The 101st Sannyas Anniversary of Sri Swami Sivananda was celebrated on Sunday, 1 June 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. There was a morning Sadhana programme from 6am until 6.30am. Devotees thereafter took Darshan at Sahaja Kutir and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. Ganga Arati commenced at 9.30am and Satsang began at 9.50am. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message and a DVD presentation.

The reading from the book, From Man to Godman by N Ananthanarayanan, gave us an indication of the hardships that Sri Gurudev experienced in his journey towards Sannyas, his dispassion and yearning for God. The following excerpts give credence to these assertions. 

“Soon he was in Rishikesh, the abode of saints. 

“Darkness fell and he slept on the verandah of the Charan Das rest-house, near the Rishikesh post office and adjacent to Ganga Ashram. The next morning, he woke up early, as was his wont, and went about his spiritual practices. At dawn he saw numerous Sadhus there. Of them, one elderly Sannyasin immediately arrested his attention. His name was Swami Vishwananda. There was a peculiar aura about him. He knew not why, but the moment he set his eyes on the monk, Dr Kuppuswami felt overwhelmed. He fell at his feet with great love and devotion. Fondly the old monk raised him, embraced him, and spoke to him with affection. 

“Later in the day, Dr Kuppuswami went for alms at the Baba Kalikambliwala Kshettar, but they refused to give him food as he was not a Sannyasin. While he was walking back after this refusal, Swami Vishwananda happened to meet him on the way. Straightaway the old Sannyasin felt an urge to initiate Dr Kuppuswami into Sannyas. That very day he gave him the ochre robe. Dr Kuppuswami was now dead; Swami Sivananda Saraswati was born. It was June 1, 1924. 

“The next day, Swami Vishwananda left for his native Varanasi. From there he wrote to his new disciple, giving brief instructions about Sannyasa Dharma. The rite of Vraja Homa was conducted later on by Swami Vishnudevananda, a learned scholar and head of the orthodox Kailas Ashram, near Rishikesh. With that, Swami Sivananda became a fully ordained Sannyasin”.

Pujya Swami Sahajananda, in his audio message, addressing the Master in the first person, said, “Whatever you did, you did to perfection. There was no half-heartedness like we do. Even later on you said that ‘I never did anything in halves. ‘Whatever I did, I did in perfection’. Perfection is your name”. He extolled the Master’s dispassion, spirit of service and deep compassion. With reference to the Master’s teachings, he said, “Today you are sharing with us the nectar of your teachings”.  The Master served unconditionally, and gave peace and joy to all. Pujya Swamiji alluded to the Master’s opulent lifestyle in Malaya and liking for tasty food, “but all that was given up” in his search for higher truths. The Master distributed some of his possessions when he left Malaya, and clean disappeared without entering his house. That is the burning dispassion the Master had. Pujya Swamiji asks whether we have that type of dispassion today in our search of God?  He said that he likes to believe that God came in the form of Swami Vishwananda and initiated the Master into Sannyas. The message, deep in meaning, gives us an indication of the child-like innocence with which Pujya Swamiji offered his all to the Master.

The DVD, Swami Sivananda’s Message focused on the glory of the Upanishads and the nature of the Atman which is absolute, indestructible and beyond harm. He said, “The Upanishads teach the philosophy of absolute unity”, and that the “Atman is all-pervading and infinite…The Atman is consciousness in all beings”. It is far from the ignorant and worldly people but near for the aspirant. The Atman is the support of all beings”. To realise the Atman, one must purify the heart through service of humanity. He further states, “The knower of Brahman becomes fearless” and that sorrow is distant for one who is in tune with the Atman. The Master urges us to renounce all desires, and egoism. He also urges us to, “Perform religious rites and daily duties without expectations of fruits”. His potent message to all aspirants and householders must be taken seriously, for as he says, “Desire for liberation will destroy all earthly desires”. These profound thoughts and teachings of the Master are indicative of the depth of his realisation, the extent of his spirituality and his strong desire to uplift humanity.

That we are following the Master’s teachings today, and are on the spiritual path, can be attributed to the enormous and deep Tapas and Sadhana of Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda. We owe deep gratitude to these luminaries and are eternally thankful to them. Indeed, in an age of materialism, passion, worldliness and greed, Sri Swami Sivananda is a blazing light of renunciation, wisdom, and universal brotherhood, giving hope to fallen humanity. An anonymous disciple once said, "Swami Sivananda was not just a saint, he was a spiritual force that transformed countless lives. His compassion was boundless, and his wisdom infinite”. Sri Swami Sivananda is the epitome and embodiment of divine love and selfless service. To be in his divine presence, even though not physically, or to be at his abode, is to experience peace, contentment, joy and bliss. Let us be worthy disciples of this God-man and live by his teachings.  

May the Grace of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya swami Sahajananda be upon us all!