnima Chaturmasya Vrata Ends 26 Sat Ekadasi 18 Thu Vaikuntha Chaturdasi 28 Mon Pradosha Puja 18/19 T/Fri Purnima 19 Fri Kartika Purnima; Sri MARCH Gurunanak Jayanti 30 Tue Ekadasi 1 Tue Maha Sivaratri 2 Wed Amavasya DECEMBER 14 Mon Ekadasi 2 Thu Pradosha Puja 15 Tue Pradosha Puja 3 Fri 78th Anniversary of 17/18 T/Fri Purnima Akhanda Mahamantra 18 Fri Sankirtana Yajna at Jayanti Sivananda Ashram 19 Sat 4 Sat Amavasya 28 Mon Ekadasi 14 Tue Ekadasi; Gita Jayanti 29 Tue Pradosha Puja 16 Thu Pradosha Puja 31 Thu Amavasya Note: When two dates are mentioned for any occasion, it means that the particular Tithi occurs both on the rst day evening and the next day morning. Registrar of Newspapers for India Postal-Registration No. TRI/006/2021-23 No. 2395/1957 LICENSED TO POST WITHOUT PREPAYMENT (Inland) Licence No. WPP No. 03/21-23 Valid upto: 31-12-2023 FEBRUARY 2021 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15th OF EVERY MONTH DATE OF POSTING: 15th OF EVERY MONTH Posted at Shivanandanagar P.O., Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand TRUE FREEDOM AND THE INEXTRICABLE SNARES OF IGNORANCE Hindu and Buddhist thinkers, with a singular unanimity declare that Avidya (ignorance) is the source of our anguish and all our trouble. Man's nature of oneness with the living universe is lost. He develops an egocentric view of life and puts his individual preference above social welfare. He develops an acquisitive instinct and looks upon every other being as his potential enemy. He clings to nature, to his neighbours, in short, to everything, which is evanescent. He becomes a divided being, tormented by doubt, fear, suffering. There is a split in his oneness. The world lives in incessant fear. Religion is the conquest of fear, an antidote to failure and death. We cannot dispel our doubts by drugging ourselves with illusions. True freedom from fear is gained by Wisdom.

To

Printed and Published by Swami Advaitananda on behalf of “The Divine Life Trust Society” at the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy Press, P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192, Dt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, and Published from The Divine Life Society Headquarters, P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192, Dt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand Phone: 0135-2430040, 2431190; E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sivanandaonline.org; www.dlshq.org; www.chidananda.org Editor: Swami Nirliptananda