The auspicious Ganga Saptami was celebrated at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills on Thursday, 23 April 2026. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised readings from the book, Mother Ganga by Sri Swami Sivananda, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, Kirtans and Bhajans.

Sri Swami Sivananda considered the Ganga to be the most sacred river of India, and says that Ganga Saptami marks the day when the sacred waters of the Ganga descended from the heavens. Lord Siva received Mother Ganga in His matted locks on this day. 

In the reading entitled, “Lord Siva Receives the Ganga”, from the book, Mother Ganga, Sri Swami Sivananda, said, “Again, Bhagiratha sat doing rigorous penance for a full hundred years. It is needless to say that Lord Siva, the Protector of all His devotees, was immensely pleased with the king and readily accepted to check and control Ganga through His matted locks. With surge, fury and foam, Ganga began to descend from celestial regions. Flashes of lightning, thunders from clouds, and the uncontrollable flow seemed as if a deluge was about to devour the whole world. But Lord Siva coolly received Her in His matted locks and let Her drip over Him. This is the Ganga Saptami Day”.

In the poem, “O Adorable Mother Ganga”, Sri Swami Sivananda extols the grandeur, beauty and divinity of Mother Ganga. He portrays Mother Ganga as: a Divine Mother - compassionate, ever-forgiving and nurturing all beings; as a Purifier - cleansing not only physical impurities, but mental and spiritual ignorance as well; as a Liberator - granting freedom from the cycle of birth and death, and as an Embodiment of Grace - flowing endlessly, just as divine mercy flows towards all.

Pujya Swamiji’s audio message focused on the themes of self-surrender and Divine Grace. He cited the anecdote of a disciple of Sri Aurobindo, who had a deep and abiding desire for God. Despite her simplicity, lack of qualifications and credentials, she realised God after 20 years, only because of her self-surrender, faith and yearning for God. Similarly, Grace can descend on any sincere disciple when the time is right. He said, “Today, Gurudev’s Grace is a matter of common experience, at least to me”. Pujya Swamiji encapsulated whatever thoughts came   from Sri Gurudev into the booklet, Faith and Self-Surrender, a booklet which is the panacea for all problems. He said that initially he didn’t know anything about self-surrender. Upon deep reflection, he realised that the path that Sri Gurudev wanted him to follow was the path of self-surrender. When one is tested and tried, and if one   succeeds, then it is a sign of surrender. One can realise God within, but one needs not change one’s external nature. Sri Gurudev encouraged complete change on the path of transformation, for which self-surrender is a necessity. Self-surrender will enable one to get rid of sorrow, suffering and pain. Complete transformation is a sign of self-surrender.  He said, “Because we resist, we delay our progress”, thus limiting transformation and self-surrender. 

Sri Swami Sivananda often encouraged devotees not only to bathe in the physical Ganga, but to internalise her purity, and to let the “inner Ganga” flow through pure thoughts, selfless actions, and devotion. His love for Mother Ganga and the esoteric meanings he attributes to Her, remain a powerful blueprint for devotees, laymen, modern youth and generations to come. He advocates selfless service, urging us to give like the river which sustains everyone, without discrimination. This promotes social harmony and altruism in a self-centered world. Furthermore, he emphasizes resilience. Just as the river flows around every obstacle to reach the sea, we must persist steadfastly towards our goals. His focus on purity - keeping the mind unpolluted by negativity, offers a spiritual remedy for modern-day challenges and problems. Ultimately, it’s about transforming our lives into a steady, purposeful flow towards higher consciousness, namely inner transformation through self-surrender.

The 70th Sannyas Anniversary of Sri Swami Sahajananda was observed on Friday, 10 April 2026 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Devotees gathered for the morning Sadhana programme at 6am, after which all were invited to proceed to Sahaja Kutir, Pujya Swamiji’s sacred Kutir and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre for Darshan. There was Akhanda Chanting from 5am until 5pm.

Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised melodious Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading of an excerpt of Sri Swami Sivananda’s farewell message after Pujya Swamiji’s Sannyas Initiation on 10 April 1956.

Sri Swami Sivananda’s message heaped praise on Pujya Swami Sahajananda for his deep humility, unconditional loyalty, highly spiritual nature, his exemplary Guru Bhakti, his outstanding accomplishments in South Africa in respect of the establishment of Divine Life Society of South Africa and its work. Referring to Pujya Swamiji’s nature, the Master said, “So, we rejoice today heartily, because we have amidst us a noble personality, a spiritual personality, a Bala Yogi, a Bala Swami, Sri Swami Sahajananda. Whenever a noble function takes place, the Devas are pleased. So, we had a very good shower today, and now we have a cool atmosphere. So, we are able to celebrate the function joyously. You may ask, ‘Why there is no rain of flowers?’ That also there is. The Devas rain flowers. 

“Swami Sahajananda is styled as the spiritual king of South Africa, Durban. He is also called the African Chota Guru. He does not want anything. He is a silent worker. He is a man of renunciation, vairagya and meditation. He is a very good organiser. He has organised some 20 branches of the Divine Life Society in South Africa.

“There is Savikalpa Samadhi, and then comes Nirvikalpa Samadhi, and then comes Sahaja Avastha. He is established in Sahaja Avastha. He does not forget Brahman when he is working. He has got double consciousness. He is resting in his Satchidananda Swarupa and he is utilising his mind and Indriyas (senses) for the good of humanity. He likes Sahaja Avastha. He is in Sahaja Avastha. 

“He is a strong pillar of the Divine Life Society. I am Swami Sahajanandaji’s rupee-eater. I want money for printing paper, art paper, for hospital, etc. Sahajanandaji supplies the money. You may think that I am exaggerating. Swami Sahajananda is spiritual king of Durban, a great organiser, a great supporter, a pillar of the Divine Life Society”. 

In the remainder of the message, the Master continued heaping praise on Pujya Swamiji, saying that he talks little, thinks much and does much. He continued, "He has brought out the Divine Life for Children pamphlets. He is a man of invention. In letterheads and behind the envelopes, he has printed new sayings.  In letterheads also the Divine Life for Children he has brought out. He is a thinker. He has in Durban a small press for the dissemination of knowledge, and the Path to God-Realization is his magazine, running for three or four years. What more can you expect from a small boy Swami? He has done everything. He will now go with redoubled energy, charged with Himalayan vibrations and Mother Ganga’s Grace, and will work like a lion, Vedanta Kesari, Yoga Kesari. All these titles a man deserves when he becomes a Yogi. When a man becomes God, any number of titles are not enough. His devotion to teacher is unique. He has a pure heart. Such a Yogi is now going from here and he will thrill the whole of Africa, and again he will come. He has the spirit of renunciation. He has given his whole property to me”. 

The Master also said that Pujya Swamiji was a young Yogi, a Yoga Brashta, and that he was a Swami in his previous birth, and that at such a young age his heart was full of renunciation, vairagya and meditation, which are the key to open the chambers of the heart, the Atmic store. 

Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message focused on self-transformation and humility, which are characteristics that come from God. He said that when he joined the spiritual path, he had several weaknesses and faults, which Sri Gurudev helped him with. He explained that the Guru plays a critical role in the spiritual life of an aspirant. Pujya Swamiji said that there is a great power, that is the power of the Guru’s Grace that can help the aspirant.  “The Guru is like a father to us, he is more than a father”. Whatever Gurudev has belongs to us. Whatever we are enjoying now is due to Gurudev’s Tapas. He advised that we must all do our duties faithfully and dutifully, and that we have to work out our past Karmas and Samskaras. Marvellous things will come to us when we do our Sadhana sincerely. Trust and confidence in the Guru are important. He also explained that if I he did not experience Divine Grace, then he has no right to talk about it. Transformation of one’s nature is fundamental. We have to work out our own Karma.

Mogandren Govender of the Natya Kalayalam Dance Academy performed two exquisite Bharatanatyam dance items, with deep symbolism and spiritual meaning. The items were warmly received by the congregation.

We celebrated Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s 70th Sannyas Anniversary on 10 April 2026, and we will celebrate his 101st Birth Anniversary on 10 July 2026. Whereto from here? In light of the noble lives and legacies of Sri Swami Sivananda and Sri Swami Sahajananda, our roles and responsibilities are not merely to admire, but to live their teachings with conviction, sincerity and courage. As followers of the ideals of Sri Swami Sivananda and Divine Life Society of South Africa, we are called upon to transform ourselves through disciplined Sadhana, selfless service, and purity of thought, word, and deed. Inspired by the timeless teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda and the potent and life-changing guidance of Pujya Swamiji, we must become instruments of compassion, serving the poor, uplifting the distressed, and spreading spiritual knowledge and values in a substantial, practical and humble manner. Our duty is to preserve and propagate their divine legacies, to practise Sadhana, and to live as examples of Dharma and Divine Life in daily life. In so doing, we do not merely honour Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji - we continue their sacred mission, ensuring that their light shines ever more brightly.