The most auspicious Varalakshmi Vratam was observed at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills on Friday, 8 August 2025, coinciding with the monthly Birthdate Satsang of Sri Swami Sivananda. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading and a DVD.

Sri Swami Sivananda’s profound message on the significance of Mother Lakshmi is captured in the reading from Yoga Lessons for Children, Volume 1. The Master said, “The Vedas describe Mother Lakshmi as the Goddess of riches. God now manifests in the form of wealth. There is material wealth as well as spiritual wealth. Mother Lakshmi provides us with both, but many people think of Her as a symbol of material wealth only; and it is true that She will grant us this if we so desire. But on the spiritual path, we pray to the Divine Mother for something lasting, something more precious - it is the divine spiritual wealth of God.

“Mother Lakshmi also gives joy. She makes life on earth bearable. Without Her, life on earth would be a journey of pain and suffering. 

“She appears to the world as a Goddess of peace. When we pray to Her, there is peace in the universe – peace among nations and mankind, and freedom from conflicts and wars. The Divine Mother takes care of the welfare of Her children and blesses the world with good health.

“Every home is the dwelling-place of Mother Lakshmi. At sunset, when the lamps are lit, we pray to Her and ask Her to bless our homes. To earn the blessings of Mother Lakshmi, we must pay attention to three important aspects of our life at home. These are cleanliness, hospitality, and charity. If we practise these virtues, we will obtain the Grace of Mother Lakshmi in abundance and will never suffer from any want. 

“The Mother is pleased with a home that is spotlessly clean. She blesses such homes with Her Presence. She is not present in homes that are kept untidy and unkempt. So, we should learn to take very great care of the material things which She represents and has given us.

“Mother Lakshmi is seen in pictures as being richly dressed. She wears ornaments of gold. The elephant seen at Her side represents pomp and grandeur. She stands on a lotus and holds two lotus flowers in full bloom, representing fullness in all aspects, both material and spiritual.  

“The higher nature of the Mother is really spiritual wealth – a pure heart, sweetness of manners, behaviour and speech, service to the Guru, etc. Pray to the Mother to grant you the divine spiritual wealth instead of material things. You will then enjoy everlasting peace and happiness”.

In the DVD, Message of Sivananda, Sri Swami Sivananda extolled the nature of Brahman. He describes Brahman as the ultimate reality, the source and substratum of all existence, beyond time, space, and causation. It is the unchanging, eternal, self-existent, and self-luminous Absolute. Brahman is also described as pure consciousness, the essence of all beings, and the ultimate truth that underlies the apparent diversity of the universe. In the second part of the message, the Master advised that we should take care of little things, to cope with the more complex challenges of life.

May Sri Swami Sivananda’s advice that Mother's Lakshmi’s true abode is within one’s heart, and that She is best worshipped through the cultivation of divine qualities, service to humanity and spiritual enlightenment, be the cornerstones of our lives.

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The 62nd Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Sivananda, according to the Sanskrit Calendar, was observed at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills on Saturday, 19 July 2025. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised a reading, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, Kirtans, Bhajans and a video on the Master’s last days in his physical body and his Mahasamadhi.

The reading from the book, From Man to God-Man by N. Ananthanarayanan traced the Master’s last day on the mortal plane, as is evident in, “On July 14, Colonel Puri came to examine the Master. As he tapped with his rod to test the reflexes, the Master said, ‘Doctors are very cruel”’.

‘“Yes, Swamiji, what can be done? It is our duty”’, said the doctor, and added, ‘"Swamiji, you will be all right shortly’”. 

‘“Yes, I must”’, said the Master, “"I have many things to do”’.

“’You will do, Swamiji, but with a handicap”’. The Master heard the doctor's words clearly and gave him a steady look. Then in his unfailing hospitality saw to it that the doctor was offered uppama, coffee and books. He finally concluded with a farewell and an Om Namo Narayanaya. 

“After the doctor had left, and before he could take his own food, the Master developed fever and began to shiver. The breathing hardened. He took two or three spoonsful of Horlicks, and at about 3pm asked for water. As was the usual practice the disciples wanted to give him barley water or jeera water, but he wished to have Ganges water, pure and simple. The water was brought. The Master, who had experienced difficulty in taking the smallest quantity of solid or liquid, gulped down half a glassful of Ganges water without apparent trouble - and with that the Being that was Swami Sivananda laid aside its mortal vesture. It was now 11.15pm. 

“The time the Master chose to merge with the Supreme proved to be a holy Muhurta of extreme auspiciousness. It presented an exalted planetary position on the last limit of Uttarayana, and just before the commencement of the ‘Southern Path’. 

“An expert horologist, who was also a capable astrologer, had mentioned only upon the morning of that fateful Sunday, that round about midnight there was going to be such an unparalleled and auspicious planetary conjunction that any Yogi who was getting ready to depart would never miss it. The prediction proved correct, and the Master chose the moment”.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message focused on the concept of fear, self-transformation and surrender. He said that we should not run away from our fears but should face them to oppose our fears. He narrated the experience of Sri Swami Vivekananda who was being chased by monkeys. A saint who met him on the way told him to “face the brutes”, which he did. The monkeys then ran away. He also advised that we should surrender completely to God. We must harmonise our thoughts to be in tune with God. One must do rigorous Sadhana to transform oneself. It is of little benefit if a Pundit chanted Mantras in our homes whilst we are occupied with other activities. We must chant the Divine Name to experience the power of Ram Nam. He said, “Cling to God’s Name and you will see change….external situations we cannot control …. The only thing we can have control of is your own mind… God will see to everything”.  God has given us the assurance, even in the Bhagavad Gita that He will protect us. 

A potent and powerful video of the Master’s last days, his Mahasamadhi and ceremonial bath, was both moving and gripping. The reverence of the devotees, the sense of quiet dignity and decorum with which his last rites were conducted, left indelible impressions on the minds of viewers. The sounds of conches, Vedic Chants and Mantras reverberated in the precincts of the Master’s sacred Ashram. The Master’s words in the video, “Do not be afraid of death. If you think of God constantly, you will think of Him at the time of death also…your duty is to remember Him constantly”, are soul-inspiring and a testimony to his lasting spiritual teachings and legacy.

The greatness of Swami Sivananda’s teachings and legacies lie in their timeless relevance, universal application, and transformative power. He was not just a philosopher or monk, but a divine light who lived what he preached. His life continues to inspire the world to lead a divine life with love, service and realisation as its pillars. His voice echoes through eternity: "Be good. Do good. Be kind. Be compassionate. Enquire, 'Who am I?' and realise your divine nature”. We will observe many more Mahasamadhi anniversaries. What is the road ahead? It is incumbent upon us to translate into practical reality, the Master’s and Sri Swami Sahajananda’s teachings and legacies, by fathomless Guru Bhakti, like that of Pujya Swami Sahajananda, for Sri Swami Sahajananda was not just a disciple; he was Sri Swami Sivananda in action. His life is a glowing testimony to the power of Guru Bhakti, silent service, and God-conscious living. Today, both Sri Swami Sivananda’s and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s legacies continue to inspire, and their lives stand as beacons of light in a world in need of true spiritual heroes.