On Sunday, 15 August 2010, over 700 devotees attended a special Hindu Dharma Campaign at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Initiated by Sri Swami Sahajananda in the 1990's, the campaigns are designed to instill faith in the hearts of Hindus, to explain some of the sublime teachings of our glorious religion and to equip them with the tools to deal with the hardships of daily life by turning to God. During 2010, thirteen such campaigns would have been conducted throughout the province by the Society, in conjunction with other Hindu organisations. Sunday’s function at the Society’s Headquarters was indeed special, as it also marked the 64th Anniversary of India’s Independence, as well as the Birth Anniversary of one of India’s great Saints, Sri Aurobindo. On this day, the Society also commemorated the 150th anniversary of Indians arriving in this country, paying homage to our forefathers who came to this land as indentured laborers since 1860.

The programme commenced at 8.15am with Havan, followed by Ganga Arati at 9.30am. Satsang started at 10am. The programme included talks and poems on Hinduism by the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, a message by Pujya Swami Sahajananda entitled, "All have to seek God", an item by the Spiritual Darlings of the Sivananda Sunday School, a dance, enlightening sketches and plays, and melidious Bhajans and Kirtans. One of the most important aspects of the function was the large amount of spiritual literature that was distributed at the book stall. These books are sure to help keep the flame of Hinduism alive in the hearts of Hindu's, as well as provide them with the tools to deal with difficulties of daily life.

At the function, the Ethekwini Municipality (City of Durban), from the Office of the Deputy Mayor, awarded a special citation to Sri Swami Sahajananda, honouring him as one of the great Indians who has provided spiritual, moral, ethical and social assistance to the community for almost 6 decades. In his speech, Deputy Mayor, His Worship, Cllr Logie Naidoo, paid a glowing tribute to Sri Swami Sahajananda, recognising Pujya Swamiji’s deep foresight not only for serving the spiritual needs of the community, but also for serving the poorest of the poor, the Africans in deep rural areas, long before apartheid was abolished.

Divine Life Society of South Africa offers deep gratitude to Ethekwini Municipality and Deputy Mayor, His Worship Cllr Logie Naidoo for bestowing the award on Pujya Swami Sahajananda, Spiritual Head of Divine Life Society of South Africa, who attained Mahasamadhi on 10 December 2007. In a message delivered on 25 November 2007, on the occasion of various awards being presented to Pujya Swami Sahajananda, Swamiji states, "At the outset I would like to mention that the honour that is being bestowed upon me and Divine Life Society of South Africa today is really due to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. Although he is not present here physically, spiritually he is in our midst. So, I gladly accept these most prestigious awards on his behalf. As you all know, the formation, growth and present status of Divine Life Society of South Africa is due to his Grace. Today, I pay my deep tribute to him for all that he has done for us in this country."

MESSAGE BY HIS WORSHIP, DEPUTY MAYOR OF ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY, CLLR LOGIE NAIDOO

Today is indeed a very special and auspicious occasion to remember and mark the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, the 64th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of India and the 150th anniversary of the arrival of people of Indian origin in South Africa. All of these events are connected in some way or the other. Sir Aurobindo was a freedom fighter and a great Saint and philosopher. In fact, it was his writings of philosophy that was adopted by many in India and abroad. It was the time of colonial rule and English occupation of the sub-continent. Sri Aurobindo was one of those strong voices for the freedom of the motherland. It was in prison that he received a revelation, a revelation that said there is going to be a great man that’s going to come to India, and who is going to take the baton from you and continue the freedom struggle. At that same time, South Africa was under colonial rule of a special type, where racial segregation was the order of the day, and where sugar barons who needed good laborers decided, through their contact with their colonial government in India, to bring people to work in the sugar fields of Natal. They called it indentured labour, another word for slavery, for in the 1860’s, slavery was abolished. And that started the journey of our Indian forbearers across the Indian Ocean to this unknown dark continent of Africa, not knowing what their future would be. And this year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the journey of our forbearers, who came from India, across the ocean, to South Africa. We celebrate their life and their times. They earned a pittance and toiled in the sugar fields. They worked day and night, armed with this rich cultural heritage and their Hindu Dharma. They persevered. It was their tenacity, it was their strong will, the indomitable will of our forefathers, the cane-cutter, that triumphed against all odds and all obstacles they faced. They earned 10 shillings, but they invested in education and our rich cultural heritage. Today, our skyline is donned by temples and other religious institutions built by our forefathers. They gave to their children education which they did not have. They built schools to make sure that future generations of this community would live a better life under the African sun. We celebrate and mark that journey of our forbearers today. During this time in South Africa, a barrister came from the United Kingdom with the name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He settled in Durban and spent 21 years of his life in this city. And in that 21 years, cultivated the philosophy of Satyagraha—truth and non-violence. He took on the authorities in respect of their policies of racial segregation and discrimination. A turning point in his life was when he was thrown out of a first class compartment of a train that was travelling between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. A life changing experience that saw the transformation of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi into a Mahatma. Twenty-one years later, the Mahatma exported that philosophy to India and liberated and freed the people. The liberation song "Vanda Mataram" was a cry of our people for freedom from the yolk of colonialism, from the shackles of English rule. And it was Gandhiji who played that leading role. He had taken the baton from Sri Aurobindo and continued that struggle for freedom. Today we mark the 150th anniversary. In Kwa-Zulu Natal, there was a Srinivasan Naidoo, who was a teacher from Estcourt who himself went to India for a spiritual experience and received an instruction from His Holiness, Sri Swami Sivananda to set up the Divine Life Society of South Africa. He initially resisted, but was told to do so. His monastic name was Swami Sahajananda. He started the Divine Life Movement, and today, it is one of the most recognized religious institutions in our country. Today, I have come to pay tribute to this great soul, to the Saint, Swami Sahajananda, who not only dealt with the spiritual needs of our community and beyond, but who got involved, and who had the vision to help the poorest of the poor. Swami Sahajananda knew that at some time, like India, South Africa would be free. He started his work a long time ago, in the far-flung rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. He built schools, he helped with education, he empowered people, he trained women in some skill, he built homes for the needy. Through the Divine Life movement and all of you devotees, he provided service to mankind. He lived the adage and teachings of His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda that service to mankind is worship of God. And therefore, he transcended the realm of spirituality and religiosity and got involved in community work in uplifting the poorest of the poor in South Africa. He knew one day, that we will live in a non-racial Society, where race would not matter, that we would have human dignity and enjoy equal rights. He had the vision, and he started the work in all the areas. I remember reading about his time in Estcourt, when they used to walk long distances, and on the return of their journey, they would pass all the kraals of their neighbours, of their African neighbours. And they would go into the kraal, sit down, have a chat and have a drink of Mahewu or whatever was offered. That was a long long time ago. He says in his teachings, that he does not consider the African child to be others—they are all part of the South African fabric. That teaching he gave to us so many years ago, for us to embrace. Sri Aurobindo, Gandhiji, India’s freedom, South Africa’s freedom and Sri Swami Sahajananda—they are all connected to this rich history. Today when we pay tribute, we say thank you to His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda, for showing us the way, for showing us the path that our community has travelled for the last 150 years. We ask Swami Sivananda to bless us as we go forward into the future, to bless our children. May the wonderful work of the Divine Life Society of South Africa continue. I want to pay tribute not only to the Executive Committee members, but to you, the devotees. As I was saying earlier today, it’s absolutely amazing how Divine Life Society sustains itself, with all the infrastructure that you have, with the amount of work you do for the community, the different services and observances undertaken by your organization. And how is it that you fund all these programmes? You are truly blessed, and I want to thank the devotees for their own commitment and dedication. You are the volunteers that make all of this happen. Today, I wish God’s riches blessings upon all of you and your families in this year, this very special year of 2010. This citation from the Ethekwini Municipality is presented to the Divine Life Society of South Africa in honour of His Holiness, Sri Swami Sahajnanda, by the Deputy Mayor of Ethekwini Municipality, Cllr Logie Naidoo, and this scroll that I will be presenting reads as follows: This scroll is presented to His Holiness, Sri Swami Sahajananda, of Divine Life Society of South Africa on the occasion of the celebration of 150 years of the arrival of Indians in South Africa. This is in recognition of Swamiji’s outstanding nation-building endeavors, promoting peace and harmony in our country, especially in our Province of KwaZulu-Natal. Swami Sahajananda’s contributions towards the upliftment of South Africans in the fields of Literature, Education, Culture, Agriculture, Moral Regeneration Programmes, Nation-Building, Housing, Skills Development Programmes are indeed commendable and have set an extremely high standard. Swami Sahajananda’s great love and attraction for India: His Holiness interacted with many Saints and Institutions in India and has always made liberal financial contributions to them. Under the guidance of his spiritual Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, he started to serve the poor and needy in South Africa. As we celebrate the 64th Day of India’s independence and 150 years of Indians in South Africa today, 15 August 2010, we pay tribute to this great Saint, Swami Sahajananda whose magnanimous contribution is a legacy that will leave a indelible mark for generations to come. Swami Sahajananda dedicated his life to the service of mankind, irrespective of colour, creed or religious affiliation. We are deeply honoured and proud to have such a great spiritual leader residing in the City of Durban. May his mission, Divine Life Society of South Africa, continue to serve and inspire mankind.

PICTURES OF THE FUNCTION: 15 AUGUST 2010
Havan being perfromed by Rishikumars	"Swamiji Says" by Spiritual Darlings
The Society receiving the Award from Ethekwini Municipality on behalf of Pujya Swami Sahajananda	Devotees taking Darshan at Ganga Rani after Satsang
Dance by Sivananda Dance Academy	Spiritual Literature being disseminated at the book stall

Maha Yagna being performed for the peace of departed souls

On Sunday, 1 August 2010, a historic function was held at the Sivananda Ghat. “All Souls Day” is observed on the 1st of each month at Sivananda Ghat—the post-cremation ash disposal facility—where special prayers are conducted for the peace of all those that passed away during the previous month. “All Souls Day” for August was indeed special, as it was not only observed for the peace of departed souls of the previous month, but it was observed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa.

On this day, a special Maha Yagna and prayers were conducted for the peace of all Indians who passed away in this country since 1860. Members of the public were invited to sit for the Maha Yagna, and over 250 people participated in the holy ritual for the peace and benefit of our dearly departed, as well as our forefathers who came to this country as indentured laborers from 1860. It would not be out of place at this point to pay homage to our heroic pioneers who toiled courageously in a foreign country and faced many hardships. Our forefathers also preserved and nurtured their culture and religion, which was a lasting legacy that they passed on to the present-day Indian community. This is one of the reasons why our glorious Hindu religion still exists and flourishes in this country. Today, we reap the benefit of their sincerity, dedication and commitment. Let us all follow in their noble footsteps!

Over 1500 people attended this special function, which commenced at 2.30pm with Ganga Arati. In his address, Chairperson of the 1860 Legacy Foundation of KwaZulu-Natal, Sri Satish Dhupelia, paid tribute to our ancestors, to some of our great Indian leaders, as well as those Indians who performed menial jobs but nevertheless built our Indian community into what it is today. He heralded Pujya Swami Sahajananda, Spiritual Head of Divine Life Society of South Africa, as one of the great Indians of our soil—providing spiritual, moral and ethical guidance to our community over the decades, as well as providing social assistance to underprivileged communities in our province. He lauded Divine Life Society of South Africa for conducting such a function for the peace and benefit of our ancestors.

After the Maha Yagna, Satsang commenced, with those who sat for Havan walking around the Ghat, singing Bhajans & Kirtans, while the remainder of those attending remained seated in the majestic marquee erected especially for the function. Many commented on the deep spiritual vibrations that pervaded the “All Souls Day” function, finding it very uplifting and totally unique. We pray that our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, Mother Ganga and Pujya Swami Sahajananda shower their blessings upon all, including our brave forefathers who passed away in this country over the last 150 years, laying a firm foundation for the future.

PICTURES OF "ALL SOULS DAY", 1 AUGUST 2010
Shrine and tables set for the Maha Yagna	Mothers sitting for the Maha Yagna
Crowd seated watching the Maha Yagna	Mothers participating in the Maha Yagna
Main Havan being performed on the stage	People walking around the Ghat singing Bhajans & Kirtans

Sri Swami Sivananda

Guru Purnima, the sacred day where we pay homage to the Guru, fell on Sunday, 25 July 2010. It was observed in grand style by devotees of Divine Life Society of SA, many travelling from other parts of the country to be in Durban for this sacred event.
 
Building up to this most auspicious day, the eve of Guru Purnima was chosen to distribute food hampers to indigent families at Sivananda International Cultural Centre, Sivananda Nagar, La Mercy. Over 1200 needy people from neighboring areas gathered at SICC early on Saturday morning to receive their substantial hamper of groceries. By 8.30am, the stream of people dwindled out, as each person in the queue received their hamper and made their way home. The remainder of the day saw over 200 devotees coming to the magnificent complex to perform various duties, such as cleaning, etc, in preparation for the function the following day.

Guru Purnima morning began at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills at 6am, as was the tradition for many years—where devotees would come to have Darshan of the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, and Pujya Swami Sahajananda the first thing in the morning. About 150 devotees gathered for Ganga Arati, followed by Darshan at Sahaja Kutir and Pujya Swamiji’s room. The programme concluded at 7am, as focus then turned to Sivananda International Cultural Centre, La Mercy, where the proceedings for the remainder of the day would take place.

Sivananda International Cultural Centre -Venue for Guru Purnima

Over 2500 devotees attended the Guru Purnima Function at SICC, to pay homage to the Divine Master Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda for the multifarious spiritual gifts they have bestowed on devotees in South Africa. Ganga Arati at Bhagirathi and Ganga Rani commenced at 8.30am, and Satsang at the Stadium commenced at 10am. Just as the Guru dispels the darkness of ignorance in the devotee, so to did the sun make its appearance and clouds displaced themselves, allowing the sun to shine down on Sivananda Stadium as Satsang commenced.

The beautiful shrines of the Divine Master being bathed in Ganga water seemed resplendent on the Stadium. The offering of “Song of Salutations” by the Spiritual Darlings, an excellent dance by Sivananda Dance Academy, as well as the Bhajans and Kirtans, were spiritually uplifting. An audio recorded message by Pujya Swamiji had the crowd listening with rapt attention. Bhajans were also rendered by highly acclaimed Smt Mahenthri Pillay & troupe including Sri Tansen Nepaul. This coincided with the launch of a special double CD, entitled “Divine Nectar”, that Smt Mahenthri and troupe recorded for the Society as an offering to the Divine Master for Guru Purnima. The first of two Sivananda Gymnastic Drill displays was done by Spiritual Darlings of Resmount Primary School. The second was the mass drill display by the Sivananda Gymnastic Drill Troupe, done to the melodious Ram Bhajans. Lunch was served at the Stadium after Arati.

The afternoon session was a cultural programme dedicated to the Divine Master, with items from the various branches of the Society from all over the province. Starting at 1.15pm in the Main Prayer Hall, it included Bhajans and Kirtans, sketches, plays, talks, musical renditions, dances, multimedia presentations, etc. Guests of Honour, High Commissioner of India to South Africa, His Excellency Sri Virendra Gupta, and Consul General of India to Durban, The Honourable Sri Anil Sharan, arrived during this session to witness some of the beautiful cultural items. Both the High Commissioner and the Consul General expressed words of encouragement and praised Pujya Swamiji for the work done by the Society in the fields of spiritual upliftment and social development in this country.

Concluding at 4.30pm with supper, all devotees felt the strong presence of Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji during this day. Many commented that everything on the day unfolded like clockwork and that the entire days programme was extremely beautiful and spiritually uplifting. In the closing session, everyone observed a minute's silence so that they could think about and make a mental offering to Sri Gurudev on this sacred Guru Purnima day. We thank Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji for granting us such a spiritual feast that was Guru Purnima, 25 July 2010.

MESSAGE BY HIGH COMMISSIONER OF INDIA, HIS EXCELLENCY SRI VIRENDRA GUPTA

First of all I would like to thank the Board of Management of Divine Life Society of South Africa for having invited me and the other members accompanying me to this very important function of Guru Purnima. I’d like to convey my greetings to all of you on this very important occasion. What a beautiful place you have created. I’d like to congratulate you for not only such a beautiful place that has been given to you by your Swamiji, but also to get together in the service of God, in the service of mankind, to meditate and to introspect. But I think what is even more beautiful is the dedication that your community has shown for community service. The Management Committee was telling us about more than 380 projects that have been started over the last several years, and that each one of them has been functioning beautifully. I think this is the measure of giving back to the community, a sense of compassion for all around you. I think in that, very clearly, you have been guided by the ideals that Divine Life Society stands for. I have been very closely associated with the work of the Divine Life Society in the many countries that I have served. It has always been a great privilege and honour to participate in the functions of the Divine Life Society around the world. I would also like to recognise the great service and contribution that your leader, Sri Swami Sahajananda made for creating this centre, for instilling in you a sense of service, a sense of dedication and compassion. So I’d like to encourage you to keep up your good work, and I certainly look forward to coming here again in the near future.

MESSAGE BY CONSUL GENERAL OF INDIA, THE HONOURABLE SRI ANIL SHARAN

It is a pleasure to speak today before all devotees present here. We are very fortunate to be part of this celebration of Guru Purnima. I was looking forward to this function for the last 6 months, since my arrival in South Africa. I will speak briefly about India, which has many religions. India is a secular country, but at the same time, India’s sacred land, holy rivers and her spiritual vibrations are unique in the world. Indian culture is older than any other culture, and Indian civilization has influenced the history of the world at every stage. When ancestors of westerners were completely normadic, India was full of self-realised saints. The Greeks and Romans imitated the Hindus and absorbed Hindu thoughts. Today, the Divine Life Society, with the support of disciples and devotees, have built an excellent organization in South Africa. It is a spiritual, cultural, social, but entirely non-sectarian and perfectly tolerant organization. It has been providing actual help for the restoration of peace and understanding in Society. We are very pleased to note that contributions the Divine Life Society of South Africa has been making in the areas of education, by building schools, health centres, feeding centres and schemes in rural areas are very important. The campaign of the Divine Life Society of South Africa for moral renewal through printing and distributing thousands of Peace Books is exemplary. If you see the confusion and conflicts that the world is facing today, one can convincingly say that the activities of the Divine Life Society have been involved in, is the best way to overcome them. And what we need today is education, tolerance and understanding. It is a well-known fact that Divine Life Society of South Africa has undertaken projects in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal for the poor and disadvantaged. More than 380 projects such as schools, Peace & Skills Training centres, crèches, handicraft centres and health centres that Divine Life Society have built since 1974 are one of the greatest contributions by a single organization in this country for the upliftment of society. Let us give a round of applause for this contribution. But before I finish, I just want to say that we all should promote knowledge. One should not be content with ones welfare alone, but should look for ones welfare in the welfare of all. I am aware that Divine Life Society of South Africa is one of the best known organizations and it is committed to meet the needs of the community and challenges of modern times. I take this opportunity to congratulate Divine Life Society of South Africa for their tireless effort in meeting the spiritual and educational needs of our Society.

Youth at the Workshop at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills

On National Youth Day, 16 June 2010, Divine Life Society hosted an educative and inspirational workshop for our Youth at the Sivananadashram, Reservoir Hills. We are pleased to report that over 180 youth from all our branches benefited from the inspiring presentations.

The morning commenced with a sumptuous breakfast—which had been prepared by a team of our Youth, followed by registration and Ganga Arati. All that attended were warmly welcomed and presented with Souvenir gift bags containing spiritual treasures in the form of inspiring spiritual literature and an audio CD wherein Beloved Pujya Swami Sahajananda guides and advises the Youth.

The Programme that followed included instructive, soul stirring messages by our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, and Pujya Swamiji, which left all the participants spellbound. Pujya Swamiji’s audio message answered some of the many questions that the youth may have had. Youth related the most touching experiences of how Sri Gurudev had saved them from tragedy and even death.

The Youth were then divided into groups. Together they shared their ideas and answered questions pertaining to the common challenges that confront them. A representative from each group reported the feedback and was presented with an award. The feedback that was presented invariably included resorting to Divine Master’s and Pujya Swamiji’s teachings as an integral part of the solutions.

The address by our Guest Speaker - Sachin Maharaj, an exemplary role model for Divine Life Society Youth, was well received. He highlighted that Youth was the best period to make progress and urged all not to waste this precious period. He also related some of his own experiences in the Society placing emphasis on the importance of Karma Yoga from which he derived a lot of benefit. The harmonious atmosphere of love, hospitality and commitment displayed by all Youth who were involved in duties, participating in the programme and those attending despite the inclement weather was indeed praiseworthy.

Youth at the Sivananda Sunlit Path Programme held at Chatsworth on 22 May 2010

Pujya Swami Sahajananda was committed to serving the needs of the poorest of the poor, and the Society continues the work of building schools, clinics, Peace & Skills Training Centres, creches, etc. for the disadvantaged communities based in deep rural KwaZulu-Natal, where such facilities are much needed. The last month saw numerous projects being opened by the Society and the respective Municipalities that partner on these projects. The following projects were officially opened:

Opening of Sivananda-Emphusheni Creche	Opening of Sivananda-Esifubeni Creche
Opening of Sivananda Gcwensa Peace & Skills Training Centre	Sivananda-KwaSibhamu Peace & Skills Training Centre
Sivananda-Macekane Peace & Skills Training Centre	Sivananda-Mbangiyaya Creche

Whilst this batch of projects have been successfully completed and opened, the Society has begun with new projects in the various municipalities. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors, patrons and well-wishers of the Society for their continued support, which makes these projects possible.

On Tuesday, 15 September 2009, the Sivananda Macekana Creche, situated in the Ntambanana Municipality (near Empangeni), was officially opened by Divine Life Society of South Africa and the Ntambanana Municipality. The project, built by the Society with Pujya Swami Sahajananda's characteristic design using beautiful red and green wall tiles, stands out from its rural surroundings. Ntambanana Mayor, His Worship Mayor Biyela, thanked Divine Life Society for the beautiful Creche that will be a haven for the children in the area. "Ntambanana Municipality has the poorest of the poor, and projects like this Creche will really help uplift our children and give them basic education."

The Creche is one of three built by the Society in the Ntambanana Municipality, apart from the Multi-million Rand Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre, a huge medical facility that was opened earlier this year in the area. The Creche is among a group of projects that brings the Society's target of 30 Peace & Skills Training Centres, and 30 Creches to completion. The target was set by Pujya Swami Sahajananda in 2007. Pujya Swamiji wanted 60 projects for the underprivileged to mark 60 years of Divine Life Society and Swami Sivananda in South Africa.

Sivananda Macekana Creche, Ntambanana Municipality

Mayor Biyela and Divine Life Society unveil the plaque

Sri Swami Sivananda's 122nd Birth Anniversary was celebrated on 2 days. On Sunday, 6 September 2009, Sivananda Day Satsang was observed at the Sivananda International Cultural Centre, Sivananda Nagar, La Mercy. About 1000 devotees attended the auspicious event, with Ganga Arati at 8.30am and Satsang at 10am. The highlights of the Satsang were the inspirational recorded and read-out messages from Pujya Swami Sahajananda, as well as an offering of a musical rendition by the highly acclaimed "Indian Symphony", a troupe of musical artists from India, led by Musical Director and Violinist, Dr. Manibharati. Everyone enjoyed their devotional outpourings to the Divine Master. The troupe also enjoyed performing at the sacred venue so much, that they have offered to come back and offer a musical rendition at our Yoga Retreat on 26 September 2009.

Distribution of food hampers at SICC

On Tuesday, 8 September 2009, about 300 devotees gathered at Sivanandashram Reservoir Hills for a morning session with Ganga Arati commencing at 6am. After Invocatory prayers, all proceeded to Sahaja Kutir, and thereafter to Pujya Swami Sahajananda's sacred room that was opened for Darshan. At 8am, 500 food hampers were distributed to needy families at Sivananda International Cultural Centre, in the name of Sri Swami Sivananda. The sod-turning ceremony of the Sivananda Skills Training Centre at Shree Veerabhoga Emperumal Temple, Tongaat, also took place on this auspicious morning. Akhanda chanting took place at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, throughout the day.

In the evening, about 1200 devotees, some who traveled from other provinces, attended Sri Gurudev's Birthday Satsang at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. The entire Satsang was spiritually charged. Recorded songs, composed and sung by Pujya Swami Sahajananda, were played, and the congregation sang along with Pujya Swamiji. A reading from Sri Gurudev's Autobiography as well as a recording of Sri Gurudev singing a kirtan were most elevating. The Divine presence of Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji were felt by many. After Satsang, a gentle shower of rain blessed devotees as they left the Ashram. We thank Sri Gurudev for all the Grace and blessings bestowed upon his devotees. Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya.