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.

The 62nd Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Sivananda was observed on Monday, 14 July 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. A morning Sadhana programme was held from 6am until 6.25am, after which, devotees took Darshan at Sahaja Kutir and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. 

In the afternoon, Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm, followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message. 

The reading, extracts from, I Live to Serve – A Promise and A Fulfilment by N. Ananthanarayanan, on the last days of the Divine Master’s life, were both prophetic of the Master’s imminent departure from the physical plane, and sad. Excerpts herewith attest to these sentiments. “The sight is getting dim. Take whatever you want (on the tape) now itself. The hearing is getting dull. Tell whatever you want to tell now itself. The tongue is getting inarticulate. Ask whatever you want to ask now itself”.  As Sri Gurudev was signing some letters one day, he said, rather jokingly, “Sight is getting dim. Hereafter I can’t sign, Sir”,  and glanced at the Swami who took the letters to him.

Ananthanarayanan says that the Master, after his Satsang on 21st June 1963, said to some visitors, “Oh, the Viman (flying vehicle) is going to arrive from Brahmaloka. Who are all coming?”  As far as Sri Gurudev himself was concerned, the Viman was to come just twenty-three days hence. 

The Master’s burning passion to continue with his work till the end is evident in the fact that he attended to correspondence, dispatch of free book packets and other work in his Kutir, even though he had a pain in the hip-joint. As much as he wished, he could not go to the night Satsang.  He also did his tape-recording of the day’s quota of spiritual exhortations. 

The Master’s last dictation is a stark reminder of his deep spiritual literary legacy and his high state of spiritual evolution, as is indicative when he said in his last dictated message, “Happiness comes when the individual merges in God”, a potent message that sums up his teachings contained in his more than 250 books. Prophetically, he merged in God totally, within weeks of the above utterance. Ananthanarayanan says, “Happiness comes when the individual merges in God”: that forms the concluding sentence in the book Elixir Divine which contains the aphoristic dictations of Gurudev for many weeks prior to the date of stoppage of dictation. The book has been printed in tens of thousands and has already found its way to many a distant corner of the globe”.

Pujya Swamiji’s audio message focused on Sri Gurudev’s literary charity to the world. Sri Gurudev mentioned that dissemination of spiritual knowledge was foremost in his work. He said that if he remained in his Kutir and wrote, then far more people would benefit than if he went out and visited persons. In 1956, the Master, pointing to the hospital, told Pujya Swamiji, that the hospital is half-built and that all the money is going into the printing press. The Master infused his Shakti into his writings. Even in South Africa, Pujya Swamiji said that the primary objective of the Society is dissemination of spiritual knowledge, and that other work is secondary, for, “knowledge dispels ignorance forever”. Even the Srimad Bhagavad Gita talks highly about the dissemination of spiritual knowledge. Referring to the book Light, Power and Wisdom that Pujya Swamiji had sent to the Master, the Master heaped tremendous praise, saying that the book was “exquisite, grand and precious”. 

That scores of devotees, well-wishers and visitors attended the Mahasamadhi Satsang is a testament to the great Sage of the modern era, Sri Swami Sivananda, whose divine life continues to inspire and uplift countless souls across South Africa and the globe. A beacon of light in the spiritual renaissance of the 20th century, Sri Swami Sivananda’s life is a sublime expression of selfless service, divine love, and spiritual wisdom. His sublime teachings transcend barriers of caste, creed and nationality. He taught the unity of all religions, the brotherhood of humanity, and the importance of inner transformation. His foundational message — “Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise”, encapsulates the path to God-realisation in simple, practical steps. 

The Divine Master’s legacy lives on in South Africa through his illustrious disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda. The Master’s life was a scripture in action - radiating peace, purity, and divine joy. Even decades after his Mahasamadhi in 1963, his spiritual presence continues to uplift humanity. 

O Divine Master, O Sri Swami Sivananda, may we walk in your footsteps, imbibe your teachings, and dedicate our lives to the higher ideals of truth, purity, and universal love. May your divine legacy continue to ever shine and inspire us all.