3D Plan of the Complex

The entire complex is built with beautiful white bricks and the outside walls are decorated with colourful tiles like those that we use in our Peace & Skills Training Centres. This complex will be the most important and prestigious project in the name of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, who himself was a medical doctor in Malaysia before he left back for India to become a monk. Our Divine Master deserves this great honour.

On Friday 3rd April 2009, over 6000 people attended the grand and historic opening ceremony of the Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre in Ntambanana, a rural area some 30km from Empangeni. The centre was the outcome of a joint venture between Divine Life Society and the Provincial Government. Divine Life Society contributed R7 Million towards this R17 Million project.

Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre from a distance on the day of official opening

Amongst the eleven buildings, all of which are built in the same style as the Sivananda Ghat, with beautiful face bricks and colorful tiles, are a clinic, a pharmacy, two wards that can house up to 60 beds, a crèche and a Peace and skills training centre. Pujya Swamiji performed the sod-turning ceremony in August 2007, and has written that this is "the most prestigious project of Divine Life Society and a fitting tribute to the Divine Master who himself was a medical doctor."

Opening Ceremony By KZN Premier, Dr. J.S. Ndebele, Inkosi Biyela,
MEC for Health, Mrs P. Nkonyeni & Divine Life Society

the date of the opening was changed a few times, but finally settled mysteriously on 3 April, which coincided with the Holy Festival of Ram Navami. Moreover, while devotees were reciting the invocation prayer prior to the cutting of the ribbon and the unveiling of the plaque, a gentle shower of rain descended upon the proceedings. As soon as the official opening was done, the shower miraculously stopped! These events have strengthened our firm belief that Sri Gurudev's and Pujya Swamiji's unseen hands were guiding the project from start to finish.

Crowd at opening function

there is still some work to be done before the final handover, which will be some six months before the scheduled date. This is all due to the Grace of Pujya Swamiji and our Divine Master, and the dedication of many devotees who worked tirelessly and selflessly on the project. We place on record our gratitude to all devotees who contributed financially and otherwise, in bringing to fruition Pujya Swamiji's dream a hospital in the name of the Divine Master.

Directions to Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre

1. From Durban, take the N2 North going past Stanger.
2. Take the Richards Bay, Empangeni, Ulundi Offramp.
3. At end of offramp turn left towards Empangeni.
4. Continue on this road past the Empangeni CBD. Travel for about 20km.
5. After you see the Jabulani Craft Market (white building) on the right, take the next right turn (about 400 meters after Jabulani) onto a gravel road. There are also signs labled "Nyala Game Lodge" and "Mtimona Store" that mark this turn.
6. Continue on the gravel road for about 10km, and you will see the Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre (a big face brick complex) on the left as you are passing it (it is blocked by a small hill and only comes into view as you are passing it).

Aerial view of Sivananda Luwamba Wellness Centre

Sivananda Peace & Skills Training Centre

Dining Hall & Laundry